• Virtual Events
  • Services
    • Virtual Events
    • Recruitment Marketing and IT Staffing
    • Advertising
      • Display Advertising
      • Search Advertising
      • Retargeting
      • Live Web Chat
    • Automation
      • Automation Tools
      • Built-In CRM
      • Email Automation
      • Identify Visitors
      • Call Tracking
      • Dynamic Lists
      • Dynamic Forms
      • Actionable Analytics
    • Programmatic Advertising
    • Website Content Creation
    • Social Media Management
    • Website Creation and Maintenance
    • Search Engine Optimization
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
    • Case Studies
    • Contact Us
    • Work with Us
    • Read Our Blog
  • IT Jobs

IT STAFFING AND RECRUITING SERVICES: (678) 646-6786 | OTHER DIGITAL MARKETING SERVICES: (678) 597-8541

MyMobileLyfe | Recruitment Marketing, Programmatic Advertising & Automation
  • Virtual Events
  • Services
    • Virtual Events
    • Recruitment Marketing and IT Staffing
    • Advertising
      • Display Advertising
      • Search Advertising
      • Retargeting
      • Live Web Chat
    • Automation
      • Automation Tools
      • Built-In CRM
      • Email Automation
      • Identify Visitors
      • Call Tracking
      • Dynamic Lists
      • Dynamic Forms
      • Actionable Analytics
    • Programmatic Advertising
    • Website Content Creation
    • Social Media Management
    • Website Creation and Maintenance
    • Search Engine Optimization
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
    • Case Studies
    • Contact Us
    • Work with Us
    • Read Our Blog
  • IT Jobs

Smartphone ‘kill switch’ could save consumers billions, researcher says

31
Mar

Smartphone ‘kill switch’ could save consumers billions, researcher says

Android, iOS, Mobile, Mobile technology, Safety, Smartphones, ThreatMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

Technology that can render a stolen smartphone worthless to thieves could save consumers $2.6 billion a year in product replacement and insurance premiums if it significantly reduces thefts of the devices, a new report says.

lockedphone_artThe study by Creighton University researcher William Duckworth is the latest argument for the installation of so-called “kill switch” technology in smartphones. California became the first state in the nation to propose making the disabling technology mandatory on the devices when state legislators proposed a bill in February. Federal lawmakers are also considering legislation in Washington.

Wireless carriers have mostly resisted these requests, and the wireless trade group CTIA has come out in opposition, citing potential hacking and privacy risks that could affect entire groups of smartphone customers.

Duckworth, an assistant professor of statistics, data science and analytics at Creighton, surveyed 1,200 smartphone owners in February using ResearchNow and reviewed the average cost of the devices and insurance as part of his study.

Duckworth estimated that it costs consumers about $580 million a year to replace stolen smartphones and another $4.8 billion annually to insure premium handsets like the iPhone. Duckworth summarizes in his report:

“A stolen smartphone – such as the iPhone 5S – could sell for $800 or more in the United States and overseas. For criminals, a stolen phone could be worth more than a stolen wallet, a tablet, or even a laptop.”

The professor said his research showed that if the kill switch technology proves an effective deterrent by rendering stolen smartphones useless, leaving no incentive for thieves to steal them, most of the $580 million spent by users to replace the devices would be saved.

Another $2 billion a year would be saved by customers who switch to cheaper insurance coverage for their devices. Duckworth says at least half of smartphone users would do this if the disabling technology reduced the theft threat.

Says Duckworth:

“Overall, it seems clear that Americans want the Kill Switch and that an industry-wide implementation of the technology could significantly improve public safety and save consumers billions of dollars a year.”

Duckworth’s survey also found that:

  • 99 percent of smartphone owners believe wireless carries should allow consumers the option to disable the device if it is stolen
  • 93 percent believe owners should not be expected to pay extra for the ability to disable a stolen phone
  • 83 percent believe a kill switch would reduce smartphone theft.
Read More
28
Mar

The voracious digital omnivores

Infographic, Internet, iOS, Mobile, Mobile technology, Smartphones, TabletsMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

The number of consumers with more than one digital device continues to grow, and they are hungry for content.

mobilecontentDeloitte recently released the findings of its eighth Digital Democracy Survey, which show that over a third of U.S. consumers – 37 percent – are digital omnivores, consumers who own tablets, smartphones and laptops. That’s a 42 percent increase from the previous year.

The growth is primarily driven by continued tablet usage and increased smartphone ownership. Tablet ownership rose from 13 percent in  2011 to 48 percent last year, according to Deloitte.

