iMap®Weather Radio App for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

3 May 2011 12:00 Africa/Lagos


iMap®Weather Radio App for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch Now Available

New weather warning tool helps individuals prepare for the dangerous storm season upon us with early, location-based text and voice alerts right on their mobile device

PR Newswire

NORMAN, Okla., May 3, 2011

NORMAN, Okla., May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Weather Decision Technologies, Inc., a global leader in providing state-of-the-science weather detection, alerting, and forecasting systems, today announced the availability of the iMapWeather Radio App for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. This groundbreaking warning system provides information on life-threatening weather – from tornadoes to floods to hurricanes – on a mobile device, going beyond traditional weather radio broadcasting services with advanced features, such as the ability to "wake up" when danger approaches, instant voice and text alerts and real-time video.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110503/CG94063)

"Think of the iMapWeather Radio app as a highly advanced weather radio right on your mobile device - a key tool to being prepared for dangerous weather," said Mike Eilts, President and CEO of WDT. "With iMapWeather Radio, users receive precise location-based alerts of severe weather coming their way, acting as an early warning to help individuals and families seek safety. And, because the app is available on 3G capable devices like the iPhone and iPad, users still receive vital information when the power goes out and TV and radios can't be turned on."

iMapWeather Radio

The iMapWeather Radio app offers the following key safety features:

* Precise Alerts: iMapWeather Radio provides more precise alerts than those offered by the existing services, sending alerts only if the device or saved locations fall inside a watch/warning polygon.
* Follow Me: When on the go, users automatically receive an alert if they move into an area under a watch/warning.
* Friends and Family: With iMapWeather Radio, users can pinpoint up to five locations for the app to follow. This allows the user to ensure that their friends and family, whether at school, out of state, at a ballgame, etc., are safe as well.
* Battery Life: The application is designed to conserve your battery life even while using GPS.
* Audio: iMapWeather Radio provides audio alerts in the form of beeps followed by a brief description of the alert type – 24 hours a day.
* Video: In markets where local media partners participate, users can get streaming video of severe weather coverage.


Pricing and Availability

The iMapWeather Radio app is available for $9.99 from the App Store on all iPhones, iPads and the iPod Touch . It will also be available at the Android app store for Android devices later this year.

About Weather Decision Technologies, Inc. (WDT)

WDT's iMap® services provide dynamic interactive and mobile weather mapping solutions for the world's leading local media and Internet companies. WDT is a global leader in providing state-of-the-science weather detection, nowcasting, and forecasting systems. WDT maintains operational and international offices in Norman, Oklahoma, and Atlanta, Georgia. Corporate websites: www.wdtinc.com and www.weatherforensics.com.

SOURCE Weather Decision Technologies, Inc.

CONTACT: Monica Rohleder of Signal Rock Communications, +1-847-606-1973, monica@signalrockcomm.com

Web Site: http://www.wdtinc.com

Shopping From Mobile Device More Popular Than PC

InMobi infographic summarizing results: 35% choose Mobile as No.1 digital shopping tool in US. (PRNewsFoto/InMobi)

27 Apr 2011 14:00 Africa/Lagos


Shopping From Mobile Device More Popular Than PC

35% choose Mobile as No.1 digital shopping tool in US

PR Newswire

SAN MATEO, Calif., April 27, 2011

SAN MATEO, Calif., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, InMobi, the world's largest independent mobile ad network, revealed that shoppers prefer browsing and buying goods and services from their mobile over their PC. The study*, conducted among consumers using the mobile Internet, found that half of shoppers still prefer hitting the stores (49%) but over a third are now comfortable with shopping from their pocket (35%) and only 16% prefer shopping from their PC or laptop, highlighting the clear shift to 'shopping on the move.'

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110427/SF90349)

Results from the study support data showing the mobile shopping market doubled in revenue from $1.2bn** in 2009 to a staggering $2.4bn** in 2010 in the US alone. InMobi predicts growth to skyrocket over the coming year to an estimated $9bn**.

Commenting on the study, James Lamberti, VP Global Research & Marketing at InMobi, commented, "Mobile shopping is already commonplace with one in four Americans influenced by or purchasing goods from their mobile devices. It's an exciting time for the consumer, retailer, and manufacturer as mobile shopping solutions will become more intelligent and compelling to use. The clear consumer acceptance has opened huge opportunities in the world of mobile advertising. "

Most popular purchases from mobile devices in the US:

Product % Buying

Mobile Content/Games - 42%


Consumer Electronics - 19%


Apparel - 15%


Entertainment Tickets - 13%


Travel - 12%


Other - 4%


A sizeable 74 million US citizens – almost one in four – of the total 310 million consumers currently shop on their mobile phone. InMobi uncovered similar trends in the UK and predicts that take-up of shopping on mobile will be consistent in both markets.

Full results of the study, conducted in 14 countries among 15,000 consumers, will be released in a global research roadshow to leading agencies, brands, analysts, and journalists. For further information, please visit www.inmobi.com

*InMobi research based on approximately 2,500 mobile phone users.

