Mobile data speeds are increasing. PR should act now
Posted Monday, February 27, 2006 at 3:23pm in Blogging, PR General, Technology | 1 Comment
The BBC is reporting that mobile phone operators have acknowledged that mobile data speeds need to increase and have plans for several technologies that could potentially do it.
It goes on to say that operators are aiming for phones to have a network response time of 100 milliseconds which is the point where humans stop noticing a delay. Current 2G models that the majority of people use today can’t handle the planned response times but with some tweaking and upgrading, 3G models will be able to.
One technology that is in the pipeline is 3G-LTE (Long Term Evolution) which could give bandwidth speeds of up to 100Mbps. Okay, the laptop I’m writing this post is running on a speed of no where near that but still ample for my needs – surfing, downloading, uploading and streaming.
Think about that for a second and imagine the possibilities and threats it could pose for PR. Before I go on, I must point out that after a little digging around I found that the 3G-LTE isn’t planned on being introduced until 2009 and there are still one or two issues regarding the infrastructure and costs that the network providers will have to overcome.
However, it seems that the major mobile players are up for it as demand for mobile TV and video is increasing. There’s even note saying these speeds could introduce higher VOIP usage among mobile phone users which would be beneficial to mobile operators due to cost savings and the ability to introduce multimedia services. How that part works I don’t know?
So what can PR do to capitalise on this emerging technology? Users will be able to effortlessly stream and download video and audio direct to their phones; there will be an abundance of on-demand TV shows, radio stations, podcasts and video blogs. Users will be networking with one another and seamlessly sending high definition video to each other and to the web. Viral video will spread from mobile to mobile as they do now through email.
In short, what’s happening on the Internet now will happen on mobile phones in the future - adding roughly 1.5 billion extra devices to distribute content to.
Now, I don’t know if I’m unwittingly over-hyping this but there is a lot of potential here and an even greater need to embrace social media, because when (or if) it happens, PR needs to be at the forefront distributing content offline, online and to the mobile web.
UPDATE:
Read this piece in the Technology Guardian on how the consumer will decide the success of mobile TV.
Technorati tags:
pr, public+relations, mobile, mobile+web, stephen+davies
New Video iPod pic exposed as a fake
Posted at 1:30am in Blogging, Technology | Leave a Comment
Many a tech expert was slightly hopeful that the picture of the (so called) new Video iPod flying around the blogosphere was the real deal. Normally when these mock-ups are released there’s usually one or two errors that soon get picked up. It seemed you can’t fool anyone in the blogosphere for too long. Even this alleged video of the new Google operating system is feeling the wrath of the blogosphere at the moment. It looks perfectly believable to my untrained eye!
But this latest photo took the scepticism out of even the most hardened of geeks - Endgadget being one of them. But as quick as you can spell F.A.K.E this video is released on YouTube and I have to say it’s pretty good. I don’t know a great deal about the guy who done it but I believe he’s from Holland.
I love the music! It’s got a spy-hype-James-Bond-conspiracy-Live-and-Let-Die type of feel to it.
This is a good example of how something like this could tie in with a PR campaign. Creating buzz, suspense and intrigue. Of course, you don’t want to do anything to annoy people, but I just love how it’s all been revealed in the end! Heh! Well done!
Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog
Researching? Choose Firefox
Posted at 12:18am in Blogging, PR General | 8 Comments
Looking through my stats today, I noticed that there is a high percentage of people landing on this blog that’s using the fantastic web browser Firefox. Note: Let me clarify that I am in no way a stat or feed junky. Seldom do I ever check the stats of this blog (ahem!) or visit my FeedBurner account to see how many subscribers I have (ahem!) because that would be lame wouldn’t it?
It was one of them rare occasions where I decided to take a look and ended up being pleasantly surprised. Just over 60 per cent of visitors are using what in my opinion is the greatest browser the world has ever seen….ever! However, there’s still quite a few (25 per cent) using the terrible monstrosity of a browser known as Internet Explorer, or IE for short or ‘Incontrollable Experience’ for a real definition.
