Mobile Motions

Phones for the more mature: Part two

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:51:00 +0000

Old versus new

After a long battle with technology, my grandparents have almost discovered how it all works. Besides a few glitches here and there, they have definitely come a long way. Not only do they own a computer, a DVD player, a mobile phone, they also purchased their very own GPRS.

Recently, my Grandmother announced that she wanted a brand new mobile phone. Her reasons were simple. She no longer wanted a brick for a phone that is capable of only SMS, phone calls and has limited memory that can only store ten contacts. Rather she wants, as my grandmother says, a 'young and hip phone’.

I am fully confident that my grandparents will be able to use a phone that offers multiple functions and applications to its full potential. Although my grandmother would like the latest mobile phone, she made it clear that she does not want a phone that has a complicated set–up. I have learnt that most seniors would prefer to have the latest technology that is not too complicated to use. If you are a senior and looking for a new mobile phone then you are in luck. There is a wide range of latest mobile phones that are simple to use.

For example, the touch-screen smartphones are simple and a user-friendly alternative for seniors. Now, a smartphone system can help elderly people manage medications. Even my grandparents have too many pills to count on one hand. Mentioned in previously blog post, ‘Mobile phones for the more mature: Part one’, the Samsung a177 is perfect for seniors who would like a phone that offers a wide range of applications and functions. A phone that is not difficult to navigate your way around.

If your eyes are getting the better of you or you just sick of trying to find those eye glasses every time you need to use your phone, there are phones for you to. You no longer have to settle for that cheap phone with big buttons and a large screen.

Visually impaired

According to Accessibility, some iphones, when purchased, already have functions and applications for the visually impaired. For example, Apple iphone 3Gs holds voiceover screen reader functions and voice commands and it’s a touch screen which is easy to use. There are various other applications from a variety of phones that offer, for example, calendar notifications or maps that can help if you are lost. There is really so much to offer!

For those who would like to find out more about mobile phones that are beneficial to the visually impaired my previous blog post, Phones for the visually impaired, could be your answer.

When I sat down with my Grandmother to chat to her about the mobile phones on offer, she was excited to discover the wide range of options that would suit both her and my grandpa. They are soon to be owners of a brand new mobile phone.

Thanks to Andrew Bossi for the picture of the phone (old version). Follow Andrew's photostream to view more images.

Thanks to Jeff (powerupMobile.com) for the picture of the phone (new version). Follow Jeff's photostream to view more images.

BlackBerry ban in India

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:41:00 +0000

Email being accessed on a BlackBerry phone

I recently read a headline ‘India threatens to ban Blackberry email, messaging’. As I read the article I realized that the reason for the ban was that the government could not access BlackBerry users’ encrypted e-mails and instant messages. My first thought was, why would the government want to have access to people’s personal and private conversations.

My second thought was, is it right for the government to spy on legitimate and confidential communication? Citizens also have a right to privacy. Business users, for example, need some encryption, hence, the popularity of the BlackBerry within businesses.

The BlackBerry phones were to be banned in the hope to guard against abuse by criminals and terrorists. It was argued that terrorists could use Blackberry phone security features to communicate. This is understandable in that India has experienced terrorism in the past but my concern was whether the banning of the BlackBerry phone will really make a difference in stopping terrorism.

BlackBerry's encrypted corporate e-mails would probably not be used by terrorists as they would probably prefer more anonymous technologies, like Gmail. However, it could be easy for a militant group to set up a front corporation, using BlackBerry corporate e-mail. For example, Islamic militants have used mobile and satellite phones to organize the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The ban will affect about 1.1 million BlackBerry users in India and it has already affected the device’s sales. People are not willing to pay for a phone that could possibly be banned in the very near future.

But the problem has not been resolved and the BlackBerry phone is still under threat. Research in Motion (RIM) has two months to give security officials access to BlackBerry encrypted data. It will then be decided whether BlackBerry phones can continue to be used in India.

The problem still stands. If RIM provide security officials access to encrypted data the government can spy on your legitimate communication and there is no real guarantee that it will curb terrorism in India.

Thanks to Ian Lamont for photograph. Follow Ian's photostream to view more images.

Banking on mobile phones

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:40:00 +0000

Like many students in their last year of studying, I am stuck wondering what I want to do with my life. It is only August and the panic has already set in for next year. Although I am terrified, there are plans already being made. One of them concerns my mobile phone. Next year, I am finally able to make my own money and of course spend it. With this in mind, my plan is to do all my banking via my mobile phone. Nowadays, mobile phones provide the perfect opportunity for this.

This would be very convenient for me as I am hardly left alone without my mobile phone and when I am to busy, next year, attempting to be a real journalist, I can use my mobile phone to do my banking on the go. I can bank wherever I am and whenever I want. As of now, I am still trekking to the bank to draw the cash out from the ATM. Although I have been following this method for years, it can get a bit tedious. Using my mobile phone seems like a much better option.

