Here at Tego Interactive we are pleased to be taking a more active roll in hosting Carnival of the Mobilists (COM) in 2012. If you haven’t already read through the posts highlighted in our February outing, please check out COM #262.

But enough of the old – on to the new! We are honored to host COM, the weekly roundup of the Web’s best blogging on the technology and business of mobile and wireless. The COM is great collective of mobile thinkers and innovators and we would once again like to thank all Mobilists for their contributions to this COM installment.

Check out this week’s line-up of fine posts below. You will no doubt find something interesting and engaging. Also be sure to follow the COM on Twitter (@TheMobilists) to find out what’s happening within the COMmunity.

Carnival Contributors

• Steve Litchfield recommends this article from Ewan Spence who outlines why Microsoft’s Windows Phone has staying power and how short-term setbacks should not be an indicator of Microsoft’s long-term goals. In other words, don’t be so quick to judge Windows Phone.
• James Coops at MobyAffiliates shares stats for OMGPOP’s game, Draw Something. Included are Draw Something usage and download statistics, revenues and financials. Simply amazing!
• Mark Bridge at The Fonecast sifts through all the click-earning headlines and gives the facts on RIM’s direction and focus.
• In partnership with untether.tv, Peggy Anne Salz from MobileGroove tells us how Bango inserted itself at the center of the burgeoning App Economy and allows app developers to better understand their customers.
• Lynette Anthony-Hundermark confesses she “…absolutely LOVES mobile” and it’s with that passion that she writes about the growing importance of user experience (UX) on mobile. Developers, take note! Mobile is the future, as Lynette says, and this summary of her talk at UX Masterclass Conference on March 30, 2012 really should be titled “Mobile UX For Dummies”.
• In an in-depth look into the sudden comprehensive collapse of OEM handset makers, Tomi Ahonen introduces The Cliff Theory and discusses why this happens in mobile at rates never seen in any other industry.
• A great app is a good start, but developers determined to build a serious business also need a solid monetization strategy. Over at MobileGroove, Hillel Fuld shares three tips aimed at generating more clicks and — ultimately— more revenues.

Pick of the Week

• Antoine RJ Wright introduces his idea for a contextual UI, or smart interface on mobile devices. In this scenario, the device would adjusts itself based on what its learned or what you’ve programmed. A great idea based on great insight.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading. COM is taking a break next week due to the Easter holiday but keep an eye on the host schedule for an update on coming Carnivals.

The COM is an open community of mobile enthusiasts and everyone is welcome to participate. If you would like to contribute to the next Carnival of the Mobilsits, submit your best blogging via email to Mobilists (at) gmail (dot) com. Be sure to include a link to your post.

Tego Interactive is attending the Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona, 27 February – 1 March. Organized by GSM Association (GSMA), Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012 is themed “Redefining Mobile.” MWC is the global epicenter of this redefinition as participants enable, lead and accelerate it.

Year over year, the GSMA Mobile World Congress attracts the largest number and highest-quality attendees of any event in the mobile industry.

Contact us if you will attend and would like to make a meeting appointment.

Readers, we encourage you to check out this week’s line-up of posts as a lead in to the gathering at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona 27 February – 3 March, 2012. Also be sure to follow the COM on Twitter (@TheMobilists) to find out what’s happening within the COMmunity.

The List

• John Stevens from 2ergo explains how mobile has become an important part of the shopping experience and provides tips for creating and executing a successful mobile strategy.
• MobileGroove’s Peggy Anne Salz in collaboration with UNTETHER.tv looks at the rise of mobile voice and popularity of Apple’s Siri. You can also check out an interview with Bill Meisel, President of TMA Associates, to hear his thoughts on mobile voice.
• WIP interviews Peter Lindgren, CEO of VISIARC, about the creation of Duudle, a multiplayer app, developed at Nokia World’s Hackathon. Peter also gives insight on their hackathon strategy. Take note, Duudle won first prize…hack on!
• This week Sticky Smartphone brings us a plain language explanation of what “fair” means in the Google/Motorola Mobilty patent claims against Apple. Is 2.25% excessive? Read the article to see what that seemingly reasonable number truly represents.
• Oren Levine over at Mobile in DC says he has discovered that he is a “digital omnivore”. In other words, he increasingly seeks out and uses online services that are available on – and work seemlessly across – multiple platforms. Oren points out the challenges this imposes on developers and discusses his own work on an analysis tool he hopes will make it easier to develop these multi-platform mobile solutions.
• Writing for Mobile Ministry Magazine (MMM), Antoine RJ Wright leads us through a self discovery of how he uses mobile Apps for Bible Study. It’s an interesting study and Antoine prods readers to explore ways to “go mobile” with their Bible studies beyond just lookups, collections, and reading plans.

A good part of Tego Interactive business is consulting on mobile strategy and development of mobile Applications. It is with this bias that we present our picks of the month. Yes, two this month:

• MobyAffiliates outlines the ins-and-outs for advertising in Android apps and how to best use a mix of ad networks for maximum return. Bottom line, there is money to be made.
• It’s no secret you need to approach mobile Apps as a business unto themselves. The marketing of apps is arguably more important than the App itself and in-app advertising is an important channel to find that elusive and important beast called the “loyal user”. mobiThinking provides us with some interesting data on the growing importance and cost of acquiring loyal users and questions whether Apple may have missed the boat early on by pricing itself out of the already well served in-app advertising market.

The COM is an open community of mobile enthusiasts and everyone is welcome to participate. If you would like to contribute to the next Carnival of the Mobilsits, submit your best blogging via email to Mobilists (at) gmail (dot) com. Be sure to include a link to your post.

Next month’s COM will be hosted by James Coops at MobyAffiliates on February 27th. Keep an eye out.