Why, why, why people? It will only lead to heartache, heartbreak, crashes and smashes. Make the switch, change your life…well, maybe not your life but your browsing experience and (to coin the phrase) rediscover the web.
This is a PR blog, so I’m assuming that everyone who reads this blog is in, or has something to do with PR? So this is a post on how to utilise Firefox as a research tool from a PR perspective and help make you more efficient as a PR pro.
Although a diverse profession, one fundamental part of PR is carrying out research. No matter which sector you work in, you’ll frequently research various topics ranging from the population of Outer Mongolia to if David Beckham really has a symmetrical obsessive compulsive disorder. You just never know. The Internet has a wealth of information but it’s how to find it and store it.
Extensions
The del.icio.us extension is great to quickly add any sites, blogs, articles etc you find of interest. You can also quickly access your account, inbox, del.icio.us popular and my personal favourite, the related tags and users page, which lets you see how many people have bookmarked a site. Here’s mine. But very rarely do I check it (Ahem!).
The Better Search extension enhances Google and other search engines by adding previews (thumb nails), Way Back Machine links, quick preview links and others all in the search results. Oh it works in del.icio.us too.
The Who Is this Person extension is a nifty little tool that allows you to highlight a person’s name you want to find more about, right mouse click and you then have the option to search LinkedIn, Wikipedia, Technorati, Google, Google News, TailRank, Yahoo! People Search and ZabaSearch.
I use the Skype Toolbar extension for one reason only. It highlights any phone number on a webpage enabling you to make a call quickly. Simply, hover the mouse over the number and with one click you’re ready to go. It adds the appropriate dialling code depending on what country the number is from.
I use ScreenGrab and Highlighter simultaneously. If you ever want to show someone a snapshot of some specific text on a web page, then it’s easily done. You can also save full webpages using ScreenGrab too.
InFormEnter is my God send. I hate the signing up process you have to adhere to when joining a website. This cool extension lets you pre-enter all your details so when the time comes, you can swiftly put them all in with a couple of clicks.
I use the Google toolbar for two reasons. 1. I can check my spelling when entering comments in other people’s blog posts and 2. The word find feature is very handy indeed when searching for specific words on a page full of text.
Bookmarklets
Here’s a list of bookmarklets that I find handy when doing a little research. Note: Drag and drop the links into your toolbar if you want to use them.
Acronym Lookup is useful if you’re ever stuck for a definition. Enter the acronym and it will give you a list of possible definitions from the Acronym website.
Search delicious Tag allows you to quickly query a tag from del.ico.us. You’re looking for sites that people have tagged ‘publicrelations’? No problem, click the bookmarklet, enter the tag and away you go.
BugMeNot bookmarklet stops them annoying sites that ask you to sign up even if you only want to read one article. BugMeNot members add usernames and passwords to such sites allowing you to sign in incognito. I tried it for PR Week (paid subscription) but alas! 
Google Translate comes in handy from time-to-time. Admittedly not very often but still useful. I sometimes read Klaus Eck’s (the original PR Blogger) blog using it now and again.
TalkDigger This is cool. If you’re not familiar with TalkDigger, it’s a superb tool to monitor what people are saying about a particular site, link or article. It scans T/rati, MSN, Goog, Goog Blog Search, Bloglines, Yahoo!, BlogDigger and digg. If you land on a site and you want to know other people’s opinions just click the bookmarklet and it will take you straight there.
Browser engines
I love how Firefox has the ability to store an assortment of engines that are neatly tucked away, ready to be used for your researching pleasure. There is choice in abundance ranging from shopping to arts to education to maps. I find these ones particularly useful:
The Wikipedia engine is used religiously every day. It’s my favourite and has helps me incessantly. On a side note, Wikipedia are asking for donations. If you use it as much as me, give a little.
The Answers engine is great for finding dictionary and thesaurus definitions, idioms, synonyms, antonyms, cultural views and translations.
The Rollyo engine is useful tool to quickly scan your personal search engines pre-made via the Rollyo site. I’ve created two personal search engines out of UK national newspapers and my favourite PR blogs. The downside to Rollyo is you can only add 25 sites/blogs to each.