What is wonderful about your mobile phone is that it can be your very own ATM. However, not only can you do banking, you can also pay for virtual items via your mobile phone and buy online items such as music downloads. These purchases can then be charged to your mobile phone bill.

Payments via the internet can be so much easier than going to the shops to purchase your items. Your mobile phone can also act as a debit card. It takes the payment right out of your checking account. For example, you can pay for on-site items using your mobile phone as a card.

Text messages
Text messages are also popular for banking purposes. For example, you can receive alerts from your bank via text messages. The bank is able to inform you on what payment is due and so on. Two-way messaging is also to enable bank users to make transactions or request an account balance enquiry.

Furthermore, one-time passwords (OTP) can be issued via text message. OTPs are requested by users each time they want to carry out transactions using their mobile banking interface. When the request is received the password is sent to the users’ mobile phone via text message which then expires once it is used.

There is also mobile banking applications developed today which allows you to use your mobile phone for banking, transfer of funds and so on. Banks such as FNB provide a quick and easy way to get connected on your mobile phone. Anyone on any network with any mobile phone can use their mobile phone for banking purposes.

Rica could affect banking
My one concern, however, is the Communications and Provision of Communication Related Information (Rica) Amendment Bill implemented in South Africa. Mobile phone operators have to identify and register mobile phone users. This new law could prove a hindrance to mobile banking. It will no doubt affect people and companies in South Africa who would like to increase financial services by using their mobile phone. This is due to the barriers put in place.

There is also the issue of fraud. Is mobile phone banking really safe enough to implement and use? Mobile banking has become extremely popular. It has been predicted that 800 million people will use their phones to access banks and payment services by 2011. It is difficult not to implement mobile banking.

It is, therefore, important for banks and mobile operators to safeguard people from fraud via mobile phone banking and payment services. Regardless of these issues, I still plan to use my mobile phone for banking purposes and purchasing online items.

Thanks to Pavel Rybin for the picture. Follow Pavel Rybin's phototream to view more images.

BlackBerry brilliance

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:37:00 +0000

There is a sudden influx of South Africans purchasing Blackberry phones. According to Vodacom, 350 000 BlackBerry phones have been sold in South Africa and this is said to increase. If you don’t have a Blackberry, you wishing you had one. I don’t own a Blackberry and I have to admit, I feel rather left out. My humble Nokia 6300 (a replacement phone after my BeatBox M3200 was missing one too many beats in its box) is holding itself together with prestik and I am lucky if the battery will last the day. The Blackberry phones are clearly out of its league.

I first started to notice the popularity of the BlackBerry phone when I came across a number of Facebook status’s that said “bbm” me (BlackBerry messenger) with their BlackBerry pin to follow. Another person in particular, said on Facebook, “bbm me if you dare” with his BlackBerry pin to follow.

My sister recently had her birthday. She was lucky enough to get her very own blackberry as a present. She claims it’s the best present she has ever received. I think she might be overreacting (can you sense some jealously?) but nonetheless, her phone has become her new prize possession. So, what is the reason for the popularity of this phone?

As much as I would like to say terrible things about BlackBerry phones, out of spite of not having one, I have to admit the phone has a lot to offer.

Applications
Firstly, there is a wide range of applications for BlackBerry phones. Although, BlackBerry phones come with a number of applications pre-installed and many more can be downloaded allowing you to choose the applications you want. Applications enable the user to connect, for example, to social network sites such as Facebook.

Furthermore, free music applications can be downloaded such as Tunewiki which is a music player that shows the lyrics to the music you have on your BlackBerry phone. Free sports applications such as Sports Illustrated and other applications, including Google map application, can also be downloaded. More importantly you can install BlackBerry App World which is a program used to find applications and games that could be useful to you.

Besides the applications, the calendar is a useful tool for every BlackBerry user. The BlackBerry even offers convenience keys in which you can set a preference to each key. This gives people ability to personalize their phone. The BlackBerry also allows you to customize your screen and keyboard by selecting the font, font size, key tones and by adjusting your trackball sensitivity to your liking.

It is also small and light and it is functional for business and personal use with its QWERTY keyboard. Some basic functions of the phone include camera, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

But one of the biggest reasons that might have contributed to the popularity of the BlackBerry phones in South Africa is that some BlackBerry models are available on very basic contracts. It is, therefore, accessible to the whole contract market.

The BlackBerry seems to offer a wide range of opportunities and it allows for BlackBerry phone users to personalize their phone to their liking which I think would attract anyone to the BlackBerry phones. This still doesn’t really answer my previous question. Maybe it is just one of many fads that will fade. For now, it is popular and everyone wants them, including me.

Information on the BlackBerry phones extracted from http://www.blackberry.com/

Thanks to Louis for the picture. Follow Louis's photostream to view more images.

Mobile phones encourage bullying

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:19:00 +0000

I remember those days when I couldn’t even reach the kitchen counter but still felt invisible. This feeling gradually fades away especially when you encounter the biggest and most intimidating children at school, you just know to avoid. It is tough growing up but I can’t imagine how it must be for children these days. Now, a quick easy destructive sms could lead to an extremely distressed child. Not only are children faced with bullying in the form of physical abuse or verbal abuse but they are subjected to cyberbullying.