In addition, women, who made up 35 percent of digital omnivores a year ago, now comprise 45 percent of the group.

As the usage of tablets and smartphones as content devices grows, owners are craving more content. Interest in streaming content has nearly doubled, from 17 percent in 2012 to 32 percent in 2013, with interest in digital formats outpacing demand for physical media.

Deloitte.com
Deloitte.com

But Deloitte’s survey also found that consumers remain content with pay TV subscriptions, with only 6 percent saying they would give up their paid TV services next year.  Also, a majority of consumers said they still prefer to rent movies and television programming rather than purchase it.

With ownership of multiple devices on the rise, so is multitasking. According to Deloitte’s survey, 86 percent of consumers continue to be distracted by another device with watching TV, up from 72 percent in 2011. Yet only 22 percent of those involved in multitasking are doing activities directly related to the programs they are watching.

Millennials, those in the 14-to-24 demographic, are the most active of multitaskers, doing four activities while watching TV.

You can read more about Deloitte’s Digital Democracy Survey here. Feel free to tell us what you think.

deloitte_infografic_one

 

Read More
27
Mar

Tablets still popular, but move from PCs slowing

iOS, Mobile, Mobile technology, Smartphones, TabletsMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

The transition from PC to tablet computers is beginning to slow, even as sales of mobile devices continues to move upward.

Worldwide shipments of PCs, tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices, an indicator of popular interest, is projected to reach 2.5 billion units in 2014, up 6.9 percent from the previous year, Gartner Inc. says in a new report.

Gartner.com
Gartner.com

Shipments of PCs continue to tumble, down about 6.6 percent from 2013. Gartner says sales of traditional PCs will continue to hamper the overall growth of devices, and the transition to tablets as the primary computer for users will decline, even as tablet shipments rose 38 percent from 2013. Consumers and businesses are taking the time to pair the right device with the right job – for example, whether a tablet computer is more effective than a laptop in the business environment.

Consumers will also increasingly look for other tablet features beyond the price, such as smaller screens, greater portability and better connectivity in their replacement tablets.

Smartphones and other mobile phones represent the largest segment of the overall device market, with shipments expected to hit 1.9 billion this year, up 4.9 percent from 2013. Growth in this segment is projected to come from less expensive premium phones and higher-end basic phones.

 

 

 

Read More
26
Mar

Survey: A quarter of U.S. companies have yet to go mobile

Business, Internet, Mobile, Mobile technologyMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

Companies still have a way to go when it comes to embracing mobile technology, according to a new survey.

Just over a quarter of U.S. companies – 28 percent – do not have a mobile technology strategy, according to a Robert Half Technology survey.

The survey is based on 2,300 telephone interviews with chief information officers from a random sampling of U.S. companies.

In the same survey, 70 percent of the firms have some type of mobile strategy, with the majority – 56 percent – saying they use a blend of apps  and mobile-friendly websites.

The survey also says:

  • The health care industry lags behind when it comes to leveraging the use of mobile devices for customer and patient engagement. According to the survey, 36 percent of respondents from health care companies say their organization has no mobile strategy. More than 60 percent of those polled from business services and retail say their companies embrace mobile technology for customer engagement.
  • Many of the companies with a mobile strategy are not emphasizing the use of apps to connect with customers and clients. Of the CIOs surveyed, 58 percent said their company has not developed a mobile app for customers and clients and has no plans to offer one in the next 12 months. Another 22 percent say their business plans to create a native app for customers in the next 12 months.
Read More
18
Mar

Google joins wearable device game with Android Wear

Android, Mobile, Mobile technologyMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

As expected, Google has launched an effort to expand the Android operating system from smartphones and tablets to wearable devices.

android_artGoogle announced in a blog post today the creation of Android Wear. Google will initially focus on smartwatches that will tell the wearer not only the time, but deliver the latest social media posts and updates, messaging, news and photos and more. Android Wear devices will be able to respond to voice commands, and monitor health and fitness. Over time, Android Wear will extend to a variety of body-fitting devices.

Google also released a software development kit preview for its wearable technology, enabling developers to tailor their existing apps for watches powered by Android Wear.

Google says it is working with companies including electronics manaufacturers Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung, chip makers like Broadcom, Intel and Qualcomm, and fashion brands like Fossil to develop smartwatches. The devices are expected to be launched later this year.

It’s a huge step for the company to position itself in a still growing market, and it poses unique opportunities for providing content specifically created for the wearable technology user.

The potential for content tailored for smartwatches and other like devices is limited at this point, and creating it for devices even smaller than smartphones looms as a challenge.

