Would you believe there are still companies out there that haven’t adopted mobile marketing strategies?

That may sound like a surprise to some people, while others will nod their heads knowingly. It isn’t that companies don’t want to reach out to as many consumers as they can with their marketing campaign. The problem with mobile marketing for some companies is two-fold.

• They don’t know how to engage in mobile marketing advertising that will be beneficial enough to bring in new consumers.
• They believe mobile marketing will take away too much of their advertising budget when they can use tried-and-true marketing techniques that have always brought in sales.

Yet consumers will always be ready to embrace new technologies. They adapt those technologies fully into their lives as they will use it find products and services they want to purchase. Companies who aren’t willing to reach out to these mobile consumers are effectively excluding a demographic that wants to spend their money. Here are (at least) three reasons why companies need to adopt mobile marketing campaigns and hire mobile advertising companies today.

1. According to Entrepreneur, 42% of Americans over the age of 18 own a smartphone, and 87% of those people will access their email accounts and the Internet using their smartphones. In addition, 42% of these people will use their smartphone to compare product prices with other companies while they are shopping in the store. Creating a marketing campaign focused on Internet and email advertising optimized for smartphone use can reach these customers and prompt a positive conversion rate toward sales.
2. Advertising companies understand the need for their clients to go mobile. National and local advertising companies are keeping current with the latest consumer buying trends and are tailoring their services with the best apps, mobile-optimized websites and mobile tracking tools for business clients who aren’t knowledgeable about this marketing platform. If you own a company and are looking for mobile advertising companies, seek out a reputable company such as Hipcricket.
3. Mobile marketing isn’t restricted to any particular industry. All companies can engage in effective mobile marketing advertising for B2C and B2B engagement. News sites such as Reuters, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal all have dedicated mobile websites. Investment companies also have mobile sites and apps to help consumers and businesses keep track of their financial trades: Fidelity, Nasdaq, Schwab and Ameritrade.

The most important fact about engaging in mobile marketing campaigns is that you are reaching out to more potential sales. And, really, there is every reason to include mobile users in your advertising techniques. Creating a friendly and engaging mobile website and apps for mobile users will ensure that those users will share a positive experience with their network of family member and friends — more potential consumers who may purchase your products and services.

Adopt the mobile marketing techniques that work best for your company and fit well into your required budget. Some techniques, such as building a fan base on social media platforms to give your company more visibility, only costs the amount of time and effort you place in advertising on these free social sites. Contact mobile advertising companies for a list of expanded services when you want to fully integrate your marketing techniques into the mobile advertising world.

Patrick Wyler has interests in business and marketing procedures, and enjoys writing about evolving trends in the corporate world.

Apple devices are known for their security, and Apple boasts that iOS is the safest and most secure mobile operating system on the market. Many people will agree that a large part of the reason they purchased an Apple device was because of the built-in security that comes with it.

But buyer beware, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology Information Security Center (GTISC) have found two common, ordinary ways to install malware onto an iPhone or iPad without the user knowing.

Apple’s Security Measures

Apple could not have earned the reputation it has on nothing, and everyone recognizes that devices running on iOS are safe and secure. That is due, in part, to the review process each app on the App Store must go through. The review process ensures any iOS app a user downloads is safe for their mobile device; it checks to make sure the app runs like it should and does not contain any offensive or explicit material.

But according to an article on LabManager.com, GTISC researchers have found not one, but two ways to use applications and chargers to get around Apple’s protection. Outlined below are the weaknesses researchers Tielei Wang and Billy Lau found.

Application-based Approach

Tielei Wang decided to explore application-based attacks that use Trojan Horse apps.

Wang’s team developed a test app and called it Jekyll. Jekyll works by shuffling its code around, keeping its malicious characteristics hidden during Apple’s review process, thus allowing it to pass on to the App Store. Jekyll was downloaded on a select number of test devices and, once downloaded, Wang’s team used it to remotely control and attack other apps on the devices.

