Meffys 2012 - Just 4 days to enter!

The deadline for entries to this year's Meffys awards is fast approaching, but there is still time to get your entry to us. In case you need some last minute inspiration, check out MEFTV's interview with one of the head judges, mobile guru Helen Keegan, who shares some great do's and don'ts that may prove invaluable when putting your entry together.

Get your entries to us before the 6pm deadline this Thursday the 19th to be in with a chance to be a part of the mobile industry's most coveted award celebrations.

 

Sign up for our next webinar - Monday 16th July

Hot on the heels of the recent webinar from MEF LatAm on the Code of Conduct for VAS in Brazil, MEF Middle East is set to host another on line thought leadership session on the charged topic of the challenges facing network carriers in the face of OTT content and services.

We have some fantastic guest speakers from both camps, listed below, including representatives from the Qtel Group and Telefonica discussing the advances by network operators to roll out Rich Communication Services (RCS) strategies, and from OTT service providers Nimbuzz and Vopium who will be sharing their market experiences.

Moderated by Eden Zoller, principal analyst of consumer telecoms at Ovum, the webinar promises to encourage some lively debate on whether a mutually beneficial partnership is feasible, or if direct competition is inevitable.

Sign up for the free webinar

Date: Monday, 16th July 2012
Time: 11am GMT, 2pm GST

Moderator

• Eden Zoller, Principal Analyst Consumer Telecoms, Ovum

Speakers

• Rouzbeh Pasha- Qtel Group
• Benjamin Keyser, Product Manager and Head of Global OTT Products - Telefonica
• Jigar Budhdev, General Manager, MENA - Nimbuzz!
• Tanveer Sharif, CEO – Vopium

 Check out the MEF Website for more details

Meffys 2012 - Just 2 weeks to go to enter!

With less than two weeks to go to submit entries for the 9th annual Meffys awards, MEFTV took to the streets of London to find out what consumers are doing with their phones, and what they think is best in mobile content and commerce.

How will these views compare with those of the Meffys’ international panel of journalists, analysts and other independent industry experts? Will it be your company everyone is talking about on September 12th at the Meffys Gala Awards Dinner?

Find out more about the 2012 Meffys Award Categories and how to enter today - Deadline for entries is Monday the 9th of July - Good Luck!

MEF Mobile Content and Commerce Village announced at Apps World

Apps World today announced the Mobile Content and Commerce Village supported by MEF. The focal point will be one of four key areas within the Apps World exhibition. Designed to showcase companies specialising in products and services across the mobile value chain including mobile content and payment providers, aggregators and platform providers, the village will support those looking to curate, create, promote and monetise content within the mobile space.

Apps World is taking place on 2-3 October at Earl’s Court 2, and will be hosting a free to attend exhibition alongside 10 different niche workshop tracks covering the entire mobile app ecosystem. We have some great exclusive benefits for MEF members, including 25% discount on conference passes and special exhibition packages - download the pack from the MEF website.


MEF will be hosting a half day Summit at Apps World as part of the programme presenting its latest analytics and initiatives activities and engaging in lively debate on business critical issues facing the mobile industry with a particular emphasis on Consumer Trust. The MEF Mobile Content and Commerce Village will be adjacent to the MEF members-only lounge, creating a unique networking environment within the event for visitors meet MEF members to discuss key content, monetization, privacy, VAS and emerging commerce models.

Meffys 2012 now open for entries!

The mobile industry's most coveted awards are back! MEF has officially opened submissions for this year's Meffys, with a host of new categories to reflect the ever expanding mobile ecosystem, and indeed its own work and priorities, with categories for 2012 including the Consumer Trust and Social Responsibility & Development Awards.

Other new categories include Publisher on Mobile, Life Tools App and Brand on Mobile.. head over to the Meffys website to see all of the categories.

Judged by an independent and uniquely international panel of journalists, academics, analysts and VCs, the Meffys are the global benchmark for measuring success and rewarding innovation in mobile content and commerce. Last year, more than 350 industry leaders from over 30 countries gathered in London to attend the Meffys, and it was quite a show.

From 29th May, companies are invited to submit entries in 13 categories until the deadline of July 9th. The 2012 winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 12th September 2012 at the prestigious Park Lane Hotel in Mayfair - so you'll need to get your submissions together and complete the on line entry form quick-smart.

Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director commented: “Now in their 9th year, the Meffys enjoy an unrivalled heritage as the global awards for mobile content and commerce. MEF reviews the categories on an annual basis to reflect the industry’s evolution and this year, we are recognising the profound impact of mobile on key verticals and consumers around the world. The new Meffys Consumer Trust Award will also honour those companies at the forefront of creating best practise in privacy and security, key to creating a sustainable ecosystem in 2012 and beyond.”

In addition to the new awards, all nominees in each of the four innovation categories will be given the opportunity to pitch to the C-level executives at the MEF CEO Summit to be held at City Hall, on the evening preceding the Meffys. The CEOs will then vote to determine the most innovative mobile product or service and the winner of this “CEO Summit Award for Innovation” will be honoured at the Meffys Gala Awards Dinner.

Opportunities for sponsorships are still available - If you want to showcase your brand to the most influential audience in mobile media, contact us today!

Guest Blog - Privacy vs. Data & Building Consumer - Gary Schwartz



MEF North America
Chairman Gary Schwartz



MEF North America Chair Gary Schwartz talks privacy..


The way we define the term privacy is subjective. In the US, we police privacy based on a very broad definition under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act that prohibits “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.” The devil is in the policy details.

If the news headlines over the past few months are any indication, we are mighty confused with what to call private and what to call public, what to sanction and what not to sanction. How can we start to solve small-screen privacy when we have not solved our digital angst on the desktop?

Jules Polonetsky, Director of the Future of Privacy Forum says that when the browser invariably crashes it pops up a commiserating dialogue box asking you permission to send the diagnostic report to the browser company anonymously to help them fix bugs and build a better browser.

Faced with this privacy brief only three per cent of users click “yes”.

MEF co-hosting panels at Digital Matters Singapore - MEF members save 30%

Next week sees the return of Digital Matters and Music Matters to Singapore from 22nd to 26th May - offering four days of interesting events, high level networking, music and fun! The conference addresses the critical issues of content monetization and production in the digital age, with an extensive programme covering a range of panels in the digital space with topics such as financing options, multi-screen consumption habits, building social media success, an in-depth look into connected devices, gaming in the digital world and many more.

MEF is pleased to be supporting the event with two co-hosted panels on the 22nd May at Digital Matters - MEF members can also secure a 30% discount on delegate passes!

MEF PANEL - 22nd May “App, app and away”: Synchronising apps with other existing platforms

This panel will explore the myriad of challenges surrounding launching apps, the many options for monetising content through apps, and monetizing strategies other entertainment industries can learn from gaming app experiences.

Speakers

• Thawatvongse Silamanonda, SVP, International Business Development, Mono Technology
• Milind Pathak, Vice President, South Asia, Comviva
• Steven Frank, Director of Business Development, WildTangent
• Michael Schneider, CEO, Mobile Roadie
• Nic Hodges, Head of Innovation and Technology, MediaCom Australia
• Joe Jasin, Vice President, Corporate Development, Polaroid
• MODERATOR: Colin Miles, Chairman, MEF Asia and Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, internetQ 

PANEL - 22nd May “Pocket size me”: Aligning developments in mobile technology with digital content

Exploring mobile strategy best practise in a world where we increasingly watch our phones this panel will touch on mobile monetisation opportunities in the media and advertising value chain, and whether it should be mobile first, web second, or not for digital content and marketing?
 
Speakers

• Ralph Simon, Chairman Emeritus & Founder, MEF – Americas and CEO, The Mobilium Advisory Group
• Phil Chen, Head of Global Content Division , HTC
• Vishal Bali, Managing Director, Telecom Practice Group, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Nielsen
• Jayesh Easwaramony, Head of Business Development, APAC, InMobi
• Arunn Asthaana, CEO, VVIDIA
• MODERATOR: Ian Chapman-Banks, GM Asia Pacific, Consumer, Smartphones, Tablets and Content, Dell Consumer Asia Pacific

We look forward to seeing you there!

Don't forget MEF members receive a 30% discount on delegate passes to both Digital and Music Matters in Singapore for 2012 - to register and receive your discount contact Winnie Cheung @ Branded Asia.

For more details on all the other great panels and events throughout the week check out the Asia Matters website.

