Consumer Electronics Daily News

Mobile Media Summit to Unite Global Advertisers at Mobile World Congress

Mobile Media Summit, the largest mobile media and advertising conference inNorth America, has partnered with the GSMA to produce Mobile Media Summit @ Mobile World Congress, taking place Feb. 25-26, 2014 in Barcelona's iconic Fira Montjuic.

Mobile World Congress is the largest event in the mobile industry, while Mobile Media Summit's conferences engage the top brand marketers, advertising agencies, publishers, app developers and mobile/ad tech companies from around the world. The Mobile Media Summit @ Mobile World Congress will be the destination for these groups to come together to discuss the ever-expanding mobile media and advertising market.

The two-day Summit will commence with "30,000 Feet and Climbing: What CMOs Want in Mobile," with Ogilvy Chief Digital Officer Brandon Berger, Mindshare Worldwide Chief Digital Officer Norm Johnston, Universal McCann Germany CEO Sven Weisbrich, PHD Network Chief Operating and Digital Officer Craig Atkinson, and moderator Scott Swanson, President of Global Advertiser Services, Opera Mediaworks. Location targeting, hyperlocal advertising, cross-screen, RTB and much more will be covered throughout the event, which will close with "Brand Ballers," featuring Nestle Global Chief of Digital Pete Blackshaw, L'Oreal Paris VP-Global Integrated Communications Marie Gulin, Intel Global Media Director Rebecca Brown, and moderatorMike Parker, Chief Digital Officer, McCann Erickson.

"The Mobile Media Summit is the leading conference in mobile today, bringing together the most dynamic thought-leaders in mobile media and advertising from around the world. Unlike any other conference, Paran and the Mobile Media Summits tackle the critical topics from the advertiser perspective that will drive innovation and grow the market for everyone," said Jonathan Anastas, VP-Global Brand Marketing and Head of Digital & Social Media at Activision.

Mobile Media Summit founder and CEO Paran Johar shared, "I am thrilled to be working with Mobile World Congress and very excited to bring together the international advertising community to discuss how mobile is changing the world. As consumers shift from PC to mobile as their main access point for interaction with people, places, services and commerce, we can't deny that mobile is becoming the primary medium of engagement for innovative marketers."

Mobile Media Summit conference pass holders are also able to attend the mPowered Industries Programme keynotes at Montjuic and access the Mobile World Congress Exhibition at Fira Gran Via.

The event sponsors and partners include AdTruth, BlueKai, Google, Kargo, Medialets, Millward Brown Digital, OpenX, Opera Mediaworks, Sonata, Tagged, Tremor Video, Verve, WapStart, xAd, the 4A's, AdMonsters, the Ad Club of NY, Advertising Age, Chief Marketer, ClickZ, European Supermarket Magazine, Fierce Wireless, Folio, the IAB, the Location Based Marketing Association, The Makegood, MadAve Mobile, MobiThinking, VentureBeat, the Wharton Future of Advertising School and Women in Wireless.

Featured speakers at Mobile Media Summit @ Mobile World Congress include:

