Zune HD is Impressive, But Lack of App Store is Not

scottlachut — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Just when Microsoft seemed poised to recapture some of Apple’s market dominance with the release of its Zune HD – a worthy opponent to the iPod (mp3 player of choice and current industry leader) – I read press stating that the device won’t be an open platform for third party app developers. Instead, Microsoft has hand picked a small number of firms to create software for the Zune media player. A move that seems to get the equation only half right and will surely stifle innovation.

This is puzzling news, given the popularity of such applications and seemingly overnight growth of a modern day cottage industry around this array of gadgets. Hardware has the ability to create excitement in the short term, but the constant stream of applications with novel and useful implications is what truly builds a loyal following.

Wired explains how this decision differs from the larger mobile tech landscape, ”Apple’s App Store allows anyone to submit iPhone and iPod Touch apps, although Apple exerts stringent (and often capricious) control over which apps make it to the public. Google’s Android Market is completely open to any developers who wish to offer apps for it. Research in Motion, Verizon, Nokia and Palm have also all opened mobile app stores to compete with Apple’s.”

I can’t help but think that this is an acknowledgment on the part of Microsoft that they weren’t able to compete in the app space with the likes of Apple “so why bother” kind of attitude that is no way to build consumer confidence. I for one, am certainly not buying this particular stance, and as a result, probably not the Zune HD either.

Nokia Enters Mobile Payment Market

scottlachut — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:00:58 +0000

Back in March, Nokia invested $35 million into Obopay, a start-up that lets people transmit money to one another via text message, making it the single largest round of funding given to any such service this year. Apparently that move was designed to bolster Nokia’s own platform, as the mobile company announced a new mobile payment service called Nokia Money, that will allow consumers to send money, pay bills and recharge pre-paid phone cards–all using their cellphones. The system is set to come to Asia and Africa in 2010, though it remains unclear if and when we can expect to see it in the US. Speeding this release to market could pay huge dividends to Nokia in these countries considering the ubiquity of cellphones, whereas computers are far less commonplace.

This builds on the several key drivers of the overall market as consumer demand for ease of transaction, mobility, convenience and immediacy continues to grow. As more banks and retailers get on board it opens more doors for everything from traditional real world purchases to virtual buys.

In the US, the key component appears to be the widespread adoption of the smartphone and all of the functionality that comes along with it. Nokia enters tis emerging sector at a time when there are few competitors, but other players do exist – big names like Mastercard and Facebook and lesser-knowns like Boku and Zong – all trying to establish a universal platform. And this universality will be essential in determining who rises to the top, as developers look to seamlessly push their service across multiple platforms and handsets.

In the meantime, I’m curious to see how banks and retailers respond. Will they go for the appeal of reaching the largest audience and leverage every system or will they back a winner and negotiate lower transaction fees? This will be an interesting show to watch.

[image via whiteafrican]

Mouli Cohen» Zune HD is Impressive, But Lack of App Store is Not | Mouli Cohen

Zune HD is Impressive, But Lack of App Store is Not

Nokia Enters Mobile Payment Market