But it is something for content managers to think about. With the estimated market value of wearables projected to reach $10 billion by 2015, as the technology becomes more mainstream, more opportunities for content creation suited for wearables will not be far behind.

Read More
5
Mar

Facebook Paper’s content marketing potential

Apps, Content marketing, Internet, Mobile, Mobile technologyMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

Facebook Paper looms as a game changer for content marketers.

Facebook
Facebook

The social media giant’s recently launched media delivery app puts an emphasis on quality images and solid content for the user. Users can select sections featuring content created from news sources for their optimal and personalized media experience.

They’ll look for unique and compelling images, attention-grabbing headlines and blog postings that feature original, well-written and researched material.

This poses a challenge to companies when it comes to creating the brand content that Paper users will be drawn to.

Business2community.com has a few tips for those that want to create high-impact content for Facebook’s Paper:

  • It’s okay to write longer content.
  • More words are effective.
  • Use better, higher quality photos.

You can read more about this here.

Read More
24
Feb

Mobile potential for small business

Android, Apps, Business, Internet, iOS, Mobile, Mobile technology, Smartphones, TabletsMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

Major retailers are embracing the potential of mobile devices to bring in customers and drive business. Now, small businesses are focusing on mobile access to customers to boost their bottom line.

Mobile devices, particularly smartphones, are becoming the main channel for customers to interact with businesses. That means opportunities for merchants, from restaurants to car repair services to banks.

While social media like Twitter and Facebook are an effective form of social engagement for small businesses, a mobile-friendly website and payment options for smartphones and tablets can tilt long-term success in their favor.

The market is there for the taking: smartphone ownership in the U.S. is expected to more than triple by 2016.

Here are a few areas small businesses and entrepreneurs can focus on if they want to maintain, or expand, their mobile presence:

  • Make the company website accessible to mobile devices
  • Add a mobile payment option
  • Make smartphones, tablets and other mobile tools available to the sales force
  • Use virtual meeting apps like GroupMe to communicate with staff.

 

 

 

 

 

Read More
21
Feb

The doctor will see you on your smartphone

Android, Apps, Health, iOS, Mobile, Mobile technology, Smartphones, TabletsMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

It’s time to get in touch with your doctor. You don’t feel well. It’s time for an annual checkup or a follow-up visit. Or maybe you just have a medical question.

Chances are you have the family physician’s phone number on a card in your wallet, the one reminding you of your next appointment.

Or you can use the app on your smartphone or tablet to contact the office.

The ability to locate a doctor, book an appointment and attend to your personal health care needs is right in the palm of your hand, as an app for Apple or Android devices. One that comes to mind is Zoc Doc, launched in 2011 for iOS and now available on Android. Zoc Doc helps you to search for a doctor by specialty, browse doctor search results like credentials, view appointment calendars in real time and book one for an available date instantly.

doctorapp_art
DoctoronDemand.com

If you just have a medical question and can’t wait, here’s even an app that lets you connect with a physician right on your mobile device. It’s a consultation without the waiting room.

Doctor on Demand allows a patient to speak with a licensed physician on audio or video through a smartphone, iPhone or tablet. The app is useful to people with non-emergency issues who have medical questions like seeking a referral or explaining symptoms. The participating doctors are drawn from a network affiliated with independent medical practices throughout the United States.

Doctor on Demand is a free app for iOS and Android, but the fee to speak with a doctor is $40, about the cost of a copayment to see a specialist.

Read More
20
Feb
subway_artMobile gets boost in NYC, Chicago subways

Mobile gets boost in NYC, Chicago subways

Android, Internet, iOS, Mobile, Mobile technology, Smartphones, Tablets, TravelMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

Welcome to a better wireless underground.

Two of the largest subway systems in the country, New York and Chicago, are expanding the ability for mobile device owners to use their smartphones and tablets at transit stations. The days of a dropped phone signal as you enter a subway station are going the way of the token, thanks to improved technology and wireless infrastructure.

In New York, the nation’s largest subway system, the Metropolitan Transit Authority is adding wireless and Wi-Fi service to 11 stations in midtown Manhattan, including Grand Central Terminal, Herald Square and Bryant Park, and stations in the borough of Queens. The MTA launched wireless and Wi-Fi service at 36 subway stations last year, among them Times Square, and according to TransitWireless.com, the Wi-Fi network served 2.6 million connections throughout the year.

Smartphones like the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S4 were the most popular devices to connect to the Wi-Fi network and were responsible for 76 percent of the data usage in the stations last year.

When this expansion phase is completed in June, nearly 250 million riders will have access to service from AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon Wireless.

