Take a look at a study by Rubicon revealing some interesting data about iPhone owners. Here are some of the findings:
There is a nice overview of the report at Seeking Alpha
MicroHoo – The Microsoft Yahoo Takeover Offer
The general consensus is Microsoft’s bid for Yahoo will eventually go through. There is a very interesting take on the Microsoft Yahoo deal at Marketplace while CIO has a good overview titled Microsoft’s Bid for Yahoo. A report in the Financial Times suggests Advertisers welcome prospect of Google rival, by encouraging price competition and improvements in technology. The article points out Google controls search, but in display Yahoo leads. However, Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick will boost display advertising revenues likely to eat into Yahoo’s market share. A Reasonable Valuation For Google from Seekingalpha shows how Google are well positioned to maintain online advertising growth
Google
A new service from Google called Ad manager will be of interest and help advertisers manage their online sales.
iPhone
The excitement Apple created with the release of the SDK is fading with news Apple To Ban SDK Developers From Accessing iPhone Music Features?
Microsoft Yahoo Merger
Google wins approval for buying DoubleClick by convincing the European Commission that its planned merger would not give it a dominant position.
Making Google’s own antitrust arguments against the Microsoft Yahoo merger, less convincing. A voice in favor of the merger comes from Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle who is reported to by the NY Times as saying “It’s bizarre that there’s a stigma to buying something rather than building it yourself.”
Internet Activity
I suggest reading a disturbing article in the Seattle Times about how “Web companies are learning more than ever before the gritty details of what people search for and do on the Internet”.
iPhone
The latest country to have access to the iPhone is Ireland as reported by iPhone World. Has Apple really unlocked the iPhone with the release of Apple iPhone SDK, or as reported by the Telegraph, will applications still be controlled very tightly. As I have mentioned before the biggest mistake Apple made with the Apple II and Mac was to retain control and not open up the PC’s to the outside world.
Google
Google stock has taken a plunge in recent months with $70 billion dollars wiped off the stock as reported by Seekingalpha. Although Google Apps are continuing their advance of Google Sites, Web Design For The Masses, I expect to see major advances in the features offered during the coming year.
iPhone
Timesonline and Informationweek report Apple are gearing up to release a 3G version of the iPhone in June. Mr. Jobs has been doing extensive travel lately with expectations of new markets opening for the iPhone in Europe and Asia.
Microsoft bid for Yahoo
A report in Timesonline says Microsoft is planning a hostile takeover of Yahoo’s boardroom.
SEO, Link Building, PPC, Social Media, Affiliate Marketing and Blogging
A useful summary or articles about Beginner and Comprehensive Guides to SEO, Link Building, PPC, Social Media, Affiliate Marketing and Blogging
If you are about to buy an iPhone. Engadget “reports we’ve been hearing that Apple may lower prices on the iPhone and iPod in the next few months”, so maybe wait a little. Many counties still have no official access to the iPhone even Canadians as reported by Mobile Magazine. Here in Israel we have the same problem, however I must admit I am thinking of taking the plunge and going through the jailbreaking process to unlock the phone.
An interesting article from the Financial Times reports Google said it had seen 50 times more searches on Apple’s iPhone than any other mobile handset. Search Engine advertisers take note of the enormous potential market opening up for mobile advertising, SEO consulting and PPC campagns.
There is still a lot of interest in the gPhone Gearing Up For Google with rumors Google and Dell are planning to launch a new phone.
Meanwhile Apple are moving forward penetrating the European market with rumors from Intomobile indicating Spain, Italy and Switzerland will be getting the iPhone soon.
Google Powered Mobile Phones
The iPhone will not be the only cool product to watch during 2008. There have been several reports that Google will be launching the gPhone at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, in mid-February. Google has reserved two large booths fueling speculation of a spectacular launch of the gPhone.
What is the gPhone? There is a lot of speculation, but very little concrete information. Presumably the gPhone will have cool futures dedicated to helping user’s surfing the Web, helping to increase Google’s share of search engine traffic. An interesting article in the New York Times suggests “the gPhone is a platform, known as Android, that will allow phone makers to put inexpensive software on their handsets”. If the gPhone is an operating system designed to make surfing the Web on mobile phones easier, Google will be able to direct a lot more traffic to Google applications like their search engine, gMail and Docs.
Google is clearly interested in attracting more traffic by encouraging people browsing the internet to use their applications and services. If the DoubleClick merger is approved, Thestreet.com reports that Google will further tighten their grip in the on-line advertising world.
Mobile phones represent an enormous window of opportunity for Web marketing. Mobile phone companies have long waited to expand by offering internet services. The iPhone release by Apple Inc. finally opens the door for users to use mobile phones for Web surfing as reported by the Financial Times. Until the release of the iPhone, no device proved popular for the majority of users for Web surfing. The iPhone successfully combines a mobile phone, an iPod, an email client and a Web browser. Apple, under the management of Steve Jobs the legendary founder of the company, set the standard for PC’s in the 70’s with the Apple II and later with the Mac in the 80s.
Since its release in mid-2007, Apple has sold over one million iPhones, albeit with some criticism:
Many of these drawbacks will be fixed in the next version of the iPhone due in 2008. A report by Bloomberg says a 3G iPhone will be released enabling faster downloads.
Techcrunch has a nice comparison of the iPhone and the Blackberry - a phone popular with business executives.
What do These Developments Mean to PPC and SEO?
More and more users will be browsing the Web from their mobile phones. The iPhone has a great looking screen, but at 3.5 inches it is a lot smaller than a standard computer screen. This means PPC advertisements will look different on an iPhone, with advertisers needing to find a way to catch the users’ interest. There is also a significant opportunity for businesses to offer their services to a new group of potential customers. Commuters can shop on-line while travelling to and from work or just standing in line at the checkout counter.
