SnapTell Acquired by Amazon's A9

One might characterize A9 -- Amazon's erstwhile bid to compete in search -- as an innovative failure. The engine was the first with a "street view" product (called "block view") and innovative maps and local search tools. The experimental three-panel interface of A9 was also very innovative, as were other features. The problem, as with other would-be "Google killers," was nobody used it.

Amazon may now say that A9 was always an experiment or a way to help the company refine its own algorithms, but it was at one point an attempt at a consumer search engine that failed. 

Yesterday, however, A9/Amazon announced that it had acquired visual product search company SnapTell:

We are excited to join forces with a company that has innovated on behalf of customers for over a decade and is a pioneer in online shopping. Like Amazon, we believe there is a lot of innovation ahead for visual shopping and we are thrilled to join A9.com at this exciting time.

With this acquisition A9 (if that becomes the brand) may rise again. It's potentially quite significant for both SnapTell and Amazon. Amazon has the products and the capital to make SnapTell a leader in mobile "visual search" and barcode scanning, while SnapTell can potentially become a powerful search tool for Amazon and help drive e-commerce. 

Consider the use case: a shopper with an iPhone or Android device does a search (or barcode scan) on a product in store. She gets Amazon reviews and prices -- and potentially decides to purchase from Amazon. Even if she doesn't buy from Amazon, it reinforces her loyalty to the brand. Undoubtedly data will come or continue to come from other sources than simply Amazon (e.g., TheFind). 

Amazon also gets into mobile advertising or mobile marketing, if you prefer, with SnapTell, which has a range of ad-related or promotional deals with traditional publications. Accordingly it takes Amazon into new business areas. 

But it also underscores growing momentum for search tools that are alternatives to conventional search as represented by the Google search box. There's momentum building around the camera as a input tool and search vehicle. Google itself recently introduced barcode scanning for product search on Android devices. It's also placing more emphasis on voice and experimenting with other ways for users to discover and obtain content vs. conventional search.

I could be wrong but I think this acquisition for Amazon will pay big dividends in multiple ways. 

SnapTell Acquired by Amazon's A9

One might characterize A9 -- Amazon's erstwhile bid to compete in search -- as an innovative failure. The engine was the first with a "street view" product (called "block view") and innovative maps and local search tools. The experimental three-panel interface of A9 was also very innovative, as were other features. The problem, as with other would-be "Google killers," was nobody used it.

Amazon may now say that A9 was always an experiment or a way to help the company refine its own algorithms, but it was at one point an attempt at a consumer search engine that failed. 

Yesterday, however, A9/Amazon announced that it had acquired visual product search company SnapTell:

We are excited to join forces with a company that has innovated on behalf of customers for over a decade and is a pioneer in online shopping. Like Amazon, we believe there is a lot of innovation ahead for visual shopping and we are thrilled to join A9.com at this exciting time.

With this acquisition A9 (if that becomes the brand) may rise again. It's potentially quite significant for both SnapTell and Amazon. Amazon has the products and the capital to make SnapTell a leader in mobile "visual search" and barcode scanning, while SnapTell can potentially become a powerful search tool for Amazon and help drive e-commerce. 

Consider the use case: a shopper with an iPhone or Android device does a search (or barcode scan) on a product in store. She gets Amazon reviews and prices -- and potentially decides to purchase from Amazon. Even if she doesn't buy from Amazon, it reinforces her loyalty to the brand. Undoubtedly data will come or continue to come from other sources than simply Amazon (e.g., TheFind). 

Amazon also gets into mobile advertising or mobile marketing, if you prefer, with SnapTell, which has a range of ad-related or promotional deals with traditional publications. Accordingly it takes Amazon into new business areas. 

But it also underscores growing momentum for search tools that are alternatives to conventional search as represented by the Google search box. There's momentum building around the camera as a input tool and search vehicle. Google itself recently introduced barcode scanning for product search on Android devices. It's also placing more emphasis on voice and experimenting with other ways for users to discover and obtain content vs. conventional search.

