In brief: A rundown of upcoming projects, a call to developers and publishers to submit their coolest ad-enabled mobile website, application or game for consideration and compete for the Smaato Mobile Advertising Award 2009; and a reminder to check out a new mobile advertising white paper explaining the nuts and bolts of ad optimization. Mobile advertising is the topic of the week at MSearchGroove. I'm attending t...

In brief: MSearchGroove proudly steps up to the plate and hosts the Carnival of the Mobilists for the first time. The last weekend in August and I spent much of it at a two-day summer festival in Siegburg, Germany, where I'm based. I've been on a natural high with good friends, great food and a wonderful line-up of home-grown entertainment. But not all the excitement was at the local fairgrounds. The Mobilist...

In brief: App stores are hot, but what are the challenges and where is the opportunity? This analysis draws from a variety of sources - including a recent Airwide Solutions survey, an exclusive interview with Vodafone UK's Jonathan Kelly, and a thought-provoking post from Alfred DeRose, Co-founder & Managing Director of Tego Interactive, a Web and mobile product and services company providing development and inte...

Will 2009 be the year of mobile advertising? In Germany the question isn't associated with market hype; it's linked to the realization that the climate and conditions are right in Germany for mobile marketing to finally and formally take-off. Gone are many of the legal and business hurdles that have stifled ideas and innovation, paving the way for home-grown mobile marketing companies - such as MindMatics AG, Netbisc...