The MEF Blog is no more! Long live the MEF Minute

Yes the MEF Blog, launched way back in 2008, is no longer your one stop shop for the latest MEF news. Now that title goes to the all new member blog, the MEF Minute, the new dedicated source for opinion and discussion about international mobile content & commerce - update your bookmarks now!

The MEF Minute is a new platform for member news, MEF activities and industry insight from around the globe. Representing our diverse and international network the new blog will help you stay up-to-date with the latest views and news across the mobile community, so go ahead and check it out.

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MEF MWC 2013 Briefing: Consumer Trust in Mobile Applications - Part 1

After 2012's hugely popular panel on consumer trust, MEF's briefing session for MWC this year was held in Barcelona in association with Kaspersky Lab. Part 1, widgetised for your listening pleasure below, features Denis Maslennikov, Senior Malware Analyst at Kaspersky, explaining the latest mobile malware threats affecting app consumers, and Simon Bates of MEF presenting the findings of the MEF Global Privacy Survey 2013.

Listen or download now:

MEFTV spoke with Denis just before the briefing, to get the lowdown on his presentation and the kind of threats he would be talking about.

Stay tuned to MEF Blog for more videos from the session, and part 2 of the podcast featuring the roundtable discussion featuring industry experts from MEF’s Privacy in Mobile Apps Working Group including Brendan Eich of Mozilla, Chris Davies, General Counsel EMEA and Head of Privacy at InMobi and Nick Graham, a Partner at law firm SNR Denton.

MEFTV @ MWC - Andrew Bud, MEF Global Chair

MEFTV took to the halls of MWC again for 2013, speaking to MEF members about their businesses and their MWC exhibits & announcements. In this video, MEF Global Chair Andrew Bud gives an overview of the week from the MEF perspective, and shares his impressions on the show.



For more MEFTV videos from MWC 2013 - checkout our Youtube channel.

MEF Connects MWC 2013 Photos

Over 500 MEF members and invited guests from 55 countries rocked the MACBA (that's the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona to you) at our 11th annual MEF Connects MWC 2013. The glitzy new venue provided a quality backdrop for our guests to undertake some serious networking, formed of  a broad variety of our global membership from across the mobile value chain for a truly international evening.

Check out a selection of photos from the party below.

MEF participates in AVG Mobile Security Forum

Following the publication of last month's Global Privacy Report, MEF's Simon Bates was invited to participate in AVG's Mobile Security Forum, held during Mobile World Congress, watch the roundup video of the event below.

MEF's report, supported by AVG Technologies, reveals consumer attitudes towards the use of their personal information by mobile app providers, scrutinising four key factors of privacy, Transparency, Comfort, Security and Control, and is available for MEF members to download for free, while an executive summary outlining the key points is available for all.

MEF Consumer Trust in Mobile Applications Breakfast Briefing with Kaspersky Lab

MEF is again hosting an essential MWC briefing session for 2013, this year with Kaspersky Lab and focusing on the latest threats affecting mobile app consumers, with a special emphasis on the latest developments in mobile malware.

The morning session (Wednesday, 27 February 2013 from 08:30 to 10:30) will also include a  roundtable discussion featuring industry experts from MEF’s Privacy in Mobile Apps Working Group including Brendan Eich, CTO Mozilla, Chris Davies, General Counsel EMEA and Head of Privacy at InMobi and Nick Graham, Partner, SNR Denton. Moderated by Tim Green from Mobile Money Revolution, the panel will debate what the app community needs to do to cement consumer trust and should make for a fascinating start to your MWC Wednesday.

Last year's event was a big draw and provoked some great discussion - and due to high demand, there is currently a wait list for the 2013 briefing, so be sure to add your name below to be in with a chance to attend.

Win MEF Connects MWC13 tickets

MWC 2013 is just around the corner and as ever MEF is hosting the hottest ticket of the Congress - MEF Connects MWC 2013. Now in its 11th year, the legendary party has moved to an exciting new location; the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA).
 
MEF Connects MWC is an exclusive bash for MEF members and their guests only, which means tickets can be hard to come by. So for 2013 MEF has teamed up with the Heroes of the Mobile Fringe to give away ten pairs of tickets in an exclusive prize draw, meaning not only could you get to rub shoulders with the cream of MWC attendees, you get to take a friend with you too!

