moblogher

Moblogging 2.0

Moblogging 2.0 extends the idea of using cameraphones for "sharing the moment" and posting to a web-based site.  Moblogging 2.0 is mobile centric and providing multi-directional posting and seeks to highlight the consumption of blogs on mobile devices, rather than, merely capturing while mobile for web-based consumption.  Of course, it would be ideal to discard the term moblogging all together where blogging is network and device agnostic.  The effect of trying to think that way today is that publishing for mobile consumption has addition requirements and considerations for both tools providers and content creators, bloggers.  So today we still need the term moblogging, and it's consideration in the design of feed protocols, applications and even the content, itself.

BlogHer goes Mobile with Moblogging 2.0

 

Let's keep it going

Join the MoBlogHer discussion list to keep the conversation going after July 30th.  For those who have an interest in keeping the conversation going on mobility and blogging, those who were unable to attend the conference or BlogHers who were speaking on other panels during the moblogging session, or anyone else for that matter.  The group can be used to help each other with moblogging set up on blogging services or tools we didn't have time to cover during the session, introduce new tools that might become available, questions that we couldn't get to during the session, or general discussion on these topics.

A group is set up at Yahoo! groups:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/moblogher

You can join anytime, but it's unlikely that those at the conference will be available to reply to posts or questions for the next day or so.

Phone purchase

A phone purchase for content creators such as bloggers is as much a selection for the strengths of device to support how it's used as is a PC purchase.  If you're a business traveler, weight of your laptop is an important consideration.  If you're a designer, musician, video buff, or other high demand multimedia creator or consumer, then a powerbook might be your choice.  Similar drivers are reflected in mobile phone models.  For example, devices with keyboards are great for those who need heavy text composition, and are long time PC keyboard users.

The best way to select a device with strengths supporting your activity or content choices is to separate the purchase of network service and device purchases.  They should be separate purchases in the same way as buying a PC is completely separate from selecting an ISP.  Unfortunately, the ability to act on the separate purchase strategy isn't available to user of CDMA networks like Verizon Wireless and Sprint/Nextel.  It is possible today with Cingular and T-mobile.  There are several benefits to making these purchases separately.

1. Choice of best device for how you use it
2. Expanded choice beyond "carrier" approved devices
3. Easier to upgrade to newer more capable devices
4. No contract requirements or extensions
5. Resale of the used devices
6. Using multiple devices with one number and service plan

Compare pricing for one GSM phone: Nokia 6230

Cingular  (if asked for a zip code enter 95054)
Online carrier based broker
eBay
Online phone sales

Moblogging 1.0 to 2.0

Moblogging 1.0 is web centric.  Taking photos with one's cameraphone then emailing them to a blogging service (e.g., Blogger, textamerica, Typepad, Wordpress, Yahoo! 360) on the web isn't new.  Posting text and photos from mobile phones has been ongoing for 4 or 5 years.  The volume of content on textamerica, photoblog and other moblog specific services testifies to the popularity of "sharing the moment", using pics to express concepts, and the desire to post from anywhere and everywhere.

Many user services experience a tipping point that brings them into the public's consciousness.  For blogs,it was a combination of the 2004 election cycle and specifically Rathergate.  For moblogging, it was the tragedy of train bombings in London on 7/7.

Examples from London and other creative uses for moblogs.

Moblogging 1.0 is a unidirectional activity of posting from a mobile device.  One application that we'll look at has gone a long way to make moblogging 1.0 accessible and easy is Nokia's LifeBlog.

Moblogging 2.0 is multi-directional and includes sharing text, photos, audio and video from a mobile device to the web, mobile to mobile, and web to mobile.

If you are a blogger, then you are already a mobile publisher.

As mobile devices which include phones, PDAs, and even Russell Beattie's PSP are becoming common place, more powerful, and connect to various networks, the reading of your blog by mobile users a certainty.  Looking around the world especially in developing countries many will only experience blogs on mobile devices.

Here are 2 mobile centric services which are combining basic blog functionality with other services to take using mobile devices in blogging to a new level.

WINKsite enables bloggers to optimize their content for viewing on mobile devices, and adds the capability of building community around either the blog you publish or the blogs that you read.  WINKsite is notable because it has considered not only the most capable networks and devices, but the capabilities of display and communication of inexpensive entry level phones.  WINKsite also offers a community site to help new users get started, request features and interact with one another at nextvillage.com.  As one would expect, WINKsite also maintains a blog for announcements and customer interaction.

Rabble from Intercasting Corp., currently live on Verizon Wireless and launching on other carriers soon, is an example of Moblogging 2.0.  Users are able to create channels that are personal brands or focused on interests in the same way that web-based blogs can be designed to represent you (e.g., daily personal journal, professional persona), your area of interest (e.g., music, politics, faith, skateboarding, gardening, technology) or something completely unique (e.g., list of creative works).  Rabble combines user content creation, recommendations, social networking, reputation and a killer content discovery mechanism using location.  Many mobile services are very good at specific and narrow content discovery like operator portals, or massive labor intensive content discovery like search.  Rabble's location based discovery allow zooming in and out.  For example, you can sample or consume content and/or services that are within 5 miles of your current location or search within content that is 3000 miles (read that nationwide) within your current location.

Rabble posts can simulateously update your mobile based rabble channel and your web-based weblog.  This integration is currently available with Blogger and Live Journal.  Integration with other blogging platforms is in development or planned.

