Content: A picture emerges thanks to merging Picsels
Content: A picture emerges thanks to merging Picsels
While debate drones on about mobile content usage, software company Picsel has forged two partnerships that will bring new content to mobile phones.
The first was a deal with the Associated Press to deliver breaking news and images to mobile handsets.
The announcement was made by Graeme Ferguson, managing director of Picsel's global content division, at the company's first annual press event in London.
Under the terms of its agreement with the Associated Press' commercial division, AP Digital, Picsel's mobile content platform will deliver breaking news and images to Java-enabled handsets equipped with Picsel software.
The mobile content platform provider also said Friday it has struck a partnership agreement with FrictionTV – a user generated online video site used specifically as a forum for debate.
Ferguson described FrictionTV as the "YouTube of online debate," attracting at the moment over 100,000 visitors per month.
As well as the two partnership announcements, Picsel, which provides software to vendors, operators and content providers, also held a panel discussion on how to drive the uptake of mobile content.
One of the key issues up for discussion was how to price mobile data services in order to attract more users.
At the moment the majority of operators charge by the bit, which was described as a complicated barrier to the success of mobile content by Matt Hatton, program manager, wireless research EMEA at Yankee Group.
"[Adopting] flat rate pricing is critical to the success of mobile content," agreed Tony Kypreos, an independent consultant.
He said although it isn't the only factor that needs consideration, it's a "key ingredient" in driving mobile content use.
However, there was some disagreement among the speakers.
"A lot of the kids who'll use this service are prepay customers," said Patrick Parodi, chairman of the Mobile Entertainment Forum.
"What's the minimum contract for an iPhone? Two years," he said.
It is unlikely, said Parodi, that most parents will be willing to commit themselves to long and potentially expensive contract agreements on behalf of their children.
"The Internet has shown that younger generation don't want to pay for content," added Annette Schaefer, director of consumer research, Yankee Group.
Another important issue that needs to be addressed for mobile content to be successful is network consistency, according to Dr Majid Anwar, chief scientist and co-founder of Picsel.
Citing the company's experience of mobile content delivery in the big Asian mobile markets, he said, "Service delivery and consistency is a basic expectation in Japan and Korea, you don't get that fussiness everywhere."
"[In Japan and Korea] it's always on and there are no delays, whereas if I'm travelling across London I get a choppy 3G service," he said.
Picsel: Parterships to boost its place in mobile content market
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