Don’t miss the submission deadline for Mobile World Congress 2010 – Friday 24th July 2009

This year, the deadline for the call for papers for Mobile World Congress is a lot earlier as in next week!

Don’t miss this if you are interested

See link for Mobile World Congress – Barcelona 2010 – Call for papers to know more

I have covered layar the new augmented reality browser before and they have a new announcement that they will open up their platform for developers.

Adapted from their press release below:

This month Layar will provide 50 developer keys to interested companies across the globe. With a key it will be possible to create and publish digital layers within the Layar mobile application. Any database with location coordinates can be transformed into an augmented reality layer.

First 50 keys Starting today companies and organizations can apply for a developer key via http://layar.com/API and fill in the request form.

Layar will provide tools such as API documentation, publication process and a test environment for new layers.

To begin with 50 keys will be handed out, with more keys being released in the future.

Development opportunities with Layar The Layar API gives developers the opportunity to completely customize the look and feel of their own augmented reality layer, which may include: branding possibilities such as color scheme and custom icons for the layer, exposing the database with Points of Interest (POIs), custom indicators for various types of POI and assigning custom actions to each POI (go to mobile URL, call number, make route, etc).

Register for Developer Day updates via http://www.meetup.com/LayarEvents/

The link is: Layar API

This article makes for disturbing reading. So much for the reputation of privacy, security etc for phone conversations. How could this happen and no one knows? Good on the Guardian for finding this story!

Note: I have taken a pragmatic viewpoint for open and have argued for privacy and security on mobile devices. This is significant because there is a special place for mobile in the security and privacy domains. The mobile is a personal device and the risks of a breach affect individuals and even minors. It is not clear how hacking has happened but the very act of getting mobile numbers of celebrities is disturbing in itself and then following on to hack into them

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8141884.stm BBC

Q&A: Phone hacking row

As police prepare to examine claims of widespread mobile phone hacking by the News of the World, we look at some of the key questions surrounding the story.

What is the row all about?

The Guardian newspaper’s front page is claiming journalists on the tabloid News of the World were involved in widespread phone-hacking of several thousand celebrities, sports stars and politicians.

The paper says it has evidence that News Group Newspapers – owner of The News of the World, the Sun, the Times and the Sunday Times – paid £1m to settle legal cases that might have revealed evidence of the journalists’ illegal activities.

If that evidence had been made available, then victims of phone hacking may have been able take action against the News of the World.

The Guardian says the News of the World made a £700,000 payout to Gordon Taylor, head of the Professional Footballers’ Association – but only on condition that details of his case were not made public, the paper said.

News Group’s lawyers are then accused by the paper of persuading the court to “seal the file” on Mr Taylor’s case to prevent all public access.

The allegations have not only caused deep concern for those who were apparently targeted but also raised questions over who knew the extent of the illegal activity and why more was not done to tackle it.

As well as the News of the World, those in the spotlight include the Crown Prosecution Service which allegedly agreed to seal the file, and the Metropolitan Police who failed to alert the alleged victims.

Fingers are also being pointed at Andy Coulson, News of the World editor when the allegations were made, and now a key figure in the Conservative party.

Former deputy PM John Prescott, one of the alleged targets, has called for police to investigate. Other including Lord Mandelson and former Home Secretary Charles Clarke have also waded into the row.

Why has it now come to light?

The story stems from the jailing of News of the World royal reporter Clive Goodman in 2007 for hacking into the mobile phones of three royal staff. At the time, News International said Goodman had been acting without their knowledge.

During that case it emerged private investigator Glenn Mulcaire tapped into the phones of Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, and four other prominent figures.

A year later Gordon Taylor sued News Group, which owns the News of the World, on the basis that its senior executives must have known about the alleged operation.

An out-of-court settlement was reached on condition that details of the case were not made public.

The Guardian claims the information from the case – which would have exposed allegations of widespread phone hacking by News of the World journalists – was then suppressed by the police and the High Court.

And it is some of that information that they disclosed in their newspaper on Thursday.

Whose phone was hacked into?

Cabinet ministers, MPs, actors and sports stars are all said to have been bugged.

On the Guardian’s list are former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, former culture secretary Tessa Jowell, celebrity cook Nigella Lawson, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, London Mayor Boris Johnson, comedian Lenny Henry, singer George Michael and the late Jade Goody.

The Guardian quotes one source as saying between “2,000 and 3,000″ public figures had been bugged.

Who is Andy Coulson?

Andy Coulson was editor of the News of the World at the time when his journalists were allegedly involved in phone hacking into thousands of mobiles. Now he is director of communications for the Conservative party.

He started his journalism career on regional papers, before rising rapidly through the ranks to become News of the World editor by his mid 30s.

