Insight Community

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

Symbian Ltd. turns 10 years old this June, so we're looking for some opinions on how far the Symbian OS has come -- and where it is headed in the future. If you're a developer, how effective do you think the Symbian Signed program has been? Does Google's Android platform offer a real threat to Symbian? How do you think Symbian will compete to maintain its market share as the dominant smartphone OS? Are there unique features of Symbian that will be hard to imitate? What capabilities should consumers look forward to with Symbian phones?

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

While most phones come with pre-installed casual games, some folks would like games that are a bit more entertaining than a monochrome version of Tetris. There are large publishers like EA Mobile coming out with titles for mobile phones, but where are some other sources of decent games? Which phone platforms have the best (most popular) games? Which Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) have the best mobile interfaces? Given the rise of accelerometer sensors, what input methods do you prefer for mobile games? (For example, a certain Sony Ericsson cell phones uses a motion sensor to play EA Games' Need for Speed ProStreet driving game.) If you're not a mobile gamer, you could submit a short overview of mobile game genres. But if you do play mobile phone games, we're looking for how you found your favorite games and if you picked your phone based on a particular game.

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

We're looking for interesting phone apps or services that make your phone more useful to you. For example, do you use Google's GrandCentral to block undesirable calls? Have you installed any third party software on your phone that you use regularly? Have you tried any user-friendly services that can text message driving directions to your phone? Do you use any voicemail-to-text services?

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Cadbury Schweppes sells a wide variety of beverages in the US including brands like Seven-Up, Dr. Pepper, Snapple, Motts, Hawaiian Punch, Canada Dry and A&W. The company is looking for ways to go beyond the normal web offerings of online coupons, and they want to create real value for their retail partners -- using the internet to drive customers to those retailers.

They want to focus their efforts on their top retail channels in the US, like Kroger, Safeway, Food Lion, Albertson, Stop & Shop, Wal-Mart, McDonalds, YUM, 7-Eleven, CVS. The key goal is to find ways to use Cadbury Schweppes brands as an asset to bring shoppers into the stores (not just to buy Cadbury Schweppes drinks). Don't limit yourself to just focusing on drinks. The ideal project drives more interest in getting shoppers into retail partners, increasing the overall amount of consumer spending.

What innovative and new ideas are there for engaging shoppers with retailers & Cadbury Schweppes brands online that can translate to added profitable sales for retailers? Please describe specific examples of strategies that could be employed, and estimate budgetary and return on investment factors for any proposed solutions.

 

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

Just about every wireless service provider has its own mobile music service, and added to that, there are also third-party wireless music services as well. So we're looking for reviews of the most popular services. What are your opinions on the usability and value of: Verizon's VCast Music, the Sprint Music Store, AT&T's mobile music services, T-Mobile's Music, Alltel's mobile music, etc? If you don't like those services, which ones would you recommend? Do you think 'unlimited' service plans will boost adoption of any of these mobile music products?

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LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

It's only a matter of time before everyone's cell phone has a social networking app on it. In fact, phone addressbooks and service plans like T-Mobile's MyFaves already contain most of the features of a social networking app. So which mobile social networking apps are (or will be) the most popular? Will 'Bluedating' ever make it big? If you had to pick a top 5 list of social networking functions for your phone, what would they be?

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

Recently, several "unlimited" wireless service plans have been introduced from Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint. Obviously trying to distinguish its service, though, Sprint has created an unlimited plan that includes not only voice, but data, text, e-mail, Web-surfing, Sprint TV, Sprint Music, GPS Navigation, etc. But does this offer really present a significant difference? Will existing Sprint customers readily adopt features beyond SMS? Will Sprint subscribers upgrade their phones? Is there anything that may hinder Sprint's 'Simply Everything' offer? Does Sprint need to throw in its Airave service into the 'Everything' plan as well? How do the 'unlimited' plans from Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T compare? What do you think the long-term effects of introducing 'unlimited' wireless service plans will be?

A financial services firm is looking to obtain fresh Insights from alternative research. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about Microsoft's unsolicited offer to acquire Yahoo. Now that Yahoo has formally rejected the offer, what are the ramifications on Yahoo and Microsoft? Insights that cover strengths/weaknesses/oppportunities/threats (SWOT) for both companies are a useful starting point for addressing this (ultimately approved or denied) merger. However, the Sponsor is also open to alternative forms of analysis that would enhance its existing quantitative assessment of the impact of this deal. If possible, provide anecdotal evidence from previous Yahoo (and/or Microsoft) acquisitions that might indicate where a Yahoo+Microsoft deal may be headed.

A financial services firm is looking to obtain fresh Insights from alternative research, and it is interested in a qualitative assessment of CNET Networks (NASDAQ:CNET). Insights that cover strengths/weaknesses/oppportunities/threats (SWOT) for this company are a useful starting point for describing CNET's future. Speculation that Google might acquire CNET has recently surfaced, so descriptions of how CNET may (or may not) fit into Google's culture might be particularly interesting.

