MEF Blog

The MEF Blog is no more! Long live the MEF Minute

2013-06-07T03:04:00.005-07:00

Yes the MEF Blog, launched way back in 2008, is no longer your one stop shop for the latest MEF news. Now that title goes to the all new member blog, the MEF Minute, the new dedicated source for opinion and discussion about international mobile content & commerce - update your bookmarks now!

The MEF Minute is a new platform for member news, MEF activities and industry insight from around the globe. Representing our diverse and international network the new blog will help you stay up-to-date with the latest views and news across the mobile community, so go ahead and check it out.

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MEF MWC 2013 Briefing: Consumer Trust in Mobile Applications - Part 1

2013-03-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

After 2012's hugely popular panel on consumer trust, MEF's briefing session for MWC this year was held in Barcelona in association with Kaspersky Lab. Part 1, widgetised for your listening pleasure below, features Denis Maslennikov, Senior Malware Analyst at Kaspersky, explaining the latest mobile malware threats affecting app consumers, and Simon Bates of MEF presenting the findings of the MEF Global Privacy Survey 2013.

Listen or download now:

MEFTV spoke with Denis just before the briefing, to get the lowdown on his presentation and the kind of threats he would be talking about.

Stay tuned to MEF Blog for more videos from the session, and part 2 of the podcast featuring the roundtable discussion featuring industry experts from MEF’s Privacy in Mobile Apps Working Group including Brendan Eich of Mozilla, Chris Davies, General Counsel EMEA and Head of Privacy at InMobi and Nick Graham, a Partner at law firm SNR Denton.

MEFTV @ MWC - Andrew Bud, MEF Global Chair

2013-03-08T09:35:00.001-08:00

MEFTV took to the halls of MWC again for 2013, speaking to MEF members about their businesses and their MWC exhibits & announcements. In this video, MEF Global Chair Andrew Bud gives an overview of the week from the MEF perspective, and shares his impressions on the show.

For more MEFTV videos from MWC 2013 - checkout our Youtube channel.

MEF Connects MWC 2013 Photos

2013-03-08T03:18:00.002-08:00

Over 500 MEF members and invited guests from 55 countries rocked the MACBA (that's the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona to you) at our 11th annual MEF Connects MWC 2013. The glitzy new venue provided a quality backdrop for our guests to undertake some serious networking, formed of a broad variety of our global membership from across the mobile value chain for a truly international evening.

Check out a selection of photos from the party below.

MEF participates in AVG Mobile Security Forum

2013-03-01T03:41:00.000-08:00

Following the publication of last month's Global Privacy Report, MEF's Simon Bates was invited to participate in AVG's Mobile Security Forum, held during Mobile World Congress, watch the roundup video of the event below.

MEF's report, supported by AVG Technologies, reveals consumer attitudes towards the use of their personal information by mobile app providers, scrutinising four key factors of privacy, Transparency, Comfort, Security and Control, and is available for MEF members to download for free, while an executive summary outlining the key points is available for all.

MEF Consumer Trust in Mobile Applications Breakfast Briefing with Kaspersky Lab

2013-02-12T09:58:00.000-08:00

MEF is again hosting an essential MWC briefing session for 2013, this year with Kaspersky Lab and focusing on the latest threats affecting mobile app consumers, with a special emphasis on the latest developments in mobile malware.

The morning session (Wednesday, 27 February 2013 from 08:30 to 10:30) will also include a roundtable discussion featuring industry experts from MEF’s Privacy in Mobile Apps Working Group including Brendan Eich, CTO Mozilla, Chris Davies, General Counsel EMEA and Head of Privacy at InMobi and Nick Graham, Partner, SNR Denton. Moderated by Tim Green from Mobile Money Revolution, the panel will debate what the app community needs to do to cement consumer trust and should make for a fascinating start to your MWC Wednesday.

