The Short Names

Motorola’s biggest success to date was when it released the thinnest and sexiest device the world had seen. Since then, the handset-maker has struggled to produce anything like it.

Yesterday, everyone was prepared to see Motorola’s latest form factor that would bring it back from the brink. Instead, what we got was an announcement about an innovative new user interface, or skin, that runs on top of the Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Android operating system. In fact, the big unveiling had little to do with the hardware, and in many ways, the upcoming CLIQ phone looks like any smartphone with a slide-out Qwerty keyboard. The interesting stuff is the Blur technology running under the hood.

This marks a huge cultural shift for the company, which in the past has always been driven by hardware design. While we didn’t get the entire story, the picture we gleaned during yesterday’s announcement and during a hands-on demo showed that much of transformation had to do with new Motorola (NYSE: MOT) management—and leveraging assets the company already had.

When Sanjay Jha was appointed CEO of mobile devices, he fast tracked a project being worked on by former employees from Good Technology, an enterprise email service that Motorola acquired, and then sold off in February. So, while other divisions back in Illinois were slashing staff, the Sunnyvale office was quietly picking up employees from Apple and Google in what has become a long two and a half year process to get to market. Rick Osterloh, Motorola’s VP of Product Development for Android Products, couldn’t help but talk about the project, which had been kept under tight wraps for the past year so well. He said it originated with Jha, who was interested in what the former Good employees were working on. “He liked what he saw and he gave it resources.”

Jha explained the importance of BLUR to GigaOm’s Om Malik at Mobilize and how it compares to Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s BlackBerry. He said the platform melds Apple’s idea of having access to tons of applications with BlackBerry’s niche of integrating the apps—like email—deeply into the phone. Together, they have the apps and the integration: “The iPhone has one, BlackBerry has the other, but we have combined them in a meaningful way for social networking.”

Essentially, the BLUR technology enables users to get all of their messages, status updates and other social networking components pushed to them. Motorola’s director of product marketing Dan Rudolph told me during a demo at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art that in order to accomplish this, there’s a lot of server-side technologies playing a role. All of the messages are compressed and then sent to the device. The process should help save on bandwidth and battery life, while the consumer will have all the information without having to go out and retrieve it.

Osterloh said the original idea stretches back as far as 2007 when Facebook and MySpace were just taking off. “We had all these people from Good…we thought we could really solve something.” He said the two keys were that messaging services on devices had gotten complicated. (Users had multiple email addresses and also SMS and MMS.) The other thing they looked at was making a consumer-friendly service that would be used by people who didn’t have support from an IT staff at work. “We redid everything. It was focused on business and this is 100 percent focused on the consumer.”

Some of the key services include an online portal, where users could log in and manage their device. If it’s lost, they can ping it and see where it’s located on a map. If it’s been stolen, they can wipe off all of their information and data. Likewise, if you get a new phone, all you would have to do is re-enter a BLUR user name and password and all of the consumer’s settings and preferences would be restored from the wallpaper to which widgets it has on the home screen—a significant time saver. Osterloh: “There was a big hole between what was happening with applications and what was happening with services on the BlackBerry. We see that there’s a need for both…The strategic part is the BLUR part.”

Motorola’s strong software platform may have increased its chances of making a comeback. But form factor is important, too. And, so far, it’s something that’s been neglected on the Google Android platform. To date, most of the devices are bulky, and while some have gotten sleeker, nothing still compares to the iPhone. Motorola’s new CLIQ also falls into this category. While solid and full of the latest hardware, it too is large and strays from Moto’s design background. INQ Mobile’s CEO Frank Meehan announced yesterday that his company was going to start building phones on Google Android’s OS, but pointed to one of the challenges with the platform: “Currently, Android phones on networks that are selling against the iPhone have not performed well. You need to get the experience better.”

So far, Motorola has announced that its first handsets will be sold via T-Mobile in the U.S. and also Orange, Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) and America Movil. How will it do? We’ll have to wait and see.

Outdoor apparel brand Timberland is trying to skew younger and hipper with a new ad campaign that includes everything from iPhone and BlackBerry apps, to branded content for Hulu, and custom Pandora playlists. The goal is to get city dwellers to use their technology to find “outdoor adventures” that are close to home—while enticing them to buy Timberland gear along the way. The new marketing push follows Timberland’s first foray into online video, via a sponsored MySpace vlog, last November.

—Mobile: Timberland worked with IPG’s Mullen MediaHub and Ansible for the “Expedition Timberland” mobile apps. The apps highlight hiking trails, spots for panoramic city views and other outdoor activities in six major cities, including N.Y., L.A. and Denver. The apps will also feature specific apparel each week, with links back to a WAP site with a full product list and store locators. iPhone users also get a game and an outdoor-themed playlist that updates each week. The company plans to expand the app to ten additional markets later this year.

—Digital: Timberland is making full use of Hulu, with custom show sponsorships and standard commercials; it’s also launching a number of branded Pandora stations. The campaign includes banner ads and blogger outreach, as well as interactive billboards in select markets.

