BUZmob mobile feed publishing service is now in open beta

Wow, it’s been a busy few months here at Contec Innovations.   Today we announced the immediate availability of our mobile feed publishing service, BUZmob.

 BUZmob is a web-based service which allows content publishers – bloggers, media sites, social networks, business websites – to instantly make their RSS/Atom based content available to all of their mobile readers.  Mobile users need not download anything to their phones, and don’t even have to subscribe to a web-based service in order to access mobile content.  The service combines text messaging, on-the-fly content adaptation, personalization, automatic bookmark generation and universal access to go beyond technophiles, and to enable even first time mobile-Internet users to easily interact with the content they regularly consume on the web.

You can read all about BUZmob on our official BUZmob blog.   You can also experience it yourself by clicking on the BUZme button – – on this page.  This will enable you to read my blog on your mobile, anywhere, anytime.

Most importantly, BUZmob also allows mobile end users to add any RSS/Atom feedto their BUZmob mobile bookmarks, even if the feed’s publisher has not implemented BUZmob.  You can check this out by visiting http://www.buzmob.com/buzme.php.

I am very excited about BUZmob.  It allows content publishers and bloggers to communicate with all their mobile users without having to consider which device they are using, which network, etc.  No longer are mobile solutions limited to early adopters and smart phone users.

BUZmob is in open beta – it is open, but it is still in beta.  You can expect lots of new features and changes in the near future, including content monetizing for publishers.

To learn more, visit our blog and check out http://www.buzmob.com.

Moreover, I advise that the genocide in Darfur must be stopped. 

— Oren

The Genocide in Darfur – Blog Awareness Campaign

The folks at Degardener have initiated a blog-awareness campaign, to increase awareness of the genocide taking place in Darfur (Sudan).

The campaign calls for each post to be signed-off with this sentence: “Moreover, I advise that the genocide in Darfur must be stopped”.

I know there are plenty of cynics out there who would surely point out that

(a) the web is a poor vehicle for effecting policy and social change at the macro-level (as opposed to focused micro-level campaigns) and that

 (b) this type of involvement allows us to easily feel “we’re doing something” without taking to the streets or applying more effective methods to protest or to call for change (such as writing your Congressman)-  it makes us “feel good” while at the same time further weakening the more effective democratic process (you can read more about how these “do good” initiatives actually serve to make us complacent in David Harvey’s seminal book A Brief History of Neoliberalism) .

But this is really not the case here.  In the case of the Darfur genocide the biggest problem is ignorance.  This is about awareness, as a first step towards action.  Most people in the West have no idea where Darfur is, what is this all about, and why they should be doing something about it.

The genocide in Darfur is a tough story to “sell”.  It is taking place on a continent which has long been neglected in the media, it involves people who have no political or economic clout (no oil, no “war on terror”) and its misery is entirely hidden from mainstream media consumers.

With that in mind, I think the Web is a strong vehicle for increasing awareness, especially if we harness the power of our social networks.  I do not expect this to be “effective”, but I do see it as a small step towards raising awareness, and perhaps towards getting more people thinking about this issue, and taking some form of action.

Moreover, I advise that the genocide in Darfur must be stopped.

— Oren

Blog vs. Reality – why I won’t tell you about my recent trips

I’d like to write all about the wonderful meetings I’ve had in recent weeks.  I’ve been to San Francisco (twice), Toronto, Montreal and of course downtown Vancouver.  I’ve met wonderful people from many different companies and industries – potential partners, advisers, prospects, investors, etc.

I actually started compiling some of my notes, to share with you all the good stuff that’s out there.  But somehow, in between NDAs and public company disclosure rules, I realized I can’t really discuss any of it.  Which kind of defeats the purpose of having a blog.

So without naming names – it was a pleasure meeting you all (you know who you are).  Until next time.

— Oren

Long time no Blog

I’ve been neglecting my blog (and my readers) lately.  Too much travel, to little time. 

In recent weeks I’ve been to San Francisco (twice), Toronto and Montreal.  Too many meetings to recount.  It was raining non-stop in Vancouver for almost two weeks, which made sunny SF even more welcoming. 

 Contec has started releasing information about our new project (see our latest news release).  Personally it means I am busier than usual (if at all possible). 

Once last thing – check out the “mobilize me” feature on my blog – read this blog on your mobile, no registration or download required.  I’m playing with this feature, and would appreciate any comment / bug report, especially from my overseas readers.

P.S.

Vancouver may be rainy, but at least we get free WiFi in our coffee shops, as opposed to the T-Mo monopoly in SF…

 — Oren

Mobile Internet – It is all about Context

Last Friday I was attending several business meetings in downtown Vancouver.  What with one thing and another, I ended up taking the Skytrain back home.  We’re talking Friday evening, rush hour.

Suffice to say, I now know how sardines feel in their can.  I had a book in my backpack and the Metro newspaper stuffed in my pocket, but I was struggling for elbow space.  So reading was out of the question.

Or was it?  I ended up taking out my mobile, and going through some blogs I have not caught up with for a while.  Lo and behold, before I knew it I was home.  I know this is not a big deal for all you Treo/Blackberry users out there, but for us lowly feature-phone (or less) users, this was a real treat.

We’re all happy to complain about the inadequacy of the mobile phone as an Internet access device – small screen, lousy keyboard, slow, you name it.  Hmm… hold on.  Small screen?  Exactly what I needed.  Lousy keyboard?  Who cares.  I easily used single-hand navigation to walk through the text I was reading.  Slow?  First, I’m on EVDO, that’s anything but slow.  Second, it’s not as if there’s an alternative when you’re commuting.

I don’t expect the mobile to replace the desktop anytime soon.  For me it is always the 2nd choice for Internet access.  I’ll always prefer the PC/broadband combo over the phone.  But in the right context, the mobile shines.

We need to move away from thinking mobile Internet is simply WiFi on a larger scale.  It is a totally different interaction model.  Consumption is restricted to very specific time frames, typically when no other alternative presents itself.  Mobile Internet marketing needs to focus on fulfilling the needs users have during those particular time frames, or to invoke such needs by utilizing the “in-context” features of the phone – alerts, localization, always on, always near me.

Blogs/feeds seem to be the “secret sauce” if you will.  The perfect “filler” for when you have time to kill.  Not important enough to be consumed in real time or to defer more urgent tasks, they can be visited opportunistically. 

Oh yes, I made it back to where I had left my car in one piece.  And got a notice for a parking violation.  I guess the phone cannot solve all life’s problems.

— Oren 

So you think you should blog…

The myth (Blogger front page):
Create a blog in 3 easy steps:

1. Create an account
2. Name your blog
3. Choose a template

Real life:

Deciding to start blogging: 1.5 years in the making

Choosing blog platform: 1.5 hours

Choosing blog name: 2 hours

Creating account: 5 minutes

Creating profile: 10 minutes

Choosing blog template: 2.5 hours

Understanding widgets: 25 minutes

Setting up feedburner: 15 minutes

Creating feedburner profile: 15 minutes

Setting up digg: 15 minutes

Creating digg profile: 15 minutes

Setting up Technorati:  you know it by now…

Setting up Technorati profile:  see above.

Writing a post:  Who has time to write anything?  I’m too busy looking at stats, posting at other sites, networking, etc.  Content?  What does that have to do with a blog?

 — Oren