To kick it off, visitors were shown the Antenna Song, which was posted on YouTube the day before.

Immediately following the video, Steve Jobs took the stage. A large part of his spiel was basically just going over some impressive numbers:

• 3,000,000 sales in three weeks
• 0.55% of iPhone 4 users have called about antenna or reception
• Return rate on iPhone 4 is 1.7%, compared to 6.0% for the iPhone 3GS
• iPhone 4 drops less than 1 additional call per 100 when compared to the 3GS

Steve’s “pet theory” as to why the iPhone 4 has a slightly higher drop rate goes like this…

“When the 3GS came out, we didn’t change the design from the 3G. So there were already lots of cases out there for the phone. And more than 80% of new buyers left the store with a case. Now the new phone doesn’t fit those cases, and we can’t make these bumpers fast enough, so only 20% leave the store with a case… but we’re going to figure it out.”

To divert some negative attention, the bar dropping issue was demonstrated on other smartphones as well:

• Blackberry Bold 9700
• HTC Droid Eris
• Samsung Omnia II

All of these phones showed that if you held it a certain way, then the bars would drop. However, during the Q&A, Ryan of Engadget asked, “You showed people almost covering the entire phone in their hand, but on the iPhone 4 it can happen with just a touch. Can you explain that difference?”

Bob Mansfield replied, “When you touch the phone, you put yourself between the signal and your phone, so when you touch that spot you can attenuate the signal, and if you grip it with your whole hand, you can attenuate it even more. We don’t build phones with an antenna on top…” Ryan wasn’t too satisfied with the response.

So what’s the solution to the antenna problem? You guessed it…get a bumper! Fortunately, Steve announced that every iPhone 4 purchased before September 30th will receive a free bumper or case.

That actually sounds like a pretty good sales move. They’re basically saying that the iPhone is flawed, but you’ll get a free band-aid if you buy one now.

Steve then followed up with this…

“And if you’re not happy, you can bring the phone back. We’ll give you a full refund within 30 days. No restocking fee. We want to make everyone happy, and if we can’t make you happy we’ll give you a full refund.”

As for the problems with the proximity sensor…they’re working on it.

To many, smart phones have been considered a luxury item or status symbol. Why would sales of these hot little gadgets be going through the roof during a time when so many are concerned about the economy?

The landscape around mobile devices is changing dramatically. This is one of the things I love about the computer industry. While technology is getting better, faster and just generally more feature-rich, prices are going down. I was recently able to pick up an iPhone 3G for $50 with a 2 year plan from AT&T. Sure ,a 3G is two versions back, but the phone works great. It’s one of the most useful electronic devices that I have ever owned.

I use it a great deal to help me find stores, call businesses and pay bills while I’m away from my desk at home. It has changed the way I conduct business. And with all of the cool utilities, host of games, videos, movies, music and books that I can enjoy on it, it is THE frugal person’s entertainment center—a steal at $50.

As a business owner, you’re looking to engage customers and be relevant at a time when consumers have more choices than ever. Well, the rules of engagement are changing. In a few years most people will have a powerful computer in their pocket that knows everything they like and how to help them get it.

This is already happening.  When I have a car problem, what tow truck company do I call? In about twelve taps, I am calling the closest one. My phone knows where I am, where all of the tow truck companies are, what their phone numbers are, and is more than happy to dial the number for me. Afterward, I can put that company in my address book with one tap.

How do I know that I’m getting the best deal on a new pair of shoes I’m about to buy? Well, I use my phone to scan the bar code on the box, of course. My phone uses an app to get competitive quotes. In fact, if it finds a deal that’s good enough, I can simply tap a button, buy the shoes from my phone, and leave the store empty handed. The shoes will show up in a few days on my doorstep and I can be happy in the knowledge that I just saved money.

A few experiences like this and it’s pretty easy to understand why what was once considered a luxury item is becoming an essential tool.

Technology now allows you to stay in touch with your customers better than ever before . It helps you to know them better, serve them better and keep them more engaged. It can even let you reach into a competitor’s store before a sale and bring that customer back into your fold.

Of course, that’s if you make the choice to use mobile technology. One thing is certain—in the last year, 48.7 percent more of your customers have.

Are you able to provide your customers with mobile technology? Need help? We offer the following mobile marketing services:

• Mobile website development
• Custom iPhone application development
• Custom solutions

Be sure to contact us today if you’d like to include mobile technology in your marketing mix!

The PR machine deep inside Apple’s Cupertino, California, headquarters was quick to deny the existence of any problems with the antenna, but the flood of reports of shoddy reception were too much to ignore. Steve Jobs eventually responded directly to a customer’s emailed complaint and suggested a possible fix: “Just avoid holding it in that way.”

Someone has even put together a photo gallery of images taken from Apple’s own marketing materials showing numerous examples of the phone being “held wrong”.