Related

• Broadband Content Bits: AOL’s New Show; NBA’s Stream; WhereverTV; Timberland’s Vlog; Air Force/Xbox | paidContent

»  Let Apple get the hype. Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu reveals that the RIM has been quietly working on its own deal to crack the Chinese market with China Telecom. [AppleInsider]

»  How’s this for “paid content”? Game developer Firemint says iPhone and iTouch owners have paid to download its Flight Control app over 1.5 million times. [FierceWireless]

»  Sony Ericsson gets a new tagline—“make.believe”—as part of a bigger overall branding initiative for Sony. [Mobile News]

»  Not sure which new iPhone apps are worth spending your money (or memory space) on? The Gizmodo team is out with its Essential iPhone Apps guide for Fall 2009. [Gizmodo]

»  Babelgum will premiere one episode of Rage, a movie that takes viewers behind the scenes of a NY fashion show (told through the eyes of a kid with his mobile phone), every day for a week via its free iPhone app. [Adweek]

Craiglist:  Wired magazine has an article on Craigslist that is a great read.  It walks through the quirks of the website that often bears the brunt of blame for the decline in newspapers. 

Some fun tidbits:

• 30 employees
• a dearth of modern day “features” common to websites and no desire to build such features
• no PR, marketing, or legal departments
• beaucoup traffic
• highly unpredictable filtering system
• weird haiku messages

Interestingly, like all other companies it faces a constant battle against spam:  “the going price for a spam post on craigslist is about 50 cents, with large discounts for volume.”  According to the CEO “[the spammers] are technically sophisticated people who take pride in their work, and when we knock them down they don’t just decide to go find something else to do.  You could say we are breeding the perfect spammer.”

Twitter:  Speaking of spam, someone passed along an article today about the prevalence of Twitter spam and how Twitter is supposedly making it “too easy to get spammed with off-color content, and too difficult to do something about it.”  (Business Week)  This article didn’t sit well with me for a variety of reasons…the headline is probably a good place to start: “get spammed” (??).  Most importantly, the “spam” described in the article are “followers” – people who “follow” you on Twitter in the hopes that you will click on links on their profile or their Twitter feed.  Now although I’m a lawyer, I tend to go pretty light on semantics.  That said, the situation described in the article doesn’t qualify as spam in my opinion.  Spam is when something shows up in your in-box without you asking for it.  There may be spam on Twitter, but it’s sure not the type described in the Business Week article.  (As a side note, both Facebook and MySpace have been able to convince judges that “wall spam” is subject to CAN-SPAM [link], but these decisions likely rest on a creative interpretation of the statute.)  In any event, even taking into account my typical apathy to spam (I find junk snail mail to be much more of a hassle) I don’t find Twitter spam troubling.  At least the kind that is described in the article.  In fact, I don’t think I’ve clicked on any links from any spam followers.  Maybe people who compulsively check their follower lists are more annoyed by this type of spam?  Who knows.  Obviously, Twitter spam is a huge drag for Twitter.  No one disputes this, and I’m sure they will start cracking down soon enough. But as a user I’m not complaining.  

[Image courtesy of freezelight on Flickr // Creative Commons]

 

 

WWW.CMAI.ASIA

Press Release

 

Venugopal N Dhoot appointed Chairman CMAI

    Ravi Sharma is Executive Chairman

 

CMAI  announces new appointments

 

Communications and Manufacturing Association of India (www.cmai.asia) announced appointment of  Sri Venugopal  N Dhoot as its Chairman and Sri Ravi Sharma as its Executive Chairman .

 

CMAI, is a Telecom Industry Association  working for the Telecom sector as a whole representing all stake holders including Operators , Manufacturers , Infrastructure providers and operators , System Integrators , Value Added Services providers  etc.  CMAI  is the only association of its kind having an integrated approach and covering all segments  and technologies related with Telecom Sector in India .

 

CMAI  has signed  more than 30 MOU with different countries and associations including associations in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Slovakia, Uzbekistan, Morocco, France and with  IEEE USA, CEA USA, CTO UK, IETE India, Cambridge Wireless UK and  East of England UK.

 

On this occasion Mr. Dhoot said , ” India always needed a Telecom association , which represents  all stakeholders of  Indian Telecom Industry together and  CMAI perfectly fits in that role . I feel honored in assuming the responsibility of CMAI  Chairman . I am also happy to announce the appointment of Sri Ravi Sharma as Executive Chairman. We shall work together with all stake holders for further enhancing the image of Indian Telecom sector.”

 

E 24 SF, GK II Enclave, New Delhi 110048 : Tel:41638766  Website: www.cmai.asia  Cell: +919811129879

 

 

About CMAI

 

Communications and Manufacturing Association of India (CMAI), a professional registered association, is involved in policy formulations with Government and other stake holders for technology innovations, indigenous manufacturing and communications sector and for policies concerning environmental, pollution and health. It cultivates generally good values in public and general awareness and protection in the field of health effects, synthetic and polluted environment and also the significance of natural environment and rural areas as a whole in an integrated way and manner and global peace. CMAI was actively involved in telecom policies for 3G, spectrum, licensing etc. CMAI provides a forum where telecommunications companies can unite to advance the industry’s concerns and provides exceptional value through advocacy and business opportunities, networking and continuous interaction with Government, Telecom operators and manufacturers and opinion makers.