Last year's event was a big draw and provoked some great discussion - and due to high demand, there is currently a wait list for the 2013 briefing, so be sure to add your name below to be in with a chance to attend.

Win MEF Connects MWC13 tickets

2013-02-05T07:52:00.000-08:00

MWC 2013 is just around the corner and as ever MEF is hosting the hottest ticket of the Congress - MEF Connects MWC 2013. Now in its 11th year, the legendary party has moved to an exciting new location; the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA).

MEF Connects MWC is an exclusive bash for MEF members and their guests only, which means tickets can be hard to come by. So for 2013 MEF has teamed up with the Heroes of the Mobile Fringe to give away ten pairs of tickets in an exclusive prize draw, meaning not only could you get to rub shoulders with the cream of MWC attendees, you get to take a friend with you too!

To enter, just head over to their website and leave your details, and if all goes well, we'll see you in Barcelona!

If you would like a bit more certainty around party admission, why not become a sponsor and get your own personal guest list? Supporting the event will give you access to network with the industry decision-makers in attendance and will allow you to bring along your team and clients. There are still sponsorship opportunities available to suit various budgets and all include at least 10 tickets to the party - just contact us today, or leave your details on the MEF webpage.

Celebrating Data Privacy Day

2013-01-28T07:46:00.002-08:00

Today is Data Privacy Day; an international reminder of the importance of keeping our online presence secure and privacy and data protection.

The day began life in Europe as Data Protection Day, commemorating the 1981 signing of convention 108 - the first legally binding treaty addressing data protection and privacy, in 2008 becoming Data Privacy Day in the US and Canada, championed by the National Cyber Security Alliance.

"Data Privacy Day highlights a year-round effort for all of us to improve measures to protect our personal data,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). “We want all digital citizens to feel like they have a choice in how their data is being collected, stored, and consumed and that starts with being educated about the privacy policies of online companies and Web properties. As society increasingly becomes more wired, it’s imperative we understand how to best protect our data.”

The importance of safe data management and privacy is especially pressing when dealing with mobile data. We carry our phones with us everywhere and in this age of Twitter and Facebook with geo-located real time status updates, photo uploads and financial transactions being commonplace, phone users need to be more careful than ever about what information they share with a host of social platforms and applications.

The recent MEF Global Consumer Survey showed that 35% of consumers have concerns around the safety of mobile commerce, citing trust as a key barrier to using the phone to purchase goods and services. The need for mobile commerce and content providers to think seriously about what can be done to protect consumers' data has never been more urgent.

MEF has been championing privacy in mobile since 2011 with various global initiatives and as part of this programme is currently developing an online tool for app developers that will embed best practice privacy right into the heart of app developer’s businesses by allowing them to be completely transparent with consumers about what data their app collects and how it uses it.

The tool is being developed with the help of a dedicated working group of MEF members that span the value chain, comprising developers, app store fronts, privacy experts and business development executives.

The aim is to work towards building trust into apps from the ground up, so consumers can use apps with confidence, knowing before installation what data an app will collect and how it will use it, empowering them to decide what information they are happy to share with a wider online world.

For more information about the Privacy in Apps Initiative, contact info@mefmobile.org

Checkout the Stay Safe Online website for more information about Data Privacy Day, which has a host of resources to help you keep your digital footprint under control.

MEF Member Survey - Win tickets to MEF Connects MWC 2013

2013-01-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

MEF is conducting a global survey of its members for 2013.

The business needs of such a diverse international member community are varied and changing, and MEF is committed to optimising its membership services accordingly. The online survey takes around ten minutes to complete and all participating members will receive a synopsis of the results, offering a strategic insight snapshot across the global community.

If you would rather speak to a real person, you can also carry out the survey over the phone in order to discuss your plans and views in more detail with a member of the MEF team. If you’d like to arrange a review call please contact your local MEF representative or email admin@mefmobile.org

The deadline for completing the survey is 25th January 2013.