The creepy part about it is that, according to the researchers, an app similar to Jekyll has the potential to launch other apps on the device such as the camera, email, text messages, Twitter, etc. all without you, the user, ever even knowing.

Charger-based Approach

But the researchers didn’t stop with application-based attacks.

Lau’s team looked at the vulnerabilities associated with hooking a device up to a charger, such as an unknown charger you may borrow from someone in the coffee shop or at the airport.

Using a tiny, single-board computer that only costs about $45, Lau and his team developed a malicious “charger” called Mactans. Once your device is plugged in, Mactans begins infecting your iPhone or iPad with random apps in less than a minute.

The scary part about this discovery is that it affected both jailbroken and non-jailbroken, current-generation devices that were running on the latest version of iOS. Most of us know that though jailbreaking an iPhone can open it up to more software and apps, it also increases the risk of viruses and malware. The fact that this “charger” can attack even a non-jailbroken phone is a little unsettling for those of us who do everything we’re supposed to do in terms of securing our devices.

What’s Being Done About It

But don’t worry just yet, there is good news. Both teams of researchers notified Apple with their findings and Apple is working on some improvements to their mobile operating system and keeping up with their claim to safety and security.

After learning about Mactans, Apple has since installed a feature in iOS 7 that will alert the user whenever the device is connected to a charger (or any peripheral) that is trying to launch a data connection. This way you’ll know beforehand if that borrowed charger can harm your device.

As far as the application-based threat goes, Apple has not yet released a solution but is working on ways to tackle the weakness in iOS’s armor.

So in the meantime, what can you do to protect yourself? As always, use common sense and be smart about which apps you download because you never know what’s out there lurking in the shadows of that INSTALL button.

And use your own charger, or at least one from someone you know and trust, to charge your device. Don’t borrow one at the local coffee shop or in the airport (even though that’s when you need it the most, it seems.) Wait until iOS 7 comes out to ensure your device won’t be compromised.

If your smartphone works under the Android OS, then you can be perfectly sure that the applications for this mobile platform can make your trip or vacation more pleasant. There is a great variety of different travel applications that allow you to check the flights you are interested in, to find some fabulous places to visit and provide you with information about the cities you are going to visit and about the ones you should not miss during your vacation.

The variety of travel applications and functionality of the Android platform are the main factors that make this operating system so popular among people from all over the world. We offer you a list of the most useful Android travel applications that will not only save you time and efforts, but also claim to be able to make your vacation or business trip much more enjoyable. Here they are:

TripIt
Registering a TripIt account of your own will give you with opportunity to check all the flights to a certain direction that you are interested in. the applications also checks the availability of places where you can stay in, such as some hotels in the area you are traveling to, as well as finding a place where you can rent a car from, if needed. You can confirm all the reservations you have made.

If you synchronize the application with your Gmail account, the application will automatically monitor your e-mail and gather some information about the route of your upcoming trip or vacation. This can help you organize and optimize your trip like a professional travel agent, taking into account the flights, the vacancies in a great variety of hotels, the rental cars, as well as the distance between your hotel and the greatest tourist attractions in the city you are staying in. And this, on the other hand, will save you a lot of time and energy.

Kayak
This is another application that will help you organize your trip. It offers you the opportunity of finding the lowest airline ticket prices in the direction that interests you. In addition, Kayak allows you to check your status and provides you with some information about the trip. Once you set a couple of criteria, the application will find all the available flights, vacancies in hotels and rental cars. In addition, it will provide you with some information about different places you can visit.

Flight View
This application is the best option for you if you don’t mind spending 5 dollars. Flight View is the real gold standard when it comes to monitoring all the available flights and booking some tickets for your journey. Of course, there is also a free version, but it does not inform you in the cases your flight is cancelled or delayed. On the other hand, if you choose the paid version, you will get an instant notification when there is a change in the status of your flight.

Places
This is a built-in application that most of Android based smartphones have. Places allows you to search and find the places that you are interested in on the map. The application has some default settings in certain categories, but you are also able to change or add some new ones, which makes it a flexible one. In addition, the application makes the navigation easier, which means that you don’t actually need a paper map.