When I wrote a blog post a few weeks ago, regarding mobile phones in an educational setting, I came across the shocking reality of cyberbullying. Technology allows for children to connect, socialise and communicate with one another. But some children are abusing technologies such as mobile phones, which has become the new high-tech version of the school bully. Bullies are now turning to social networks, sms, mms and e-mails to bully children. An online safety survey carried out by NetAlert and nineMSN in February 2007 found that 14% were bullied through their mobile phone.

Cyberbullying is so easy to do with the accessibility of the internet and mobile phones. It can literally happen overnight. Mobile phones have become the new weapon for bullies. A mobile phone gives bullies the perfect ammunition as most children have their own phones.

Bullying can be psychologically damaging to children. Many people who have experienced bullying in the past would agree. Cyberbullying is just adding fuel to fire and can be even more severe than face-to-face abuse.

One of the reasons why it is so popular is that bullies can disguise their identity and remain anonymous so there is little fear of being caught. Children are faced with cyberbullying everyday but are there efforts being made to prevent cyberbullying from taking place?

Firstly, schools need to educate children with regards to cyberbullying. Schools should not only inform them of cyberbullying. Schools need to develop a clear comprehensive policy on what is unacceptable use of the internet on computers and mobile phones.

At Oak view Elementary School in Virginia a student created a survey on the top five hated kids in the his grade. This is an example of how a cyberbully can ruin an educational environment. This is not the only example. It is common in many schools all over the world. Cyberbullying is not only happening at school but also outside school hours.

This is where parents need to step in. Parents also need to inform their children of the nature of cyberbullying. Parents can have control over what their children are surfing on the internet. Internet service providers, for example, do offer some parental control. AOL for example has developed ‘Aol Guardian’ which reports who their children exchange messages with and what website and chat rooms they are visiting.

But what about your mobile phone? Mxit is the perfect mobile application used to bully. Fortunately, anyone who places offensive material on Mxit will be banned from its system. However, it can still be difficult for parents to monitor what their children do on their mobile phones.

As for those who are subjected to cyberbullying via their mobile phone there are ways to prevent it. Firstly, it is important to refuse to respond. Rather not engage them as this is what they want. However, never ignore the threats being made. Rather identify who it might be and what the bully is saying. It is important then to notify your parents. Understand what cyberbullying is so that you are aware of what is happening to you and do not underestimate the destructive nature of cyberbullying (tips extracted from http://www.safeteens.com/tips-to-stop-cyberbullying/).

There is also a large amount of websites that you can be access. These websites provide advice and information on cyberbullying. antibully.org.uk and Stop Bullying Now! are just two websites that can be accessed.

This is not only happening to children but adults too. Adults also need to be aware of the nature of cyberbullying. Most importantly, learn how to protect yourself online and learn how to respond if you or a friend is being cyberbullied. So, start researching now. Finally, don’t be afraid to let someone know that you are being bullied.

Thanks to Ange Embuleniya for the picture. Follow Ange's photostream to view more images.

Phones for the more mature: Part one

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:44:00 +0000

My grandparents are still trying to find their way around their computer. Suddenly their computer has swallowed an icon and it is no longer being displayed on their desktop. For any technology savvy individual it would be painless to replace the missing icon and carry on as normal but for grandparents it is not that easy. Same goes for their mobile phone.

I have been lucky enough to grow up with computers and mobile phones but for my grandparents it is an extremely new experience for them. They are still young at heart and are excited to get involved with this new available technology.

The problem is that these technologies do not seem accessible to seniors. When I recently saw my grandparents they came to me with yet another problem to solve, this time it was their mobile phone. After the problem was quickly solved, I wondered if there were mobile phones that can easily be used by the elderly? My grandparents use only the basic functions on their phone and so they don’t really need the applications or newest mobile phone that most people are pushing for.

There is an alternative to those unusable mobile phones. According to Mobile Industry Review, the Amplicom M5010 mobile phone is a phone that can be accessible to the elderly. It does not have all the fancy gadgets like most mobile phones so it is an uncomplicated phone to use. It has boasting big keys so you no longer have to squint at those buttons you hate so much. It has easy menu navigation, hearing aid suitability and it features a 5 number emergency button.

Another phone that works similarly is the BB200 Big Button mobile phone. According to Matobmobile, it has big buttons, hence the name, a large display, hearing aid compatible, contrasting colours and a very loud speaker but there is more. Vodacom has launched a phone to accommodate the seniors. It is the ZTE S302 mobile phone. According to it news Africa, it has a large visual display and big buttons, together with a loud ringtone, features that help in emergency situations, with an SOS button and number pre-programmed functionality. There is a wide variety of phones with similar functions to these three mentioned above so there are options. But what if you do want the benefits of functions and applications on your mobile phone?