All replies completed will be entered into a free prize draw with a chance to win one of five sets of tickets to the legendary MEF Connects MWC 2013 in Barcelona on 25th February at the Museum of Modern Art, hands down the hottest ticket of MWC, so get your responses in for a chance to win.

Have your login details ready to complete the survey on the MEF website.

MEF unveils mobile predictions for 2013

2013-01-04T03:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from MEF Blog! MEF has kicked things off for us in 2013 by unveiling its mobile predictions for the year ahead. Leveraging the collective wisdom of its global board members and insights from the 2012 Global Consumer Survey, MEF has come up with 10 key mobile trends to watch for in 2013, including the growth of convenience as a key driver, Trust as a critical asset and the role of big data.

Andrew Bud, MEF Global Chair, said: ”2012 saw continued expansion and diversification of the mobile content and commerce industry, particularly in growth markets such as Africa and Latin America. In late 2012 MEF launched the findings of our Global Consumer Survey, which highlighted that 88 per cent of the world’s mobile media users now regularly engage in mobile content and commerce. Looking ahead into 2013, all indicators point to another year of global growth across the mobile ecosystem. At the same time, disruption and market challenges, particularly around issues of Consumer Trust, will continue to test our industry’s resolve and agility.”

Continue reading below for the list of predictions, and head over to the MEF website for the full story.

The 2013 Predictions in full:

Convenience becomes paramount: convenience will exceed entertainment as the primary mobile content and commerce driver globally.
Shift in Payments: operator billing will be overtaken by other mobile payment systems in developed markets.
Big Data will drive mobile engagement: widespread rollout of personalised recommendations and alerts based on context and behavioural data enabled by mobile.
Trust as a critical asset: consumer trust around privacy and data collection will become a critical asset for apps and brands in 2013.
Usage Convergence: The dividing line between consumer and enterprise-focused services will melt, transforming the way companies use mobile.
Growth in health and education services: 2013 will see a significant uptake in the use of health and education services, based on interactive mobile content and device penetration. Growth markets will drive this but also developed markets will complement and develop existing systems.
Crowd-sourcing of mobile content: mass-curation of content, such as large-scale photo integration enabling crowd-sourcing of public events imagery, will emerge as a defining mobile apps category, but will experience scaling issues, including transparency and privacy concerns.
The March of Multi-Screens: In 2013 much of the mobile ecosystem’s energy will target the integration of multiple connected screens, such as TV companion services, to deliver a consistent and complimentary experience across every connected device.
Third mobile ecosystems: Windows Phone 8, Firefox OS and BlackBerry 10 will make progress globally, especially in growth markets.
China is coming: Chinese mobile content and commerce vendors will expand into global markets, but will struggle with the complexities of mobile ecosystems and IPR.

Guest Blog: Privacy Update

2012-12-19T04:25:00.000-08:00

The Privacy Blog continues, with news from MEF's Simon Bates on the latest developments in the Privacy in mobile Apps Initiative, and a call for help from MEF members.

You will be aware of the excitement around online privacy. Businesses realised a long time ago that the information they collected from people visiting their sites was valuable to advertisers. Few, though, made it clear that this information was being bought and sold. This led to a public outcry which resulted in ‘Do not Track’ legislation in the USA and the ‘Cookies’ Directive in Europe.

Legislators are now turning their attention to the mobile app market. If the mobile content and commerce industry doesn’t demonstrate its commitment to protecting consumers’ privacy then governments will act. This will lead to strident new rules that may or may not have the desired effect and will impose an extra layer of red tape on businesses.

As you’d expect, MEF is leading the charge. The recently released Global Consumer Survey 2012, available for all members to download for free, found that consumer trust remains a key barrier to the uptake of mobile content & commerce, with 35% of the global audience citing it as their primary concern.

MEF launched its Privacy in Mobile Applications Initiative at the inaugural MEF Privacy Summit in Washington DC earlier this year, with the goal of helping the global mobile industry build consumer trust when interacting with mobile apps that collect user data.