Skype
No matter where you are, you could hardly feel comfortable without a Skype access. The opportunity of making free calls all over the world is a mandatory component when it comes to traveling. In addition, this will most likely save you a lot of money, if you take into account the high “roaming” fees.

In a time where having a cell phone is synonymous with having the ability to breathe, mobile companies continue to offer the opportunity to “upgrade” one’s phone after some time, to accommodate advances in technology. While this is a benefit to our social lives and the ease through which we can accomplish everyday tasks, it also results in a surplus of disregarded, “outdated”, “old” cellular phones. Whether they now appear in your junk drawer, underneath your driver’s side seat, or in the chew toy section of your pet’s bed, these devices can and should be recycled. Although it is tempting to forget our phones of the past as we eagerly sync our new, “better” phones to our existing social media accounts, it is important to remember that our former phones should be recycled for the benefit of the earth’s health.

Why Recycle Phones?

Mobile phones and other digital devices contain a variety of materials, metals, plastics, and copper. These materials are conserved in the recycling process. As a result, recycling cell phones cuts down on the emissions that occur during the extraction and processing of these materials in the formation of new devices. Just about all of the materials that result from recycled mobile devices can be used for the benefit of the creation of jewelry and garden furniture, plastic packaging, and the manufacturing of other electronics and automotive supplies. Even better, the market for refurbished phones extends far beyond the United States, providing those who would typically find the purchasing of mobile devices to be unaffordable the opportunity to communicate via modern technology.

Let’s Talk Numbers

To put things into perspective, there are more than 500 million cell phones awaiting a proper recycling disposal at this time in the United States, and another 130 million are expected to be added to this statistic by next year.

As the average American opts to upgrade his/her phone within every 24-month period, the result is 65,000 tons of electronic trash—toxic trash that clogs up landfill space and pollutes both air and ground water.

The proper recycling of just one cell phone is enough ammo to power a laptop for 44 hours.

Just 10% of the cell phones used in the United States are currently being recycled.

About 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered for every one million cell phones recycled. For the same amount of recycled phones, 185 U.S. households could be provided with electricity for one year.

Maybe you can think of a few phones at home that you kept around—maybe for pictures or old videos—but the benefits of recycling just this one phone surely outweigh the opportunity to save this media elsewhere, a task typically postponed. It’s incredibly important to maintain a close relationship with advancements in technology, but it is, perhaps, more significant to not disregard our former phones so easily and keep the planet on which we’re so proud to walk out of harm’s way.

Using your mobile phone abroad can be a complicated business, and it often just seems easier to leave your phone at home whilst you’re on holiday. However, for some people that’s just not an option. If you’re a frequent business traveller, or even a frequent pleasure traveller, sometimes you just need to have your mobile with you, whether for personal or professional reasons. Today we’re talking about your options for mobile use abroad, since there are several considerations that you’re going to need to keep in mind if you want to travel with a mobile. So before you take your mobile out of the country, here’s all you need to know…

Will Your Phone Even Work? Why Quad Band is the Way to Go…

Your initial concern should be about whether or not your phone is actually going to work. Mobile phone signals are broadcast over a certain frequency, and that frequency varies by country. About eighty five per cent of countries operates on the GSM system, meaning that these countries use one of four common mobile frequencies. The best bet for getting mobile service abroad is to have a quad band phone. This is a phone that can operate on any one of these four common frequencies. Not all phones are quad band, so you’re going to have to check in your mobile’s manual. And even a quad mobile isn’t going to guarantee you service everywhere, since the other fifteen per cent of the world uses completely different frequencies. Depending on where you’re going you should really check out a local guide book to see what frequencies mobiles operate on in that area. But with a quad phone you should be fine in all of Europe, both North and South America, Australia, and in many Asian countries.

