The last time I tracked my snowboarding runs at A-Basin was Nov 26, 2006, nearly two years ago. Since then, I've been using a CDMA device, and Qualcomm's GPS technology on their chipsets for these devices do not support autonomous mode.  They're dependent on assistance data placing the network in the middle, and since there's no coverage at A-Basin on either US CDMA network I've been outta luck. Without network connectivity, Qualcomm's server can't be accessed by the device, and without access, it's impossible to get a first fix, and without that, GPS simply doesn't work.  So much for wireless freedom...

Courtesy of the device giveaway at the RIM devcon, I'm now sporting a new GSM BlackBerry Bold (on AT&T), which contains a SiRF GPS chip supporting autonomous (i.e. connection independent) GPS.  I can now track runs anywhere I ride - even in the backcountry outside of wireless coverage. I should have switched seasons ago - the freedom is liberating. While I haven't been able to keep track of my run counts at A-Basin for the last 2 years, I'm guessing I'm at about 20. So, this is A-Basin #20 post. Tadaw!  

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By harvesting collective contributions from the masses, the smart get smarter.  I'm convinced this is the mantra of cloud services like Search and other applications where the wisdom of the group is larger than any individual contribution. Cases in point, our contributions have built Wikipedia; our keystrokes and abstract text donations have made Google the most powerful learning machine ever, and now our voices too will likely add another dimension to Google's intelligence with the new Google Mobile App for iPhone (and planned support for other smartphones in development).   

I've always admired Nuance's approach to speech input smarts where they learn from each user session and erect building blocks to master phonetic challenges.  They're smart, and have grown smarter.  I've also long been a big fan and user of Tellme and Vlingo.They're both smart and have grown smarter as well. That said, I can't help but think they are all seriously threatened or outmatched now, particularly if Google offers an API to other mobile developers once the service is perfected.  That API, like all the others launched, would destroy licensing business models for voice recognition software and SaaS with one swift and precise blow.     

Andreas Constantinou at Vision Mobile, a London-based advisory and research consultancy, put together a nice review of the various App Store state of affairs - and it's well worth a read.  Unfortunately, he doesn't have data yet for Google or RIM, but the Apple vs BREW comparison is interesting.  I hadn't thought of Qualcomm as contender for this, but it is true, the BREW system was an early attempt to solve discovery and distribution problems for mobile consumables.  I have my doubts about it's future though since one, it's engineered specifically for mobile operator controled billing with bias towards the fat head; and two, it lacks the BI trending and usage modelling power that other systems are introducing.  Which leads me to my next thought...  how much longer will it be before Amazon enters this game, or will someone get wise and approach them directly with an aggregated 'apps-for-smartphones' portfolio offering?

I haven't commented on news for a while, but this one deserves a mention.  Antenna Software, an enterprise mobility solutions long timer has acquired Vettro, a smaller company that has been around a while and who had notable & admirable field service and sales force automation successes in the financial services, hospitality, and transportation markets.  I think this deserves a mention for two reasons. First, acquisitions are way down from a year ago, and I haven't seen any activity since early September. It is interesting that despite the slowdown, the enterprise mobility sector is still making acquisitions and growing, perhaps validating a trend I suggested we might expect to see during these tough times.  Second, with all the doom & gloom on Wall Street and with the financial sector laying off folks and trimming back on expenses, Antenna still sees a lucrative opportunity to snatch-up Vettro, a company who's staple diet was fed by NYC finance sector customers. Does Antenna know something most don't?       

I had a conversation yesterday with an entrepreneurial friend on several random topics, but one about IT infrastructure needs for consumer mobile applications that publish and fetch content to and from the Web, respectively.  After the discussion, we agreed we're both proponents of utility computing for these backend server capabilities because it's an inexpensive, pay-for-only-what-use alternative to building and hosting your own IT hardware and server-side software infrastructure. If there was one shortcoming, he noted, it was that he encountered at least one US wireless carrier who would not certify mobile applications without fault-tolerant, fail-safe IT backends managed directly by an application developer on their own premises.  I thought about this more following our call, and later recognized how ridiculous this requirement is in today's world were 'fault tolerance' is now irrelevant with computing utilities that have unlimited redundancies to manage fail-over and traffic spikes.  

Across the pond in London, Dean Bubley was having similar thoughts about five-9s, and he says it represents an old-school type of voice-centric carrier thinking that's no longer relevant.  I agree.  If five-9s was still a requirement for apps external to the network, how would it be possible for any one of the thousands iPhone application developers to launch their applications? Could they afford 'carrier-grade' five-9s of availably infrastructure? Of course not, which indicates not only is at least one US carrier (AT&T) clearly willing to dismiss an antiquated five-9s requirement, but so are all the others around the world carrying iPhone who are most likely satisfied with 9-to-5 availability given the abundant choice iPhone has introduced with the subsequent rapid uptake.  

The TV white space debate is finally over, with the FCC granting approval to open the unused 54-698 MHz spectrum for use.  It's a big win for big tech and a loss for TV broadcasters and others who have opposed opening up the remaining channels once digital switchover occurs in 2009.  So it's out with old, and in with the new.  Why is this interesting?  First, the spectrum will introduce a new alternative source of powerful wireless broadband; and second, one of the conditions the FCCs Kevin Martin has set forth requires device suppliers to support location capabilities for channel handoff and interference management purposes. More Broadband + more Location = more location-enriched mobile apps and more opportunity.  That's interesting. 