Well, there is a solution as Samsung a177 is said to be largely accessible to seniors and it includes an array of functions and applications. It has a full QWERTY keyboard. This is easier to follow than other mobile phones with complicated keyboards. It is easier to send text messages or write an email. The only issue is that the keyboard is small to accommodate the full alphabet on the keyboard. But that’s why you have eye glasses right?

This phone can be complicated to new comers but it is true that 60+ can adapt to modern technology. Even my grandparents have come to me with fewer queries than before. This phone is simple, affordable and easy-to-use for most and it has a large readable colour screen which caters for seniors.

But if none of this tickles your phone fancy then there is another solution! Your children or grandchildren work well as your own personal technical assistant and they can turn disaster into a once again usable mobile phone.

Thanks to Tom Spender for the photograph. Follow Tom's photostream for more images.

Vision for the visually impaired

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:33:00 +0000

If my dad has left his eye glasses at home, when the family go out for supper, it is as if a tragedy has struck. Without his eye glasses, he can no longer interrogate the waiter about the bill as he cannot see the minute letters and digits sprawled across the receipt. In most occasions, he will lift the bill up in the air, at arms length, while his eyes squint in an attempt to read it. However, this usually doesn’t work. It is also a bad idea to ask him if he needs help as he might just make you pay for it.

However, he also struggles to read his SMSs, emails and find his applications on his mobile phone, without his eye glasses. I can see that this is very frustrating for him and this made me think about mobile phones and how accessible they are to the visually impaired.

Nowadays, mobile phones are all about what functions you have and how many applications you can squeeze onto your mobile phone. With mobile phones you can now browse the internet, take photographs, SMS, MMS and much more. However, this can become confusing. My biggest concern was whether mobile phones, that hold multiple functions and applications, can be easily utilised by the visually impaired.

About 314 million people are visually impaired and 45 million of them are blind. This provides a substantial market for mobile applications and mobile phones for the visually impaired.

There are phones that provide screen readers. According Engadget. Vodafone Speaking Phone reads and describes the icons in the menu. It can also read text messages and it allows users to create and send their own messages. Although some phones have voice recognition systems and screen readers, these phones only provide limited functionalities.

However, with the speedy advancement of mobile phones, they are now made to hold voiceover screen-reader functions and voice commands, including other enhanced applications and functions. According to Accessibility, the Apple Iphone 3Gs (a touch-screen), has enhanced functionalities and voiceover screen-readers and voice commands. The voice commands allow users not only to select contacts by speaking their names but also select music. This phone lets users adjust the magnification between 100% and 500%. The problem is that touch-screen phones are not practical, even with assistance from voice-over screen readers.

However, there are other solutions. Visually impaired users can download screen readers. For example, Oratio is the first screen reader software solution that allows users to access and operate BlackBerry smartphones. This would allow the user, especially the visually impaired, to manage instant messaging, emails, SMS and MMS, make and receive calls, manage contact list, schedule appointments, use alarms and set reminders, use the phone settings, access ring tones and use speed dial.

Furthermore, Naunce TALKS, runs on Symbian operating systems, can also be used in that it converts the displayed text on the mobile handset into speech which allows user to even access Nokia web browsers. Finally, Mobile Speak is software that also includes Braille support that can be used with or without speech.

However, this does not mean that the problem is solved. The mobile industry must continue to be innovative to come up with mobile phones and screen readers that can be downloaded to provide the most accessible, fastest and reliable way to use mobile phones. This will ultimately lead to enabling the visually impaired to use multiple applications and functions on their mobile phone with ease.

Thanks to Jonatas Chunha for the photograph. Follow Jonatas's photostream to view more images.

Mobile phones educate

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:15:00 +0000

A wide range of apps on the iphone that could enhance children's learning experience. For example, the downloadable dictionary app.

I can remember many instances where I have had to furiously scribble words down from lecture slides and leave the lecture theatre with a damaged right hand. However, on one occasion, while I looked up to take a breath, I noticed a fellow student with his phone up in the air. My eyes squinted to see what he was doing. He was taking photographs with his mobile phone of the lecturer slides.

After this incident I started to think about whether mobile phones have a place in an educational setting. The debate around this issue largely circled around Secondary and Primary education rather than Tertiary education. There is large contestation around whether children should be able to have mobile phones at school.

Many believe that mobile phones can enhance children’s learning experience. Firstly, with the use of a mobile phone it is now easy to use mobile phones to access the internet in order to receive endless information. The internet at school can be used for research purposes or reading current affairs and also provides access to online dictionaries.

For schools with limited technology available to students, a mobile phone can be used in place of computers that the class might lack. Mobile phones can also be used as an assistive technology for all. Mobipocket reader is an application that makes reading digital studio books on a cell phone practical. Students can use their mobile phone for reminders and notices about due dates and homework. For example,the use of Google Calendar's free SMS service.