Working closely with members who are experts in privacy law and app development, we are well underway with a programme of work that will clearly show that we do care for consumers. That there’s nothing wrong with collecting and sharing data so long as you are transparent about it and let consumers control the way their information is used.

We are building a tool for developers that will help them build best practise privacy right into the design of their app. The simple web-based platform will quiz developers about how their app uses a consumer’s information.

Based on the answers, it will then provide them with:

A privacy policy that will make sense to consumers! An easily-digestible description of how the app will use their information so they are able to offer informed consent.
A summary analysis of how "privacy-friendly" their app will be. It will identify where the developer falls short of, one, popular app store requirements and, two, industry best practise, and identify simple steps to rectify any issues.

The value of such a tool - free to MEF members - is immediately obvious. We have already formed links with reputable public policy organisations which will help us bring this work to the attention of governments and consumers around the world. We will promote it – and the members involved with its creation – at every available opportunity.

We are extremely grateful to those members, namely; Addafix, AVG, Coca-Cola, Electronic Arts, Impact Mobile, InMobi, mBlox, Nielsen, OpenMarket, Preiskel & Co, SNR Denton, Turner, UFT and Vodafone, who have already contributed their time and expertise.

But we can always do with more help.

Specifically, we are looking for members with the skills and capacity to help us build the tool. It is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your credentials to the developer community and the mobile industry. Please do get in touch if you are interested in getting involved in this or any other capacity.

MEFTV at the MEF Africa Office Launch

2012-12-18T03:41:00.000-08:00

MEFTV spoke to several of the new Steering Committee members at the inaugural meeting, held in Cape Town during AfricaCom last month. Here we hear from MEF members Digitali, with Stefano Valenti & Demetre Kotsonis, and get their thoughts on the role MEF can play in Africa.

To hear more from the MEF Africa Steering Committee members, head over to the MEF website.

MEF Africa Launch in pictures

2012-12-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

MEF recently launched its dedicated presence in Africa at the inaugural Steering Committee meeting in Cape Town. The new MEF office was launched in association with Vodacom, and aims to help promote African mobile growth and showcase innovation.

The launch and steering committee meeting were well attended by a cross-section of industry luminaries from right across the value chain, and representing the whole of the African continent - check out the photos from the launch below - and to find out more, head over to the MEF website.

Take the Women in Wireless London Chapter "State of Play" Survey

2012-12-16T05:07:00.000-08:00

Women in Wireless (WiW) London is conducting a survey among females in the mobile and digital media industries in the UK and you are heartily encouraged to participate by clicking this link. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

The survey objective is to explore the current state of play for women’s career and life choices, and to understand how companies can work with organisations like WiW to develop the skills and options available for women to pursue a challenging and fulfilling career path.

As a reward for participating, you will have the option to provide your email address to be entered into a prize draw to win a Kindle HD tablet – a special post-holiday season gift! WiW will also inform you of the survey results and future London activities.

Click here to participate and rest assured that your contribution will remain confidential and your details will not be shared with any third parties.

To keep in touch with WiW activities, join “Women in Wireless London Chapter” on LinkedIn and Facebook, and follow @WiWLondon on Twitter.

MEF Middle East surveys show strong mobile growth in Middle East region

2012-12-14T08:46:00.000-08:00

MEF Middle East’s Office, co-founded by the Qtel Group, has published its third Middle East Mobile Content & Commerce Survey, carried out in partnership with KPMG. It found that overall the level of confidence in growth in the region remains bullish, and is growing.

Fot the third year running, MEF again invited everyone who does business in the Middle East, no matter where they are headquartered, to share their insights into this key market.

The study offers a unique time line of business confidence in mobile content and commerce activities in the region. The market appears to be growing ahead of expectations with almost a half of respondents saying their company had grown, while just one in ten had contracted during the third quarter of 2012. 90% of respondents were optimistic about growth with notable increases in both mobile social networks (33 per cent) and mobile games (10 per cent) segments.

