Mobile World Congress 2011 Agenda -The Definitive Event Planner

BARCELONA- Due to popular demand, I am sharing an excellent summary of the main Mobile World Congress 2011 events happening within and without the Fira grounds during the four days of 'mobile madness' from 14-17th of February in Barcelona. I normally aim to keep my blog posts nice and short to help reading them, but today is an exception...

Special thanks to MobileMonday for compiling the list (Photo Credit: LeCool Magazine).

Sunday, February 13th

EVENT: Showstoppers Invite Only
TIME: 17:00 to 20:00
LOCATION: Husa Rey Juan Carlos, Avinguda Diagonal, 661, Barcelona

EVENT: SonyEricsson Press Conference: Xperia Family Invite Only
TIME: 18:00 to
LOCATION: Opium Mar, Paseo Marítimo 34, Barcelona

Mobile Sunday Barcelona 2011-01-15
WHEN: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 7 PM
WHERE: VINTAGE, Carrer de la Fusina, 7, 08003 Barcelona
WEBSITE: http://www.m-trends.org/2011/01/mobile-sunday-barcelona-2011.html

The sixth annual Mobile Monday Sunday – an unofficial, informal and generally cool and funky gathering of mobile bloggers and their chums is hosted by Rudy de Waele (m-trends.org), meets at one of the coolest bars in Barcelona, the VINTAGE, that has a spacious, jazzy, loungy atmosphere with various rooms and salons. On offerfor 500 guests is drinks and nibbles, a heated terrace, sofas, private salons, four screens and a dancefloor. Attended by start-ups to VCs, operators to handset manufacturers, making an influential crowd. This is also a unique chance for you to meet the most influent bloggers writing about mobile and to meet the MobileMonday global chapter founders all in one spot.

Monday, February 14th

Mobile World Congress Brokerage 2011
WHEN: Monday-Wednesday, February 14-16, 2011
WHERE: Fira de Barcelona
WEBSITE: http://mobile.b2bmatchmaking.com/p_index.php

This forum will bring together suppliers and users of mobile technology and know-how from all over Europe (and other countries such as Canada, Israel, United States and more) to discuss solutions and new opportunities for the future. The Mobile Brokerage Event 2011 is the ideal environment for: small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering and those looking for new technologies; scientists and research institutes offering innovative RTD results; start-up companies and entrepreneurs; operators willing to meet innovators and added-value service providers.

Special Mobile Monday

• About: “A special event « Mobile Monday » will be organized on the Demo Area of the French Pavilion“
• Time: 14 February, 2011:3:00-3:50pm
• Location: French Pavilion, “Demo space” on 2E47, Fira Barcelona
• RSVP: None required. More information here.
• Cost: Free

Teleca Destination Innovation: Daily Cocktail Hour

• About: “We’ll be serving drinks and snacks every day during the show between 5 and 6. Visit us at Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona, Spain between February 14-17 and see how our solutions give you an edge in the mobile world. We offer device manufacturers, consumer electronics and automotive companies ways to greater profit and shorter development times in Mobile Linux smartphones and tablets, In-Vehicle Infotainment and end-to-end applications. It’s your destination for real innovation.”
• Time: 14 February, 2011: 5-6pm
• Location: 8B79 in Hall 8
• RSVP: Not required
• Cost: Free

EVENT: Block Party! No RSVP required
Sponsored by RIM, NTT Solmare and Velti
TIME: 17:00 to 19:00
LOCATION: Hall 7, Stand 7B42, 7C44, and 7C58, Fira de Barcelona

EVENT: European Leaders – Hot Topics at MWC 2011 More Info — RSVP here
Sponsored by SVB, Hotwire, LD&A & Whitebull
TIME: 18:00 to 21:00
LOCATION: Hotel Omm, c/Rosselo 265, Barcelona

Mobile Premier Awards
WHEN: Monday, February 14, 2011, 3 PM
WHERE: Telefonica R&D Catalunya Headquaters
WEBSITE: http://www.mobilepremierawards.com

The Mobile Premier Awards are among the most influential events in the mobile industry and the point of reference in early-stage innovation during the Mobile World Congress, featuring 20 finalists from the AppCircuses events held during 2010. Participation is free and open to any start-up or developer with a mobile app! Registration will start 2:30 PM, drinks will be offered after the event in the same location until ca. 8 PM.The nominated apps for the Mobile Premier Awards 2011 edition include the AppCircus winners of the 2010 series of events and a selection of the best apps of the AppCircus Categories. All entries will be judged by an international jury (2011 jury TBC) in the week from January 17-22. The finalists to present at the event will be announced on January 24, 2011

Mobile Valentines Day
WHEN: Monday, February 14, 2011 7-11:30pm
WHERE: Alsur Cafe el Born: Carrer dels Carders 17, Barcelona.
WEBSITE: http://www.amiando.com/em/mvalentine/263571228

*RSVP required, please visit website.