 

CMAI Activities

 

CMAI organizes several events, delegations across telecom and IT sector. CMAI is the only association in India having more than 30 MOU with different countries and associations including IEEE USA , CEA USA , CTO UK , IETE India, Cambridge Wireless UK , East of England UK. CMAI also has MOU with associations in China , Japan , Korea , Taiwan , Canada , Singapore , Malaysia , South Africa , Slovakia , Uzbekistan , Morocco , France and various Indian associations.

 

Recently on 24^th July, 2009 CMAI with Business World INFOCOM announced National Telecom Awards, 2009, which were presented by Sh. Gurudas Kamat, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications and IT along with Dr JS Sarma, Chairman TRAI and Sh. Sidharth Behura, Secretary DOT. The program was attended by about 850 delegates.

 

CMAI regularly takes part in Exhibitions and trade delegations for Korea , Taiwan , China , Japan , Bangkok , Singapore , USA , and UK etc. CMAI offers complimentary exhibition space as also participation in delegations. CMAI is also publishing with IKBPF a monthly magazine in Korea Asia Pacific Business and Technology.

 

www.cmai.asia

 

Contact Details : NK Goyal , President CMAI

nkgoyals@yahoo.co.in, cmai.imf@gmail.com , +91 98 111 29879

  

 

Sri  Venugopal N Dhoot

 

 

Shri Dhoot is Chairman of Videocon Industries Ltd. Mr. Dhoot is a renouned businessman and has held several positions in the Industry forums including ASSOCHAM , where Mr. Dhoot was president in year 2008.

 

Videocon is a conglomerate across the verticals of consumer electronics and home appliances, office automation, telecom, power, crude oil and natural gas. Videocon’s major breakthrough came when it received one of the first licenses to manufacture color televisions in India in the early 80’s. The company has now become the largest manufacturer of color picture tubes and CPT glasses in the world, with operations across Mexico , Italy , Poland , China and India .

Armed with an uncanny foresight and a global outlook, Mr. Dhoot has successfully acquired the color picture tube operations of the Thomson Group and the Indian operations of AB Electrolux, Sweden thereby enhancing its capabilities in both India and overseas. He has led Videocon to foray into exploration and production of Oil business in India and participated in a JV in the Ravva Oil Fields and recently acquired Brazil ’s Encana Brazil Petroleo Limitada jointly with BPCL.

Mr. Dhoot has a vision to lead Videocon and make it a Fortune 500 company in the next five years. The company intends to launch its mobile services on pan India basis targeting large subscribers in the next four years. Videocon strategies to strengthen its focus in oil and natural gas and, is pursuing opportunities in Oman , Australia and Timor Sea near Indonesia .

 

With his passion to make a powerful social impact, Mr. Dhoot has established a charitable hospital specializing in cancer and heart surgery for the underprivileged people. 

 

 

Sri Ravi Sharma

 

Ravi Sharma  is an accomplished Professional having Over  10 years as CEO  and a total of 25 years experience at policy as well as  operational level with Telecom and  Satellite Industry in India and Asia . He is Founder & CEO of Phi Televentures with an objective to be “Angel Partners” of MNCs , VCs and PEs in India .

Ravi had held various responsibilities in sales, corporate strategy, customer support, project, business development and general management before becoming one of the youngest CEOs of Telecom MNC in India at the age of 37 years.

Before founding Phi Televentures , Ravi was CEO of Datacom, a company having pan India license to Operate GSM services.

Prior to Datacom , as CEO of Alcatel-Lucent in South Asia, Ravi was instrumental in turning around the company and achieving over 20 times business growth in 4 years thus making it one of the largest equipment suppliers in India .

Ravi has also worked with Europe *Star – A satellite JV of Alcatel and Loral, BT and UB Group. From starting up a new Indian company (The UB Group’s Telecom venture) to starting up Indian operations of MNCs (BT and Europe*Star) and from Joint Venture creation(UB Goldmine, Bharti BT  and Alcatel’s Wimax JV) to turnaround of a company (Alcatel South Asia), Ravi has worked with entire spectrum of Telecom and Broadcasting spectrum .

An IIT alumnus with a Masters in Business Administration, Ravi has also been a state level Sportsman (Badminton), key member of Dramatics team at University, Student Editor of University Magazine and a TV presenter of a National TV channel.

 

Regards

 

N K Goyal
President Communications & Manufacturing Association of India (CMAI)
Member Governing Council, Telecom Equipment & Services Export Promotion Council, Govt. of India
Director NFL  National Fertilizers Ltd., Govt. of India
Chairman India Trade Promotion Services, Dubai UAE