The results of the third ME Survey reflect the findings of MEF's annual Global Consumer Survey released last month. Carried out in partnership with On Device Research it reveals the behaviour of mobile media users from across the world, giving unprecedented data and intelligence into mobile engagement and purchasing habits.

Head over to the MEF website to download the survey report in Arabic or English - available to all MEF members right now. Non members may download an executive summary of the findings.

MEF North America m-Commerce Playbook

2012-12-12T03:53:00.000-08:00

The MEF Global Consumer Survey found that the US now has 91% penetration of mobile content & commerce, with growth in all mobile content and commerce behaviors – product research, banking and purchasing. Members in North America are currently working on the MEF mCommerce Playbook, an exclusive MEF member resource that you will soon be able to download from the main website.

Contributing members include SNR Denton, RIM, InComm, Alliance Data, Impact Mobile, PayOne, OpenMarket, Nielsen, Buck, Samsung and MoPay.

The playbook will feature information on:

Current m-commerce and mobile payment models
Security and threats that need to be addressed
Emerging issues that need to be addressed by the industry
Retail and Content focused strategies
Regulatory process

For more information on the m-commerce Playbook, please contact MEF North America GM Marjorie Daleo Dehey.

New Leadership in MEF North and Latin America

2012-12-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

MEF has announced the results of its 2012 North and Latin America board elections.

The elections took place at the international trade association’s regional AGMs held in Miami as part of the third annual MEF Americas 2012, where over 160 senior mobile executives from across North and Latin America’s mobile ecosystems gathered and the inaugural Battle of the Start-ups competition in association Red Herring also took place.

Ron Czerny, CEO of Playphone, who previously chaired MEF’s LatAm Chapter, was elected North America Chair by the new Board and Filipe Roup Rosa, Business Development Director at Boku, was elected as MEF LatAm Chair.

Former MEF North America Chair, Gary Schwartz was re-elected to the regional Board and will take up the role of Special Representative to MEF Global to drive m-Commerce and growth initiatives.

For the full press release, head over to the MEF website, or continue reading below for more details.

MEF North America

Upon his re-election, Ron Czerny said: “I am very proud of what has been achieved by MEF LatAm in the last two years; but for me it is just the beginning and I will continue to support MEF’s development now as North America Chair. With such a strong new Board representing all mobile stakeholders, the vision is to enable all MEF members to get closer to Silicon Valley to enhance and share MEF’s eleven years of knowledge and experience, bringing our global community including a focus on Growth Markets to the heart of the mobile industry.”

The full board reads as:

Ron Czerny - Founder & CEO, Playphone (Chair)
Sanjaya Krishna - US Digital Risk Consulting Leader, KPMG (Vice Chair)
Todd Daubert - Partner, Technology, Media and Telecoms, SNR Denton
Brendan Eich - Co-Founder and CTO, Mozilla
Fiona Gellatly- VP of Marketing, Incomm
Scott Gamble - VP of Digital Solutions, Alliance Data
Paran Johar - CMO, Jumptap
Kevin Morrow - VP for Strategic Partnerships, Samsung Media Solutions Centre
Tim Ritchie, VP of North American Sales and Account Management, OpenMarket
Jeff Sawyer - VP, Mobile and Connected Device Solutions, Turner Broadcasting
Gary Schwartz - CEO, Impact Mobile
Jonathan E. Stern - Director of Business Development & Partnerships, Red Bull Media House

MEF Latin America

Former MEF LatAm General Manager and newly elected MEF LatAm Chair, Filipe Rosa said: “I am very excited to be a part of the LatAm Board again as the new Chair. I look forward to working with our dedicated board members to ensure MEF continues to be the guardian of the entire mobile industry in Latin America, focusing on sustaining and creating monetization opportunities while simultaneously bridging the new perspectives developing in m-commerce and expanding MEF’s activities to the whole of Latin America to ensure we provide value to our members right across the region”

