3.7 Telemóveis

Telemóveis e rádio (endless story...)

Da última Connect (nº 85, Fevereiro 06):

"Os estudos mais recentes indicam que, dentro de uns meros três anos, cerca de metade da população mundial terá acesso a um telemóvel e usá-lo-á de facto. Significa isto que, ao contrário do que foi previsto por muitos visionários - muitos dos quais bastante credíveis - poderá ser o telemóvel e não o computador, o instrumento de comunicação que mais depressa chegará a todos os lares à face da Terra" (Luis Mateus, director)

Em vários testes, ao longo desta edição, são analisados 16 modelos de telemóveis: 6 têm rádio...

A rádio e os telemóveis: inimigos

«Every new gadget or trend that comes along  potentially subtracts time spent listening from radio...» ("Mobile Phones Threat to FM underscores Tch Dominance»,http://www.kurthanson.com/archive/news/013006/index.asp), via NetFM

Os telemóveis e a roupa interior (e rádio...)

De um artigo da revista New Scientist, traduzido pelo Courrier Internacional ("Vem aí o telemóvel inteligente", Celeste Beaver, nº 44, pág. 42): "[o telemóvel] é o instrumento pessoal por excelência. Com excepção da roupa interior, não há nada que tenhamos sobre nós durante tanto tempo", diz Roger Entner, consultor de telecomunicações da Ovum. O artigo em causa fala da "pesquisa visual móvel", serviços de reconhecimento por telefone, através de imagens que são descodificadas para texto. Fala-se num serviço lançado pela Nokia em França (e já existente há vários anos no Japão), "capaz de reconhecer pequenos ideogramas, chamados «tags» que no fundo são códigos de barras a duas dimensões (...). Quando o «tag» é analisado por um «software» integrado num telemóvel, torna-se possível não aceder a informações práticas, cupões de desconto e todo o tipo de dados" - www.mobiletag.com

(qual é a relevância disto? quanto mais fundamentais os telemóveis se tornarem, mais importante é a rádio conseguir convergir com eles; no fundo, os serviços que não estiverem inseridos de origem num telemóvel correm o risco de não existir)

Telemóveis e rádio paga (uma relação de futuro?)

"A new study from Bridge Ratings says that the pervasiveness of cell phones would be a significant contributor to the success of cell phone radio.

According to the study of six U.S. cities and Toronto, Canada, which was conducted between Dec. 15 and Jan. 16, 66% of the U.S. population owns a cell phone. That number represents 197 million people. Meanwhile, the percentage of teens that own cell phones is 73%.

In fact, today cell phone technology is the only audio-capable technology that could approach traditional radio's market penetration (currently at 93% or 276 million Americans who listen to terrestrial radio at least once a week), according to the study.

Overall, 33% of those surveyed said that it was “very likely” that they would pay a “reasonable fee of $8.95 per month” to listen to AM/FM radio on their cell phones. 20% said it was “somewhat likely.”

Traditional radio fared best among 18-34 year olds and 25-54 year olds, where 24% and 28% respectively said that they were “very likely" to pay for access on their cell phones.

Meanwhile, only 9% said that they would be “very likely” to subscribe to satellite radio on their cell phone. Interestingly, 35% said that they would pay for Internet radio service on their phone.

Not surprisingly, Internet radio interest is highest among 12-17 year olds and in the 18-34 demo.

The study was commissioned by an unnamed wireless company in December 2005 to analyze the degree of interest by consumers in the availability of radio station audio on cell phones. It measured interest in broadcast, Internet radio, satellite radio and podcast radio. Markets in the study included Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Burlington (VT), Toronto, Philadelphia and St. Louis. "

Fonte: "Bridge Study Finds Significant Interest In Terrestrial Radio Delivered On Cell Phones", 
Billboard Radio Monitor, Jan. 18, 2006, By Ken Tucker

Telemóveis e rádio/FM não convergem - resultados de um estudo

(no âmbito do meu trabalho académico sobre o futuro da rádio e o chamado segundo choque - de que este blogue é o rosto e arquivo - propus-me apurar o grau de convergência entre telemóveis e recepção FM; os telemóveis são - sobretudo para as gerações mais novas - um instrumento decisivo; se a rádio não convergir como extra nesses receptores corre sérios riscos de se tornar obsoleta; daí a preocupação em realizar este trabalho, que, pelo menos, será repetido em Outubro deste ano, com o objectivo de perceber a tendência)