I could be wrong but I think this acquisition for Amazon will pay big dividends in multiple ways. 

SnapTell Acquired by Amazon's A9

One might characterize A9 -- Amazon's erstwhile bid to compete in search -- as an innovative failure. The engine was the first with a "street view" product (called "block view") and innovative maps and local search tools. The experimental three-panel interface of A9 was also very innovative, as were other features. The problem, as with other would-be "Google killers," was nobody used it.

Amazon may now say that A9 was always an experiment or a way to help the company refine its own algorithms, but it was at one point an attempt at a consumer search engine that failed. 

Yesterday, however, A9/Amazon announced that it had acquired visual product search company SnapTell:

We are excited to join forces with a company that has innovated on behalf of customers for over a decade and is a pioneer in online shopping. Like Amazon, we believe there is a lot of innovation ahead for visual shopping and we are thrilled to join A9.com at this exciting time.

With this acquisition A9 (if that becomes the brand) may rise again. It's potentially quite significant for both SnapTell and Amazon. Amazon has the products and the capital to make SnapTell a leader in mobile "visual search" and barcode scanning, while SnapTell can potentially become a powerful search tool for Amazon and help drive e-commerce. 

Consider the use case: a shopper with an iPhone or Android device does a search (or barcode scan) on a product in store. She gets Amazon reviews and prices -- and potentially decides to purchase from Amazon. Even if she doesn't buy from Amazon, it reinforces her loyalty to the brand. Undoubtedly data will come or continue to come from other sources than simply Amazon (e.g., TheFind). 

Amazon also gets into mobile advertising or mobile marketing, if you prefer, with SnapTell, which has a range of ad-related or promotional deals with traditional publications. Accordingly it takes Amazon into new business areas. 

But it also underscores growing momentum for search tools that are alternatives to conventional search as represented by the Google search box. There's momentum building around the camera as a input tool and search vehicle. Google itself recently introduced barcode scanning for product search on Android devices. It's also placing more emphasis on voice and experimenting with other ways for users to discover and obtain content vs. conventional search.

I could be wrong but I think this acquisition for Amazon will pay big dividends in multiple ways. 

eBook Readers May Become Internet Devices

I wrote about the potential "two device scenario" below. And on a related now, there was an article in the NY Times that appeared last Thursday about the hypothetical resurgence of eBooks:

In October, the online retailer Amazon.com will unveil the Kindle, an electronic book reader that has been the subject of industry speculation for a year, according to several people who have tried the device and are familiar with Amazon’s plans. The Kindle will be priced at $400 to $500 and will wirelessly connect to an e-book store on Amazon’s site.

That is a significant advance over older e-book devices, which must be connected to a computer to download books or articles.

What's interesting to me is the potential for these readers to become Internet access devices and offer a better, desktop-like experience to mobile users. I'm making several leaps but it's not unlike the iPod Touch. The problem is inconsistent and expensive public WiFi; if the "free WiFi" infrastructure were really built out these devices would be viable as alternatives to smartphones. But that still needs to happen.

San Francisco's stalled process to build muni-WiFi with Google and Earthlink may be a metaphor for the entire muni-WiFi industry. I hope, however, that it is not.

Sprint Asserts 'Stability' but Shows More Subscriber Losses

US carrier Sprint asserted in its earnings report and presentation that the carrier had stabilized and cited a number of areas of improved performance. However, it also reported these numbers:

• The company served 49.3 million customers at the end of 2008, compared to 53.8 million at the end of 2007. The credit quality of our customer base improved every quarter in 2008, and prime customers represent almost 84% of the post-paid base, compared to 79% a year ago.
• For the quarter, total wireless customers declined by a net 1.3 million, including losses of 1.1 million post-paid customers and 314,000 prepaid users, which was slightly offset by a 146,000 increase in the number of wholesale and affiliate subscribers.

Sprint has the best 3G network (though people may not believe that) and is the most competitive when it comes to pricing. However Sprint continues to lose a million wireless customers a quarter, for a total of 4.5 million customers lost last year. The chief beneficiaries of Sprint's defections appear to be AT&T and Verizon.   