Here's the full board lineup:

Filipe Roup Rosa, Business Development Director - Boku (Chair)
André Andrade, CEO - Titans Group (Vice Chair)
Fabricio Bloisi, CEO - Movile
Yuri Fiaschi, VAS Business Development Director - Spring Wireless
Arturo Galvan, Founder & CEO - Naranya
José Renato Mannis, Founder & CEO - Mobint
Antoni Muntaner, Chairman - Binbit
Diogo Sousa - KPMG
Reinaldo Acosta, VP Commercial Development - WAU Movil
Paulo Pessoa, Brazil Managing Director - TIMWE
Ignacio Riesgo, Head of Developer Ecosystem Americas - Nokia
Josh Weinrobe, Director Business Development LatAm - Turner Broadcasting

Rimma Perelmuter, Executive Director, MEF Global said: “We are delighted to welcome all of the newly elected members to the MEF North and Latin American Boards. Their diverse industry expertise along with new leadership will continue to shape the mobile content and commerce industry in the respective regions as well as support MEF globally to help members successfully navigate the increasing complexity of the mobile landscape.”

MEF Panel - the Internet Show, Jakarta

2012-12-07T03:47:00.000-08:00

MEF Asia Chairman Colin Miles recently moderated a thought leadership panel at the Internet Show in Jakarta on the 5th December, “Making mobile-commerce a viable option in Indonesia”

The discussion explored various mobile topics including facilitating m-commerce, analysing the current gaps in infrastructure, the Indonesian Perspective shown in the MEF Global Consumer Survey and the latest review on proposed regulatory changes.

Colin presented the key findings from the from the Global Consumer Survey on the mobile ecosystem in the region, and the review on the proposed Indonesian VAS regulations and how it will affect mobile transactions and consumer trust issues.

The Global Consumer Survey, including the dedicated country report for Indonesia, is available to download from the MEF website, and is free to MEF members.

For more information contact MEF Asia GM Linda Ruck.

Samsung VIP Executive Dinner Series

2012-12-03T03:49:00.000-08:00

MEF’s Executive Dinner Series, launched back in September, returned to Beverly Hills in LA for the second instalment last month.

The series, sponsored by Samsung, brought together top level industry execs to discuss how new interactive platforms are continuing to transform the media, sports and entertainment industries.

Executives from top studios, such as Warner Brothers, and top VCs, such as Shea Partners, joined Samsung to discuss emerging technologies and innovative solutions.

The next executive dinner is set to take place once again in city near you, so stay tuned for more information!

To find out how you can host an executive dinner in your city, please contact MEF North America GM Marjorie Daleo Dehey.

Global Consumer Survey 2012 - Register now for the Webinar

2012-11-22T04:58:00.000-08:00

Date: Wednesday 28th November
Time: 11AM GMT / 12PM CET / 1PM South Africa / 2PM Qatar / 4.30PM India / 7PM Singapore

Register now

As part of the 2012 Global Consumer Survey release MEF is hosting a one-hour webinar to present the key findings from this year’s 10-country study and to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by the survey.

Moderated by report author Tim Green of Mobile Money Revolution, MEF’s research partner On Device Research will present the findings of the 2012 behavioural and usage mobile content and commerce survey, offering a deep-dive into the data for all participants.

A lively debate from an international expert panel will follow, to discuss what the insights mean for different markets and verticals.

Panellists include:

Diane Alphonse, Head of Marketing, Communication & PR, Barwa Bank
Rob Malcolm, Messaging General Manager, mBlox
Rohit Bhayana, Head of Global Business Operations, Comviva
William Yell, Executive Head Digital Design, Vodacom
Rimma Perelmuter, Executive Director, MEF
Speaker Info

Sign up for the webinar now, and remember the survey including the 10 individual country reports is available for all MEF members to download for FREE! Non-members can also purchase the reports on the MEF website.