Good or bad?
However, mobile phones seem to pose more problems than benefits. Mobile phones have been used to cheat in exams or tests, play games or SMSing friends during class time. More than 4,000 pupils in UK were caught cheating in exams last summer. This can be distracting for both teachers and students. Some students have fallen victim to cyber-bullying. Mobile phone use at school can also lead to isolating those students who do not have their own mobile phones. There is use of inappropriate SMSing and broadcasting on their mobile phones.

If children do have access to their mobile phones at school, it would be important to teach students appropriate and acceptable use and to abide by the rules that have been set in place. Schools will have to implement a mobile phone plan to warrant against cyberbullying, improper texts and broadcasting. But, where would teachers draw the line though?

The negatives out number the positives but it is also the 21st century and mobile phones usage is on the rise. The problem is that many mobile phones in

South Africa

are not technologically advanced as of yet and are often unusable for educational purposes. However, there is a definite place for them in the future, if mobile phones can be properly regulated at schools.

Thanks to William Hook for the photograph. Follow William's photostream to view more images.

Phone pornography problem

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:42:00 +0000

A phone showing Mxit contacts. An application that has attracted paedopiles.

Recently I watched a ten year old navigate her way around a mobile phone. With a click of a button she had accessed the internet and with a few more thumb movements, she was checking her inbox for recent messages. Nowadays, it is easy to spot children with their own mobile phone. It concerns me, however, that children with mobile phones can access the internet or applications at ease.

This is problematic in that there is a large debate around the easy access of pornography on mobile phones. Now, children can access pornography literally at a push of a button. The question is what is being done to avoid children accessing pornography on their mobile phones?

Instant messaging software applications allow for children not only to chat to their friends but it also enables them to join general chat rooms. People of all ages can access these applications and it is extremely difficult to control. Mxit for example, is just one application that has fallen victim to dissemination of pornography and paedophiles on their application.

But there is a solution! On the 25 March 2010 it was announced that anyone who places explicit or offensive material in public areas, on Mxit, will be banned the system. Parents can also access the Parents Guide to Mxit to better understand this application.

However, applications such as Mxit are not the only culprits and the internet allows for anyone to view pornography on their mobile phone. When I used my mobile phone to search the term ‘pornography’, on Google search, about 18, 500, 000 results were viewed. Now, that is a lot of porn and so easily accessible.

Unlike computers there is no software to block what people do on their mobile phones. However, both Vodacom and Mtn have some limited mechanism for parental control. If your child has internet access, check with the service provider to find out how you can block adult sites.

Furthermore, network operators have implemented verification systems. If customers want to buy porn through their mobile phone they need to verify that they are an adult. So there is a large amount of implementation taking place to protect children from pornography and more recently the Internet and Cell Phone Pornography Bill was drawn up. It is now illegal for internet and mobile phone service providers in the South Africa to distribute or authorise pornography.

One problem is that parents, although are providing children with mobile phones for safety reason, are often oblivious to the amount of content their children are exposed to via their mobile phone. If you want porn, you can get it very easily as it is difficult to control. Mobile companies can only do so much as they cannot block content and information for the ordinary citizen, regardless of the impact it has on children nowadays. Pornography is ubiquitous and unfortunately it is here to stay, so it is important to take as many precautions as you can to protect your child from pornography accessed via their mobile phones.

Thanks to Rafiq Phillip's for the picture. Follow Rafiq's photostream for more images

No need for the big black box

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:41:00 +0000

Mobile-TV

I am feeling it because it is nearly here. South Africa has come alive as the 2010 FIFA World Cup is soon to hit. I can already hear the buzzing sound of vuvuzela’s being blown at all times of the day. Proud South Africans can be seen wearing their Bafana Bafana shirts. With all this excitement surrounding me, I began to wonder how I was going to watch the games as June/July was turning into a very busy two months, regardless of the soccer. With this in mind, I thought about how amazing it would be if I could capture the experience on my mobile phone and watch on the go. I decided to go in search to find the easiest and cheapest way to access the soccer games via my mobile phone. However, I was soon disappointed.

FIFA TV Director Niclas Ericson confirmed in April last year that World Cup matches, results and updates will be available on mobile phones.

But the broadcasting and telecoms regulator have plans to issue licenses for the broadcasting of content via cell phones just before June. Isn’t that extremely close to when the soccer is to start? So, this means that the broadcasting and telecoms regulator have not even issued a mobile-TV license?

There is a debate whether this will be done before the World Cup. The preparation for the World Cup began when South Africa won the 2010 World Cup bid in 2004. So, why is ICASA racing to license mobile-TV operators only now, two months before the World Cup is due to start.

Apparently ICASA initially gave companies just three weeks to apply for the new digital mobile television service license, due the7 May, just in time to be finalised before June. Mobile TV Consortium objected to this deadline but with little time left it is said that an extension won't be granted, at this time, as the government has made commitments that there would be mobile-TV services during the tournament.

However, ICASA received comment on the draft mobile broadcasting regulations, drawn up November 2009. The comments, from MultiChoice, SABC, ETV, Neotel and Telkom and others were used to adjust the regulations. But there were no comments from Mobile-TV Consortium before the final draft.