1. Zaid Al-Zaidy, CEO, McCann London
2. Jay Altschuler, Director of Global Media Innovation, Unilever
3. Jonathan Anastas, VP-Global Brand Marketing, Head of Digital & Social Media, Activision
4. Craig Atkinson, Chief Operating and Digital Officer, PHD Network
5. Anna Bager, VP and General Manager, IAB Mobile     
6. John Baker, President, dotJWT       
7. Mark-Anthony Baker, Global Communications Planning Director, Joule
8. Brandon Berger, Chief Digital Officer, Ogilvy
9. Saul Betmead, Chief Strategy Officer, Y&R
10. Pete Blackshaw, Global Chief of Digital, Nestle          
11. Bonin Bough, VP-Global Media and Consumer Engagement, Mondelez
12. Kevin Brown, VP & Global Mobile Product Management, Citigroup         
13. Rebecca Brown, Global Director of Media, Intel Corp.
14. Armel Bursaux, Director-Data & Analytics, Starcom MediaVest
15. Chris Copeland, CEO, GroupM Next              
16. Chia Chen, SVP & Mobile Practice Lead, DigitasLBi  
17. Greg Crockart, Co-President, Joule               
18. Tom Daly, Group Director, Global Connections, The Coca-Cola Company          
19. Rohit Dhawan, Director of Product Management for EMEA Display, Google
20. Marie Gulin, VP-Global Integrated Communications, L'Oreal Paris
21. John Hadl, Venture Partner, US Venture Partners       
22. Seth Hart, Global Media Director, Starcom MediaVest Group   
23. Chad Hickey, VP of Global Sales, xAd
24. Dan Hodges, President, New York Chapter, Location Based Marketing Association
25. Norm Johnston, Chief Digital Officer, Mindshare Worldwide
26. Vik Kathuria, EVP, Mediacom           
27. Erin Kienast, SVP-Director of Mobility, MediaVest        
28. Evan Krauss, COO, SONATA USA  
29. Rob Kramer, GM of Mobile, OpenX 
30. James Lamberti, VP and General Manager, AdTruth 
31. Doug Livingston, Global Chief Digital Officer, mcgarrybowen    
32. Bethany Mach, SVP & Global Digital Director,  Starcom MediaVest
33. Jeff Malmad, Managing Director of Mobile, Mindshare               
34. Paul Marcum, Head of Global Digital Innovation, Bloomberg Media
35. John Montgomery, COO, GroupM Interaction               
36. David Morgan, Director, 22 Design 
37. John Najarian, EVP and GM-Digital Media and Business Development, E! Networks
38. Alex Newman, EMEA Head of Mobile, Omnicom Media Group
39. Shelly Palmer, host of "Shelly Palmer Digital Living," FOX TV
40. Mike Parker, Chief Digital Officer, McCann Erickson
41. Ben Phillips, Global Head of Mobile, MediaCom           
42. Ali Rana, Group SVP, Emerging Media Lab, Millward Brown Digital
43. Cristina Sagarduy, Deputy Managing Director, EMEA, Annalect
44. Adam Shlachter, Head of Media Activation, NA, DigitasLBi
45. Shiv Singh, Head of Global Brand and Marketing Transformation, Visa
46. James Smith, CRO, Verve
47. Jide Sobo, Head of Mobile, MEC UK
48. Mark Squires, Online Marketing Manager, TalkTalk Telecom   
49. Angela Steele, CEO, Ansible Mobile
50. Alex Stil, Head of Digital EMEA, Mindshare
51. Scott Swanson, President of Global Advertiser Services, Opera Mediaworks       
52. Todd Thiessen, SVP of Strategy, Razorfish
53. Derek Thompson, Global Head of Mobile, Starcom MediaVest Group   
54. Ritu Trivedi, Managing Director, Digital Marketplace, MediaVest USA
55. Sven Weisbrich, CEO, Universal McCann Germany   
56. Colleen Whitney, SVP Media, Digitas             
57. Donald Williams, Chief Digital Officer, Horizon Media
58. Andrea Wolinetz, Managing Director, Connected Platforms, PHD  

Hit Bubble Popper, Bubble Blaze, Optimized for Intel® Architecture

Outplay Entertainment, a leading social and mobile game developer and publisher, announced today that its highly-addictive bubble-popping game Bubble Blaze is now optimized for Android devices based on Intel® Architecture.

A high-energy and fast-paced action adventure, Bubble Blaze is available on Google Play, Amazon Appstore and the Apple App Store. Players tackle over 160 exciting bubble popping puzzles as they tap and tilt their way through vibrant environments and conquer tricky obstacles. Its features include:

Addictive Puzzles - Crack open Mystery Bubbles, burst Beach Bubbles and pop past Cursed Bubbles. Tackle cunning foes and race against the clock.

Exhilarating Gameplay - Create Jewel showers, make bubble busting combos, and master huge score boosts by tilting your device and nudging falling treasure into Bonus Pots.

Bubble-Tastic Boosts - Unlock powerful boosts including explosive Fireballs, vibrant Rainbow Bubbles and bouncing Dragon Pups.

Leaderboards - See how your bubble blasting skills stack up against your friends and race them across the Bubble Blaze map.

Stunning Graphics - Journey across a world of frozen caves, exotic beaches and spectacular mountain peaks realised in stunning high definition graphics optimized for smartphones and tablets.