Each year in February we get together to celebrate our true love to mobile devices by taking part in Mobile World Congress, which starts this year on February 14th. To share your passion to mobile we are happy to invite you to Mobile Valentine’s Day party at MWC 2011. Bring your good mood, networking skills and friends with you.

This event is sponsored by Mobile Europe Magazine, SPB Software and Camerjam, who make sure there will be enough food and drinks for all.

Tuesday, February 15th

BlackBerry Developer Day at Mobile World Congress
When: Tue, February 15, 1pm – 2pm
Where: Mobile World Congress – App Planet in Hall 7
Description: http://uk.blackberry.com/campaign/appplanet/

MWC 2011: Celebrate with Redknee!

• About: “Redknee would like you to join us for drinks to toast to a successful Mobile World Congress 2011 and year ahead.  Come and join Redknee executives, our global operator customers, media and analysts for an informal meet and greet.“
• Time: 15 February, 2011: 3:30pm
• Location: Redknee Stand in Hall 1, Stand 1E37
• RSVP: For more information and to RSVP please contact Amy Wong at amy.wong@redknee.com.
• Cost: Free

The Global Mobile Awards Ceremony
WHEN: Tuesday, 15 February 2011, 3:45 – 5:15
WHERE: Conference center, Hall 5, Auditorium 1
WEBSITE: http://www.mobileworldcongress.com/awards/global_mobile_awards.htm

The Awards presentation will take place in a special ceremony during Mobile World Congress, followed by the official Congress Party & Awards Celebration event. The afternoon Global Mobile Awards Ceremony is included in Gold and Platinum Passes. The evening Congress Party & Awards Celebration is included in the Platinum Pass only, but may be added on to Gold, Silver and Exhibition Visitor Passes for an additional fee.

Cocktail Reception – Swedish Trade Council Pavilion

• About: “Since 2002, the Swedish Trade Council has managed the Pavilion at Mobile World Congress. In addition to the featured companies, the Pavilion will host a cocktail reception on Tuesday, February 15 at 4 p.m. The featured guest will be Dr. Marianne Treschow, the former Director General and member of the Board of the Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) and current Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) Associate for Scandinavia. There will also be opportunities to talk with some of Sweden’s leading mobile and telecommunications leaders regarding their plans for Mobile 3.0.“
• Time: 15 February, 2011: 4:00 pm
• Location: Swedish Trade Council Pavilion, Hall 2 F1, Fira
• RSVP: RSVP to mwc@swedishtrade.se
• Cost: Free

Enterprise Ireland

• About: “You are invited to attend the Mobile World Congress “Get Connected Reception” hosted by the Ireland Pavilion.“
• Time: 15 February, 2011: 4:30-6pm
• Location: Hall 1, Stand no. 1F17, FIRA Barcelona Spain
• RSVP: Not required.
• Cost: Free

EVENT: Sybase 365 Cocktail Reception RSVP Required
TIME: 17:00 to 19:00
LOCATION: Sybase booth, Hall 2, Stand 2A15, Fira de Barcelona

Women in Mobile Data: Cava and Canapes

• About: “Women in Mobile Data are excited to announce that Amdocs are kindly sponsoring their MWC2011 ‘Cava and Canapes’ networking event.“
• Time: 15 February, 2011: 5-7pm
• Location: Amdocs stand: B101 in Hall 8
• RSVP: Not required.
• Cost: Free, sponsored by Amdocs

EVENT: Ericsson Social Event Open to All
TIME: 18:30 to 20:30
LOCATION: Ericsson booth, Hall 6, Fira de Barcelona

GoMo News Blender
WHEN: Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 6:30-11:00pm
WHERE: Incognito BAR, Calle Fusina 6, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
WEBSITE: http://plancast.com/p/39xy

The GoMo News Blender now in its fourth year has become a symbolic, yet legitimate path of the institution that is the Mobile World Congress. Last year at the Blender, they drank the bar dry; twice! In 2010, readership on GoMo more than doubled and are hitting over 300K page views a month. Sponsors this year, for the second year running are Smaato and Diffusion PR who have doubled the investment, so there will be more food and drink for all.

