Sprint Nextel Launches Mobile Search & Shopping Service, Can It Cash In On Impulse Buying?
Analyzing the mobile search and content discovery space as I have for the past several years I recall the key message of a worthwhile white paper from SEO firm OneUpWeb (reg.req): mobile search has delivers the strongest value proposition when users are in buy-mode. That’s the point when passion and purpose cross, and users need to know. Clever providers are borrowing a page from this strategy. Newest to the fold is Sprint Nextel, which today has taken the wraps of a combination mobile search and GPS service, the WSJ reports. Such services are not new, but this one
Well spent time Samantha. If you would be interested in reading my white paper or further analysis on mobile search, pls contact me offline. Creating and collecting thought leadership on this topic is my passion.
"Sprint Nextel Launches Mobile Search & Shopping Service, Can It Cash In On Impulse Buying?"
Short answer: No
Not this year, not the next. Not meaningful dollars. And most of all, not with a downloadable app.
Agreed – downloadble apps only have a chance with Alpha users and early -adopters — period. No mass market in sight
What about the 20 – 35 million American's who already have data services? Add that to all the big carriers starting to offer data bundles seems like downloadable isn't that that far of a stretch.
Actually that number may be higher but that is not the point. There are way too many reasons downloadable applications don't work. And even more why not on a mass market. Some of those reasons are, often incomplete porting, terrible terrible user experience (even in BREW), lack of simplicity, wring business models, etc.
That said, I would argue that poor discovery process may be the main reason. People do not go to the deck and search for apps. Ever.
And doing apps off deck is simply stupid from the business standpoint.
I think we'll be lucky to see 1 or 2 downloadables succeed in the next 2 years. And even if that happens, my guess is that it will be associated with some very very strong brand.
@Mocorocker:
Have you tried this app, or is this comment about usability about the industry in general? Because I think your usability points are valid, but they are also what create differentiation from noise.
Also, what do you think works in mobile? Since you are anti-downloadables (which really includes anything from apps, games and music, ring-tones) what does that leave?
There was a time when people said everything you are saying now about the web (remember when AOL thought it owned the net and all the content on it?) and mobile phones outnumber computers at least 2-to-1 globally.
Slifter isn't new – the NY Times profiled it in March http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/technology/05ecom.html – however the GPS component is new (previously required ZIP codes). Sprint is capitalizing on its market-leading GPS/LBS capabilities.
When referring to apps I meant client server apps. Most of those apps, Slifter included, mainly provide information vs. entertainment (games). By and large mobile games are one off downloads (although some are increasingly integrating C-S capabilities, driving customers to WAP decks, etc.) and totally fall under another category. Ringtones are not even executables, they are files. Anyway, sorry if I was not clear.
Sure, there were many skeptics with the web and all. The problem with your reasoning is that apps (client-server information based apps – to be clear this time around) are nothing new or to look forward to and do not represent significant sales or take rates (except on BREW carriers where there is no alternative).
A unproven idea, as silly as it may be, is worth more than proven wrong one.