To enter, just head over to their website and leave your details, and if all goes well, we'll see you in Barcelona!

If you would like a bit more certainty around party admission, why not become a sponsor and get your own personal guest list? Supporting the event will give you access to network with the industry decision-makers in attendance and will allow you to bring along your team and clients. There are still sponsorship opportunities available to suit various budgets and all include at least 10 tickets to the party - just contact us today, or leave your details on the MEF webpage.

Celebrating Data Privacy Day

Today is Data Privacy Day; an international reminder of the importance of keeping our online presence secure and privacy and data protection.

The day began life in Europe as Data Protection Day, commemorating the 1981 signing of convention 108 - the first legally binding treaty addressing data protection and privacy, in 2008 becoming Data Privacy Day in the US and Canada, championed by the National Cyber Security Alliance.

"Data Privacy Day highlights a year-round effort for all of us to improve measures to protect our personal data,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). “We want all digital citizens to feel like they have a choice in how their data is being collected, stored, and consumed and that starts with being educated about the privacy policies of online companies and Web properties. As society increasingly becomes more wired, it’s imperative we understand how to best protect our data.”

The importance of safe data management and privacy is especially pressing when dealing with mobile data. We carry our phones with us everywhere and in this age of Twitter and Facebook with geo-located real time status updates, photo uploads and financial transactions being commonplace, phone users need to be more careful than ever about what information they share with a host of social platforms and applications.

The recent MEF Global Consumer Survey showed that 35% of consumers have concerns around the safety of mobile commerce, citing trust as a key barrier to using the phone to purchase goods and services. The need for mobile commerce and content providers to think seriously about what can be done to protect consumers' data has never been more urgent.

MEF has been championing privacy in mobile since 2011 with various global initiatives and as part of this programme is currently developing an online tool for app developers that will embed best practice privacy right into the heart of app developer’s businesses by allowing them to be completely transparent with consumers about what data their app collects and how it uses it.

The tool is being developed with the help of a dedicated working group of MEF members that span the value chain, comprising developers, app store fronts, privacy experts and business development executives. 

The aim is to work towards building trust into apps from the ground up, so consumers can use apps with confidence, knowing before installation what data an app will collect and how it will use it, empowering them to decide what information they are happy to share with a wider online world.

For more information about the Privacy in Apps Initiative, contact info@mefmobile.org

Checkout the Stay Safe Online website for more information about Data Privacy Day, which has a host of resources to help you keep your digital footprint under control.

MEF Member Survey - Win tickets to MEF Connects MWC 2013

MEF is conducting a global survey of its members for 2013.

The business needs of such a diverse international member community are varied and changing, and MEF is committed to optimising its membership services accordingly. The online survey takes around ten minutes to complete and all participating members will receive a synopsis of the results, offering a strategic insight snapshot across the global community.

If you would rather speak to a real person, you can also carry out the survey over the phone in order to discuss your plans and views in more detail with a member of the MEF team. If you’d like to arrange a review call please contact your local MEF representative or email admin@mefmobile.org

The deadline for completing the survey is 25th January 2013.

All replies completed will be entered into a free prize draw with a chance to win one of five sets of tickets to the legendary MEF Connects MWC 2013 in Barcelona on 25th February at the Museum of Modern Art, hands down the hottest ticket of MWC, so get your responses in for a chance to win.

Have your login details ready to complete the survey on the MEF website.

MEF unveils mobile predictions for 2013

Happy New Year from MEF Blog! MEF has kicked things off for us in 2013 by unveiling its mobile predictions for the year ahead. Leveraging the collective wisdom of its global board members and insights from the 2012 Global Consumer Survey, MEF has come up with 10 key mobile trends to watch for in 2013, including the growth of convenience as a key driver, Trust as a critical asset and the role of big data.

Andrew Bud, MEF Global Chair, said: ”2012 saw continued expansion and diversification of the mobile content and commerce industry, particularly in growth markets such as Africa and Latin America. In late 2012 MEF launched the findings of our Global Consumer Survey, which highlighted that 88 per cent of the world’s mobile media users now regularly engage in mobile content and commerce. Looking ahead into 2013, all indicators point to another year of global growth across the mobile ecosystem. At the same time, disruption and market challenges, particularly around issues of Consumer Trust, will continue to test our industry’s resolve and agility.”

Continue reading below for the list of predictions, and head over to the MEF website for the full story.