Congress Party & Global Mobile Awards Celebration
WHEN: Tuesday, 15 February 2011, 7:45 – Midnight
WHERE: National Palace in Montjuïc
WEBSITE: http://www.mobileworldcongress.com/awards/awards_celebration.htm

This evening event provides attendees with fantastic high-level networking opportunities – while enjoying world-class entertainment. This year we’re pleased to feature Grammy and Brit award-winning singer/songwriter Duffy. Welsh singer-songwriter Duffy won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album for Rockferry in 2009, and she was nominated for two other Grammy awards. The evening Congress Party & Awards Celebration is included in the Platinum Pass only, but may be added on to Gold, Silver and Exhibition Visitor Passes for an additional fee. See the website.

Silverstreet & Tranglo GSMA MWC 2011 Party
WHEN: Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 9 PM
WHERE: Hyde Club, Pasaje Domingo 3, 08008 Barcelona
WEBSITE: http://www.tranglo.com/events/tranglo-networking-party-gsma-mwc-201…

*RSVP by February 9, 2011 to: Barcelona@silverstreet.com/ barcelona@tranglo.com

Wednesday, February 16th

WIP Jam Party @ MWC “Carnival of Nations Party”
WHEN: Thursday, 16 February, 2011, 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
WHERE: Marmalade, Riera Alta 4-6, 08001, Barcelona
WEBSITE: http://www.wipconnector.com/wipjam/mwc2011party

This is “THE” Developer Party at MWC so make sure you come and connect with all the members of the mobile ecosystem. This won’t be just any boring old party. By popular demand, we are bringing back “Jameoke” for the third time – bigger and better than ever! Best practice up for the fun!

EVENT: Intel AppUp Application Lab: MeeGo Series RSVP here
TIME: 09:00 to 12:30
LOCATION: Barcelona Activa, Llacuna, 162 – 164, Barcelona

EVENT: Intel AppUp Application Lab: MeeGo Series RSVP here
TIME: 13:00 to 16:30
LOCATION: Barcelona Activa, Llacuna, 162 – 164, Barcelona

EVENT: Teleca AB Cocktails and Snacks No RSVP required
TIME: 17:00 to 18:00
LOCATION: Teleca AB booth in Hall 8, Stand 8B79, Fira de Barcelona

EVENT: openET Alliance Launch Party RSVP here
TIME: 17:00 to 19:00
LOCATION: Hall 1, Stand 1E56, Fira de Barcelona

MobileMonday Networking Cocktail with Marseille-Provence
Robert Maury, CEO of Provence Promotion and Jari Tammisto, CEO of MobileMonday are happy to invite you to the Mobile Monday networking cocktail event by Marseille-Provence on Wednesday 16th February 2011 at 17.00 at Mobile World Congress, Hall 2, French Pavilion at Aisle 2F49.  RSVP Here.

Swedish Beers
WHEN: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, TIME TBC
WHERE: TBD
WEBSITE: Check Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2456995682

Swedish Beers is an ad hoc (roughly quarterly) networking event for folks with an interest in mobile technology, mobile marketing and mobile media. You don’t have to be a geek to attend, and they actively encourage people to join us from all industries – media, creative, marketing, mobile, telecoms etc.

MWC Beach Lounge with UK technology journalists and PRs

• About: “To end Mobile World Congress 2011 in style, UKTJPR (UK Tech Journalists & PRs) is having its biggest event to date. Thanks to Qualcomm and Huawei, we are hosting an Ibiza style party at the trendy Bestial Beach Lounge restaurant.  The party will kick off at 20:00 – beer, wine and buffet food being served between 20:30 to 22:30. At 22:30 the fully free open bar starts, and the party gets into full swing. We have a DJ to provide the tunes, a large outdoor heated and covered terrace and relaxing indoor chill-out areas.  Qualcomm will be providing shuttle buses to bring people to and from the venue. Numbers are limited so if you are able to attend, send us your hotel details and we will arrange for the buses to pick up from convenient locations.  There will be a special Huawei-sponsored giveaways at the party with details to be revealed soon… The doors will close at 02:00, but for those still standing the venue is next to club Opium with easy access to taxis.“
• Time: 16 February, 2011: 8pm-1:30am
• Location: Bestial Beach Lounge Villa Olympica C/ Ramon Trias Fargas
• RSVP: Required. More information here.
• Cost: Free sponsored by Qualcomm and Huawei

Thursday, February 17th

Barcelona MLOVE Party

• About: “In celebration of MWC, you are invited to take part in our first Barcelona MLOVE Party on the 17th of February – the final after work party!  To dance and talk the night away, please check-in to reserve your space in the prestigious and secret party location.