Analisados 248 modelos GSM das 11 principais marcas de telemóveis (não há, que eu conheça, um ranking oficial, mas as onze marcas são as mais expressivas): além da existência de recepção FM, foi analisada a presença de outros extras como o "Audio player" (em qualquer formato de leitura); o "mp3"; "video player" (excepto MPEG 4), "MPEG 4" e "slots" (cartões exteriores de memória).

Resultados globais: só 14% dos modelos analisados convergem com a rádio (a rádio é, dos cinco extras analisados, o menos convergente), sendo que uma parte significativa é da Nokia (46% dos seus modelos têm rádio!). Outras marcas de telemóveis que incorporam FM: Sony Ericsson (29%), Siemens-Benq (3%; um modelo apenas),
Marcas sem terminais com recepção FM: Motorola, Samsung, LG, Alcatel, Philips, Sharp, Panasonic, Sagem (8 em 11!)  

Os resultados em detalhe, a metodologia, os propósitos e as conclusões aqui.

Trânsito no telemovel (mais)

Em relação a este texto, e agradecendo um comentário/informação que lá ficou, fiquei a saber que há uma empresa a oferecer um software, chamado GO2LX, que " fazendo uso da tecnologia GPRS/Internet, possibilita ao utilizador visualizar o estado do trânsito através das várias cameras instaladas na área da grande Lisboa".

Da sua página tirei isto:

Descrição: Após surgir a apresentação e pressionando “Iniciar” surgem as várias opções de entrada em Lisboa com as respectivas cameras instaladas ao longo desses trajectos; Depois de efectuada a escolha  é feito o download da imagem surgindo a mesma ajustada ao tamanho do ecrã do telemóvel

Vantagens: Acesso rápido e intuitivo às várias imagens de trânsito captadas nas diversas cameras, Imagem ajustada ao tamanho do ecrã  possibilitando uma clara visualização do local.

Requisitos: Tecnologia Java MIDP 2.0; Configuração de acesso à Internet via GPRS
Custos: Tarifário GPRS cobrado pelo plano/operadora utilizada

Os serviços streaming no telemóvel chegam à Europa

"Vodafone Group PLC and Sony have joined forces to deliver a streaming, customizable radio service. The offering, which is slated for European release in a few months, will be playable on PCs and mobile devices. Users will be able to download specific tracks, and can custom-tailor streams by rating songs over time"

A British Telecom tem planos para 2006, tal como a Virgin Mobile

A guerra da musica digital nos telemóveis (EUA)

A Verizon acaba de lançar o seu serviço em concorrência ao serviço da Sprint:

"Strigl [Verizon Wireless president and CEO Denny Strigl] pointed to a “comprehensive music service” that allows track side-loading, over-the-air downloading, and complements existing ringtone, ringback, and streaming video and audio content. Each download will be available for $1.99 each, which compares favorably to a $2.50 price point recently offered by Sprint. And like the recent Sprint music offering, each track will be a “dual download,” accessible from both the phone and the PC in the form of a protected WMA. Tracks can also be purchased from the PC directly for 99-cents, and ported to the device using a USB cable. All major labels are on board with the release, and The Orchard will supply independent content to the deck."

O serviço é oferecido em conjunto com a Microsoft, que elaborou a plataforma informática.

O outro concorrente, a Cingular, tem um serviço em conjunto com a Motorola e o iTunes.

 

Relação entre rádio e telemóveis

Excerto do texto: ""Hey, it's Radio on my Cell Phone" (Radio Marketing Nexus, 3/1/06)

"(...) few observations as radio takes the inevitable (and advisable) plunge into cellmobile phones:

1. Radio's real target for cell phone radio is Satellite radio. Here's why: They're both available by subscription. Thus they will target the folks who value portability - at a price. Because if they value portability for free they'll use that most archaic of all gadgets, the portable radio.