It is still late to have the final regulations drawn up in only April this year and is unfair to some operators to attempt to reach this deadline. It is virtually impossible for them to be ready in time for the World Cup. Nonetheless, there is some hope that mobile-TV will actually be available in time for the World Cup to begin.

Unfortunately, there are very few handsets in the country capable of receiving the digital video broadcasting handheld (DVB-H) signal which was used by Mutlichoice during a trail run and the price on them are huge. This is worrying and could decrease the amount of people able to use their mobile phones to broadcast the matches. Analysts have also said that mobile-TV won’t be a big phenomenon in the country, because it won’t be utilised as much as SMSs and MMSs.

So, why is there such a push for mobile-TV in South Africa when it won't really benefit South Africans in the long run? Well, maybe it will. With access to GPRS, international roaming, entertainment, mobile-TV, SMS and MMS services, radio, music player and much more on mobile phones there is no doubt that South Africans will be accessing their mobile phone more often and will, hopefully, also have easy access to mobile-TV in the future.

Thanks to James Cridland for the photograph. Follow James's photostream to view more images.

Mobile phone photography

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:36:00 +0000

Room showing different white balance settings

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is just 23 days away. If you plan to attend some games and would like to capture all the action on your mobile phone camera, here are ten helpful tips to capture those spectacular moments on your mobile phone.

1. Make sure that your lens is clean as a dirty lens could blur images.
2. Set your phone to its highest picture quality and resolution. When printing it out it will be of better quality.
3. Set the white balance, if your phone supports it. White balance allows you to change colour balance in your image based on your shooting conditions. A camera will see that a given subject is redder than normal under normal incandescent lighting of your home. Experiment with this feature to get a feel for it.

4. Avoid using a flash and rather take photographs in good light. Avoid places with low light.
5. Frame your shot to make sure that everything you want is in the photograph and ready to capture.
6. Take lots of photographs. You can then look back at your photographs to choose the best images.

7. Avoid using a zoom as this will decrease the quality of your photograph, rather get close to the subject.
8. Follow rules of composition for example the rule of thirds. Don’t place your subject squarely in the middle of your frame but a third of the way in.

9. Finally, when taking the picture keep your hands as steady as you can when pressing the shutter button. After you take the picture keep the phone in position, often photographs are blurry because there is little time for the phone to save the photograph to its memory if you fail to keep your phone in position.
10. If you have camera settings on your mobile phone, learn them and take photographs using these settings to see what you end up capturing.

With the increase of mobile cameras and the large amount of people turning to their mobile phones to capture interesting and spontaneous images, it is worthwhile to learn how to take great photographs on your phone. So, starting snapping away!

Thank you to Bruno Girin for the photograph. Follow Bruno's photostream for more images

Communicating via social network sites

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:33:00 +0000

Many people have turned to their mobile phones to access social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and many more. Even I have started to use my mobile phone, more regularly, to access these sites. A computer is not always accessible but with your mobile phone you can use social networks anywhere, anytime. By 2012, about 800 million people will access social networks via their mobile phone. This is changing how people communicate with one another on their mobile phones.

Previously, when using your mobile phone, SMSs and mobile phone calls were the only way to communicate but now with access to relatively high speed internet on your mobile phone it makes communicating on social networks much easier. People are using social networks rather than SMSs and mobile phone calls as social networks can offer you so much more. For example, when visiting Facebook, not only can you see the recent updates from your friends but you can also view events for the week ahead.

Visiting social network sites on your mobile phone can even be cheaper than a phone call, encouraging many to switch to social networks to communicate via their mobile phone. Opera mini, for example, provides a cheap and easy way to access the internet via your mobile phone. Last year, Patricia de Lille complained that South Africa had the highest mobile phone call costs in the world.

Although, mobile phone calls have fallen in South Africa from R1.25 per minute to 89c per minute in March, after an agreement was reached between the cellular operators and ICASA, it is still a price to pay for mobile phone calls. Often information that can be retrieved over the mobile phone can be accessed via social network sites, encouraging more people to use social network sites to communicate with people.

With the mobile phone you can browse on the go and accessing social networks can be easily checked while standing in a queue or waiting for the local news to come on television. When accessing social networks on your mobile phone it provides you with instant information when needed. For, example after meeting someone it is easy to browse your social network sites to find out more about that person.

People no longer use their mobile phones specifically to SMS or make calls; mobile users are now accessing social network sites to find all the information they need faster and more efficiently than before.

Thanks to IK's World Trip for the pic. Follow IK's World Trip's photostream for more images.

SA ads to mobile

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:44:00 +0000

Advertisers have targeted mxit to reach South Africans

The mobile phone has now become the answer to advertising. Mobile advertising is reaching far greater audiences, as the number of mobile phone subscriptions has predicted to reach 5 billion this year. Advertising companies are turning to the mobile phones for a better chance of consumers clicking on their advertisement. In

Japan

, already 44% of mobile phone owners click on advertisements they receive via their mobile phone.

