A view of the future

If you look at the Internet usage you will notice a large amount of people that stand outside the Internet evolution. Usually these are older people that find the Internet and the computers a hard thing to master. These people are a large group, with a substantial amount of resources. A fairly attractive segment for every marketer, but so hard to reach especially if you are selling technology. We have thought a great deal on how to reach these people and every time we end up at the same conclusion. The soft and hardware has to become easier to use.

This video is an example how easy to use a computer can become in the near future. Maybe this is the solution for everyone to participate in the e-society. Right now, here in Sweden, there is an experiment of bringing Internet services through the TV. You might not be surprised to know that the experiment has fallen well out.

So, do you have any solution that an Internet company could reach the older generation? A new software or hardware? Let your imagination go free.

A look at virtual worlds - Second Life

This video is for you that are curious about how virtual games look like. We give you an inside look from one of the players. Notice the similarities with real life. Do not forgett that we have an own service called Virtual Star that allows companies to explore and make or save money using virtual worlds. A few ad agencies use Second Life to show how promotional material could look like, saving them trips to their customers. Others, like a petrol construction company, use it for educational purposes.

Virtual money becomes real for ATM withdrawal

Evidence for the next evolution phase is hitting us every now and then. Now you can withdraw your virtual money from a ATM machine. The virtual game Project Entropia is an interesting phenomenon due to the fact that it has its own economy. Second Life is another example, where they have even started a stock market within the game.

The latest news about Project Entropia is that the players can transfer their money to their bank account and withdraw it with an ATM card instantly. For instance Jon Jacobs a 39-year-old Entropia player in USA, last year sold almost everything he owned (real and virtual) to scratch together $100,000 (1 million P.E.D.'s) to buy a huge space station in the game. Selling apartments and storefronts to other players and by imposing taxes on players using his real estate, he is now making about $12,000 a month according to his estimate. Money that he can withdraw in a ATM machine and use in real life. An amazing development by any means. The question is, how many virtual worlds will we have in the future and how will it affect our real world? What do you think?

How to use Buzz Marketing

The Buzz marketing trend is catching on, even here in Sweden. Last week I was talking to a web developer at a major company who told me that he was at a conference where he heard that the new marketing trend was Buzz marketing. Although Buzz marketing has been the trend for many years in the U.S. it is just catching up in Europe. The art is hard to master and most projects fail. If you want to engage in Buzz marketing you have to know how to control and most of all create the buzz. It is not enough with just a cool web-campaign.

Google has launched this site to promote the new Jenifer Aniston movie, and they encourage people to send in their own break up videos. Let us see the results of the Buzz marketing. At least it got us writing about it.

17 year old threatens companies

We have noticed that many companies do not understand the implication of the massive changes that the Web 2.0 brings. Many business models have to change, especially those selling software. Software companies have to realize that their threat does not come from competitors but from that 17 year old that is sitting at home and writing his own program. Look at the new entrepreneurs of the Web. How old are they?

Does brand loyalty exist on the Web?

According to our opinion one of the most interesting topics are if brand loyalty exist on the Internet. To consume e-services are fascinating experience but do consumers choose services according to brands? In the real world this is a fact but is it so on the Internet? While surfing the Web it is so easy to just click on the next link. Say, if someone would come up with a better search engine than Google, what will happen? Is the Google brand so strong that it can survive an attack from unknown companies? The Internet is much a marketing battle. There are many great services but people usually consume those they know of. This is why the Internet poker craze has become an intense marketing battle, but the customers are still not very loyal. According to inside information the more experienced a poker players becomes the more he migrates to the sites that make the best offer at the time. As the average customer visits six sites a day, it is very important that one gets into the head of the user. Of course brand awareness can defend many attacks but branding on the Web is far more a risky business than in real life. The migration to new services and brands could be done instantly this is why you have to stay on top of the development. What is your experience, from a user or producer point of view? Are your brand awareness high? Do you consume only services with known brands? What would you do if someone came up with a better search engine than Google? Would you use it or would you stay faithful to Google?

New business opportunities

Looking into the future is always a fun thing to do. It really puts your mind to work and sets your imagination loose. For the last weeks we have conducted a mini research to look into the business opportunities of the future. We have asked people who are involved within the Internet and telecom sector to express their opinion on what will be hot in the near future. While many different topics have emerged during those conversations, two topics have stood out. The first is the 3G technology which seems to be heating up expectations of the future. New 3G-services are in demand and the notion that we will soon embrace the 3G technology is prominent. If you analyse peoples answers this notion offers excellent business opportunities for all types of companies. The second topic was the network technology which has the past weeks been the discussed widely by different media channels. It is no surprise that people talk about what they read, but according to our interviewed subjects the network boom within the B2B sector will boom this and the next year as more and more companies will like to involve their customers into the production process. Of course this is easier said than done but the opportunities are highly tangible. Of course it is always hard to predict the future but some technologies are more interesting than others and if you want to invest we suggest you have closer look at the 3G, networking, RFID and WiMax technologies. According to our opinion they have a great future, what do you think?

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Virtual Star

We have introduced a new service called Virtual Star. It will help you to make money in virtual worlds. This will give you a taste of the future. Already many companies are exploring the possibilities with virtual worlds. Try it, you will be amazed in many ways!

Is WiMax a threat to 3G?

The European market: The WiMax technology is heading towards us with great speed and the role of the 3G technology will become far different than the operators anticipated. If you combine the technological development and consumer preferences you will find that the user patterns of mobile Internet will become scattered over different platforms. The lack consumer understanding and not aggressive use of the 3G technology has already put the 3G technology on the slow lane enabling cheaper technologies such as WiMax to surpass it on the fast lane. Users are already screaming for a pricy mobile Internet platform, but those who are in a position to offer the solution refuse to listen. Every day we are scouting the Internet to find signs of telecom operators willing to take the first step, but so far nothing is happening and it is hurting the sector badly. They time has come to promote and “consumerize” the 3G technology. The question is if it is not already too late. Mobiles with WiFi technology and initiatives like the Fon (who wants to create a global WiFi network), are being introduced on a daily basis. We want a more aggressive use of the 3G technology if it should become a true value bringer to the consumer. If you want to know how, please do not hesitate to contact us. Change now, the future is already here!

The virtual world of your children

A child that is borne today grows up in a totally different dimension than his parents. For him the computer, mobile, Internet, mp3 player etc. has always existed. If you tell your 6 year old how life before the mobile phone was he will probably not believe you. Today kids grow up with games such as the Sims, Project Entropia and Second Life. They spend an increasing amount of their lives in an online world, where the old rules no longer apply. In these games you can build and become anything you want. You can even make a real money fortune like the Chinese born language teacher who has assets worth more than $250.000 in virtual reality game Second Life. Actually only your imagination can stop you.

To explore the virtual world is an interesting experience. Our society moves in a super speed, and virtual worlds are the theme for the future. Companies that can make a seamless connection between the online and offline world will be able to extend their incomes beyond today’s limited possibilities. If you are interested to know how you can do this please do not hesitate to contact us.