He oversaw a string of tabloid exclusives on the private lives of David Beckham, David Blunkett and Sven Goran Eriksson.

But he resigned in January 2007 on the day Clive Goodman was jailed for four months for illegal phone hacking.

He denied knowledge of events, but said he would take the ultimate responsibility for them. A Press Complaints Commission investigation found no evidence that he or anyone else at the paper was aware of Goodman’s illegal activities.

Less than six months later though he was back in a job, hired by David Cameron to be his director of communications and planning.

What have the Tories said?

Conservative leader David Cameron is standing by his communications director, insisting his job is safe.

“He does an excellent job for the Conservatives, in a proper, upright way at all times,” he said.

“It’s wrong for newspapers to breach people’s privacy with no justification.

“That is why Andy Coulson resigned as editor of the News of the World two-and-a-half years ago. Of course I knew about that resignation before offering him the job. But I believe in giving people a second chance.”

Why didn’t the police investigate?

It is unclear yet how far any police investigation has gone. What is known is that the alleged targets of the phone hacking were not informed when the information about the hack operation first came to light.

On Thursday, Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson announced a senior officer had been ordered to “establish the facts” on the case.

Legal experts say even if the police had been aware of other phone hacking targets, unless there were complainants, they would not necessarily have investigated further.

However, John Prescott has said that if the victims were kept in the dark in the first place, they were unlikely to been able to complain.

Legal analyst Joshua Rozenberg said there was no obligation on the police to inform the alleged targets of the phone tapping.

“I think the police would say they don’t go around publishing information like this,” he said.

“It’s their job to investigate crimes and pass information onto the Crown Prosecution Service. And if the CPS chose not to prosecute, or even to tell the people involved, that’s their decision.”

How can a mobile phone be hacked?

Security expert Mark Cooper says there are three methods by which a mobile telephone calls can be intercepted.

This can be done either at the handset, or during the conversation – which is illegal and very expensive – or through the mobile phone company which connects the device.

Are there laws preventing people from hacking into phones?

It is illegal to gain access to another person’s telephone under Section 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

Legal affairs analyst Jon Silverman said the only exception is if the hacking is being done by the authorities, who will have gained legal clearance.

He said: “The RIPA act was a controversial one. The government wanted to put on a statutory footing the activities of bodies like the police, MI5 and security agencies generally.

“It raises the question of the very buoyant market for confidential information in this country and the biggest buyers are the media.”

What are the penalties for breaking the law in this way?

The maximum sentence is two years in prison, or a fine, or possibly both.

Note:

Here, I am arguing that Data is more important that software/access. Google controls ‘search’ data – but not enterprise data and also not social data.

The Google Chrome OS announcement does not change that

The trend towards the Cloud has been there for some time – for mobile , as early as 2003 with SoonR) but it is all catching up now. However, for local storage, you need a client footprint(and thats what I mean by the browser needed some form of ‘client’ and best bet was HTML5 which google functionally implements through Chrome as best as it can – and (wisely) does not wait for standardization!)

Thus, the arguement shifts away from PC vs Mobile and also from Operting systems/Browsers etc to ‘the classes of data’ (consumer / enterprise etc) and where they are captured, stored and edited – and how they are valued

As I discussed in The dark side of open: (lack of) Privacy – expect to see talk of empowering the customer, freeing ourselves from old corporate models etc – but the end game is always about DATA! and in that sense, apart from search – Google remains unproven

On my previous blog Winners and losers for Google Chrome OS , there were two questions (comments/twitter feedback)

a) Microsoft Azure is not covered in all this talk of Google Chrome OS and

b) What is the impact on mobile?

On forumoxford, we also debate the PC/Sub netbook/mobile argument ..

The two questions made me think of the following chain of thought

a) The PC/Sub note book/Mobile argument is irrelevant because ..

b) All data is ultimately going to the Cloud(i.e. becoming device agnostic)

c) In that sense, whoever manages the data will be most relevant not where the data is accessed from

The Value of data will be determined by

1) How commercially valuable it is(enterprise data)

2) How personally valuable it is(personal data like photos etc)

3) How easily can the data be accessed across platforms(Web Mobile etc)

4) Who knows the consumer(Identity)

5) How much metadata does it have(links, comments, tags etc)

6) Who the consumer trusts(privacy)

7) How socially available is the consumer data

(happy to add to this list!)

Now, I have always said that we need a client for the Cloud else the Chrome architecure is a sledge hammer to the browser . In that sense, I am a fan of Software plus services (as opposed to software as a service) and to me Chrome is an admission that we need software plus services

The enterprise data will likely stay with Azure(for all Google’s talk – it has not really made an impact on anything other than advertising(commercially) and the jury is out on many things including Android and Chrome)

That leaves personal data.

