OpenGardens is all about creating and marketing innovative mobile data applications. Specifically, it is about how innovative companies can create and deploy new services through the Mobile operators. It covers strategy, technology, partnership models and marketing strategies for new services launched in partnership with the Operators.
OpenGardens is a book for the innovator - i.e. the person with an idea who wants to create a commercially successful service within the mobile data industry.
While the mobile data industry holds considerable promise in future, the existing ecosystem is challenging for the 'grassroots entrepreneur'.
This book acts as a guide by offering a two stage roadmap. Firstly - how to work within the existing ecosystem and then how to prepare for a more complex ecosystem of the future.
We believe that without an 'innovative component', new services will not succeed in this industry (especially when they are not backed by strong brands, extensive funding etc). Thus, innovation is necessary - both for the new entrant but also for the industry as a whole to thrive.
Further, we believe that opportunities exist 'on the fringe' by combining one or more elements to create a new service. Hence, the book takes a holistic view and acts as a catalyst and mentor to innovators. It prepares them to exploit opportunities in an industry estimated to earn a trillion dollars ($1000 billion) in revenues worldwide by 2010
What can you learn from OpenGardens?
OpenGardens assumes no knowledge of mobile services and takes a practical approach.
We cover:
- Insights based on actual feedback from mobile operators
- How to ‘sell’ / position your service to the Operator
- Pitfalls in creation of new services and how they can be overcome
- Strategies for ensuring that your service reaches the largest customer base
- Strategies on how to engage with the mobile operator for the best results
- Partnering strategies
- Insights on choosing the optimal distribution channel based on market segmentation
- A holistic view covering both development issues and the operator's mindset
- An independent view of the industry based on personal experience
- An understanding of how web services will impact Mobile data applications development
- A focus on basic principles of Location, Messaging,m-commerce etc
- A methodology for analysing devices in the marketplace
- A comparative outline of Operator developer programs
Why us?
What makes us qualified to write this book?
We bring a dual perspective to the Mobile Data industry – seeing applications both from a developer and from an operator perspective.
We have worked with wireless developer companies and with developers. Unlike the software development industry, operators and manufactures are still grappling with issues of speaking to and engaging with software developers.
Meanwhile, developers are frustrated by the lack of a response from operators.
We hope to help in closing this gap which we believe will lead to more innovation, better services, happier customers and more money.
We believe passionately in the vision based on personal experience. Today, there are a critical mass of devices and innovative applications are possible. With the collapse of the dot-com boom, genuine old-fashioned innovation is one of the few avenues for companies and individuals to differentiate themselves.
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Open Gardens
The innovator's guide to the Mobile data industry.
by Ajit Jaokar and Tony Fish |
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About the authors
Ajit Jaokar
With a unique perspective spanning multiple aspects of Mobile Applications, Ajit is an innovator and a pioneer in the Mobile Data industry.
Ajit has been involved in developing and deploying mobile applications within communities since its early days. He was first exposed to SMS (text messaging) applications through a UK based company, which deployed SMS based alerts to customers in major UK shopping malls. Ajit was involved in understanding the community, the requirements of the retailers and the customers in formulating a strategy to introduce new services within the community (payments, multimedia, location etc.).
Ajit has published a number of reports on topics such as MMS (Multimedia Messaging), DRM (Digital Rights Management) and worked with leading edge clients in Europe.
His current area of focus includes Mobile gaming, Multiplayer mobile gaming and Bluetooth communities. His reports have been used by companies such as Nokia, '3' etc.
Ajit speaks at Mobile related conferences - both on strategy and technology. Currently, Ajit plays an advisory role to a number of mobile start-ups in the UK and runs mobile communities within the UK especially the Mobile Applications club.
Ajit empathises with developers and OpenGardens is a personal mission for him.
Tony Fish
Tony has been involved for 20 years in the mobile, wireless, telecom and satellite industries.
Tony is known for his innovative approach, strategic and economic insight, analysing, matching and executing merger and acquisition activities within blue chip corporations as well as entrepreneurship and shrewd business decisions with regard to early stage businesses and their growth.
Tony has been associated with high tech investing since his first IPO in 1994.
Tony currently chairs the world’s largest user wireless group www.wireless.ecademy.com
This group has over 3,500 members and is sponsored by Intel, BT, Motorola, Swisscom, T-Mobile, The Cloud, Fujitsu Siemens, NetGear, Palm and Sun.
Tony has a B-Eng in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from the University of Reading, and an MBA from Bradford School of Management.
Tony divides his time between his non-exec roles at 2Ergo (an AIM listed mobile application company), Chronos Technology Ltd. (supplier of Sync solutions to operators), Abrocour (a leading supplier of Smart Home technology), Subzone (the first mobile DIVA – Direct and Interactive Value Acquirer.) and his role as founder and CEO of AMF Ventures, a leading strategic advisory and investment company, exclusively focused on the wireless industry with its headquarters in London.
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