Besides convenience, the expansion of wireless service is expected to also enhance passenger safety and security, the MTA says. E911 will allow dispatchers to know when a call is being placed underground and the location of the caller. Employees and first responders will also have enhanced communications in an emergency.

Upgrades are also coming to Chicago, home to the nation’s third-busiest rail transit system. The Chicago Transit Authority is upgrading the existing wireless network to 4G technology. This is expected to improve service on the Blue and Red lines, which have a total of 24 miles of individual tunnels. Work on the project is expected to begin later this year.

So if you’re traveling to these cities anytime soon and plan to use their subways, rest assured that your wireless communication experience is about to improve.

 

Read More
19
Feb

Smartphone security: To ‘kill’ or not?

Mobile, Mobile technology, Smartphones, ThreatMyMobileLyfeNo Comment

The installation of a “kill switch” in mobile devices to deter theft, first proposed by California legislators, now has the attention of federal lawmakers.

lockedphone_artFour U.S. senators introduced legislation to require carriers to install a security feature on smartphones that would remotely and permanently disable the devices if stolen. The legislation follows California’s first-in-the-nation bid to make the so-called “kill switch” mandatory on all mobile devices, including tablets.

Theft is a serious problem confronting owners of mobile devices. In major cities like New York and San Francisco, smartphone theft accounts for half of all robberies. There’s even an informal and diabolical name for it: “Apple picking.” U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, one of the bill’s sponsors, estimates the cost of these thefts to consumers is more than $30 billion a year.

The idea is for the disabling technology to be an effective deterrent by making the smartphones worthless to thieves.

But not everyone is on board. The wireless trade group CTIA has come out against the federal legislation in a position paper, citing potential hacking and privacy risks that could affect entire groups of smartphone customers. A lost smartphone reported stolen could cost the consumer hundreds of dollars to replace it, the CTIA says. The group does support criminal penalties for tampering with a smartphone.

“There is a far better way to do this, but it would actually require that criminals are captured, smartphones are returned to the owners, and justice is served, PCMag.com’s John Dvorak writes in panning the federal legislation. “It also means providers and police have to do more than sit around hitting a kill switch and having a doughnut.”

This recent CNET article goes into depth about the security devices already employed in most smartphones, and what the wireless industry is doing — and not doing — to deter thieves.

 

 

 

Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Recent posts

  • Passive Job Searching Tips: How to Position Yourself for Your Next OpportunityPassive Job Searching Tips: How to Position Yourself for Your Next Opportunity
    Passive Job Searching Tips: How to Position Yourself for Your Next Opportunity
    26 AUG 2019 · No Comment
  • ATS and Other Technology Employers Are Using to Track CandidatesATS and Other Technology Employers Are Using to Track Candidates
    ATS and Other Technology Employers Are Using to Track Candidates
    26 AUG 2019 · No Comment
  • How to Leverage Your Current Employees for Job Candidate RecruitmentHow to Leverage Your Current Employees for Job Candidate Recruitment
    How to Leverage Your Current Employees for Job Candidate Recruitment
    19 AUG 2019 · No Comment

Categories

Contact

  • 11175 Cicero Drive, Suite 130 Alpharetta, GA 30022
  • (678) 646-6786 [IT staffing]; (678) 597-8541 [Marketing services]
  • contact@mymobilelyfe.com

Latest Posts

  • Passive Job Searching Tips: How to Position Yourself for Your Next OpportunityPassive Job Searching Tips: How to Position Yourself for Your Next Opportunity
    Passive Job Searching Tips: How to Position Yourself for Your Next Opportunity
    26 AUG 2019 · No Comment
  • ATS and Other Technology Employers Are Using to Track CandidatesATS and Other Technology Employers Are Using to Track Candidates
    ATS and Other Technology Employers Are Using to Track Candidates
    26 AUG 2019 · No Comment

Tags

Ad Blocking Ad Buying Ad Fraud Advertising Android Artificial Intelligence Banking Blogging Business Candidate Recruitment Content marketing CRM Tools Digital Ad Fraud Digital Advertising Drupal Email Marketing featured Hiring Internet iOS iThemes Job Search Joomla Marketing Marketing Agencies Marketing Automation mobile Mobile Advertising Mobile content mobile technology Passive Job Candidates Personalization Personalized Marketing Podcasts Pros and Cons Sales SEO Smartphones Social Media Tablets Video Website Development Websites Website Security WordPress

Links

  • Recruitment Marketing and IT Staffing
  • Digital Advertising
  • Marketing Automation
  • Agency Services
  • Get Started
© 2021 MyMobileLyfe