This is such a rich and flexible platform we'll take a look at Rabble during the session.  Also, check out the blog of Rabble's creators on the Intercasting Corp. site.  It's a great resource for learning about Moblogging 2.0 and beyond, and conversing with the company.

Moblogging definitions

From Adam Greenfield, who coined the term in 2002, this definition from 2004
Publish[ing] pictures, sounds, comments, and, yes, full and well-developed thoughts from wherever they happen to be at the time, to whatever network exists to catch them. Hence "mob[ile Web] logging.

From Typepad
Moblogging, short for Mobile Blogging, is the ability to add posts to your weblog while not sitting at a computer.

From Winer & Scoble
Moblogging is any activity that occurs away from your normal blog-writing place whose purpose is to create content for your blog.

Bring your favorite mobile tool for blogging

Got a cool mobile application that helps you blog using a mobile device or makes your content accessible by mobile phones.  Bring it!  Everyone is the session will have the chance to post to this blog.  So, we'll be moblogging the Moblogging Session and then some.

Podcasters listen up! Videobloggers too.

Podcasting is rising quick in popularity, and it's proponents are all a tither over the directory in iTunes which lists and synchs with their audio posts with iPods.  While the iPod plus iTunes service has done much for online music sales, and changed the brutal CD/album purchase model, the number of iPod users is tiny compared to the numbers of mobile phone sales.  Apple has sold upwards of 25 million iPods in it's life time.

Compare that to mobile phones which are forecast to ship 735 million in 2005.  Of course, this number includes all models, but even a single model can ship millions in just one year.

The challenge for podcasters in the mobile environment are similar to those of other media types.  Are the tools and content mobile lifestyle friendly?  Does the feed protocol deliver updates in a reliable and efficient manner?  Inefficient syndication protocols will drive up the wait time, and cost to the user for consuming content and at times not deliver the content at all.  Mobile networks provide intermitten connectivity, and blogging tools and services must account for packet loss and varing connectivity.

In addition, mobile users are on the go with a few minutes here and there to spend on consuming content and communicating.  Short podcasts are needed for a mobile audience.  There are any number of situations when we have time available to be informed, entertained, or communicate and share with others while mobile.  Most appointments with doctors, dentists and hair stylists involve a few minutes of wait time.  With your mobile device, you can catch up with Amanda Congdon at Rocketboom, an example of one videoblogger who has addressed the mobile audience.

We can discuss issues for podcasters and videobloggers in the new MoBlogHer discussion list.

Everyone gets a blogging tool

Nokia is providing all Moblogher attendees with a registration key for LifeBlog (retail $40).  There's both PC and mobile software.  Even if you don't own a Nokia phone you'll still be able to use the PC software.

I blogged about using LifeBlog on mobilejones.com sometime ago.  I love this application.  It has the great Nokia UI principle of simplicity matched with flexibility.  Those are both critical aspects of a user centered design.  I love that I have captured or recorded information, events and images synchronized on my phone, PC and blog.  It eliminates 3 concerns that I have as a blogger.  1)backups, 2)freedom from service provider lock-in, and  3)freedom in using any of my devices or computers to publish. 

The phone pictured in the image above is the brand new Nokia N90.  You will see this amazing phone during Moblogher.  This comes with 31 MBs of shared storage, you can add MMCs to extend storage capacity, it records video with sound, has Carl Zeiss optics, a stunningly beautiful high res screen, a cool suite of applications (print photos directly from the phone to a bluetooth capable printer), muvee templates for videos, photo and video editing software.  Honestly it's a multimedia computer in your pocket.  You can podcast, vblog, photoblog and if you wanted to go old school, compose text too.  I wish we could give away one of these too, but they aren't released to the public yet.

photos, um, courtsey of Engadget:

Mobile blog audiences

The number of mobile users will exceed 2 billion by EOY 2005.

In the US alone, 23 to 24 million people are mobile only phone users. Americans disconnecting their landlines will continue.  According to CTIA there are somewhere between 180 and 185 million wireless subscribers in the US.

China will see more new mobile phone users than landline installations in 2005.  Mobile subscribers will grow by 58 million just this year.

Mobiles closing the digital divide in Africa

The Mobile Data Association forecasts in the UK that WAP page impressions will reach a total of 15 billion by the end of the year.

Looking at European statistics for mobile phone ownership, UK, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland and Italy have all exceeded 100% market penetration with Luxembourg reporting 133%.

Rougly 90% of all handsets have cameras.

Mobility - videos

Moto's Analyst briefing:  mobility is here now clips for the discussion

@3:00 multimedia phones (feature e398 stereo sound)
@ 4:15  iTunes phone (think mobile podcasts)
@6:30 Razrwire (mashup sunglasses + bluetooth headset)
@10:30 automobile voice, music, data, networks (moving of content)
@16:20 network combos Wi-Fi/WiMax mesh (improve coverage & reduce cost)
@23:20 networking switching GSM to Wi-Fi: UMA (better indoor coverage & reduce cost)

Try to ignore the Moto branding.  The video is helpful to demostrate how devices and services are coming together now to make mobility easier, valuable and cost controlled for consumers.  There are plenty of other companies competing with Moto to deliver switching between Wi-Fi and GSM, WiMax and mobile networks.  Also, the embedding of phone capabilities in other products like automobiles, sun glasses, game consoles, and mobile computers is happening now.  We'll talk more about how these developments impact bloggers, and the tools they use specifically at the conference.

Other major vendors:  Intel, Nokia, Qualcomm