With a focus on small format conferences, local meet-ups and “camps” – MLOVE brings together mobile passionistas in an atmosphere of inspiration, communication, learning and understanding. MLOVE participants debate about the future of mobile and how little things can make the world a better place. The second MLOVE ConFestival 2011, www.mlove.com will take place June 29th to July 1st in an ancient castle in Europe.”

• Time: 17 February, 2011: 7-10pm
• Location: During MWC, the location details will be announced
• RSVP: On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130601037001088#!/event.php?eid=177300312303628
• Cost: First drinks free. “Many thanks to friendticker and MxO for sponsoring the MLOVE party.”

WipJam @MWC App Planet: See my earlier blog post on this here

I need YOUR HELP !

Oh, hi there! How's it going?

You probably heard about my Motorola Defy 7 theme...well you have too, otherwise you wouldn't be here ;)

so...that was a great thing, but what's upcoming?

-> That's the big Question, and I need You to answer it!

write me a mail (mignogna.adrian@gmail.com), and type in what you want in my next theme, how it should look like, etc...


greets

Adrian Mignogna

Android 3.0 Platform Preview and Updated SDK Tools

Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) is a new version of the Android platform that is designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. It introduces a new “holographic” UI theme and an interaction model that builds on the things people love about Android — multitasking, notifications, widgets, and others — and adds many new features as well.

Besides the user-facing features it offers, Android 3.0 is also specifically designed to give developers the tools and capabilities they need to create great applications for tablets and similar devices, together with the flexibility to adapt existing apps to the new UI while maintaining compatibility with earlier platform versions and other form-factors.

Today, we are releasing a preview of the Android 3.0 SDK, with non-final APIs and system image, to allow developers to start testing their existing applications on the tablet form-factor and begin getting familiar with the new UI patterns, APIs, and capabilties that will be available in Android 3.0.

Here are some of the highlights:

UI framework for creating great apps for larger screen devices: Developers can use a new UI components, new themes, richer widgets and notifications, drag and drop, and other new features to create rich and engaging apps for users on larger screen devices.

High-performance 2D and 3D graphics: A new property-based animation framework lets developers add great visual effects to their apps. A built-in GL renderer lets developers request hardware-acceleration of common 2D rendering operations in their apps, across the entire app or only in specific activities or views. For adding rich 3D scenes, developers take advantage of a new 3D graphics engine called Renderscript.

Support for multicore processor architectures: Android 3.0 is optimized to run on either single- or dual-core processors, so that applications run with the best possible performance.

Rich multimedia: New multimedia features such as HTTP Live streaming support, a pluggable DRM framework, and easy media file transfer through MTP/PTP, give developers new ways to bring rich content to users.

New types of connectivity: New APIs for Bluetooth A2DP and HSP let applications offer audio streaming and headset control. Support for Bluetooth insecure socket connection lets applications connect to simple devices that may not have a user interface.

Enhancements for enterprise: New administrative policies, such as for encrypted storage and password expiration, help enterprise administrators manage devices more effectively.

For an complete overview of the new user and developer features, see the Android 3.0 Platform Highlights.

Additionally, we are releasing updates to our SDK Tools (r9), NDK (r5b), and ADT Plugin for Eclipse (9.0.0). Key features include:

• UI Builder improvements in the ADT Plugin:
  • Improved drag-and-drop in the editor, with better support for included layouts.
  • In-editor preview of objects animated with the new animation framework.
  • Visualization of UI based on any version of the platform. independent of project target. Improved rendering, with better support for custom views.

To find out how to get started developing or testing applications using the Android 3.0 Preview SDK, see the Preview SDK Introduction. Details about the changes in the latest versions of the tools are available on the SDK Tools, the ADT Plugin, and NDK pages on the site.

Note that applications developed with the Android 3.0 Platform Preview cannot be published on Android Market. We’ll be releasing a final SDK in the weeks ahead that you can use to build and publish applications for Android 3.0.