MEF launches App Privacy Initiative

MEF has officially launched its Privacy in Mobile Applications Initiative at its inaugural Privacy Summit in Washington D.C. with the goal to help the global mobile industry build consumer trust when interacting with mobile apps that collect user data.

The initiative has been formalised by the creation of the Privacy in Mobile Applications Working Group representing stakeholders from across the value chain to actively champion the groups’ objectives throughout the mobile ecosystem - the initial founding members include Impact Mobile, InMobi, mBlox, SNR Denton and Vodafone, with additional members to be announced shortly.

Yesterday’s Privacy Summit was attended by members, Government Agencies and other guests including CTIA, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Reserve Board, Future of Privacy Forum, KPMG, Truste, Turner Broadcasting and Verifone.

MEF Global Chair, Andrew Bud said: “Mobile applications can use consumer data such as user location and address books to create great consumer value, but raise privacy concerns which we must address as an industry. Transparency and informed consent are key to consumer trust, and whilst apps stores can make a great contribution, it’s essential the total mobile value-chain is engaged and empowered. MEF’s Privacy in Mobile Applications Initiative will ensure both a holistic view is taken and practical tools delivered.”

The D.C. summit and initiative follow previous focus by MEF on privacy as a key issue - privacy and security were identified as a concern by 27 per cent of the respondents in MEF’s Global Consumer Survey late last year, and at MWC 2012 members met to debate the issue at a dedicated roundtable session - you can listen to the podcast here.

Head over to the MEF website for the full press release, and let us know what you think of the initiative in the comments.

Women in Wireless launches UK chapter to help empower women in mobile and digital media sectors

Last week, the not-for-profit organisation Women in Wireless (WiW) announced the launch of its UK chapter at a sell-out event in London. Aimed at connecting, developing and promoting women in the mobile and digital media sector, WiW already has over 3,000 members across its New York and San Francisco chapters. The group aims to create a community and framework through which members can connect with like-minded professionals, while developing the skills needed to reach senior positions and promote and recognise the achievements of those women who have already succeeded in the industry.

At the London event, Nokia CMO Jerri DeVard, shared her career experiences from over 25 years as a marketer and as a prominent member of the Women in Wireless community to an audience of over 100 mobile and digital media professionals.

The founder members of the new UK chapter were also announced, and include MEF Executive Director Rimma Perelmuter, who commented “In my role at MEF, I see women making a pivotal contribution to driving success in mobile and digital media. We at Women in Wireless UK look forward to accelerating this by helping women in our industry to maximise their potential and be recognised for their achievements.”

Team leader and head of Strategy & Partnerships, Jen Macrae said “The launch of WiW's first international London-based UK chapter, will extend an already successful model from the USA and establish a dedicated organisation for tailoring and delivering an inspirational event series, needs based coaching & mentoring and promotional opportunities to advance and recognise women in the UK mobile and digital media industries.”
The full lineup of founder members consists of:

• Jen Macrae - Team Leader & Head of Strategy & Partnerships
• Jennifer Hiley - Head of Social Committee
• Rhian Pamphilon - Head of Marketing
• Rimma Perelmuter - Head of Professional Development

You can find out more about Women in Wireless at their website or become a member via their WiW UK LinkedIn group.

Mobile Convention Amsterdam - MEF Member discounts available

Mobile Convention Amsterdam (MCA) is the platform for mobile marketing, services and m-Commerce in North-Europe. This is the third such event after last year's hugely successful edition attracted some 800 professionals from across Europe and beyond, and this year's theme is, fittingly, the Mobile World.

On the 8th of May, Amsterdam will see professionals in the field of marketing, banking, ICT & Telecom share their knowledge of mobile marketing & communications, social media, mobile payments, couponing, augmented reality and mobile advertising.

Speakers such as the BBC, Unilever, Google and BMW will be joined by trendsetting mobile players We love Mobile, Mobile Future group, Moop.Me, Beyond Reality and frog Design amongst many others. This year the speakers also include none other than MEF Global Chair and Founder/Chief Strategy Officer of mBlox, Andrew Bud, who will speak on developments and trends seen in mobile, and the current work being undertaken by MEF.

Best of all, MEF members can enjoy a €50 discount on the entry fee! - Drop us an email to get your exclusive discount code and check out the website for more details on speakers and the extensive programme.