Mobile Roaming Fees

Once you’ve established that your phone is going to work, your next concern should be financial. Most of the time you can use your UK mobile plan whilst you’re travelling, but many operators do require you to request that mobile roaming be switched on before you leave the country, so your phone might not work by default, and you should call your operator and ask about this before leaving the UK. Using your UK phone plan whilst out of the country can be extremely expensive, however. Mobile roaming charges are incredibly high. You will not only have to pay premium rates on sending text messages and making calls (we’ll come to mobile data shortly), but you’ll also have to pay to receive both calls and texts. These charges add up fast, and it’s incredibly easy to come home to a huge phone bill. There are some operators that have good roaming packages though. The most notable mobile roaming deal is with Orange. They offer a five pound a month add on to your regular contract that will let you use your mobile inside the EU for the same prices as you pay within the UK. They do also have other packages for other destinations, but prices will be higher. This is an optional service though, so you will have to request it. Other operators have mobile roaming packages, and these tend to save you money over using just your regular phone plan. Again, you should check with your operator before leaving the country.

Mobile Data Use Abroad

Given the extortionate prices for roaming calls and texts you won’t be surprised to learn that mobile data whilst roaming is going to be extremely expensive. In fact, we don’t recommend that you use mobile data whilst abroad at all. Use WiFi to connect wherever possible, and simply turn off your 3G completely. If you need to use data, we’ll give you a solution in a moment. However, for the most part you should never use mobile internet on your UK SIM card whilst you are out of the country. It’s not worth it. Go to an internet cafe if necessary.

Other Solutions for Mobile Use Abroad

Depending on how long you’re going to be gone, there is a way that you can get mobile use abroad relatively cheaply. The absolute cheapest way for you to get mobile service abroad is simply to go to a local operator in the country that you’re visiting and get an inexpensive pay as you go SIM card. This will allow you to make calls and send texts for local prices, which will be far cheaper than paying UK roaming prices. You will have a new telephone number with this SIM card however. If this is a concern for you, not to mention switching out SIM cards all the time and possibly missing important phone calls or text messages on your home number whilst using your foreign SIM card, then you should look at investing in a dual SIM phone. These devices are exactly what they sound like, a phone that allows you to simultaneously run two SIM cards. This means no switching SIMs and never missing calls or messages on either SIM card. It will be an investment, but if you’re gone frequently or away for an extended period of time it will be a worthy investment. If you’re looking to use mobile data whilst away, maybe for navigation purposes, a local SIM card is really the only feasible and affordable solution. It will cost you a fraction of the price to use a local SIM to get internet access than it would to use your UK SIM on roaming. If you’re thinking about buying a local SIM card there is one thing that you need to take into account. If your phone was bought through your UK mobile operator there is a chance that it will be locked into that operator. This means that the phone will not accept a SIM card from any other company. You can, however, get your phone unlocked. Most operators will unlock a phone for a small fee, and many high street stores will also do this for you. But you should check this issue before leaving.

The following ten applications will change the way you do your business while you are on the go. Instead of searching for the nearest business center, or borrowing a colleague’s laptop, you will be able to access your email, keep up with contacts, and download files off your computer with ease.

10. Facebook Pages Manager

If you are an administrator for several Facebook pages, or help run your company’s Facebook page, this app is a must have. It makes it a lot easier to browse through comments and posts on the pages, while also uploading links, status updates, and pictures with a few clicks.

9. Splashtop 2 – Remote Desktop

If you want to have access to your home or office computer’s desktop while you are on the go, this is the app to get. Simply connect all of your wireless devices using this app and you will be able to access your desktop wherever there is an internet connection. This is great if you want to grab files that are on your computer.

8. Advanced Task Killer

Tired of your Android or iOS phone running various background applications that you do not use? This app killer is the perfect way to deal with that. Your phone will be quicker to use and it will save a great deal of battery life thanks to this app.

7. SignEasy

Need to sign an electronic document while you are on the go? Do not wait until you get to the office, simply download SignEasy and you are good to go.

6. Box

This application is similar to Drop Box, with faster download and uploads speeds. You can share all your documents, songs, miscellaneous files, videos, and pictures through this application. You can transfer files from your phone to your tablet to your computer and to your office laptop within seconds.