Sprint faces challenges on a number of fronts and no single factor can be blamed for these defections. Sprint's brand as a whole is wounded. A history of poor customer service (though that's changing) and the absence of competitive handsets are all contributing. Sprint may say the Instinct is competitive or claim the HTC Touch Pro is compelling -- not so. 

The Palm Pre is supposed to make its appearance relatively soon and Samsung is supposed to come out with an Android phone for Sprint at some point this year. Sprint needs these handsets pretty desperately to return some "sizzle" to its relatively unimpressive handset lineup (although BlackBerry fans can find plenty of offerings). It may also need to cut prices (again) to get attention and/or retain customers. 

In my particular case only the promise of one of these new handsets -- Windows 6.5 won't be out until later this year --  is holding me back from an AT&T defection.

Price the Barrier to Mobile Video Adoption

Mobile video viewing has continued to grow at a healthy rate. However subscription-based "mobile TV" has not. As we've argued here numerous times, people are generally going to be unwilling to pay an additional monthly subscription -- especially in a recession -- for access to mobile TV programming. Sports and adult are two exceptions potentially.

Speaking of the former category, US broadcasting network CBS is streaming all of the NCAA college basketball championship games on its iPhone app. A WiFi connection is required for the video, only audio is available on the AT&T 3G network. The app costs $4.99 but that provides access to video of all the games.

I don't know the precise download figures but the app is at the top of the paid list in the iTunes store.

There's no question that there will be more and more video on mobile handsets. But what business model will take hold? There probably won't be only one. A new study from QuickPlay Media, however, confirms that price is a big barrier to mobile TV and video adoption.

The following charts reflect some of the findings from the online survey (n=1,000 US mobile subscribers):

58% of respondents have not tried mobile TV/video:

55% of non-users at least "somewhat interested":

Price/perceived cost an inhibiting factor (also device inadequacy):

Video might be used to upsell mobile customers to next pricing tier:

Upgrade to smartphone would potentially translate into more adoption:

Exposure to advertising on current device:

 Users open to advertising to gain free access to mobile TV/video:

In contrast to some recent studies that suggest high levels of user hostility to mobile advertising, this last chart reflects that users are willing to trade their attention for subsidized access to content. 

Price the Barrier to Mobile Video Adoption

Mobile video viewing has continued to grow at a healthy rate. However subscription-based "mobile TV" has not. As we've argued here numerous times, people are generally going to be unwilling to pay an additional monthly subscription -- especially in a recession -- for access to mobile TV programming. Sports and adult are two exceptions potentially.

Speaking of the former category, US broadcasting network CBS is streaming all of the NCAA college basketball championship games on its iPhone app. A WiFi connection is required for the video, only audio is available on the AT&T 3G network. The app costs $4.99 but that provides access to video of all the games.

I don't know the precise download figures but the app is at the top of the paid list in the iTunes store.

There's no question that there will be more and more video on mobile handsets. But what business model will take hold? There probably won't be only one. A new study from QuickPlay Media, however, confirms that price is a big barrier to mobile TV and video adoption.

The following charts reflect some of the findings from the online survey (n=1,000 US mobile subscribers):

58% of respondents have not tried mobile TV/video:

55% of non-users at least "somewhat interested":

Price/perceived cost an inhibiting factor (also device inadequacy):

Video might be used to upsell mobile customers to next pricing tier:

Upgrade to smartphone would potentially translate into more adoption:

Exposure to advertising on current device:

 Users open to advertising to gain free access to mobile TV/video:

In contrast to some recent studies that suggest high levels of user hostility to mobile advertising, this last chart reflects that users are willing to trade their attention for subsidized access to content. 

Price the Barrier to Mobile Video Adoption

Mobile video viewing has continued to grow at a healthy rate. However subscription-based "mobile TV" has not. As we've argued here numerous times, people are generally going to be unwilling to pay an additional monthly subscription -- especially in a recession -- for access to mobile TV programming. Sports and adult are two exceptions potentially.