"With millions of downloads, Bubble Blaze has been Outplay Entertainment's biggest success. We're delighted to be showcasing Bubble Blaze on the next generation of Android devices based on Intel's latest platform. This is an excellent opportunity for us to make Bubble Blaze available to an even wider audience of Android gamers!" Senior Producer, Tone Brennan states.

Families Can Turn to Smartphones for Prescription Saving Solutions

With the drug price index continuing to rise and median incomes decreasing, families are looking to their smartphones for solutions to save money.

"Consumers are recognizing the rising costs of prescription drugs and LowestMed is the solution for everyone looking to save money," said Brad Bangerter, CEO of LowestMed. "Our app and discount card makes it easy for you to compare prescription prices at the pharmacies in your neighborhood."

LowestMed is the first free mobile app in the industry to provide consumers with the ability to view and compare prescription drug prices at leading supermarket and pharmacy chains in their neighborhood. It is available on iPhone, Android, and Windows phone devices. LowestMed offers free and confidential pharmacy savings in the palm of your hand for those on company plans and individual plans under the ACA, as well as those who choose not to buy health insurance.

The LowestMed app is as simple as typing your prescription into your smartphone. Customers do not need to enter any personal information and LowestMed does not track prescriptions.

Vuzix New Video Eyewear Product Wrap 1200DX Released for Pre-Order

Vuzix Corporation, which supplies video eyeware and smart glasses products in the consumer, commercial and entertainment markets, announced today that it has released a new product - the Wrap 1200DX - an all-digital video eyewear solution utilizing a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connection, projecting high-quality 2D and 3D crystal clear video for users. 

The Wrap 1200DX technology enables a plug 'n play connection to the broadest range of audio/video, multimedia, mobile and computer devices, and projects images on a relative 75" virtual widescreen display, as seen from 10 ft. (~3m). The Wrap 1200DX is designed for consumers who use video eyewear in settings such as airplanes or for enhanced gaming and virtual reality. The device is now available for Pre-Order on the Vuzix website for $499.99, continuing an important product line and source of revenue for the company in video eyewear. Volume shipments to channel customers will take place before US Thanksgiving.

"We are excited to begin shipping the Wrap 1200DX video eyewear, offering a huge 2D and 3D 75-inch screen, as seen from 10 feet. Vuzix offers what we believe is the most complete, broadest product line in the wearable technology video eyewear category, and this digital input solution for the wrap line rounds it out nicely for those looking for connectivity to the latest devices," said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix.

The Wrap 1200DX model connects to virtually any device providing a HDMI compliant port such as mobile phones, tablets, Blu-ray players, game consoles and personal computers. For those looking for something beyond simply watching video, the Wrap 1200DX can be transformed into a virtualrReality gaming experience with an optional Wrap Tracker to add head tracking capabilities to supporting games and simulations for a see-where-you-look virtual reality gaming experience. Users can also clip on an optional Wrap Lightshield for a truly immersive home theatre experience.

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App Annie Adds Mobile Advertising Analytics To Its Platform

 App Annie today announced a unique new advertising analytics solution for app marketers, solving a major problem in the mobile advertising space - the challenge of tracking data from multiple ad networks in one place. Advertising Analytics by App Annie provides a platform that can aggregate an app publisher's total advertising spend and revenue from multiple ad networks into one single dashboard. The company has initially made this product available for AdMob, Chartboost, iAd, jumptap, MdotM, Tapit! and Tapjoy, with the long-term goal of allowing any ad network to connect.

Mobile advertising is one of the fastest growing sectors within the mobile app ecosystem. "Making sense of the chaos of networks can be difficult at best, and yet developers are forced to make critical decisions based on data coming from five, 10 or even 30 different ad networks," said Omar Hamoui, Partner, Sequoia Capital and founder of AdMob.  "Understanding how much you're making, where it's coming from, or where best to allocate your ad spend requires a single dashboard. Without this you quickly end up in ad hell. It makes perfect sense for App Annie to extend its analytics platform into advertising; not only do publishers get a more holistic view of their products, they get to manage it all in one place. Less running around, more understanding."

