T360 Leeds leads the way

And we are off… the run up to Telemedia360 on 11 May has begun. We have a lead sponsor – Core Telecom – in place and the conference schedule is shaping up nicely to reflect how the print, broadcast, online, advertising and FMCG sectors are all once again looking at how to use the good old telephone to drive interaction and engagement.

And while much attention has been placed on how to develop apps and in-app interaction with TV brands, and while many FMCGs have chased the allure of social networking, the fact remains that the good old premium rate telephone market still provides a sure-fire way to engage consumers while creating revenues directly.

Don’t get me wrong, the apps stuff and all the social glue is also key and will become ever more prevalent over the next couple of years, but they still have yet to find revenue generating business models that stand the test of time. PRS doesn’t have to worry about that and, judiciously used, can generate all manner of valuable consumer data to boot.

At a time when regulator PPP is poised to publish its next Code of Practice – which will make up one of the key workshops at Telemedia360 on 11 May –featuring a landmark shift in how it apportions blame (sorry, I mean ‘responsibility’) as well as seeking to make it plain that it is in this to make things better, not to screw cash out of PRS companies and aggregators, T360 hits Leeds (Core’s home town) at a time when PRS is likely to see something of a resurgence.

And we hope to be playing an active role in making that resurgence happen. By getting leading media companies, broadcasters, brands, ad agencies, operators and telemedia companies together under one roof for a day and a night of full-on networking, chin-wagging and knowledge transfer, we hope to kick off the renaissance of PRS as an interaction and engagement media.

The event will of course look at how ‘old favourites’ such as chat and dating, psychic and horoscope can work for media and brands through PRS. We will also be looking at how, thanks to the new device landscape we find us in – and a world where comsumers value advocacy, interaction, but are reluctant to pay for anything – we can develop services and business models that have worked so well in PRS to drive revenue and engagement through these new channels and new devices.

We are also looking to run a series of special workshops at the event, drilling down into specific areas. Details to follow in the coming weeks. For now though, keep an eye on www.telemedia360.com for the latest news and developments of this key media interaction event and book your place.

Core Telecom announced as lead sponsor of Telemedia360 in May

Core Telecom has been unveiled as the lead sponsor of Telemedia360 (T360), which is taking place in Leeds on 10 and 11 May 2011.

Core Telecom is an independent network operator, providing a full range of 07, 08 and 09 numbers, coupled with industry-leading call management solutions and ultra-reliable outpayments.

T360 was established in 2009 but this is the first time it has been held in Yorkshire and Leeds-based Core Telecom was instrumental in bringing the conference over the Pennines from its previous incarnations in the North West.

Jarvis Todd, Director of T360 said: “Core Telecom is the ideal partner for T360. Not only are they based in Leeds but are also one of the rising stars in the telemedia industry thanks to their growing reputation for service excellence. We are absolutely delighted to be working with them”.

Mahmood Mazhar, Core Telecom’s Chief Executive added: “It was a natural fit for us to get involved in T360 as it brings together media companies, network operators, service providers, billing experts, trade associations and regulators to discuss, in a dynamic, interactive one-day forum. We know that we offer an unbeatable telecoms proposition for the creative industries and are proud to be associated with many of the resellers and service providers who will be delegates at the show, so this is a fabulous way to promote our services and put Yorkshire on the map at the same time”.

Apple taking a bite too far?

This week, we have mostly been at the FT Digital Media & Broadcasting conference, and have mostly been hearing everyone berating Apple – and now Google too – for “skimming” 30% off the price of everything and, Apple in particular, trying to control everyone and deny users choice.

I have to say as a consumer of digital media, content, music and so on from many years and having done it all almost exclusively through Apple I used to think its was just sour grapes: we didn’t think of it , and they did and its just not fair.

But I am starting to come round to the idea that actually, while iTunes was great at seeding the market and did the necessary in shaking up the moribund mobile content market, it now wields too much power, tries to control too much of what the consumer can do and is, frankly, a bit old hat.

But could it all be set to change? Independent apps store GetJar – the second largest apps store after Apple’s – is seeing some surprising results from letting users buy apps with one click billing and is getting rave reviews from developers about how it is making apps fun again – and not taking such a hefty cut.

Amazon is also planning its own apps store and rumour has it that one of its USPs will be that it won’t be taking as big a slice as Apple and Google.

And then there are the UK’s mobile network operators. I have written already this year (and at the tail end of last) that they are widely tipped to start offering much better revenue shares on mobile billed sales – partly to start making mobile billing seem more attractive to the vast number of retailers who want to see mobile become a payment too, but also to apps and other m-commerce related vendors, who are crying out for a better payment tool that delivers better revenues.

As the video on TelemediaTV suggests, this would give them not just the icing, but would give them the cake.

The idea is that developers could benefit so greatly from, say, a 90:10 split (rather than Apple’s 70:30) that they would do all in their power to plug operator billing as their preferred payment channel. This, in turn, would give operators and massive new revenue stream. Enough to more than make up for the historically high payout rate.

It would also open up operator billing – and related telemedia add ons – to a much wider use in retail and other m-commerce arenas. It would also be a massive boost to stopping MNOs becoming bit pipes. Not that I think there is anything wrong with being the pipe: we all need pipes.

Forget trying to be content providers, the networks can become the billing and payment channel – as well as being the delivery pipe. And the developers, SPs, telemedia companies, media players and brands – as well as the consumer – all win. And Apple looses. Surely that cheers all you Apple haters up?