"Mobile Growth" And "3 Steps For Going Digital"

The Wall Street Journal just did a quick little recap on some of the cool new things to expect from your mobile phone. See the video here.
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CTIA, the mega wireless convention started in Las Vegas today. Some of the key highlights include these comments from CTIA's CEO Steve Largent:

-- There's 255 million wireless subscribers in the US, covering 84 percent of the population, increasing by 22 million in the past year

-- Wireless data revenues are soaring, hitting $23 billion in 2007 (17 percent of overall revenues), jumping 53 percent year over year.

-- 48 billion text messages are sent every month, a 157 percent over last year

See all the CTIA highlights here.
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AdAge has a great CMO article on how "To Reach Shoppers, Move Beyond Print Circulars".

They offer "3 Steps To Going Digital":

An idea-centric approach that focuses on engaging and connecting with consumers across channels over time to earn their attention

1. PERSONALIZE
This reflects the need today's consumers have to filter and customize content and experiences based on their unique predispositions -- for example, RSS feeds and start pages -- as well as to access content and experiences when and where they desire (mobile, search and other time/place-shifting mechanisms such as video on demand and podcasts).

2. SOCIALIZE
This captures the interest in community, sharing and collaboration (social networking, blogs, viral activity and gaming).

3. PUBLICIZE
This recognizes the importance of information and entertainment distribution through wider-reach brand sites and portals and their integration with traditional offline media channels such as broadcast TV.

"Designer Mobile And A Map Of Your Internet"

"The Devil Talks On Prada"

Fashion has finally arrived on the mobile scene. About 6 years ago I attended a new media seminar in NYC about the merging of fashion and technology. I asked a question..."when will we see a Ralph Lauren PC?" Welcome to designer mobile phones...Prada, D&G and Armani to name a few....see it here!

"Do You Know The Way To..."

This past February, Information Architects posted an incredible Interactive map of the Internet (click the links!).

One of the most comprehensive I've seen so far of the Superhighway we all travel. Drive here!

Kind of cool to see how they categorize related sites by topic...you can even rent some space!

"Trends to Watch in 2008"

In January the NPD Group published an article of trends to watch in 2008. Thought it would be helpful to post it again... read it here.

A friend of mine runs a youth marketing company in NYC. It's called Mr. Youth. For years now he has been creating "brand ambassadors" for products long before the phrase was coined. Matt Britton it's CEO is in fact the master of creating "micro channels". Check out their case studies...the results are amazing.

And for the music lover in us all...Seth Godin has an interesting post on his blog today, "How many records execs does it take to screw in a light bulb"... check this out!

"Einstein Said It Best"

I have been lucky enough to be in receipt of something very cool. A copy of a special letter.

It was given to me by a collegue Kenny Noble Cortes. In 1946, his father, Elymer Cortes was a struggling student trying to become a physicist. With a multitude of ideas running through his head he felt compelled to write a letter to Professor Albert Einstein.

Much to his chagrine, the great professor sent a note back to him with advice; typos included!

Of note is one line from the letter to the struggling student, "the main thing is this: if you have come across a question that interests you deeply stick to it for years and do never try to content yourself with the solution of superficial problems promising relatively easy success."

The letter was written and signed April 21, 1946.

I wonder if Einstein were alive today...would he have sent this message via his blackberry?