5. QuickBooks 2013

This is a crucial application no matter what line of work you are involved with. The QuickBooks application allows you to access versions of Word, Powerpoint and Excel on your phone. Not only can you access the files associated with these softwares, but you can also make necessary edits from your smartphone or Android tablet/iPad.

4. Appointment Plus

If you are worried about keeping track of all the meetings you have scheduled, download Appointment Plus. This application is a lot better than the standard calendar apps, with advanced features that will help you with your business. Not only can you schedule appointments in a variety of ways, but the app automatically stores contact information related to the individuals you are meeting.

3. Square

If you have a mobile business, or some other need to accept payments on the go, Square is the perfect application. With a few clicks you will be in the position to accept credit/debit card and electronic check payments while traveling.

2. Vault-Hide

This is a security application that will keep certain files, messages, and other items on your phone behind a password. If you are using your phone for sensitive business, this is a must have.

1. Scanner Pro

Ever needed to scan a document while you were on a business trip? If that is the case, download Scanner Pro and you can begin scanning multi page documents in seconds. Not only do these documents scan onto your phone in excellent quality, but they can be transmitted to your work/home computer through Google Docs, Box, or DropBox.
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If you are living a 21st century business lifestyle, it is important to have the full support of modern technology. With the above-mentioned applications for your Android, Apple or Windows smartphone, you can keep up with work no matter where you are.

If you suffer from sleepless nights, you’ll probably know all about the nasty side effects that this condition can cause. You spend most of the day trying to stay awake, and then most of the night trying to…well, you know the rest! There are a number of sleep-aid products on the market that will work for a short time, but they will soon be nothing more than a placebo with some heavy headed reminders the next day. This article takes a peek at some Android apps that claim to be able to help us without making things worse all over again.

Sleep as Android by Urbanandroid Team – Free – Google Play Download

Our first offering is a very clever app that is essentially an alarm clock but with a whole heap of extras. This application will track your sleep pattern and wakes you up at the optimum time to allow your body to gently recover from the slumber regions. It includes some soothing sleep-aid themes that include birds, sea and storm noises. We’re not sure about the storm feature but apparently it works! You can pick any of your favourite tunes to wake up to or go with the specialised selection already onboard. This app has already earned some rave reviews from the public and looks to be leading race for Smartphone alarm apps. The sleep tracking feature tends to drain the battery somewhat but you can disable it and the alarm will still work just fine! A totally free gift for all of those non-sleepers out there!

Sleep Apnea Screener – $1 – Google Play Download

Sleep Apnea is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide and it can have very serious side effects. People suffering from this condition have been known to fall asleep at the wheel of a car and are constantly at risk of losing consciousness throughout the day. This app will not cure the condition but it provides a thorough screening tool for those of us who suspect that we may be suffering from Sleep Apnea. If the results are positive, you should pop along to your local GP for some further investigations. The questionnaire is fairly similar to a medical approach and has been developed by experts in this field. For one dollar you may be getting some advice that could help to improve the quality of your life for the future!

Chroma Doze by Paul Marks – Free – Google Play Download

Our final sleep-aid offering from Android is a pretty cool app that uses white noise to assist your journey into the land of nod. The way that this works is fairly unique, you simply draw your favourite spectrum and the app will use this for its white noise orchestra. The theory is based on the Fourier Analysis Algorithms and the results are pretty conclusive. Once you hit the pillow, the Chroma Doze takes you on a journey that results in a great night’s sleep. The app is very light on battery use so you’ll not risk any alarm malfunctions as a result! White noise is definitely the way forward for those of us with issues in the sleeping arena!

Are You Tired Yet?

We hope that you will have seen enough to download at least one of these apps, because your nights will soon be a lot more relaxing if you do!