Speaking of the former category, US broadcasting network CBS is streaming all of the NCAA college basketball championship games on its iPhone app. A WiFi connection is required for the video, only audio is available on the AT&T 3G network. The app costs $4.99 but that provides access to video of all the games.

I don't know the precise download figures but the app is at the top of the paid list in the iTunes store.

There's no question that there will be more and more video on mobile handsets. But what business model will take hold? There probably won't be only one. A new study from QuickPlay Media, however, confirms that price is a big barrier to mobile TV and video adoption.

The following charts reflect some of the findings from the online survey (n=1,000 US mobile subscribers):

58% of respondents have not tried mobile TV/video:

55% of non-users at least "somewhat interested":

Price/perceived cost an inhibiting factor (also device inadequacy):

Video might be used to upsell mobile customers to next pricing tier:

Upgrade to smartphone would potentially translate into more adoption:

Exposure to advertising on current device:

 Users open to advertising to gain free access to mobile TV/video:

In contrast to some recent studies that suggest high levels of user hostility to mobile advertising, this last chart reflects that users are willing to trade their attention for subsidized access to content. 

Price the Barrier to Mobile Video Adoption

Mobile video viewing has continued to grow at a healthy rate. However subscription-based "mobile TV" has not. As we've argued here numerous times, people are generally going to be unwilling to pay an additional monthly subscription -- especially in a recession -- for access to mobile TV programming. Sports and adult are two exceptions potentially.

Speaking of the former category, US broadcasting network CBS is streaming all of the NCAA college basketball championship games on its iPhone app. A WiFi connection is required for the video, only audio is available on the AT&T 3G network. The app costs $4.99 but that provides access to video of all the games.

I don't know the precise download figures but the app is at the top of the paid list in the iTunes store.

There's no question that there will be more and more video on mobile handsets. But what business model will take hold? There probably won't be only one. A new study from QuickPlay Media, however, confirms that price is a big barrier to mobile TV and video adoption.

The following charts reflect some of the findings from the online survey (n=1,000 US mobile subscribers):

58% of respondents have not tried mobile TV/video:

55% of non-users at least "somewhat interested":

Price/perceived cost an inhibiting factor (also device inadequacy):

Video might be used to upsell mobile customers to next pricing tier:

Upgrade to smartphone would potentially translate into more adoption:

Exposure to advertising on current device:

 Users open to advertising to gain free access to mobile TV/video:

In contrast to some recent studies that suggest high levels of user hostility to mobile advertising, this last chart reflects that users are willing to trade their attention for subsidized access to content. 

HTC Projects 600K G1 Sales, Not 1.5 Million

Many folks, including me, unfortunately, repeated the rumor that T-Mobile had pre-sold a million and a half G1s. Apparently that number was pure fiction or wishful thinking on somebody's part.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, HTC CEO Peter Chou declared that he expects to sell "more than" 600K G1s in 2008:

We are very excited about this new Android (Google's mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can't disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I'm saying we will ship more than 600,000.

The CEO doth protest too much, methinks . . . Reading between the lines, HTC seems far more excited about the opportunity with Android than with its long-time OS staple Windows Mobile. 

HTC Projects 600K G1 Sales, Not 1.5 Million

Many folks, including me, unfortunately, repeated the rumor that T-Mobile had pre-sold a million and a half G1s. Apparently that number was pure fiction or wishful thinking on somebody's part.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, HTC CEO Peter Chou declared that he expects to sell "more than" 600K G1s in 2008:

We are very excited about this new Android (Google's mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can't disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I'm saying we will ship more than 600,000.

The CEO doth protest too much, methinks . . . Reading between the lines, HTC seems far more excited about the opportunity with Android than with its long-time OS staple Windows Mobile. 