App Annie's solution to this analytics problem is unique. Not only does it aggregate your mobile advertising data across multiple networks and countries, but it also ties that data directly to your individual apps and their downloads, revenues, rankings and reviews. It doesn't just track your data, it correlates your ad spend to its ROI and your ad revenues to your app revenues. All without a single line of code or SDK, and all completely for free.

"We have long had the vision of reinventing what it means to offer business intelligence and analytics to the digital content economy," said Bertrand Schmitt, CEO, App Annie. "By creating a platform that can extend to not just other forms of digital content, like our support for eBooks, but other forms of data, like that from ad networks, we begin transforming how app publishers, brand managers and marketers approach their data. With a more holistic platform for all of their data, they can make highly informed and strategic decisions about their apps and businesses."

Audiovox mobiletv Brings Free TV to Your Tablet

Audiovox Electronics Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of VOXX International Corporation today announced that is has launched Audiovox mobiletv, the first wireless mobile TV receiver designed to bring free live TV to iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. Developed by Siano, the world's leading supplier of mobile broadcast DTV solutions, the receiver delivers Dyle® mobile TV, operated by Mobile Content Venture (MCV), a joint-venture of 12 major broadcast groups, which will be providing the content. Dyle mobile TV is available in 38 markets, reaching 57 percent of the U.S, delivering live broadcast TV, including local and national news, sports and entertainment programming to mobile devices.
Using the Dyle mobile TV app developed by Siano and available from the App Store and Google Play, the Audiovox mobiletv receiver will enable millions of Apple and Android device users to watch live TV on their devices without the need for Internet or cellular connection. Ultimately, this will help consumers extend the live TV experience and give them greater levels of choice and flexibility – completely free.
"Our partnership with Dyle expands the mobile television experience by expanding the availability of broadcast television to literally millions of Apple and Android users across the U.S.," said Tom Malone, president of Audiovox Electronics Corp. "Our Audiovox receiver provides both the convenience of wireless accessibility and the ability to work with a broad set of devices and screens to deliver the live, local TV experience consumers demand."
"The addition of the Audiovox accessory marks a pivotal point for Dyle by offering an exceptionally revolutionary product for mobile television," said Erik Moreno, co-general manager of MCV. "We look forward to continuing to expand our network footprint and ability to deliver service to a wider consumer audience of iOS and Android users."
"We are excited about this close collaboration with Audiovox and Siano," added Salil Dalvi, co-general manager of MCV. "Perfect for both at home and on the go users, the wireless receiver is an exciting step forward for the mobile television industry in providing an innovative option for watching live programming across multiple devices and platforms."
"We are impressed by Audiovox and Dyle mobile TV's strong commitment to bringing high-end digital TV content to U.S. consumers," said Alon Ironi, CEO of Siano. "The ATSC-MH signal is already broadcast in dozens of U.S. cities, and attractive content is continually being added. We are confident that our partnership with Audiovox and MCV portends a bright future for mobile TV in the U.S."
The Audiovox mobiletv receiver is compatible with both iOS (30-pin and Lightning adapters) and Android devices. A free, easy-to-use Dyle™ Mobile TV App by Siano from the App Store and Google Play enables users to view high-quality digital TV (ATSC-M/H). With no need for a data plan or Internet connection, the compact wireless unit fits right into your pocket, can be taken anywhere and can be moved around indoors to find a location with the best reception. Audiovox mobiletv includes a program guide, pause/rewind features, an internal battery providing up to four hours of TV viewing, and a USB charging cable.
MSRP on the device is $129.99 and is available at select regional, national and online retailers.
Dyle™ mobile TV services are available immediately without a subscription fee, subject to change at any time. Coverage varies in participating markets, not all stations are available in all markets.
For more information, visit the Audiovox and Dyle TV websites. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: Audiovox - Twitter / Facebook; Dyle TV - Twitter / Facebook

Employees Overwhelmingly Prefer to be Paid Electronically, Spend Electronically

Mobile coupons are on the rise, as well as digital wallets and other forms of cashless payment. In the modern workforce, employees overwhelmingly are paid electronically rather than by traditional paychecks or cash, according to results from the recent "Getting Paid In America" survey. The survey, conducted by the American Payroll Association, showed that ninety-seven percent of employees are paid by either direct deposit, payroll card or prepaid reloadable cards.