**InMobi prediction for 2011 based on company insight and past ABI Research for 2009 and 2010: http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/2010/02/17/mobile-shopping-in-us-will-grow-to-24-billion-this-year-abi-research

About the Study

The study, entitled "A Global Consumer Perspective on Mobile Shopping", was conducted among 15,000 consumers in 14 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia during February and March 2011. Consumers participated in the study directly through their mobile devices offering the mobile ecosystem a point of view on mobile shopping among mobile Internet users. Detailed results from the 12 question, 4 minute survey, will be provided in a series of research roadshows with influential agency, brand, analyst, and press participating in New York City, San Francisco, London, Singapore, Sydney, Paris, Milan, Berlin, Nairobi, Johannesberg, Dehli, and Mumbai. Interested parties should contact InMobi for more details at research@InMobi.com

About InMobi

InMobi is the world's largest independent mobile advertising network. With offices on four continents, it provides advertisers, publishers and developers with a uniquely global solution for advertising. Its network is growing fast and now delivers the unprecedented ability to reach 220 million consumers, in over 125 countries, through more than 31.9 billion mobile ad impressions monthly. InMobi was recently selected as the 2010 AlwaysOn Global 250 Company to Watch in Silicon Valley.

InMobi is venture-backed with marquee investors including: Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers and Sherpalo Ventures. The company has offices in London, San Francisco, Bangalore, Tokyo, and Singapore.

To learn more, please visit www.InMobi.com/research, follow us on Twitter @InMobi, or read our blog at www.inmobi.com/inmobiblog/

CONTACT:
Dan Gamble, +1-415-598-8902, dan@if-communications.com, for InMobi US

SOURCE InMobi

Web Site: http://www.inmobi.com/

The Most Popular Phones in Nigeria

BlackBerry is most popular among upwardly mobile young men and women in Nigeria, but Samsung Mobile with 6,136,648 monthly active users on Facebook and also winning the Sowambe Award for the best use of Twitter is like a superstar and the new Samsung Ch@t322 Phone with dual sim is currently the most popular phone in Nigeria.

About Samsung Ch@t322 Phone
The first mobile to offer a QWERTY keypad with DUOS, Samsung Chat 322 gives traveling business people and communicating heavy texters better mobile options on the go. Whether you’re juggling two phone numbers or taking advantage of different tariff plans, access to two SIM cards helps you stay in touch with double the convenience! Access 2 SIM cards at the same time! Harness the power, convenience and connectivity of two mobiles in one handset! Staying connected is so important – for business and pleasure! That’s why this phone comes with access to y! our favour es like Facebook and Twitter. Not only is Samsung Chat 322 powered with great functions to keep you in touch socially and while doing business on the go, the enhanced user interface makes it easier to use! Optical trackpad makes you to navigate menus smoothly and to expedite functions. Carrying and managing 2 SIM cards is not easy, but with Samsung Chat 322, it’s hassle free.

Details from Samsung Mobile




Access 2 SIM cards at the same time! Harness the power, convenience and connectivity of two mobiles in one handset! Whether you want to keep your personal and work phone calls separate, have greater coverage when traveling to different regions, or take advantage of the most advantageous calling rates, this DUOS feature makes it all easier and more accessible. Why manually switch back and forth between SIM cards when your phone does it all for you…automatically?!


Staying connected is so important – for business and pleasure! That’s why this phone comes with access to your favourite social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. You can even chat on instant messenger. With easy shortcuts and live updates from the home screen, you’ll always be socially up to date. Email is easier than ever – the mobile auto pulls so you don’t need to constantly check for new email! With Samsung, it’s so easy to keep up with your social life!


Not only is Samsung Ch@t 322 powered with great functions to keep you in touch socially and while doing business on the go, the enhanced user interface makes it easier to use! Optical trackpad makes you to navigate menus smoothly and to expedite functions. Explore mobile world more intuitive and comfortable.

Customised UX for DUOS


Carrying and managing 2 SIM cards is not easy, but with Samsung Ch@t 322, it’s hassle free. Direct SIM switch key on sid, and the Smart home offers you to check all the info and the update status from SNS or IM, email, schedules and more as you need.


3.5mm Ear jack

When you want to listen to the music, just plug in your headset to Samsung Ch@t 322, 3.5mm Ear jack fits your regular earphones, headphones and portable speakers.

Bluetooth v2.1

Bluetooth v.2.1 handles wireless file sharing and free-of-charge messaging with nearby users.





Surveys show that majority of Nigerians love smart phones, but they only go for the phones they can afford. That is why majority of the fanciful smart phones you see in town are not original BB or Nokia, but the imitations made in China.

