For Emerging Markets, Facebook & Twitter on the SIM
Social networking services like Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging have been turned into SIM-based applications that work via SMS text messages. For users of low-end devices, sometimes called “feature phones,” “messaging phones” or even “dumb phones,” these new technologies will soon enable them to keep up with their smartphone-toting counterparts by expanding access to the most popular social networks in use today.
HTCs “Facebook Phones” are Real, Offer One-Button Access to Social Network
As rumored, HTC did launch two “Facebook phones” at Mobile World Congress this week: the HTC Salsa and the HTC ChaCha. No, they’re not the Facebook phones – that is, they’re not branded or licensed by Facebook itself – but they offer such deep integration with the social networking service, you may as well call them “Facebook phones,” we’d say.
Survey Finds Local Marketing Dollars Go To Facebook Places Over Foursquare, Groupon
When Facebook Places launched last summer, one of the first questions (other than “how will this impact my privacy?”) was “How will this impact other location-based startups?” While Foursquare was gaining tractions and users, some questioned if Facebook’s entry into “location” would serve to squash it.
AT&T Makes App Creation Easier for Home Appliances, Other Objects
Wireless connectivity: it’s not just for cell phones anymore. Why then should apps be thought of as just for phones? A fast growing number of non-phone devices is coming online and publishing data about their surroundings and activities to the internet. From e-readers to bathroom scales to traffic signals and connected home sensors, the network enablement of formerly disconnected devices is just beginning. The Internet of Things, Web of Things, or Machine to Machine (M2M) communication are the names many people have applied to this trend and it’s widely expected to be one of the next major technology disruptions.
SongKick Raises Nearly $2m More for Concert Alerts, Music History & More
There are many different services that let you sign up to get an email alert when your favorite band is coming to town, but UK-born SongKick keeps innovating and keeps finding more support for its efforts. A 2007 graduate of tech incubator program YCombinator, SongKick has raised $1.8 million in its 4th round of funding, according to an SEC filing posted online tonight.