MEF Americas 2012: Thanksgiving Discount

2012-11-21T10:02:00.000-08:00

Book before Wednesday 28th for 25% off tickets!

MEF Americas: Mobile Content & Commerce, the essential two day gathering for thought leaders & deal makers from across North & Latin America’s mobile content and commerce ecosystems, has announced a fantastic Thanksgiving offer.

For one week only, you can save a massive 25% on your entry to the 2-day conference in Miami this December. The MEF Americas 2012 speaker line-up represents all players in the mobile content and commerce value chain, including:

Carriers: Riding the New Revenue Wave with Sprint
Brands: transition to cross-platform media company Red Bull Media House
M-Commerce: revolutionizing customer engagement Crone Consulting
Mobile Engagement: pushing the boundaries mBlox, SapientNitro & Urban Airship
HTML5: Why the browser is the new Super-App with Mozilla
China: business workshop UCWeb hosted by Great Wall Club
Big Data: the new mobile economy inMobi and PayOne
Consumer Trust: privacy & piracy with Federal Trade Commission, IFPI andTRUSTe

And many more being announced daily..

Don’t miss out on the cross-border mobile event of the year. Head to the MEF Americas website to reserve your place by Wednesday 28th November to receive the Thanksgiving discount.

Mobile Web in Africa 2012 - MEF Members save 20%

2012-11-20T09:03:00.003-08:00

Africa’s premier mobile conference, Mobile Web in Africa, returns to Johannesburg November 27th through 29th. Following three sell-out successes, the 2012 edition once again features a day dedicated exclusively to mobile marketing and represents the industry’s foremost opportunity to share knowledge and do business.

Industry experts from companies including Vodacom, MXit, 2go, M&C Saatchi Mobile, Nedbank, Prezence Digital, biNu, Huawei, and Google will share insights on mCommerce, mobile for social good, the rapidly evolving mobile app ecosystem, the feature phone versus smartphone debate, enterprise mobility and the impact of mobile social media.

View the complete speaker faculty here.

With contributors from South Africa, the UK, Australia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria and over 200 attendees from across Sub-Saharan Africa this is an event not to be missed.

For more information on Mobile Web in Africa 2012 visit www.mobilewebafrica.com or send an email to info@allamber.co.uk. A limited number of half price tickets are available for start-ups and developers and MEF members are entitled to a 20% discount - contact MEF for your promo code.

MEF recently announced the launch of a dedicated African Chapter to support mobile innovation, deliver market analysis and connect African business to the global mobile industry - see the MEF website for the details.

MEF Global Consumer Survey 2012 Infographic

2012-11-20T06:35:00.002-08:00

Source: The MEF Global Consumer Survey 2012

MEF launches dedicated African Office in association with Vodacom

2012-11-13T02:05:00.002-08:00

MEF has today announced the launch of a new dedicated African office in association with Vodacom to help promote African mobile growth and showcase innovation.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, the MEF Africa Office will serve as a hub for the trade association’s growing African membership. A MEF member steering committee from across the African mobile ecosystem has already been constituted to drive the regional agenda.

Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director said: “With such diverse innovation originating in the African continent, it is clear that Africa offers the mobile industry a strategic opportunity to learn and do business. There is already strong MEF membership in the region and as an organisation, MEF brings with it over a decade of heritage as a truly global trade body which has established vibrant local chapters in some of the most diverse and challenging markets in the world.

"By launching MEF Africa, in association with Vodacom, we will provide an essential hub for mobile companies throughout the African mobile ecosystem and beyond. A dedicated Steering Committee will provide a strong platform to drive the regional agenda and ensure that the newest MEF office showcases home grown innovation, undertakes relevant initiatives and connects local businesses to MEF’s global member base.”

