How does the Improv Session Work?
Based on Mobile Jam Barcelona – they work well! See the photos.

Chairs are placed in six (6) circles around the room, with each topic designated to a circle. Each group has it’s own flip chart for discussion and to mark down comments for later.
Each topic area has 2-3 discussion leaders.
Participants choose which circle to drop in to.
Every 45 minutes the discussion stops, and participants move to another circle.
Discussion leaders start each session by introducing themselves and some brief commentary on the subject based on their expertise, experience, opinions. The participants introduce themselves too! The leaders answer questions and facilitate discussion ensuring everyone gets an opportunity to participate.
Why the Improv Sessions Work?

This is a chance for developers to get up close and personal with industry leaders and experienced developers, something often difficult at big conferences.
It’s driven by developers – what they want to hear, who they want to talk to, what they want to say. It’s no secret that the industry needs the emerging companies to lead with innovation, to leverage resources and to help change the game. With the right beat, let’s get ready to listen!
It’s like a box of chocolate, each session is different based on who joins in, so you never know what’s going to happen!

IMPROV SESSIONS
1:00pm 4:30pm – (45 minutes / session – choose 3 too attend & Final Wrap Up)

1. Mobile OS and Platforms

Discussion Leaders: Mobile Distillery - Vincent Berge

2. Mobile 2.0

Discussion Leaders:

AOL- Jai Jaisimha
CellSpin – Vince Laviano
Rococo – Sean Sullivan
Idean - Santtu Toivonen

3. Testing & Certification

Discussion Leaders:

GetJar – Bill Scott
Accenture – Jeff Wang
Mob4Hire – Paul Poutanen
Device Anywhere – David Marsyla

4. Getting to Market / Channels

Discussion Leaders;

Cellmania- Peter Baldwin
AORTA- Chetan Sharma
Astraware/Handmark – John Philips

5. Development – JSRs, MIDP3 and more

Discussion Leaders:

Aplix – Stanley Kao

6. Open Source in Handsets

Discussion Leaders:

Motorola - Asokan Thiyagarajan (Ashok)
Funambol - Greg Gamp

Should be a good session.

I thought the Mobile Jam was the best event at Barcelona!

I look forward seeing you there!

Google sees surge in Web use on hot mobile phones

I think we are going to see a move to more internet traffic as handsets and infrstructure gets better.

Apple is teaming with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers to launch a $100 Million iFund for iphone and ipod touch applications.

“A revolutionary new platform is a rare and prized opportunity for entrepreneurs, and that’s exactly what Apple has created with iPhone and iPod touch,” said John Doerr, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. “We think several significant new companies will emerge as this new platform evolves, and the iFund will empower them to realize their full potential.”

This is gonna attract some attention! 

http://www.smartbrief.com/news/ctia/industryPR-detail.jsp?id=EE6C0006-50B9-48B7-A912-0BD13817EAC4

http://http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080304.WBcyberia20080304133308/WBStory/WBcyberia/

This is super cool. I might have to get one those 3d printers. 

This was a great event. The mobile developer space is in a bad state.  Chaos in the industry is frustrating the developers. There was about an hour discussion on testing and the difficulties in doing this.

The developers have 4 major problems.

1. getting handsets (costly or difficult to get)
2. having to pay for subscriptions in North America or switching out of sims
3. Having to test in other countries to confirm the application will work (travel costs)
4. Tester Bias ( even an in company tester has bias and may not do as good a job testing)

I met a lot of great people at this event. Thanks to Rudy and Caroline for putting on such a great event. The event was at the Mystrands building. Betavine was a major sponsor as was Forum Nokia and Flickr

I will be attending the March 31 MobileJam at CTIA in Las Vegas. I would suggest if you are a developer you go as well.

“Betavine is an open community & resource website, created and managed by Vodafone Group R&D, whose mission is to support the wider development community in stimulating ideas, developing, testing and launching great new applications for mobile and Internet communications.”

Betavine is a social mobile developer website allowing developer to talk and discuss various things about the mobile space.

The mobile developer needs to be able to communicate with other developers. I like it.

 Check out Stephen King’s blog on techvibes.

As well check out the list of Alberta startups on techvibes as well.

I pleased to announce that Mob4hire is on that list.

How will Roger’s price the data package is the interesting part of this story.

This didn’t happen…. Expect late spring for a new announcement from Rogers.

Other players include Verizon, AT&T and Vodafone.  

Interesting times…..

Here I am on the right presenting (the real check to NEWT) to Eric Larson, Marketing director.

The next contest will be DOUBLED! Yes that is right. Sign up before March 31, 2008 as a tester at Mob4hire and you may win $1000. All testers previously entered win also be eligible.