Mary Meeker: Economy Is Recovering, Mobile Is Exploding, And The iPhone Is Awesome.

"Meeker thinks we’re in a new computing cycle with the mobile web. Meeker believes Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch are leading the way here, big time. She thinks the mobile web will be 10 times as big as the more traditional desktop Internet, and that it will grow much faster.

She also notes that the technologies around it are exploding: Wi-Fi, GPS, 3G, Bluetooth, etc. And all of this is exploding in a recession, she notes."

Unifying Application Management With Device Management.

Philippe Winthrop writes: "As such, mobile application management should include:

• Remote/OTA application provisioning
• Automated application configuration
• Remote/OTA updates
• Remote/OTA backups
• Application removal
• Application white lists
• Application black lists

Unfortunately, not all mobile application solutions can do this. My sense is that mobile application configuration is going to become an increasingly important topic."

Interop Launches SCOPE Device Management Tool.

"Interop Technologies, which provides core wireless solutions for messaging, device management, and gateway connectivity, today announced availability of SCOPE Device Management the company’s subscriber-focused solution for managing customer devices on wireless networks.

SCOPE (Subscriber Capability Originated Provisioning Environment) is designed to make device updates simple and fast by automatically identifying a device problem and enabling a One-Click Fix. According to Interop, SCOPE enables operator customer service representatives - or customers using an optional self-care portal - to resolve device issues easily. The solution helps improve customer satisfaction and operators’ first-call resolution statistics, as well as reducing escalations from Level I service personnel to Level II technicians.

SCOPE is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing SS7-based solutions for CDMA or GSM. It includes a Global Device Repository which contains network configuration information and vast data on subscriber device capabilities and settings, gathered as sessions take place. No human involvement is required."

Motorola to LiMo: Sorry, We’re with Android now.

"Motorola has made no secret of its new-found love affair with Google’s mobile OS, Android. Having just recently kicked WinMo to the curb, word on the mobile street is that Motorola has now dumped LiMo as well."

Microsoft Commoditizing MDM?

"MDM has so far not been commoditized. While Mobile Device Management certainly is getting easier and more accessible you still have to pay up money if you want to be able to do anything proper, and you’re not in the position where you can expect everything to work on all platforms and devices. I do believe however that we are getting closer a few steps by the time... And I believe Microsoft is thinking along those lines too."

VoLGA Explained - Voice and SMS over LTE.

"Finally, we have been able to boil VoLGA down into a self contained 3 minute video. The message is pretty clear: CS Fallback is a train wreck. If deployed, CSFB will foul up LTE networks for years to come.

VoLGA provides a solution today, and a solid evolution to IMS telephony in the future.

Watch the video here."

Microsoft Debuts Mobile Backup Service 'My Phone', Adds Premium Features.

"Microsoft does not charge a fee for using My Phone, although it now boasts a couple of Premium Features which require a charge ($4.99). These features are:

- Ring Your Phone: remotely have your device ring (even if it is set to 'silent' or 'vibrate' mode) so it’s easier for you to retrieve in case you misplaced it
- Locate your phone: in case someone stole your phone and left it on, this feature will enable the GPS receiver on your device and show it on a map
- Lock your Phone: will lock your phone and display a message (e.g. your name and contact information) in case you have lost your phone and a good soul finds it
- Erase your phone: remotely wipe off all data from your phone"

Verizon and Google form strategic Android partnership.

"Verizon and Google have formed a strategic partnership that will 'leverage the Verizon Wireless network and the best of the Android open platform to deliver leading-edge mobile applications, services and devices.' Apparently the new dream team has plans that involve co-developing several Android-based devices that will come pre-loaded with innovative applications from not only Verizon, but also 3rd-party developers."

also see: Google Links Up With Verizon to Fight Apple
"For those following the travails of Google Voice on the iPhone, Verizon says that it plans to ship its first Android device with Google Voice. Lowell McAdam, Verizon’s president and CEO, said that none of this is a response to the FCC’s net neutrality push but rather a smart business decision that was begun almost a year ago when Verizon execs met with Google to discuss Android."

The Operators Strike Back: The Next Generation of App Stores (Part 3).

Dave Ginsburg, Vice President of Marketing at InnoPath Software, pens article 3 of a series. See part 1 here, and part 2 here. The following image is particularly interesting.

Apple Looks to Patent Cutting Users Off From Cell Phone Features.

"The company has so much experience in denying users of hardware and software supported features that it decided to patent the concept. The Cupertino giant filed a patent seeking to claim the rights to technology locking users out of features."

Red Bend stacks up two new mobile software patents.

"The Waltham-based company, which makes software enabling service providers to push firmware updates to subscribers, now holds three patents in the U.S. and eight worldwide.

The new patents cover software that embeds a reverse-update option in every mobile software update, so that users and service providers can uninstall problematic upgrades or downloads and return a software package to its prior status.

A second patent covers software designed to ensure continuity in the upgrade process. If a phone loses power or shuts down during an upgrade, the software is designed to let the process resume at the cut-off point."

The History of the Cell Phone (video).