2. Isn't it interesting to note that while mobile music has long been popular, mobile radio (as in, the kind on your hip) has been in the shadow of Walkman cassette players (used primarily for cassettes, not radio), Walkman CD players (used primarily for CD's, not radio), and now iPods. That is, portability and control tend to go hand in hand. Radio is about comparatively passive entertainment, not control. Can radio plant a flag on this barren world?

2. This path will be a very slow-grow one. That's because it will happen one phone manufacturer and/or one Verizon at a time. Each deal will be different. Each deal will be complicated. Each deal will involve sharing revenue with lots of other companies, all of whom have their hands in the consumer's pocket.

3. Radio has no inherent competitive advantage in this area. That's because virtually anybody can string together a series of music channels - assuming these channels are primarily music (which, in the long run, is doubtful). Hence "Music Choice" listed in the same release as Clear Channel.

4. Invariably we will discover that some people value content for a price - just as some cable subscribers buy HBO but more than two-thirds don't. Some poeple will value control for a price - just as some cable subscribers buy TiVo, but (by the end of this decade) more than two-thirds don't. The rest will be left to enjoy that which is advertiser-supported, no matter what gadet that content appears on. Can radio do deals with mobile phones that provide that content gratis with advertiser support?

5. If you're going to charge a premium price then you had better offer premium content if you expect people to buy that content. The very same drive to premium content is what makes major league sports and Howard Stern so valuable on Satellite. Who is striking those deals in the mobile phone space? Radio?

6. "Premium" doesn't just apply to the caliber of the content, but also to its kind. For a ring tone, for example, experiencing that content means sharing it with others. The content itself become the consumer's distinctive calling card. By sharing a tone you are sharing yourself. THAT is a premium feature, and its one that mobile radio will not soon possess. Mobile phones are about connection. Will mobile phone radio be the same?

So marvel as Clear Channel pursues the mobile phone space, and CBS Radio too. Watch as XM and Sirius strike similar deals. These are essential steps in the right direction, but they are the beginning of the story, not its end."

Os telemóveis não gostam da rádio?

Em aperitivo para um trabalho com algum fôlego que apresentarei dentro de dias neste espaço (comparando mais de 200 modelos de telemóveis...), aqui ficam as conclusões de um estudo da revista Connect, Novembro de 2005, comparando 7 telemóveis com música digital (o título do artigo é "mp3 móvel").

Aqui ficam os resultados relativamente à convergência com a rádio:

Nokia N91: SIM

Samsung I300: NÃO

Sony Ericsson W800i: SIM

Motorola Rokr E1; NÃO

Nokia 6630: NÃO

Sony Ericsson W550i: SIM

Sagem MYX6-2: NÃO

Ou seja, em sete três incorporam rádio (o que me parece pouco, porque estamos a falar de aparelhos virados para um público muito definido, aparelhos cuja maior valia é a audição de música digital).

Resta acrescentar que os sete modelos têm, além de leitor de mp3, software Java , sincronização com Outlook, e câmara de fotografia e vídeo.

Mais uma loja virtual de música via telemóvel

Agora é o gigante norte-americano Verizon:

"Verizon Wireless will deliver a mobile music store in early January, according to various leads. The company has already sent invitations to key press outlets, including Digital Music News, to attend a CES-based unveiling in Las Vegas. The event will usher in "the next generation of V Cast," which already offers streaming video clips from outlets like CNN, Comedy Central, VH1, and The Weather Channel. A representative of Verizon was light on details, though a top-level major label executive recently confirmed to Digital Music News that the carrier is preparing a full-fledged mobile music store. According to the source, that service will be backed by all four major labels."

O telemóvel é mesmo o principal concorrente da rádio

A empresa Jacobs Media conduziu para a Arbitron um estudo com jovens dos 18 aos 34 anos, com base em seis "focus group". (em cidades como Baltimore, Detroit, D.C. ou L.A)

- Cell phones appear to be the real wild card in the next generation of competition for terrestrial radio listenership. In short, Jacobs described the cell phone as “the monster that just keeps getting bigger” and a device that women have no problems incorporating into their own entertainment usage;

 

Canais de música via internet (no telemóvel)

Um operador de telemóveis norte-americano, a Cingular Wireless, vai oferecer aos seus clientes um conjunto de canais de música a que chama de rádio.