Young and Mobile: The Smartphone Generation

Young ladies with their Samsung Galaxy S phones


Young and Mobile: A Global View of Cellphones and Youth



Nielsen’s new whitepaper on Mobile Youth Around the World reveals that most young people with mobile phones chose their own device. In fact, across all the countries surveyed, only 16 percent of young people reported that their parents selected their mobile phone. Price was the most common consideration among youth in selecting a mobile phone, though that is true among other age groups, too. Youth aged 15 to 24 in all countries surveyed put price as the first purchase driver, with the exception of Russian youth, 21 percent of whom placed design/style first. (Some grown-ups care about design, too. Around 14 percent of Brazilian adults say design/style is the most important consideration, compared to seven percent of U.S. adults.)



African girls with mobile phones




Click here for more details.

Nokia C3 for Bloggers

The world's leading mobile phone company Nokia has given phones to some Nigerian bloggers, including Orikinla whose first New Year gift is a Nokia C3 for blogging on the go. Thanks to Mr. Osagie Ogunbor, Head of Communications, Nokia West Africa.


The Nokia C3 is a cute smart phone with special apps. Click here to see the full specifications and click here to see the photo gallery.


It an unforgettable historical fact that the billionth Nokia phone, a Nokia 1100 was sold in Nigeria in 2005. I wonder how the owner of that special Nokia phone felt at that particular moment.


There is a special Nokia for blogging on WordPress from Ovi store and you can also post photos on Blogger through Nokia LifeBlog.


Luca Filighedd has shown how to do it on his blog. You can join Forum Nokia to learn more.

Mobile Giving for Haiti Earthquake Relief Surges Past $27 Million in Donations

20 Jan 2010 01:04 Africa/Lagos

Mobile Giving for Haiti Earthquake Relief Surges Past $27 Million in Donations


More Organizations Join List of Available Short Codes to Donate in U.S. & Canada

SEATTLE, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ --
What: Donations made via mobile phones for Haiti Earthquake Relief
have surpassed $27 million across all the short codes
managed by the Mobile Giving Foundation, a non-profit
organization dedicated to helping other non-profits raise
funds through mobile.

Thanks largely to national television appeals and more non-
profit organizations joining relief efforts, mobile
donations increased by $7 million, raising the total amount
from $20 million reported by MGF yesterday to more than $27
million as of 8:00pm Eastern on Monday. The Foundation
continues to see donations come in at an increasing pace.
MGF will report updated numbers throughout the week.

How: By texting a keyword to a designated short code via a mobile
phone, a micro-donation of $5 or $10 can be made to aid
the millions of people affected by this tragedy. 100% of
your donation goes to the recipient charity, and the
donation appears as a charge on your carrier bill, standard
rates may apply.

Who: As more organizations join the relief efforts in Haiti,
additional short codes are available for making monetary
donations to aid those affected by the recent earthquake:

Text the word "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5
Text the word "Haiti" to 501501 to donate $10
On behalf of the Yele Foundation

Text the word "Quake" to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

Text the word "Haiti" to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund

Text the word "Haiti" to 52000 to donate $10
On behalf of the Salvation Army

Text the word "Hope10" or "UNICEF" to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of UNICEF

Text the word "Habitat" to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of Habitat for Humanity

Text the word "Haiti" to 40579 to donate $10
On behalf of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB)

Text the word "Oxfam" to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of Oxfam America, Inc.

Text the word "Save" or "Safe" to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of Save the Children Federation, Inc.

Text the word "Give" or "World" to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of World Vision Inc.

Text the word "Haiti" to 85944 to donate $10
On behalf of the International Medical Corps

Text the word "Haiti" to 25383 to donate $5
On behalf of the International Rescue Committee

Text the word "Care" to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of Cooperative for Assistance and Relief
Everywhere, Inc. (CARE)

Text the word "Live" to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of AmeriCares, Inc.

Text the word "Give" to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of the MTV telethon

Text the word "AJWS" to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of the American Jewish World Service

Text the word "Haiti" to 45678 (In Canada Only)
On behalf of the Salvation Army in Canada

Text the word "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10
On behalf of the American Red Cross in the U.S.

Text the word "Haiti" to 30333 (In Canada Only) to donate $5
On behalf of Plan Canada

Text the word "Hope" or "Monde" to 45678 (In Canada Only) to
donate $5
On behalf of World Vision Canada

Text the word "CAHAITI" to 20222 (In Canada only) to donate
$5
On behalf of the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth
Initiative

For more information on these various campaigns and how
mobile giving works, Jim Manis, CEO of the Mobile Giving
Foundation (www.mobilegiving.com), is available to provide
an overview.

When: Please contribute now.

Contact: Ginny Edwards or Daniel Rhodes
Global Results Communications (GRC)
+1 (949) 608 0276
mgfpr@globalresultspr.com

Source: Mobile Giving Foundation
CONTACT: Ginny Edwards or Daniel Rhodes, both of Global Results
Communications (GRC), +1-949-608-0276, mgfpr@globalresultspr.com, for Mobile
Giving Foundation
Web Site: http://www.mobilegiving.com/


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