Capturing data is all fine and very much web 2.0. Storing data can happen in the cloud. But what about editing (ex photos etc)?

So, you need a PC for that – for sure. And it’s a long time that you can use a BROWSER to do some of the tasks

Also, Google now gets into PAID apps – which was indicated by a post from techcrunch last week (what the hell happened to the free version of Google apps)

And there are questions about open source .. Does “open source” mean Google expects the community to maintain the code?

The above implies that:

a) If data sits in the cloud, then the access mechanism is agnostic. So, Cloud prevails over web(as we know it) and mobile

b) If a client is needed, then Google Chrome OS and Azure are conceptually the same(software plus services model)

c) If editing is needed(and it is!) then the PC is still dominant

d) Mobile continues to play an important role but within the context of the Cloud(which spans web and mobile)

e) Whose Cloud do you orbit? Enterprises will continue to be with Azure, Consumer data may rest with one of many clouds(Operator, Google, Azure, Amazon etc etc)

f) And by extension: Which social network do you orbit?. That’s the real consumer question(irrespective of access mechanisms). That could make either facebook or twitter a winner in the consumer space or even the home gateway(the anti cloud – femtocells argument)

This sounds counter intuitive until you think that:

1) Google does not have a social networking presence

2) Facebook and Twitter have strong consumer identity plays The Web just moved and Telecoms just lost another control point

3) The social layer (like the cloud) also spans the Web and Mobile – so mobile becomes an access mechanism to social layer

So, to conclude – Azure for the enterprise and (Twitter/facebook) for the social layer will be the most significant players as I see it now. There is a possibility that a network Operator led cloud could also be a major player

Ultimately it comes down to:

a) Who people will trust

b) Who enterprises will trust

c) Who knows the customer

d) Privacy concerns

e) Who is more open (from a social graph perspective)

All these are DATA related concepts – which is the real issue. Hence, the belief that Azure, facebook and twitter(which relate to the data/social layer) are more significant than Chrome OS or even mobile.

Google controls ‘search’ data – but not enterprise data and also not social data. The Google Chrome OS announcement does not change that

I don’t do analysis on breaking news .. but this one is too big

Google Chrome OS is one of the most significant announcements and I am wondering how it will impact many players

a) Microsoft – Direct competitor. Impacted. Will be on the defensive

b) Linux – Bad news. Becoming less relevant

c) Opera, Mozilla – bad news. Google gains traction at a much higher pace – (albeit not usage as a browser yet)

d) Nokia – Needs to accelerate. Will be forced to react. No longer driving agenda

e) Standardization .. Interesting .. does w3c have anything to say? Google drives Web agenda at a much faster rate

f) Webkit on Android – bad. Chrome will be dominant within Android at expense of webkit ( UPDATE: amended to Webkit on android. Thanks Peter Vesterbacka!)

g) Web – good news. Web takes centre stage

h) Advertising? Remember Google is not in the software game(that’s why it makes ‘software’ free. It is in the DATA game and by extension advertising). Google keeps getting better

i) Netbooks, Desktop and Cloud – Netbooks – positive. Probably the real target market of the OS; Desktop – no initial impact; Cloud – Potentially significant impact but too early to say

Note:

Increasingly, the PC may be a narrow definition ie you may use the PC to access most of your info from the Cloud. Thats why Google Chrome OS is significant since it impacts the cloud and hence affects the PC. I described Chrome as the client for the Cloud and increasingly thats where its heading. Cloud or Fog? The battle for supremacy in the cloud is not a dogfight but will be fought in the trenches.

In that sense, this announcement is interesting but Azure(Microsoft) will have greater commercial impact!

Update:

Microsoft Azure, Facebook and Twitter could be more significant than Google Chrome OS for both Web and Mobile because Data is the real issue …

j) OEMs – good. They have a choice. BUT also NEW OEMS will enter the market

k) Alliance? Not like OHA. The GOVERNANCE model for Chrome is strictly with Google(see previous blogs about governance models vs. licensing model

l) HTML5 – Good for HTML5. Google will run with it. And by extension it’s good for the web

Any more?

A woman walks around a new permanent memorial to honour the victims of the July 7 2005 London bombings in Hyde Park on July 6, 2009 in London, England. The memorial consists of 52 single columns representing the lives lost. (Getty)

More HERE

This is a very interesting concept for reasons outlined below. Please register using the beta codes as soon as possible if it is of interest

Grow VC is now live in beta launch. I have 50 beta launch codes (JFPUDJ) . i.e. only 50 people can register with this code.

The company is co-founded by serial entrepreneur Jouko Ahvenainen who also founded Xtract and is well known in the Telecoms space.