"There are many benefits to electronic payment methods," said Michael Purcell, chief marketing officer and Executive Vice President at Global Cash Card. "These technologies make use of enhanced security features, and are cost effective, convenient, flexible and environmentally friendly."

Electronic payments make it easier to use the convenient digital wallets in modern-day apps. Leave the office and head right to the bar-- without cash-- and securely wire your buddy your portion of the tab (with tip!) with the Buy Me a Drink app or the Google Wallet.

The trend toward electronic payroll options is further shown in the survey with 83 percent of participants indicating their employers allow them to view paystubs online through an employee self-service portal.  In addition, 63 percent of respondents indicated they receive their annual wage and earning statement, Form W-2, electronically from their employer.

"Adoption of electronic payroll services is gaining in popularity and is especially helpful for employees who otherwise wouldn't have easy access to current technologies," said Chris Ruppel, General Manager Prepaid Cards, the Americas at WEX rapid! PayCard. "Employees who utilize payroll cards and opt for direct deposit, for example, can save time and money. Payroll cards and direct deposit are also much safer than cash and check payments."

Due to a sharp increase in consumer awareness of their privacy and information security, mobile apps have taken many extra steps to ensure that the money in a digital wallet is safer than physical cash in the consumer's back pocket. The PayPal App and PayPal Here App are secure on all fronts with Payment Protection and Seller Protection, as well as the guarantee that "all... financial information is securely stored and encrypted on [Paypal] servers, so [consumers] don't need to share [their] financial information with [vendors]." 

The Getting Paid in America survey asked, "How do you receive your pay?" Only three percent of respondents indicated they are paid by paper paycheck or cash. The remaining 97 percent are paid electronically, by either direct deposit, paycards, or prepaid reloadable cards. 

The "Getting Paid In America" survey was held in conjunction with APA's annual public awareness campaign, National Payroll Week (NPW), held annually the week of Labor Day. Nearly 32,800 employees responded to the survey, providing insight into how workers are paid in America. For complete results, visit www.nationalpayrollweek.com.

APA information sourced from PRNewswire 

Show-off Your Colors with Case-Mate's Latest Collection of iPhone 5C Cases

Case-Mate® unveils its latest collection of cases for the new Apple iPhone 5C. Featuring the most complete portfolio of transparent, see-through cases designed to showcase, enhance, and protect the vibrant colors and natural appearance of the iPhone 5C device, Case-Mate's latest collections of iPhone 5C cases are available now at www.case-mate.com.

"One of the most interesting promises of the new iPhone 5C is the ability to own an affordable, Apple-quality smartphone that comes in bold, vibrant colors. We believe that iPhone 5C owners will see the device as a pallet for self-expression and will desire a range of case options that have a flair for style while also providing additional protection," said Shashi Reddy, founder and CEO of Case-Mate.

The Case-Mate Collection of iPhone 5C Cases Include:

• Naked Tough - Clear, $35: This protective, two-piece case keeps it cool with its smooth transparent finish and ultra slim design. Its lightweight, minimalist design delivers a stylish profile, while the impact resistant hard shell and coordinating bumper protects against impacts and falls. Metallic chrome buttons accent and complete the polished look of your iPhone 5C. The Naked Tough – Clear is available in three see-through combinations: Clear Case with Clear Bumper, Clear Case with White Bumper, and Clear Case with Black Bumper. http://bit.ly/NakedTough_iPhone5C
  
  
• Naked Tough - Colors, $35: Add a unique flair of color to your iPhone 5C with the Naked Tough – Colors collection. Featuring the same lightweight, slim profile as the original Naked Tough, the new Naked Tough – Colors are available in the following color combinations: Pink Case with White Bumper, Aqua Case with White Bumper, and Purple Case with White Bumper. http://bit.ly/NakedTough_iPhone5C
  
  
• Barely There - Clear, $25: Think thin with the original slim case. The Barely There forms a classic and protective design that shows off the slim profile of your device. The impact resistant hard shell covers the back and sides, while the lay-flat feature protects the front of your iPhone 5C by extending the bezel above the screen. In addition to clear, Case-Mate Barely There iPhone 5C cases are also available in black and glossy white. http://bit.ly/BarelyThere_iPhone5C 
• Gelli – Clear, $15:The Gelli adds a splash of translucent color and gives your iPhone 5C case a unique aesthetic to set it apart from the rest. Featuring a smooth flexible shell with a frosted back, the Gelli will showcase the vibrant color of your iPhone 5C while also keeping it safe. http://bit.ly/Gelli_iPhone5C 
  
  
• In addition, the Case-Mate Collection of iPhone 5C cases will include designs from its current portfolio of stylish case accessories, including the very popular Glimmer, Tortoiseshell, Sleek, Carbon, Slim Folio, Prints, POP!, Tough, and Barely There ID cases.