Motorola Defy 7 - Lockscreen

How to get my Lockscreen:

1. Download LockbotPro

2. Make a new Lockscreen (htc hero style) in Lockbot

3. Put the slider on top of the screen.

4. Make it transparent

5. Set a Wallpaper

6. Set a clock

7. Save changes and set it as Lockscreen

Now you should have a Lockscreen like I.

Motorola Defy 7 - WindowsPhone 7 UI for Android

                       

What you need for this:

- Launcher (ADWLauncherEX, Launcher Pro, etc.)

-MultiPicture Live Wallpaper (klick)

-DesktopVisualizer (klick)

-Windows Phone 7 UI (klick)

-and of course, an Android phone...

Step 1: Launcher settings

Go to your Launcher settings and change the Icons per sites option (Columns 6, Rows 10).

After that, you have to hide your Notification-bar!

Important: Make sure, your transition effect is "slide" (or something similar)!

Now you can make your dock. I've got a transparent dock with 5 Icons (I only have 2 icons, the other's I've made transparent).

Congratulations! You have completed step 1!

Step 2: MultiPicture Live Wallpaper

Set MultiPicture as your Live Wallpaper, then configure it:

Set the Wallpapers from the downloaded Windows Phone 7 UI pack.

And the most important in this step: Change transition to "slide"

Congratulations! You have completed step 2!

Step 3: Desktop Visualizer

In this step you have to change your icons on the homescreen with Desktop Visualizer.

On your Homescreen you have to add a widget. There you should see the Desktop Visualizer widgets. Select the one that's 2x2.

Important: All your Icons have to be 2x2!

Make this step with every icon you want on your Homescreen.

Congratulations! You have completed step 3!

Step 4: Widgets...

Now you can add widgets like a clock, weather or other stuff.

Congratulations! You have completed all steps!

Enjoy your Windows Phone 7 UI!

Processing Ordered Broadcasts

[This post is by Bruno Albuquerque, an engineer who works in Google’s office in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. —Tim Bray]

One of the things that I find most interesting and powerful about Android is the concept of broadcasts and their use through the BroadcastReceiver class (from now on, we will call implementations of this class “receivers”). As this document is about a very specific usage scenario for broadcasts, I will not go into detail about how they work in general, so I recommend reading the documentation about them in the Android developer site. For the purpose of this document, it is enough to know that broadcasts are generated whenever something interesting happens in the system (connectivity changes, for example) and you can register to be notified whenever one (or more) of those broadcasts are generated.

While developing Right Number, I noticed that some developers who create receivers for ordered broadcasts do not seem to be fully aware of what is the correct way to do it. This suggests that the documentation could be improved; in any case, things often still work(although it is mostly by chance than anything else).

Non-ordered vs. Ordered Broadcasts

In non-ordered mode, broadcasts are sent to all interested receivers “at the same time”. This basically means that one receiver can not interfere in any way with what other receivers will do neither can it prevent other receivers from being executed. One example of such broadcast is the ACTION_BATTERY_LOW one.

In ordered mode, broadcasts are sent to each receiver in order (controlled by the android:priority attribute for the intent-filter element in the manifest file that is related to your receiver) and one receiver is able to abort the broadcast so that receivers with a lower priority would not receive it (thus never execute). An example of this type of broadcast (and one that will be discussing in this document) is the ACTION_NEW_OUTGOING_CALL one.

Ordered Broadcast Usage

As mentioned earlier in this document, the ACTION_NEW_OUTGOING_CALL broadcast is an ordered one. This broadcast is sent whenever the user tries to initiate a phone call. There are several reasons that one would want to be notified about this, but we will focus on only 2:

• To be able to reject an outgoing call;

• To be able to rewrite the number before it is dialed.

In the first case, an app may want to control what numbers can be dialed or what time of the day numbers can be dialed. Right Number does what is described in the second case so it can be sure that a number is always dialed correctly no matter where in the world you are.

