Insight 32: Chat, Golf, 6220 and Download!

[slitchfield]

In AAS podcast 84, a.k.a. Insight 32, Rafe, Ewan, Steve and Stefan talk about the new GPS-enabled Nokia Chat, the Nokia 6220 Plastic err.... Classic [just kidding, Nokia, we say lots of nice things about it really], Pro Series Golf and Nokia Download! Held together by wit, chewing gum and a piece of sticky tape, it's compered this week by Ewan, so you probably know what to expect(!)

Read on in the full article.

[davidmaxwaterma]

I wondered what you guys thought of the trial of the ad-funded Download! client in the UK.

This was of interest to me because I used to work on an application that only charged for content (the app was like a player and was freeware), and the content was cheap (<US1). This presented a problem because the only hassle-free way to charge for content was to have the charge go on the user's phone bill, which means us coming to some agreement with the bazilion different SPs for all the different countries. Some 3rd party companies already have those agreements, but they all seem to charge fixed amounts per month which is too risky for us - we could only consider royalty based agreements.

Other methods (Handango/etc) require the user to have and/or use a credit card, which is a pain (unless the user already has an account) and unrealistic. Handango seemed to have some agreements with SPs too, but it all seemed quite opaque and never came to anything in our situation.

An advertising funded Download! client seemed to be perfect for cheap 'stuff' like our content. It doesn't cost the user anything, is easy to download (if done well), and there's a single point of contact (Nokia) to deal with the payment.

What did you guys think of that, seeing that you're (almost) all in the UK?

Max.

[stuclark]

love Rafe's final comment

[Rafe]

I'm not sure advertising support Download works myself. Better to out the advertising in the app itself. Ads in Download just made things even more confusing. Of course your comment does illsutrate the need to have flexible payment mechanisms.

[Tzer2]

As Rafe says, sponsored software would probably work better than adverts in the purchase interface. Banners are confusing on a phone screen, and ever-fewer people click on them anyway.

There might be some interesting partners: an airline could sponsor Travelmate, businesses might pay to display special offers in Nokia Maps etc.

I thinking of getting a 6220. I wonder will apps and games work on this fp2 phone? I'm asking because when looking at your software shop I don't see any support for this or other fp2 phones.

[Tzer2]

Jonek, they should do as the app compatibility is based on being 3rd Edition rather than any particular feature pack.

FP2 phones are very new, they may not have been added to the compatibility lists yet, but AFAIK they are compatible.

The easiest way to test this out is to download the free demos, if they work then the full app should work.

[davidmaxwaterma]

Originally Posted by Rafe

I'm not sure advertising support Download works myself. Better to out the advertising in the app itself.

Well, yeah. That's kind of why I was asking. My view is totally from one side, and I never got to see it.

Did you ever see it? I don't recall anything on AAS.

Ads in Download just made things even more confusing. Of course your comment does illsutrate the need to have flexible payment mechanisms.

Indeed.

Max.

[bartmanekul]

Unfortunatly, they are anything but compatible.

Garmin XT doesnt work, Sygic doesnt work (properly), and a few other apps dont work either. Im having a 50% succes rate at the moment.

[davidmaxwaterma]

Originally Posted by stuclark

love Rafe's final comment

Yeah. Me too.

Actually, I'm getting a little sick of the micky taking directed at Rafe. He's one of the main reasons I listen to the podcast. He does say a lot, but every word has value - no waffle at all.

In the words of Father Ted, "Down with that sort of thing".