Tenho dúvidas que alinhamentos musicais, em contínuo, sejam ainda rádio, mas de qualquer forma, registo mais uma tentativa da industria de telemoveis em assegurar conteúdos para oferecer aos seus clientes - os telemóveis serão os centros de entretenimento do futuro: acordo com o despertado no telemovel, ouço a rádio enquanto me levanto nesse despertador/telemovel, na viagem para o trabalho ouço a rádio ou musica e também telefono!

A notícia: "MobiRadio will offer a hefty 40 channels, including urban, rock, country, electronica, reggae, jazz, and classical. The premium service is available for a monthly charge of $6.99, plus kilobyte usage. Currently, the service only works on the Nokia 6620, but will soon expand to other handsets. Mobile streaming technology can now reliably deliver audio and video content, and other US carriers like Verizon and Sprint Nextel have been aggressively pushing the concept."

O telemóvel vai ser o rádio do futuro?

Há quem defenda que sim ("next-generation mobile phones are going to become the most important future delivery platforms for audio material, even eventually supplanting terrestrial radio as the medium of choice for listeners", diz Harry Helms, do Future of Radio), mas também quem ache que não.

Um deles é Jeff Duntemann, que - no seu diário on line (24/10/05) culpa as empresas de telemóveis, no caso norte-americanas - pela incapacidade em desenvolver o mercado: "I have a very capable phone, but the carrier will do almost anything to keep me from connecting it to my computer and playing around with its advanced features. Furthermore, the audio quality is still hideous, and this is what, 2005? I’ve given up on flying cars, but sheesh, I’d have expected CD-quality cellphone communication by now."

Os telemóveis mais populares para ouvir música

"New Research Ranks Top Mobile Music Devices
Europeans are still miles (or kilometers) ahead of Americans in terms of mobile music adoption, but which devices are leading in each region? According to a recently released report by mobile data firm Telephia, the Motorola V710 is the most sought-after device among US music fans, followed by the Motorola MPX200, Handspring Treo 650, Sony Ericsson Z500, and the Sony Ericsson S700. In Europe, a much different mix has emerged, as music fans pointed to the Nokia 6230 as a favorite, followed by the Samsung SGH-D500, Sony Ericsson K700, Nokia 6630, and Sony Ericsson K750.
Meanwhile, the gulf between US and European mobile music users seems wider than ever. According to the report, Europeans are four times as likely to listen to music on their MP3-enabled phones than their American counterparts. While that difference may seem predictable at this point, Telephia also found that the rate of adoption on new music phones was glaringly higher in Europe. "Almost two years ago, in Q1 2004, both Europe and the US showed a one percent penetration rate of music phones among mobile phone subscribers," the report asserts. "The latest Telephia figures from Q3 2005 show that 14 percent of European mobile phone subscribers now own a music phone, but the penetration rate for US has increased only slightly to two percent." Telephia blames several factors for the difference, including a lower number of available music-focused phones in the US, and the absence of a well-established, high-speed delivery infrastructure. "With the availability of 3G services in Europe, adoption and utilization of applications like mobile music will further accelerate," explained Kanishka Agarwal, vice president of New Products at Telephia. "It is likely that advanced infrastructures will serve as a catalyst for increased traction in the US market.""
(via Digital Music news)

Um telemóvel com podcasts

"Sprint cell phones can now double as digital music players for select podcasts or radio programs, thanks to a deal expected Monday between RealNetworks and the mobile company.
The two companies plan to introduce Rhapsody Radio, an offshoot of RealNetworks' online music subscription service for Sprint phones. For $6.95 a month, people nationwide with a Sprint phone (specifically, with Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Service) can sign up and listen to several different radio stations or Internet podcasts, as well as gain access to videos, music news or freestyle rap service "Beats N Breaks."
(fonte: http://news.com.com/Podcasts%2C+Internet+radio+come+to+Sprint+phones/2100-1027_3-5869836.html?part=rss&tag=5869836&subj=news)