HTC Projects 600K G1 Sales, Not 1.5 Million

Many folks, including me, unfortunately, repeated the rumor that T-Mobile had pre-sold a million and a half G1s. Apparently that number was pure fiction or wishful thinking on somebody's part.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, HTC CEO Peter Chou declared that he expects to sell "more than" 600K G1s in 2008:

We are very excited about this new Android (Google's mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can't disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I'm saying we will ship more than 600,000.

The CEO doth protest too much, methinks . . . Reading between the lines, HTC seems far more excited about the opportunity with Android than with its long-time OS staple Windows Mobile. 

HTC Projects 600K G1 Sales, Not 1.5 Million

Many folks, including me, unfortunately, repeated the rumor that T-Mobile had pre-sold a million and a half G1s. Apparently that number was pure fiction or wishful thinking on somebody's part.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, HTC CEO Peter Chou declared that he expects to sell "more than" 600K G1s in 2008:

We are very excited about this new Android (Google's mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can't disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I'm saying we will ship more than 600,000.

The CEO doth protest too much, methinks . . . Reading between the lines, HTC seems far more excited about the opportunity with Android than with its long-time OS staple Windows Mobile. 

HTC Projects 600K G1 Sales, Not 1.5 Million

Many folks, including me, unfortunately, repeated the rumor that T-Mobile had pre-sold a million and a half G1s. Apparently that number was pure fiction or wishful thinking on somebody's part.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, HTC CEO Peter Chou declared that he expects to sell "more than" 600K G1s in 2008:

We are very excited about this new Android (Google's mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can't disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I'm saying we will ship more than 600,000.

The CEO doth protest too much, methinks . . . Reading between the lines, HTC seems far more excited about the opportunity with Android than with its long-time OS staple Windows Mobile. 

HTC Projects 600K G1 Sales, Not 1.5 Million

Many folks, including me, unfortunately, repeated the rumor that T-Mobile had pre-sold a million and a half G1s. Apparently that number was pure fiction or wishful thinking on somebody's part.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, HTC CEO Peter Chou declared that he expects to sell "more than" 600K G1s in 2008:

We are very excited about this new Android (Google's mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can't disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I'm saying we will ship more than 600,000.

The CEO doth protest too much, methinks . . . Reading between the lines, HTC seems far more excited about the opportunity with Android than with its long-time OS staple Windows Mobile. 

HTC Projects 600K G1 Sales, Not 1.5 Million

Many folks, including me, unfortunately, repeated the rumor that T-Mobile had pre-sold a million and a half G1s. Apparently that number was pure fiction or wishful thinking on somebody's part.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, HTC CEO Peter Chou declared that he expects to sell "more than" 600K G1s in 2008:

We are very excited about this new Android (Google's mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can't disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I'm saying we will ship more than 600,000.

The CEO doth protest too much, methinks . . . Reading between the lines, HTC seems far more excited about the opportunity with Android than with its long-time OS staple Windows Mobile. 

HTC Projects 600K G1 Sales, Not 1.5 Million

Many folks, including me, unfortunately, repeated the rumor that T-Mobile had pre-sold a million and a half G1s. Apparently that number was pure fiction or wishful thinking on somebody's part.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, HTC CEO Peter Chou declared that he expects to sell "more than" 600K G1s in 2008:

We are very excited about this new Android (Google's mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can't disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I'm saying we will ship more than 600,000.

The CEO doth protest too much, methinks . . . Reading between the lines, HTC seems far more excited about the opportunity with Android than with its long-time OS staple Windows Mobile. 

HTC Projects 600K G1 Sales, Not 1.5 Million

Many folks, including me, unfortunately, repeated the rumor that T-Mobile had pre-sold a million and a half G1s. Apparently that number was pure fiction or wishful thinking on somebody's part.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, HTC CEO Peter Chou declared that he expects to sell "more than" 600K G1s in 2008:

We are very excited about this new Android (Google's mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can't disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I'm saying we will ship more than 600,000.

The CEO doth protest too much, methinks . . . Reading between the lines, HTC seems far more excited about the opportunity with Android than with its long-time OS staple Windows Mobile.