The final three I use are the Technorati, Amazon Book Search (Uk version) and Google Book Search engines. They do what it says on the tin really.
That’s it. There are other extensions, bookmarklets and engines I use but they’re not associated with researching. Have I missed any? What do you find indispensable?
If you haven’t already, Get Firefox
Technorati tags:
research, firefox, pr, public+relations, stephen+davies
Eight PR moblog hacks…
Posted Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 9:59pm in Blogging, PR General | 9 Comments
…because I couldn’t think of ten.
Moblogging is still a relatively new concept but is bringing together communities across the world. Wikipedia definition: “Moblog is a blend of the words mobile and weblog. A mobile weblog, or moblog, consists of content posted to the Internet from a mobile or portable device, such as a cellular phone or PDA. Moblogs generally involve technology which allows publishing from a mobile device.”
Moblogging is a tool that, in time, will be used in various PR campaigns. Statistics show that in 2005 over 800 million camera equipped phones were sold globally - something that the PR profession cannot ignore and should be attempting to utilise.
The old saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words” rings true, so imagine if you will, if you had a thousand moblogging publics? That’s a lot of words!
Regional Development Agencies
Your client is a regional development agency that aims to promote the area where it’s based. Set up a branded moblog and ask residents, visitors and tourists to email scenic, fun, party and events photos in order to show people who plan on visiting the area what is has to offer. And remember, the Internet is usually the first thing people use when checking out an area they’re visiting.
Non Governmental Organisations
NGOs are not restricted to only one country with some being truly global organisations. For example, Oxfam works in numerous third world countries helping the unfortunate. Setting up a moblog for volunteers is an effective and easy method to show the world the work they are doing and the plight that some people are in first-hand.
Promotion
This one has already been done here, here and here. And yes, I may have blogged about it before, but I think it’s a great way to create interaction between fans and their idols. Band members are posting ‘life on the road’ as they gig and tour, giving the fans inside information.
Promotional moblogging could also be used for other individuals such as MPs when they’re on a campaign trail or a movie crew to generate hype when filming a movie.
Branding
Okay, you work for a client who wants to increase their branding online. What about running a moblog competition where entrants can email (by camera or phone) the most ‘way-out’ photos of your client’s products with a winner chosen every month? E.G “The Starbucks Photo Challenge” or “Pepsi Picture Perfect” or “McDonalds Moblog Madness”. Work with me here!
The use of these photos could be taken a step further and used as grass roots advertising campaigns.
Internal Communication
Internal communication is an essential part of every organisation and is considered a vital tool for enhancing employee morale, promoting transparency and reducing attrition. Large organisations could benefit from a moblog where staff can post photos of nights out, club events, marriages, births, etc. Not only will this promote staff morale internally, but promote the organisation to outside publics including prospective job applicants as a ‘fun place to work’.
Media Relations and Coverage
You’re organising a press conference, photo shoot or event and most (or possibly all) of the invited media fail to show up. Your client’s peeved as it looks like they’re not going to get the coverage they’re after. What do you do? As a back up (or indeed as an added extra) set up a moblog prior so you have an archived photo diary of the events as they unfold.
Or, what if the media have told you they can’t make it due to time constraints or deadlines? Why not send them a link to the moblog and tell them you will be adding content in real time. Not only will it help you get coverage but you might also be doing the journalists a favour too.
Campaigning
Friends of the Earth are an environmental campaigning group that is sub-grouped into 70 countries. They fight against many issues affecting the world including pollution. Setting up a collective moblog for the public to send in photos to help raise interest and support. A fantastic example of this kind of moblog is the We’re Not Afraid moblog started after the July London Bombings.
Crisis Communication
The scenario is…well, I haven’t thought of a crisis communications scenario where a moblog can help - but surely there must be a situation where having a collective amount of people instantly adding photos to the web that can help quash rumours, suspicions or lies? Anyone?
Just a few ideas to throw up in the air. Can anyone add to that?
Technorati tags:
moblog, moblogging, pr, public+relations, stephen+davies
Moblog advertising?
Posted at 11:11am in Photos | Leave a Comment
