Microsoft acquiring mobile ad company ScreenTonic

Microsoft agreed to acquire European mobile phone advertising company ScreenTonic to gain a foothold in the rapidly growing business for placing ads on mobile phones.

Paris-based ScreenTonic is one of the first companies in Europe to develop a platform to manage and place ads on the mobile Internet. ScreenTonic also serves as an advertising agency for companies looking to develop marketing campaigns on phones.

Mobile phone advertising is still a nascent industry compared to Web advertising, but it is an area being targeted by Microsoft and Web rivals Google and Yahoo.

The road ahead for mobile advertising is just going to get more exciting. With many startups in the mobile advertising getting funded, and ScreenTonic acquired by Microsoft, its just to demonstrate and endorse how important mobile advertising will play apart in the future of all marketing mix strategy. Wonder who will be the next target?

Whats the effect of Microsoft's acquisition of ScreenTonic?

I don’t think Microsoft’s acquisition of ScreenTonic is a signal that the Internet Giants have arrived. Whatever marketing Microsoft does to alert businesses to mobile marketing will hopefully lead to an accelerated acceptance of this channel. We need to get the word out, and the marketing dollars of the big advertisers can exponentially grow this industry.

I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before we see Google’s pay per click, or pay per action mobile text ad network. They are either working on it, or plan to acquire a company like Ad Mob, Third Screen Media and Madhouse Inc.

Its clearly a signal that mobile advertising is heading prime time.

Spiderman 3

I finally got my ticket to watch the world most expensive film ever made. With a production cost of $500 million, its a must see for everybody especially those who love spidey and computer special effects.

It has a decent storyline and I must say i actually fell in love with the black spidey outfit. Its alot more sharper than the regular classic red blue spidey outfit. Tons of computer graphics and i thought it was a great ending with Peter and Harry, his best friend finally making up. I leave the details of the story for your imagination to run wild.

You should also check out Spiderman 3's website at www.sonypictures.com/movies/spiderman3/site/ .

China's $1.2 trillion cash reserves

With $1.2 trillion in reserves, most of it in dollar-backed assets, China plans to launch the world's largest investment fund. It could play havoc with the U.S. economy and the rest of the world.

China, Long recognized as the world's production factory, is earning a new distinction: America's banker according to Fortune Magazine Senior Writer. As it continues to suck in foreign investment and crank out exports, the world's fastest-growing economy is piling up foreign currency, mostly dollars, at an unbelievable pace.

In April, China's central bank stunned economists with the disclosure that, in the first three months of the year, China had added $136 billion to its official foreign-currency reserves, more than double the increase in the previous quarter and more than any developing nations' national reserves. The influx boosted China's foreign reserves to $1.2 trillion - an Everest of money that towers over reserves held by any other nation.

What is China going to do with all those money?

Chinese press reported that the fund will be modeled on Temasek, the Singaporean government's investment arm, and entrusted with as much as $300 billion. That's three times the size of Temasek and ten times larger than the world's largest hedge fund. With that much under management, the fund could buy up Wal-Mart and have enough left over to pick up General Motors and Ford.

Some predicted that China may use the cash to finance state-owned resource giants like Sinopec or CNOOC to secure oil, gas, coal and other raw materials abroad. Whatever it maybe, China is in great position to do wonders but its sad to say that with so much money, I wonder why Beijing can't use the money to build schools and hospitals.

While in the eyes of the economist and the rest of the world, China has grown phenomenally but personally, there is a huge social and welfare gap that needs to be narrowed. I certainly hope that the Chinese government will put this money to good use.

Chinese own version of "Big Mobile Brands"

Do these brands sound familiar: Nokla, Nokta, Suny Ericssom, Scny Ericsscn, AiFeng, Veptu?

Copying and trademark infringement has always been a big problem for international brands in Asia and its a much bigger problem in China. To illustrate, I have included images and picture of various mobile models to be imitating very closely their international counterparts! Check and see whether you can spot the differences.

The Fake Nokia 95 "Nokla N95"



The Original

The Fake Nokia Vertu "Veptu"

The Original

The Fake Apple iPhone "AiFeng"

The Original

The Fake Nokia N73 "Nokta N73"

The Original

The Fake Sony Ericsson "Suny Ericssom"

The Original

The Fake Sony PSP "FUN"

The Original

In a nation where counterfeiting costs companies worldwide billions of dollars a year, according to the U.S. government, selling of such fake merchandise should be discouraged because counterfeiting undercuts honest competition and rewards illegal competitors, and even defraud innocent customers.

Steve Jobs Movie Posters

The theme of the final Mike Industries iPod Creativity Competition of 2005 is to design a movie poster featuring Steve Jobs. Check out these creatively designed posters.

Millimetres matter

The Viral Factory once again did a brilliant job. The photograhpy or videography is truly awesome. You got to see this brilliant work of art. The Samsung model is reviewed by many as the world slimmest mobile model in the world.

I m really not a big fan of slim models afterall i find it not practical. I always believe that mobile phone has to feel right in your hands and when its way to slim, i think that feeling isnt there. Any comments?

Chinese Government is tapping into your room

China’s 6.5 million civil servants were warned today they could be fired for keeping a mistress or neglecting elderly relatives, under new ethical guidelines aimed at curbing rampant corruption.

Prime minister Wen Jiabao signed the code of conduct, which will extend deep into the private lives of bureaucrats once it comes into effect in June.

Officials face possible dismissal if they are caught with a prostitute or abusing drugs, according to the People’s Daily.

Reflecting the resurgence of traditional Confucian values, they can also be demoted if they abandon their families or fail to look after their parents.

The main thrust of the regulations is to prevent the widespread abuse of power for financial gain. As well as bribery and embezzlement, civil servants can be sacked for setting up side-businesses without proper authorization.

Who said that the Chinese government has no proper ethics and code of conduct. They are certainly way ahead than many governments of leading countries as far as managing corruption. Laws against corruption in China are severe and punishable by death and those who are caught no matter how senior their position in the political party will be severely dealt with.

Joost has launched

"Joost, (juiced) the world’s first broadcast-quality Internet television service, today announced that it has commercially launched." - official press release from Joost.

This is the new much publicised Internet TV project brought to you by the same people who brought you Kazaa and Skype. You can certainly more about it from Joost's website. Its still on beta and you can only sign up provided you are invited.

Send me a comment or email if you need a Joost invite.