It is no surprise then, that there is competition between Apple and Google to buy into advertising companies. Contributing Editor at the Search Engine Land, Greg Sterling said, “Apple tries to buy AdMob but Google ‘snatched’ it away”. Apple, however, manages to buy AdMob competitor Quattro Wireless while Google still battles with the US Federal Trade Commission to allow them to merge with AdMob. This competition is just
an example of how successful mobile advertising has become.

South Africa’s involvement
But while I was thinking about the great influx of advertisement targeted at the mobile phone and the ongoing battle between Google and Apple, I started to think about South African's and their involvement in mobile advertising.

Mxit instantly came to mind. Mxit is an application used mostly by the South African youth. Advertisers have targeted this application to reach South Africans. Competitions are advertised daily on Mxit. It also has a viral effect in that people see these advertisements right before they chat to their contacts, it is an advertiser’s fantasy platform.

SMS advertising has also become popular in South Africa. For example, those infamous 'please call me' services are constantly advertising products. MMS is also used often. MMS campaigns are well received. The viral impact is also high with MMS and SMS services as users share their experience with friends and family. Audio advertising is also taking place in that an audio recording plays while interacting with a telephone-based service such as DSTV.

With some South African’s having internet access on their mobile phone, it is possible to download games and video’s on your mobile phone. These applications often have advertisements attached to them, receiving advertisements on a global level.

Brett St Clair, South Africa's country manager of mobile advertising platform AdMob says, “South Africa is making up to a quarter of a billion adverts requested in Africa last month”. There is no doubt that mobile advertising has become successful in South Africa. Many South African advertising companies are using these mobile services to advertise their product.

Getting started
Consuming of advertisements is just as easy as setting up your very own mobile advertising campaign in

South Africa

. Firstly, AdAd.co.za would be a smart place to start and it is free and linked into many mobile technologies. Bulk SMSs are often an easy way to advertise by either using Bulksms or Clickatell which are both simple to use interfaces. Often company use shortcodes (5 digit phone numbers) advertised together with the option to send a word to that number.

AdMob is one of the leading mobile web advertising firms currently operating in South Africa, another option, which allows you to place advertisements with their publisher and take a commission on each advertisement clicked, however, you would need mobile content such as an AdAd mobile web or your own mobi site to link to. Of course, there is Mxit which delivers straight to the community.

Ad Dynamo currently supports Splash advertising on Mxit and it can be easily accessed on the internet to start your own campaign. Starting mobile advertisers can also turn to mobile operators who will advertise your product for you. With all these options what South African advertiser would not want to join the mobile advertising success?

Advertising is now easily accessed via your mobile phone even in South Africa. With so many options it has never been this easy. The rise and success of mobile advertising will only multiply with the prediction of mobile phones users to further increase.

Thanks to AdMob for the video. Video supplied by blip.tv/Creative Commons Search

Thanks to Rafiq Phillips for the photogaph. Follow Rafiq's photostream to view more images.

Captured on camera phones

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:34:00 +0000

Camera phone

I don’t own a digital camera, neither do I have a camcorder to record spontaneous candid camera moments. Instead, I often use my mobile phone to take photographs and to even record video. The powerful portable nature of the mobile phone makes it easier to capture events faster and even often in real-time with the use of services such as Facebook, Twitter, weblogs, Qik and many more. This is changing how we share and show photographs.

Photographs and videos from the recent weekend or from yesterday’s family braai or even that fashion show that happened just an hour ago can now be uploaded on these services, to share those moments with family, friends and even people worldwide. These photographs can further be re-distributed with the use of MMS (multimedia messaging service) and Bluetooth, for example.

Photographs can be re-tweeted on Twitter or emailed to your contacts, used in blogs and links can be provided to enable others to click the link sending them directly to the desired photograph. The same photograph or video can be accessed on various sites on the web.

The accessibility of the mobile phone connected to the global networked nature of the World Wide Web permits almost anyone with reasonable technology and access to distribute personal and critical moments to the world, across borders, time and space. The mobile camera is transforming network news as news is now produced by anyone who has a mobile camera, distributed and redistributed.

Photograph on twitpic
For example, Janis Krum uploaded a photograph on twitpic of a plane that crashed into the Hudson River even before the story broke; many witnessed his tweet before viewing the incident on any other media site. This twitpic was also retweeted and further distributed to the rest of the world.

Janis Krum twitpic of the plane that crashed into the Hudson River

Some citizens witnessing the great Indian Ocean Tsunamis that struck in 2004 were able to capture the event on their mobile phones and distributed these photographs on the web.

7/7 bombings in London
When the 7/7 bombings in London took place in 2005, Adam Stacey captured photographs of himself escaping from the bombed tube train on the Piccadilly Line, making it accessible to people all over the world to be redistributed, transforming his photograph into instant news.