Brady Forrest's Ignite, an O'Reilly organized after-hours new tech party and get-together, came to the CU campus in Boulder for the first time last night, hosted by Andrew Hyde.  I've been to other O'Reilly events before, but didn't know what to expect at Ignite.  What I found was free beer and hilarious quick-witted, 5-minute flash presentations on topics including 'the year of mobile', 'creating your personal brand, 'what the hell angel investors are thinking', 'lucid dreaming', and 'crashing parties'.  Without boundaries and nothing taboo, the interaction was intoxicating (or maybe it was the beer). The key takeaway for me?  I didn't know tech talks could be this much fun. But hey, this is Boulder Colorado!

Wow, what a blast last week in Santa Clara!  A complimentary Bold or Storm of choice for every attendee onsite—a Mike Lazaridis general session keynote—roadmap presentations of a Browser accessible device-resource coding environment—updates on new Java ME APIs including Touch for the Storm—and the App Store partner program announcement to support long tail applications and abundant consumer choice.  All of these themes combined to make the 2008 BlackBerry inaugural developers conference the place to learn last week, and for those in local mobile-developer hubs around the world who might have missed it, I suspect you won't next year when RIM returns.  

With strong heritage deploying mobile data solutions to serve the security demands of enterprise and government, Lazaridis' keynote and many of the other talks that followed explained how RIMs historical approach to mobile data solutions and cryptography offer developers the only secure & proven end-to-end mobile platform now ready for mass-market consumer adoption.  To support the impending growth in this area, along with the expectation that Smartphone platforms will dominate consumer mobile data adoption, RIM is embracing the ecosystem in a big way. Beyond the obvious consumer and prosumer allure of the new device portfolio, specifics include extending new developer-recruiting efforts beyond the Developer Zone and Alliances Program to include the recently announced App Center and App Store.  Storefronts are the subject de jure in the mobile industry as of late, and RIM tackled the topic head-on last week...  

For those not familiar with RIMs App Center and App Store differences, the App Center is an effort to aggregate carrier deck placements for BlackBerry into one accessible widget, where users can browse various application categories available from one port-of-entry.  The grouping will simplify application discovery issues typically encountered with carrier vending-machine placements by presenting certified, available apps under one super-group aggregation.  The App Store will enable the long tail of applications which some carriers are still cautious to support directly given the overheads, maintenance required, and resources needed to filter through useless garbage (e.g. lighter apps?...).  For the App Store, RIM plans to host the direct-to-consumer storefront along with backend mediated billing support via deals with PayPal and credit card company's. Like Apple's iTunes App Store and Google's Android Market, the BlackBerry App Store will be RIMs answer to support the thousands of applications out there serving lucrative niches previously under served by carrier shelf-spaces.  Unlike the others however, the BlackBerry App Store plan is different in that RIM will 'closely' monitor submissions and eventually migrate winners toward the 'hit' circle, graduating some up into App Center placements in concert selection with their carrier-partners. That plan plus $150M in VC-sponsored incentives a la the BlackBerry Partners Fund should motivate developers to move quickly.  Rick Segal, a Partner of the fund, was onsite delivering a passionate talk and encouraging developers to get started now as he expects to see twice as many BlackBerry developer's emerge and join the fray over the course of the next twelve months.  ...Exciting times indeed.  

With the iPhone and its App Store, the G1 and its Android Market plus Handango, Blackberry and the App Center, plus all those vending machines still out there distributing mobile consumables, it seems mobile users will soon have Amazon like access to products with instantaneous purchasing power plus social feedback loop ratings for mobile goods and services that cover every imaginable consumer segment plus some SMB industry verticals.   Smartphones and these distribution hubs are ushering a new era of mobility closer akin to the Web way of doing business, and if the iTunes App Store is credible evidence, I suspect we will quickly see more niches emerge across all storefronts creating new demand with abundant choice previously not available in the mobile world. These are exciting times indeed.       

At the same time, there are some not so exciting things going on… Everyone is talking about the financial crisis; about consumers and businesses buying less, and trying to save more.   The near future looks bleak; but is it?   I see an older opportunity emerging with newer content abundance, at least for enterprise and SMB who are harnessing this new era of smartphone subsidy care of wireless carrier sponsorships.   Combined with location intelligence, Smartphone applications using existing corporate IT content systems, mashed-up with newer, free, ad-subsidized consumer-facing content could stand to gain more than ever before by implementing services that cut fuel costs, streamline travel, save cash on time-based payroll, and eliminate inefficiencies with distribution, operations, and logistics to support customers, suppliers, and partners better & faster.  This isn’t a new mobile area, but rather one I haven’t seen front and center since the first US location-smart mobile enterprise services were deployed in 2002 by NEXTEL developers with handset suppliers Motorola and RIM. Those glory days are long gone, but the same tight economic conditions and opportunities aren’t - they're back in fact. This time around however, it's even more interesting as Point Solutions dissolve while consumer-oriented 'free' Web content remains increasingly available at no cost to corporate IT systems and applications developers via service-oriented architectures. With all of this happening, I might suspect to see a nearer-term resurgence in B2B mobile opportunities in the tough times ahead - particularly for those able to take advantage of it.