Um telemomusica? ( music phone) sem rádio

"Virgin Mobile Delivers First Music-Focused Phone

Virgin Mobile has recently delivered its first music phone, a collaborative effort with Kyocera Wireless. The new Slider Sonic comes with a 32MB microSD card, stereo headphones and a USB cable to port PC collections. The device also functions as a camcorder and camera, and supports an optional game controller. Those extra features will play well with a very young, targeted audience, which Virgin Mobile also attracts with its pre-paid options. Power music listeners can upgrade to a 512MB microSD card, while also playing music through a stereo system using a 3.5mm cord. "There are two things [Virgin Mobile users] don't leave home without: their mobile phone and their portable music players," said Howard Handler, chief marketing officer of Virgin Mobile USA. "With the Slider Sonic we've merged music and technology and packaged it in a sophisticated communications device." The phone retails for $249.99.

(Digital Music News)

E rádio FM? Não!

Comprar e ouvir músicas completas em telemoveis

um excerto da Reuters ("Music biz explores wireless frontier ")
"And so it begins. Wireless operators and record companies are starting to let mobile subscribers buy and download full songs over wireless networks directly to mobile phones capable of storing and playing music.

As a big first step, Apple Computer and Motorola have partnered to create an iTunes-compatible mobile phone, dubbed the ROKR, capable of storing 100 songs and currently offered by Cingular.

Will the result revolutionize both industries or just be another wireless hype machine met with tepid response and consumer apathy?

"We're heading into areas where there is no market research," says Andrew Seybold, a veteran wireless industry consultant. "The only way we're going to find out what consumers will buy is to try various things and see what sticks."

The opportunity is clear. There are 180 million mobile phones in the United States, most of which can be used to access the Internet and buy products with charges added to the user's monthly phone bill.

The result is an on-demand, impulse-buy capability accessible to all age ranges that the still-struggling music industry sees as a lifeline out of the doldrums. Wireless carriers, meanwhile, hope access to music will be the application that compels subscribers to migrate to the new high-speed networks they have spent billions on developing."

Música nos telemóveis

The biggest U.S. mobile service companies are considering selling phones that can play songs and some have plans to deliver music to phones over the wireless airwaves, in a bid to boost revenue as phone call prices drop.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cell phones may become the new way for the iPod masses to download and listen to music in the coming years, but wireless companies may not see much of a boost to their profits from selling such services.
The biggest U.S. mobile service companies are considering selling phones that can play songs and some have plans to deliver music to phones over the wireless airwaves, in a bid to boost revenue as phone call prices drop.
Analysts expect Cingular Wireless, the biggest U.S. mobile service, to reveal plans on Wednesday to sell a new Motorola Inc. (MOT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) phone that comes with iTunes, the music store software from Apple Computer Inc.(AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , whose iPod player dominates the portable digital music market.
At least initially, Cingular is expected to let users transfer songs to the phone from computers rather than through wireless download services.

POOR PROFIT MARGINS FOR SONGS

Despite all the excitement about wireless song purchases, such mobile music is likely to deliver much poorer profit margins than wireless carriers are used to from phone calls or other services such as ringtones, one analyst said.
"There's very little room for profits from the full over-the-air download market," said Yankee Group analyst Linda Barrabee who believes music industry players could benefit most
from these new types of services.
The No. 2 and No. 3 U.S. mobile services Verizon Wireless (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (VOD.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , and Sprint Nextel Corp. (S.N: Quote, Profile, Research) have already said they are planning mobile music download services.
Pricing these services could require a tough balancing act between profitability and creating widespread demand since iTunes, Apple's high profile digital music service, charges only 99 cents a song, analysts said.
Sprint has said it believes wireless customers, which already pay as much as $3 for ringtones, will pay more for song downloads on-the-go than for downloads to their computer.

Música portátil (ou celular?)

Um relatório sobre a música portátil no japão alertou-me para uma realidade em que não acredito, por pensar que é passageira, mas que existe e não pode ser ignorada. "Mobile Music". O que é isso? Basicamente, os toques e músicas nos telemóveis (e não tanto o mercado dos downloads ou da música digital, via internet.
Uma citação deste relatório:
"Polyphonic ringtones were pioneered in Japan on i-Mode, and today mobile music in Japan represents a totally new Billion Dollar per year."