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

Do you have a favorite Personal Information Manager (PIM) app for your phone? Have you tried PIM services from your service provider -- or the built-in apps on your phone? Have you found any extremely good 3rd party apps or PIM services? Which ones do you recommend, and which should be avoided at all costs? How do you transfer your contacts when you get a new phone (if your phone doesn't have a SIM card)? How do you back-up your information or sync with an online PIM or desktop application?

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

Switching to a new phone every couple years adds to everyone's gadget graveyard -- usually a closet or desk drawer. So how should consumers dispose of their old cell phones? Where can old phones be recycled or donated? Do you wipe the memory before you give it away? Describe some step-by-step best practices for phone recycling/disposal. Do you know of any creative (or charitable) projects that have re-purposed old cell phones? Or have you cleverly picked phones that retain their value on the used market? If so, how did you choose a phone based on its re-sale value?

A financial services firm is looking to obtain fresh Insights from alternative research. One of its potential interests is the online video market, and it is looking at Netflix and Apple as possible leaders in this arena. Given this background, Insights that cover strengths/weaknesses/oppportunities/threats (SWOT) are useful, but the Sponsor is also open to alternative forms of analysis that would enhance its existing quantitative assessment of the impact of downloadable video services on Netflix (NFLX) and Apple (AAPL). The Sponsor is particularly interested in gauging the initial growth rates of these competing services over the next year -- and how these services' adoption may impact each other.

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

It's long been rumored that Dell will release a cell phone device, given its existing PDA product line, as well as Apple's entry into the phone market. Assuming that Dell is actually going to release a smartphone based on Windows Mobile, how will consumers react? Obviously, it's hard to predict the future of a device without knowing any of its actual specifications, but how do you think it will compare to Apple's iPhone? How will it compare to HTC's Touch (or pick your favorite handset)? Will the 'Dellphone' support Google's Open Handset Alliance? Where do you see Dell's role in the mobile phone market?

Now that CES has ended, what lessons from the show are there for Wall Street? What investment opportunities (either long or short) should Wall Street be paying attention to within or related to the consumer electronics space? While a few more obvious names are okay, we're really looking for something beyond the big, obvious names or the big, obvious trends. Think a few levels deep about how the events at CES will come to impact other (perhaps less obvious) markets.

While there's been plenty of talk about the move to software-as-a-service, an equally interesting one may be hardware-as-a-service. Certainly, Sun and IBM have pushed for utility computing offerings -- and Amazon has done quite well with its EC2 offering. There's been talk for years that Google could get into the space as well.

However, even with all the ROI support that marketing folks from Sun and IBM throw around, it still seems risky. We're trying to understand if it makes sense for large IT organizations to look seriously at moving over to "on-demand" computing systems, or if it pays to wait. Under what conditions would it make sense and what are the biggest risks involved? If you were a consultant, in charge of making the case for or against a utility computing move to a Fortune 500 company (recognizing that there are different issues involved with every individual company) what key points would you focus on?

Clarification: This is about making the case for the company to *using* utility computing, rather than offering it as a service.

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

The question of allowing airline passengers to use phones on flights isn't exactly new, but there may be a growing number of airlines with useful services. Instead of providing phones in the seats of the plane, a few airlines are offering wireless networks for passengers to use their existing (dual mode?) phones to place calls. Given this, what should consumers and airline passengers look forward to? Will there be mandatory phone etiquette rules during the flights? How might in-flight calls be regulated? What role will the airlines play in developing the services? These are just a sample of the questions that may be addressed for this Case.

 

A major IT vendor is trying to figure out how it can take advantage of the growth in the online game sector. It needs to determine what the global demand is for online games that require highly scalable infrastructure (Massive Multiplayer Online Games such as World of Warcraft and online leisure games, but not console games).

This vendor is trying to learn who the major online game operators are, where they are located (region or major country) and what the market capitalization of these companies is. They also want to determine how much these companies spend on systems, hosting and storage. (Please provide the source for any data you use in your response).

Who should be the largest or fastest-growing customers that this vendor should target? Who are the key hosting companies for online games? What equipment are these companies buying? Are there any specific strategies that you would recommend for a company looking to play a major role in this market?

Clarification: The sponsor for this Case is interested in IT infrastructure such as servers, processors, OSes, hard drive storage -- hosting equipment that can be bundled and packaged with management software, etc.

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

With the introduction of more smartphones and smarter phones, the mobile marketing industry is ramping up to reach the growing audience of wirelessly-connected consumers. Recently, Microsoft has released mobile banner ads in the US, and Google's Android platform will presumably try to develop increasingly innovative mobile ads for handsets as well. So the question becomes, will pop-up ads become even more frustrating as they migrate to mobile devices? Or can the mobile industry actually avoid annoying advertisements -- and provide useful, targeted ads instead? How do you think mobile ads will evolve? What kind of ads would you like to see? What kind of ads do you want to see die?