Nearly everyone these days has a mobile phone. From work to friends and family, mobile have become necessities in the modern world more than luxuries. And if you’re thinking about getting a new phone, or a new service contract, you’re probably interested in getting the best smartphone deals that you can find. Today we’re talking about some of the hidden secrets of the mobile phone world, from where the best deals are to how much that incentive contract is really costing you. If you want to shop sensibly and save some cash, then read on to make sure that you’re not being fooled…

1. Refurbished Phones are the Best Smartphone Deals…

Refurbished phones are such great deals that it’s really pretty surprising that more people don’t buy them. Here’s what happens: a customer buys a phone and decides he doesn’t want it, so he returns it. But retailers generally don’t just resell the phone. It goes back to the factory, where it undergoes a complete technical inspection to make sure there’s nothing wrong with it, and is cleaned and rebooted. Then the phone is sold by a mobile operator or on the manufacturer’s web site as refurbished and at a healthy discount. There is absolutely no difference in look or functionality between a refurbished and brand new phone, in fact, you’ll even get a warranty. If you’re truly looking for the best smartphone deals, then you really need to hunt around for a refurbished model. You’ll get good savings on an essentially new phone.

2. Your Incentive Contract is Costing You Too Much

An incentive contract is when you sign up for service with a mobile operator and get a new phone in the process, usually for free, though occasionally for a small, one-time payment. Many people get a phone this way, and there are advantages. You don’t have to pay full price for your phone up front. And if you don’t have any cash, you can still get a new phone. But that incentive contract is going to end up costing you more than if you simply bought the phone yourself. The math behind this one is easy. Take the monthly price of the incentive contract and subtract the monthly price of a calling plan contract with the same monthly limits with the same operator. Now multiply the number that you get by the number of months in the contract in question. Your result is the total amount that you’re going to pay for the phone over the course of the contract. Compare that cost to the actual cost of the phone with a normal retailer, and you’ll see that you’re paying more. You’re buying a phone on an instalment plan, and like with most instalment plans you end up paying more for the convenience of not paying all at once. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t sign an incentive contract. But you should do the math first and see exactly how much more you’re going to end up paying.

3. Cash Rebates are Nearly Always Rip Offs

There are two kinds of cash rebate deals when you’re buying a new mobile. Rebates offered by mobile operators and phone manufacturers are usually smaller amounts and are perfectly reputable, you just have to remember to claim them. However, the vast majority of cash rebate deals come through third party web sites, and these aren’t a good idea at all. The rebate is usually on a phone with a contract attached to it from an operator. The web site gets a commission from the mobile operator for every contract that they sell. But in order to persuade you to buy from them rather than dealing directly with the operator, the site will offer you a cash rebate once you’ve made your purchase. They can afford to do this not only because the rebate is less than the commission they receive, but also because many people don’t claim the rebate, and those that do generally don’t get all the money that’s due to them. The idea is that the site places such strict and confusing conditions on getting your money back, that most people end up getting things wrong and therefore forfeit some or all of their money. The rebate is also rarely paid in a lump sum, and is usually divided up in to payments, so even if you do get all your money back it can take a year or longer to get everything. Cash rebates offered by third party sites are not a good idea; you’re far better off dealing with operators directly.

4. You Don’t Need a Top End Phone

Marketing and advertising makes it pretty easy to believe that we all need a top end phone, a Samsung Galaxy S4, an iPhone 5. But the truth is that the average user just doesn’t. These phones have plenty of features and high prices, but those features are generally not going to be used by a normal consumer, meaning that you’re wasting your money. A fast processor is a good thing, but after a certain speed the speed difference just becomes unnoticeable unless you’re running intensive programmes like photo editing software. 64 GB of memory is more than double what most of us will ever fill up on our phones. The simple truth of the matter is that you do not need the high end specs on high end phones, and you’re paying for a coolness factor rather than for something that you really need. So what do you need? A perfectly decent, mid-range phone will have a four and a half inch screen, a 1 GHz processor, 16 GB of memory, around 1 GB of RAM and an 8 MP camera. That’s what you need to do the job. If you’re getting specs higher than that, then you’re probably just wasting your money because you’re not going to use all that extra power. A phone is a big enough investment already, without having to pay for things that you’re not even going to use.