News Corp COO Peter Chernin Sees Mobile As Anybody’s Game
Peter Chernin, News Corp chief operating officer, said at a press conference at the Cable Show that the mobile market was still confused, reports Ad Age. “No one knows what it looks like,” he said. “It’s like the cable business in the late ’70s right now. In 1977, no one knew there was going to be an ESPN, Discovery or a Lifetime. What happens is hopefully smart people get into it and begin experimenting with different content forms. When we bought Jamba, they had a business model that has fairly high-priced subscriptions,” he said…But even though Mr. Chernin has control over the largest player in the mobile industry right now, the overall business is still sink or swim. “Those people who do a good job will flourish and those who don’t, won’t. We’re in the very first pitch of the first inning and we’re all trying to figure it out.” So News Corp plans to be very active in mobile, but hasn’t yet set its heart on a particular business model.
That's a great ending sentence for this piece. Great journalism. Did you go to "Obvious U.?" god this blog sucks
Mr. Chernin ends with .. “Those people who do a good job will flourish and those who don’t, won’t. We’re in the very first pitch of the first inning and we’re all trying to figure it out.”
Here's one alternative Mr. Chernin and the managers of the other teams may want to consider.
Anyone can access their MySpace account on their mobile/cell phone, as long as they have a WAP browser and wireless access.
* It doesn't matter where they are located, it works anywhere in the world.
* It doesn't matter who their wireless carrier is (especially if MySpace users are being charged a premium for the "privilege").
* It doesn't matter what model cell phone or other mobile device is being used
* It doesn't matter the users language of origin
Users need only input the numeric-domain equivalent of the word MySpace into their WAP browser.
That numeric-domain is 6977223.com and they are taken directly to MySpace.
Batter up.