Adam Stacey, a photograph of himself escaping from the bombed tube train

Photographs from mobile phones capturing, more locally, the floods that took place in Cape Town in 2008 are accessible on the internet.

George Polk Awards
Even an anonymous mobile phone video from Iran won the 2009 George Polk Awards at NJN (not just the news) Networks. The video, shocking but powerful, showed Neda Agha-Soltan a young Iranian woman shot and killed during a protest in June 2009, following the Iranian elections. This video is easily accessible on the internet and can be viewed on various sites.

Because of the influx of citizen journalism due to the use of camera phones, media sites such as the Mail and Guardian are even encouraging readers to post there photographs on their news site.

These examples show how citizens contribute and impact the news, as citizens now have a more active role in major news events, capturing real life incidences which are transforming and contributing to the way network news is covered. Because of the use of mobile cameras people accessing the internet are able to turn to citizens to provide them with current events happening all over the world.

HTC camera phone photograph taken by: Warren Rohner. Follow Warren's photostream for more images.

The never ending search

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:30:00 +0000

The Samsung Jet and the Samsung Corby

After I decided to put my mobile phone to rest, I started the search for a brand new one to enter into a fresh partnership, a relationship that will be different to the last. As a journalist studying new media, I want a mobile phone that would be a useful tool for journalism, a phone with a decent camera, recording functions, a reasonably fast web browser and a keypad easy to use.

I thought ending my relationship with my last mobile phone was the hard part but I was soon mistaken. A search that I believed would take five minutes took what felt like a life time, slowly eating away at my bandwidth. I was more confused than ever with the variety of mobile phones to choose from, ranging from Motorolas to Nokias and Samsungs to Iphones. It was like trying to choose between a Jenni Button suit and a Gucci bag, you want them both. It was overwhelming but my search did not end there.

I then stumbled across journalist, Galen Schultz's blog, Witness This, which provided more than just a list of the mobile phones functions but also his personal opinion on each mobile phone he describes. It drew my attention to two mobile phones in particular, the Samsung Jet and the Samsung Corby.

The Samsung Jet was almost exactly what I was looking for, with a web browser at a high performance, a spotlight search, a video recorder, strong battery life, memory like an elephant and a 5.0 mega pixel camera. Shultz explains that the Jet phone is highly versatile but unfortunately you pay for what you get as the Jet costs between R2800 to R5000.

On the other hand, the Corby, not only holds a Facebook application BUT Twitter and Myspace applications to. It also includes live feeds via Facebook and Twitter. This is perfect for the type of life I lead, surrounded by social networks.

The mobile phone included 27 pre-installed widgets, a fast pace web browser, large external storage, and strong battery life and at a relatively cheap price. The price of the phone is between R1500 to R2000, perfect for a student like me but I was disappointed to discover there was no QWERTY keyboard and the camera was only 2 mega pixels. I was still not convinced and my search continues, a search that might lead me to revert back to fixing those beats in my box.

Thanks to Nimbuzz for the picture of the Samsung Jet. Follow Nimbuzz's photostream for more images.
Thanks to Svartling for the picture of the Samsung Corby. Follow Svartling's photostream for more images.

‘Til death do us part

noreply@blogger.com (Mobile Motions) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:42:00 +0000

The mobile phone has come a long way since the humble telephone. For many, the mobile phone is an extension of their lives and few, including me, would not leave home without it.

It is the mobile phone’s portability and additional capabilities that make it much more than just a telephone. With satellite communication and ‘international roaming’, it is now possible for mobile phone users to communicate with people virtually anywhere in the world either by phoning them, text messaging them. People can even access the internet and send a message via e-mail or a social network service such as Facebook or Twitter.

There are many more applications which make the mobile phone a must-have item in today’s world. Your mobile phone can provide you with a handy camera or a music player, a radio or GPS, not to mention a calculator, diary, alarm clock and a source of endless information via Google. It is also a valuable source of entertainment as mobile users can download games and play for as long as their battery lasts.

It is not necessary fact that your mobile phone stores your favourite songs and photographs, that makes your particular phone so special. Like any partnership, it is the familiarity of the relationship that makes a phone so hard to part with. I, for one, have had to part with two phones that were both stolen and know how hard it is to lose all my contacts and special memories.

But the hardship of separation is more than the inconvenience of restoring your phonebook or the fact that you have to fork out more money to buy a new phone, it is the loss of a familiar friend which makes it so difficult to bear. Knowing how and where to access your information at the touch of a button is the key to a good relationship with your mobile phone. Even a new, fancier upgrade is going to cost you hours of frustration before you are able to negotiate your way around your new mobile phone successfully.

And this is why, with my the screen of my mobile phone fading and the speaker no longer working I am still considering whether I should write up another ‘sick’ note and send it off for ‘treatment’ - a route which would involve only a temporary separation – or whether to accept the fact that my Samsung Beatbox M3200 is missing more than a few beats in its box and to switch it off for good.

Thanks to Esther Gibbons for the use of the picture. Follow Esther's photostream for more images.