Prins Mhlanga, Managing Executive of Vodacom Digital Media, added "MEF has a lot to offer to the telecommunications industry and consumers who stand to benefit from the innovations that will emanate from its initiatives and analytics. Its expertise in commissioning and producing unique reports in the international mobile arena is invaluable and its ability to bring together industry leaders to collectively progress opportunities will benefit the local and African market. We’re pleased to be associated with MEF’s initiative.”

For the full press release with all the details, head over to the MEF website.

Guest Blog - MEF Privacy Update

2012-11-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

In this new regular feature, Simon Bates of MEF will discuss the issue of mobile privacy and the work currently being undertaken by MEF’s Privacy in Mobile Apps initiative, which is working with MEF members to build a robust and trusted mobile ecosystem for consumers and developers alike.

“There's an irresistible market for our data but that doesn't necessarily make us the product – it could make us traders.” David Mitchell

There is a lot of talk right now about privacy. The fall-out from the phone hacking scandals in the UK shone a spotlight on the ways tabloid journalists peer into celebrities’ private lives. But it’s not just celebs – we all have to watch what we put in the rubbish...

I guess it started when we found out ‘they’ were keeping copies of the embarrassing photos we posted on the internet, and wouldn’t necessarily hand them back if we asked them to. The internet taught that these photos – and people’s personal information in general - was valuable, maybe even more valuable than physical goods. Judicious use of raw data meant that ads could be better targeted, meaning better click-through and conversion rates.

The thing is ‘raw data’ isn’t like oil, gas or any other natural resource sitting there waiting to be exploited. It belongs to a human being. And it’s not like any other possession – it’s part of us. It’s our identity; a record of health or aptitude; a list of our friends; our habits and secrets; where and how we live our lives. All of this is – or at least used to be - considered private.

Legislators in Washington and Brussels cottoned on to this and scrambled to update laws around data protection. Some of the biggest beasts of the internet had their hands slapped and ordered to change the ways they collect and use consumers’ information.

With the explosion in mobile apps, these same lawmakers are turning their attention to the way companies make use of information garnered from mobile devices. The White House recently published a Privacy Bill of Rights outlining its best practice approach to consumer data use. The California Attorney General has said she will enforce California’s Online Privacy Protection Act against app developers who must now have a privacy policy.

Amid the hyperbole and outcry, it’s important to remember there’s nothing wrong with harnessing personal information. It means consumers see ads for products they want at a price they’re happy to pay. In mobile, it often means the price for an app is heavily discounted.

Commerce has always been about mutually beneficial exchange. I give you a product and in return you hand over something of value to me. So I see nothing wrong with offering an app in return for the user’s information and usage habits. The trick is to make sure that the exchange, like any other commercial activity, is above board: transparent and fair to both parties.

And this cuts to the heart of the issue. Too often, consumers are totally in the dark about the way companies are making use of their data. They probably wouldn’t mind if it was explained to them – that they’re receiving an excellent app at a knock-down price in return for limited access to information on how they live their lives. The problem is this is rarely made clear. When they find out, consumers consequently feel cheated and, worse, that their privacy has been trampled upon.

It’s essential that the mobile app community demonstrates its commitment to using data responsibly. If it doesn’t – if regulators lose confidence in our efforts to act in the consumer’s interest – there may be strident new rules backed up by tough sanctions. These rules may or may not have the desired effect and they may put unnecessary burdens on app developers and stores.

My name is Simon Bates and I manage MEF’s Privacy in Mobile Apps initiative. MEF is leading the mobile industry’s response to this challenge and to help the industry build a robust and trusted ecosystem for consumers and developers alike.

I’ll sign off for now with another quote from David Mitchell’s excellent article on privacy. Watch this space for news on the exciting work we’re doing in this area.

“Corporations shouldn't extort information secretly but neither can consumers withhold it at all costs. The parasitism of corporations snooping on us could become a symbiosis, in which information is freely surrendered in exchange for something concrete: say...adverts that are actually useful because they offer things we want to buy and ways of doing so more cheaply.”