Life Insurance by SMS

Company is South Africa is offering life insurance by SMS. Service is called Cover2go.

The service costs around R10 (approx $1), which is deducted from the phone's airtime and provides instant life insurance for six days, paying out R60,000 (approx $6,300) in the case of accidental death.

"Common perception is that life assurance is a luxury that's unaffordable and complicated to obtain. With Cover2go, people can get basic cover instantly, at very affordable prices, when they need it most," says Derek Pead, CEO of Cover2go, a division of Metropolitan Life.

I cannot imagine that service as such will not be available in the US in a near future! Klem

Do as I say, not as I do

California State Senator Carole Migden, who voted last year to impose a fine for using a cell phone while driving, crashed her SUV into another car while talking on her cell phone.

While I dislike talking on the phone while driving, I think that there is a lesson to be learned here - Klem

Equity Firms to Buy Alltel in $27.5 Billion Deal

Alltel, the wireless phone company, agreed last night to be sold to a consortium of private equity firms for $27.5 billion, marking the largest buyout ever in the telecommunications industry.

I think that telecommunication industry, as well as 3rd party content providers, will go through a period of buying and selling. I have not made up my mind yet whether that is a good thing or not. My fear is that lack of competition will stifle the progress. On the other hand, more standardization in protocols could sure help us all. - Klem

Motorola Introduces Linux Phone

At a New York press conference this morning, Motorola's CEO Ed Zander introduced Linux-based "Rokr" and "Razr2" models.

Motorola announced plans to adopt Linux more than four years ago. In the weeks ahead, as the company's Linux-based MotoRokr Z6 (formerly known as the MotoRizr Z6) rolls out around world, we should see a lot of interesting development.

I really have no comments about this. I run some Linux at home, but I am not a great fan of it. - Klem

US Presidential Politics

Hillary Clinton has launched a mobile-to-mobile text-message campaign in an effort to reach more of America’s cell phone users.

"By harnessing the power of text messaging, we can engage voters in the political process using the latest technology and provide personalized, local campaign updates to our supporters nationwide.”, according to the statement from her campaign

While MESSAGEbuzz is not the service provider working with her, we have helped both political and grassroots campaigns in the past. For more information on MESSAGEbuzz's expertize in constructing and integrating text messaging into an overall political campaigns visit MESSAGEbuzz and request the information.

If you read my previous posts, I believe that Ms. Clinton, has tapped into something very powerful. The question remaining is: Will her text messaging campaign be properly and successfully integrated into her overall campaign strategy?

Klem

Microsoft Partners Announce New Phones, Devices

During Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in Los Angeles the week of May 14 , Microsoft's partners are expected to announce 15 new phones and devices.

Device manufacturers, which include LG-Nortel, NEC, Plantronics, Polycom and Samsung

Microsoft's efforts in this space are concentrated around their soon to be released Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 20007.

While MESSAGEbuzz uses both J2ME and CF .NET, I must admit that I am very excited at the news.

One thing that is still missing in the mobile arena is the proverbial "killer app". Simply rewriting or modifying existing desktop and/or web applications will not get us there.

Klem

“Mobile Amnesia”

ZYB reveals that Britons are suffering from phone number amnesia, with almost three quarters of the population (69%) unable to remember even five numbers stored on their mobile phone.

Against this backdrop, ZYB has announced that it is launching its free service, that allows subscribers to store their mobile phone data online.

I love the idea. I think that ZYB is onto something really interesting. Does anyone know about similar service in the US? Let me know - Klem

Filing your income tax by SMS

I know that it is past April, 15th but I came accross an interesting info.

Manila Bulletin Online reported that Bureau of Internal Revenue in the Philippines offers a service called Paybir.

This is unique and could be the first in the world where a taxpayer can pay his income tax through a text message without going to the BIR or a bank."

I hope that US markets, and especially the carriers recognize unlimited possibilities of SMS - Klem

In-flight text messaging

Financial Times reports that JetBlue is examining the potential for in-flight text messaging. In my previous post, I wrote about FCC's decision not to allow cell phone usage on the planes as one of more positive decisions that they had made. Text Messaging is different. No noise, no yapping just typing.

I hope that JetBlue decides to implement the technology.

Klem

Mobile 2.0 - Myth or Reality?

You probably heard people talking about Mobile 2.0 Some claim that is revolution, already started, that will dramatically change the web and the mobility landscape that we currently know. But some, simply think that we are all dreaming and mainframes will take over the world.

A while ago, Financial Times wrote: "Mobile phones are cheaper than PCs, there are three times more of them, growing at twice the speed, and they increasingly have Internet access. What is more, the World Bank estimates that more than two-thirds of the world's population lives within range of a mobile phone network. Mobile is going to be the next big Internet phenomenon. It holds the key to greater access for everyone - with all the benefits that entails."

The idea is that the mobile access to the web will become the dominant access method. Devices will become more hybrid and networks will become more powerful.

I do agree that we are already living in a mobile revolution. Somehow, I am always skeptical of people proclaiming the next 2.0 , 3.0 or 3.5 ideas. Nevertheless, Mobile 2.0 is reality and here to stay.

Presidential Election Results by SMS

French citizens will be able to sign up for an SMS alert with the first estimated results of the presidential elections on Sunday, as of 6 pm.

To see such service being put in place is encouraging. I am a strong believer that text messaging is grossly underutilized as a tool in politics and specifically in political campaigns.

MESSAGEbuzz has worked with political campaigns, on a local level, before. However, I have not seen text messaging being used as a fully integrated aspect of the political campaigns. The first successful integration of text messaging and mobile technology on a national level will gain visibility as well as the ability to connect to potential voters in new and exciting ways.

If you want to learn more about utilization of text messaging in politics, send me an email and I will be happy to talk to you. - Klem