A naive BroadcastReceiver implementation would be something like this (note that you should associate this receiver with the ACTION_NEW_OUTGOING_CALL broadcast in the manifest file for your application):

public class CallReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
  @Override
  public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
    // Original phone number is in the EXTRA_PHONE_NUMBER Intent extra.
    String phoneNumber = intent.getStringExtra(Intent.EXTRA_PHONE_NUMBER);

    if (shouldCancel(phoneNumber)) {
      // Cancel our call.
      setResultData(null);
    } else {
      // Use rewritten number as the result data.
      setResultData(reformatNumber(phoneNumber));
  }
}

The receiver either cancels the broadcast (and the call) or reformats the number to be dialed. If this is the only receiver that is active for the ACTION_NEW_OUTGOING_CALL broadcast, this will work exactly as expected. The problem arrises when you have, for example, a receiver that runs before the one above (has a higher priority) and that also changes the number as instead of looking at previous results of other receivers, we are just using the original (unmodified) number!

Doing It Right

With the above in mind, here is how the code should have been written in the first place:

public class CallReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
  @Override
  public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
    // Try to read the phone number from previous receivers.
    String phoneNumber = getResultData();

    if (phoneNumber == null) {
      // We could not find any previous data. Use the original phone number in this case.
      phoneNumber = intent.getStringExtra(Intent.EXTRA_PHONE_NUMBER);
    }

    if (shouldCancel(phoneNumber)) {
      // Cancel our call.
      setResultData(null);
    } else {
      // Use rewritten number as the result data.
      setResultData(reformatNumber(phoneNumber));
  }
}

We first check if we have any previous result data (which would be generated by a receiver with a higher priority) and only if we can not find it we use the phone number in the EXTRA_PHONE_NUMBER intent extra.

How Big Is The Problem?

We have actually observed phones with a priority 0 receiver for the NEW_OUTGOING_CALL intent installed out of the box (this will be the last one that is called after all others) that completely ignores previous result data which means that, in effect, they disable any useful processing of ACTION_NEW_OUTGOING_CALL (other than canceling the call, which would still work). The only workaround for this is to also run your receiver at priority 0, which works due to particularities of running 2 receivers at the same priority but, by doing that, you break one of the few explicit rules for processing outgoing calls:

“For consistency, any receiver whose purpose is to prohibit phone calls should have a priority of 0, to ensure it will see the final phone number to be dialed. Any receiver whose purpose is to rewrite phone numbers to be called should have a positive priority. Negative priorities are reserved for the system for this broadcast; using them may cause problems.”

Conclusion

There are programs out there that do not play well with others. Urge any developers of such programs to read this post and fix their code. This will make Android better for both developers and users.

Notes About Priorities

• For the NEW_OUTGOING_CALL intent, priority 0 should only be used by receivers that want to reject calls. This is so it can see changes from other receivers before deciding to reject the call or not.

• Receivers that have the same priority will also be executed in order, but the order in this case is undefined.

• Use non-negative priorities only. Negative ones are valid but will result in weird behavior most of the time.

Goodbye LBS, Hello Location-Awareness: The Groupon Example

I have been having several conversations, interviews and online debates around LBS, the opportunities for LBS services and the degree of hype of LBS (for example, compared to Augmented Reality).


This has made me come to two conclusions:
1. There is confusion over the difference between LBS and Location-Awareness
2. There is a lack of awareness (excuse the pun) that LBS no longer exists


I have to thank Tomi Ahonen for helping me crystallize my thoughts on the subject.

There is still a great deal of misunderstanding in the use of the term 'location based services'. This term is now outdated-services that simply provide location and nothing else are a thing of the the last decade.

We now should refer to these as 'Location-Aware applications' or location-aware services..Why? Because location is a feature not a service in its own right. As such, location is being embedded everywhere, because it is phenomenally useful on mobile devices. 

Take Groupon, for example. Billed the fastest growing company in the US in 2010, with over $500m in revenues for that year, Groupon has built a global success story based on offering localized offers and discounts via e-coupons. Last but not least, it became profitable after six months.

Given that Groupon is a location-based service with a full suite of location-aware applications, we could argue that it is a LBS (and a very successful one at that). But location is not the service it offers, it is merely a feature of its service (location awareness allows nearby offers to be delivered more easily).

This is not simply a question of semantics. The point is that location has allowed Groupon to unlock a great deal of value for its service by being embedded within it. In a similiar fashion, location awareness is allowing and will allow a great deal of businesses to create value within their mobile service.

Are location-aware services over-hyped today? I don't think so. On the contrary, I think most companies are only just beginning to realize the huge potential of embedding location (and accurate location, at that) within their mobile offer or service. 

We can safely close the door on the world of LBS (it was a hell of a ride) and say hello to the world of 'location-everywhere' with location-awareness increasingly embedded as a feature on the majority of newly launched mobile services.