The key differentiatior is a relatively smaller amount of funding(a grassroots approach) and a global perspective – almost like Zopa OR kiiva for the tech startup / equity industry. This is a concept very much needed in a recession to get startups off the ground. It would suit many types of applicatons including potentially iPhone apps.

As the GrowVC web site says:

Grow VC is Venture Capital 2.0, bringing the first truly transparent, international, community-based approach to early stage funding. Grow VC can help mobile and web 2.0 startup stars secure initial funding for their businesses ranging from $10,000 to 1m USD. Grow VC will not only connect startup entrepreneurs with ‘funders’ (investors) to help them discover their common interests, but also provide tools for the process and new transparent ways of doing things. Grow VC international headquarters is located in Hong Kong.

Their press release says more: The key points of interest are:

1) Grow VC reinvents the traditional funding model with the Web‟s first framework for investments ranging from $10,000 – 1m USD, where investors and startups are equals within one community, without borders.

2) Grow VC enables early stage web and mobile startup companies to match-make with „funders‟, or startup investors, located anywhere around the globe. Having a truly transparent approach, Grow VC is founded on the premise that financial investment should be rooted in the same interactive, community-mindset that the Web 2.0 world is noted for. Hence an open, information-finding and reputation-building source is the heart of Grow VC’s groundbreaking model, according to co-founder and CEO, Valto Loikkanen.

3) “We call it „venture capital 2.0‟ because it’s the first service with a live, continuous, interactive, open approach to funding,” said Loikkanen. “Anyone who is passionate about finding and growing the Internet‟s next big thing can benefit from joining Grow VC. We are growing a quality, vetted, and respected community and sustainable business model to support the Web‟s next rock stars by giving power to the people. Any startup who has become frustrated with the one-sided VC process, as well as any investor who needs one place to find new innovative companies, now have a community to call home.”

The site is Grow VC and the launch code is (JFPUDJ) – only for the first 50 people

Carnival of the mobilists No 181 at the London calling blog. Andrew Grill does a nice Wimbledon themed carnival and the content is great as usual!

I don’t normally like podcasts since I have a hypertext mind and I tend to view content as a series of links and connections – and that helps to form new connections (as opposed to listening linearly which I find boring) – but occasionally I do listen to podcasts and this one from Tim O Reilly is worth listening inspite of it’s meandering flow especially at the outset

Open source is just the beginning

In it, Tim raises some key points which I have been tracking for some time and which will increasingly become more important going forward.

1) The future of Open is ‘Open enough’ a term which he kind of struggles to explain – ex Twitter, facebook and iPhone are ‘open enough’ and that Open is not a binary discussion

2) Also, he believes that ultimately closed communication systems do not work(ex non interoperable IM systems) and the social graph is going to be open

3) Friend model will be replaced by the follow model

4) But then he comes to the most interesting point in my view: Going forward, Open is about data . Hence, the biggest databases are the most interesting and some of the biggest databases are Identity and Location.

Now, here is my take on it (so from this point on, its my analysis) ..

As everything becomes a platform i.e. the data can be opened up – there are huge opportunities to create new services. Of course these will be useful to users

The basic idea seems to be:

a) Open up a data source

b) Allow developers to create applications based on it

c) Allow users to enrich the data by adding metadata

If that is done, then following the basic Web 2.0 tenets – here is potentially the dark side:

a) The provider who controls the META DATA wins(not the data- but the meta data: Think book reviews on Amazon here: You own your customer reviews on Amazon but Amazon owns the collective rating from all the customers for a given book)

b) The more ‘open’ we are – the more data we share. The more data we share, the more it can be co-related to enable behavioural targeting – something I discussed in Unharnessing collective intelligence: A business model for privacy on Mobile devices based on k-anonymity

The biggest data sources being opened up today are: Government as a platform and the Smart Grid (See LTE and Smart Grids: A huge opportunity for Telecoms and the Cloud but with caveats for privacy )

And unless we are not careful .. We will risk giving control of Meta data to providers

In itself that’s not bad .. But certainly we need to raise awareness of the issues at stake

Expect to see a lot more consumer benefit slogans re ownership of data etc etc ..

Smartgrid news explains this as ..

Google’s reasons for launching PowerMeter are neither as altruistic as the company will imply, nor as nefarious as their competitors will claim.

In the early days, Google will try to position this as a consumer benefit with slogans such as “consumers should own their own energy information.” But Google will get push back from several groups. Consumer watchdogs will sound the alarm on privacy concerns and on Google as Big Brother.

So, in my view – the (lack of) privacy is the dark side of Open.

Image source: The Dark side of the Moon – By Pink Floyd.

Not exactly related to the topic on hand except the name and that I like it