Pricing and Availability:
Case-Mate's new iPhone 5C case collections range from $15 to $35 and are available today at www.case-mate.com.

PRNewswire

Sold Out: iPhone 5S Gold in High Demand

Today marks the first day that that iPhone 5S is available for purchase in-store and online.

In Beijing, sales are "going off without a hitch," according to the Wall Street Journal. The demand for the iPhone 5S Gold is especially high in Beijing-- and worldwide-- because the color connotes status. According the article, "Lian Jiyu, 25 years old, said he wanted the 5S over the 5C because the 5S is the first phone to be offered in a gold color. 'I don’t care what’s inside the device,' said Mr. Lian, who works at a local TV station." 

But the demand for a gold iPhone 5S is not limited to the market in China-- Apple has already requested that its supplier boost production of the 5S Gold by 33 percent, to keep up with worldwide demand. Readwrite reports that the 5S Gold scarcity will continue well into October.

The other two iPhone 5S color options-- silver and "space grey"-- are selling fast but keeping up with the in-store purchases/pickups and online pre-orders in a timely manner. The verdict: if you want the gold, you'll have to wait-- but know that it's not what's on the outside that makes the new iPhone 5S worth the price.

Trivie Opens Cross Platform Play to Android

Trivia lovers rejoice. Not only is Trivie® Breaking Bad, by premiering a new game just in time for the blockbuster season finale--but the minutia-loving game publisher that brought us the ultimate Battle of Wits™ between friends is including Android in an expansion that also includes new games, and even more officially licensed exclusive content partnerships. Trivie isn't just a game. Trivie is a specialized and personal game store in its own right, devoted to all things trivia.

Since launching in the summer of 2012, Trivie's gotten to know its users on a personal and organic level, over 2.0M+ of them. Other trivia games might be tired, spending so much time focusing on the small stuff. But, Trivie is all about the small stuff.

Trivie users are the smart, good looking popular kids, and they have friends. Android-using friends.  Never again will Trivie hear the tortured cries of Android aficionados and their iOS friends. Starting today, Android users can join in the fun, frictionless pace of Trivie in cross platform play. Trivie's 50+ officially licensed games featuring highly specialized content categories are ready and waiting for all the Android lovers.

Lawrence Schwartz, CEO of Trivie, says this about recent developments at Trivie,"Trivia is about learning while having fun! Trivie started where vintage TV game shows left off, and we have tried to translate specific user experiences into mobile game-play. By expanding Trivie into the Android market, we are now able to share our platform to over 70 percent of the world's smartphone users."

Trivie is busy. By the end of 2013, Android and iPhone trivia lovers will have 100+ games within the Trivie store to choose. This officially licensed content expansion is due to collaborative partnerships between Trivie and top-tier entertainment and business brands. Content partners include properties from DreamWorks' animated genius to Travelocity's genteel gnome--and also include direct tie-ins with network programs on Fox, CBS, and AMC. Trivie is synchronizing games with day-and-date movie releases as well.  If that's where the 'TV' trivia thing left off-- Trivie is going back to that in 2014 with a new and refreshing mobile approach. Busy and a tease.

In fact, fans of any and every niche are able to experience their passions related to a favorite brand, movie, show, magazine, etc. Trivie players can play 80's music trivia, or enter Billboard Magazine's 80's music genre game. Regardless of where a player's attention lands or lives, Trivie's highly customized games feature the familiar look and feel of a player's favorite brand.

Trivie's Breaking Bad game is here, as the ultimate example of how Trivie can partner with topically and culturally current trends. Trivie's players are able to drill down on all things Albuquerque with fellow BB buffs over the hiatus. "Thank you, and have an A 1 day," courtesy of Trivie.

PRNewswire