4 Billion Phone Users : 1.6 Billion Bank Accounts

Nokia has noticed that there are 4 billion global cell phone users, but only 1.6 billion bank accounts. They're about to launch Nokia Money, a new way to send and receive payments using your cell phone number. This move could make Nokia a leading global ATM really fast, especially in third-world countries where it's more common to own a phone than a checking account.

If Nokia gets its way, the next time you're splitting the bill, buying groceries or that Diet Coke at a vending machine, you might be paying with your phone.

Security is obviously the big concern here which is why I think it's just a matter of time before biometrics are integrated into mobile devices.

How Americans Spend The Day

Here's an insightful survey infographic from the NY Times on how Americans spend their days. I've created a composite (static) image here, and you can see the interactive graph here that lets you drill down to different demographic segments.

Computer use is suspiciously low, though survey respondents may have lumped it into leisure or work time. My big takeaway? Higher education = longer lunch break.

"Authenticity" - It's a Buzzword but it's True

You can't speak with a marketing consultant today for more than 3 minutes without hearing the word "authenticity". Your products need to project authenticity. Your marketing needs to be honest and authentic.

Of course, it's a buzzword because your marketing and products should have always been authentic - what's the alternative? But now even the biggest brands are trying to fake authenticity by "buying" fans. Michael Jackson is a brand, and according to Tech Crunch his team purchased 25,000 Twitter followers from the sketchy service uSocial.

First of all, even before he died I doubt MJ had to buy fans or followers. Second, they had to know that something like this would eventually get out and dent up the brand by making MJ look desperate and unpopular.

And all those celebs who have hired Twitter Ghost Writers, your brand dress-down is coming too once your fans find out.

Authenticity - sure it's today's marketing buzzword but it's something you earn, not something you buy.

Do Something Different Through Imitation?

Absolut Vodka just released a web ad hyping the virtues of being different. Their ad features artists bending nature to the audio backdrop of an emotive New Order remake - a solid effort at a viral advertising coup, right? But bloggers and message boards aren't raving about the originality of the ad - they're saying the ad rips off Stegan Sagmeister, an influential graphic designer.

So here's the rub for Absolut. They want creative people to spread the ad it to a wider circle, but when those creatives smell a fake they won't play ball. Absolut should "think responsibly" in the future when it rips others off to inspire originality.

Real or Subtle Viral Marketing?

Disney may have a hand in this fantastic marriage proposal on Main Street USA. Note the professional production, the multiple camera set-ups at high angles, the mikes, the sound system and the Disney-esque couple. How could this guy pull this off so flawlessly without some help from Disney. Even the song lyrics were right in line with Disney's brand messages. And was the girlfriend in on it?

Whether it was authentic or planned, it's a pleasure to watch - and it's generating lots of buzz on web video sites and blogs. Nice job, Disney.

Mobile Apps - Now With Tracking Metrics!

Mobile devices are acting less like phones and more like media. Now there are companies that embed into your mobile device app to track usage, just like an Omniture or AC Nielson tracks usage. Here are a few takeaways from one of these companies, Pinch Media...

1. Only 20% of app users come back to use it the second day
2. Paid apps retain users longer than free apps
3. Free apps supported by ads are likely to collect an average $8.75 CPM
4. Certain apps that cater to niches can command better ad rates than average

Pinch's overall conclusion is that unless your app scream's "free", sell it.

Free Isn't Working

August 9, 1995 was an infamous day in the history of business. That was the day that Netscape’s IPO set lips a flutter all over the business world about this new, ingenious strategy: Give your product away for free. Now we have free browsers. free online content, free memberships, free PCs, free web TV, free internet access, free software and free music.

The idea was that if you offered your product for free, soon you would have a massive volume of "customers" and you could sell them peripheral services. But for most companies free has been a bad deal.

Newspapers conditioned readers to free web content and then realized they couldn't make enough with online advertising. MySpace just laid off 30% of its workforce because of cash flow problems. Facebook is on the rocks. Up-sell conversion rates for free software are mostly miserable. Hulu is re-thinking their free programming strategy. Free browsers are subsidized by other products the company sells.

It's time for the age of free to end. Customers have enjoyed the free ride, but most companies are realizing they just can’t survive as chumps. Newspapers need to charge subscriptions or micro-payments for their most valuable content. Facebook needs to charge a yearly subscription. Services like Hulu need to charge for their programming. Browsers and other web software need to charge for all but the most basic functionality.

It's time for media, web and software companies to realize that it's ok to charge customers for the value they get. Free isn't a strategy, it's a dead end.