Rival smartphone manufacturer, HTC, has decided to take advantage of the flood of search traffic related to iPhone 4G problems by placing PPC ads in Google. Below are a few examples of search queries that were seen triggering HTC ads:

• iphone dropped calls

• iphone problems

• iphone reception

• iphone antenna

And now, take a look at the ads that resulted from these search terms:

These ads are a great example of how paid advertising can be used to take advantage of current events or hot topics that may be experiencing a flood of traffic. Apple’s problems may become HTC’s windfall if customers continue to be sick of problems with their new 4G phones. Unhappy iPhone 4G users will begin to look for alternative phones and they will find these well targeted ads by HTC. After seeing the following ad, it appears that HTC isn’t the only company looking to profit from Apple’s misfortune:

I’m not really an impulse buyer—I usually go above and beyond researching products and options before I make a purchase.  Having my smartphone always with me has made the detailed process of product research to purchasing speed up.  I think that many new mobile consumers may also be experiencing this trend. I also believe many businesses are benefiting from their new on-the-go customer bases.

Consumers are ever evolving with their buying habits as they embrace new technologies, like smartphones. How have things changed? We can now scan bar codes and search for competitive prices for the same or similar products.  We can read reviews about businesses and their products and services. We can also post our own thoughts and share our experiences by writing reviews or publishing on blogs. And don’t forget our likes and dislikes are displayed throughout social networks.  For many businesses today, it is now their customer bases that drive sales or prevent them.  Ultimately consumers are now the sales people for companies.

How can businesses make mobile customers happy to ensure they communicate about products and services positively? A business needs to make sure their website is developed for a mobile screen, so that it is readable. The path to the conversion or sale also needs to look  good on a smaller screen. My HTC EVO does have a large mobile screen, so most sites read perfectly fine for me.

Here’s the latest example of how I (a consumer) have voiced my feelings about a product via a smartphone:

With the Amazon store app right on my home screen, I am now downloading songs left and right.  Disappointed with all of the negative reviews of Eminem’s new album, Recovery, I downloaded it so that I could form my own opinion… and so that I could have some slammin trax that I could listen to as I mowed the lawn.  I give Eminem a big thumbs up on this effort and I had to place an order for the double vinyl album.

Hey Eminem, next time you’re “up north” stop by and check out our studio here at Oneupweb in Traverse City.  I think you’d be a perfect candidate for our “Be Relentless” Podcast series. And, I’d love to hear what you have to say to your fans in the digital world.

I’m feeling like a brand new me as a mobile consumer, doing my research and making informed purchases.  Chances are that if I had a positive experience with purchasing on your website and noticed other great things you have for sale, I’ll be back.  I might not make the purchase the first time through, but if you have what I need, can get me the facts, have competitive prices and look legit…let’s do business!

If your business needs a hand with jumping into the mobile technologies, contact Oneupweb!

Oneupweb’s Mobile Marketing Services Include:

• Mobile website development
• Custom iPhone application development
• Custom solutions

I’ve had the phone for a couple of  weeks and I must say, it stinks. I didn’t really think that I would use the phone for accessing the web besides e-mail, and I was right. I only use it for viewing my e-mail, although I’ve tried to utilize it more by accessing news sites. That brings me to the reason I never wanted a smartphone. It’s the simple fact that the screens are just too small to read a web page. Yes, I can zoom in, but then I spend more time moving the screen around to try to read something.

Maybe it’s my phone, or maybe it’s the web pages I’m visiting, but I just don’t have the patience to deal with it. Unless I have to perform an emergency lobotomy, I probably will only get about $1.50 worth of services a month from this phone. I’m still looking for a good news site that I can easily read on the tiny little screen made for Smurfs. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.

I can remember when my parents had our first phone installed in our house. It was a black rotary dial that hung on the wall. The line was shared with over 5 families who lived several miles from us. After all, it was called a party line.

Today, 1 in 4 homes have cell phones and no landline according to CBS News. That includes me. I pitched my landline carrier over 6 years ago. They charge you for the most ridiculous things, like $1.99 more a month if you have a touchtone phone. Come on, really? It doesn’t sound like much, but it sure adds up over the years that you’ve paid for it! The carriers are making a ton of money as they nickel and dime for just about everything! I am so glad I dropped them.

I am sure, as time goes on, it will be the norm for people to not have landlines. Really, what’s the point in having one? You virtually have everything on your cell phone—apps galore, internet and the convenience of having it with you wherever you roam. And you know what you’re paying for.

A month or so ago, I stepped out of my comfort zone with my basic Razor phone and bought a Droid. I have to say this phone has taken me to a new level. I never thought I’d be one to be so connected to my phone, but it’s with me all the time. Having my e-mail available whenever I want is pretty crazy. I’m still learning the different things it can do, and there’s much more on it than I really need. But that’s what technology is all about—pushing your comfort zone to learn new gadgets and features.

I can’t even imagine how much technology will change in the years ahead. My two-year-old grandson will someday think that my Droid is about as outdated as my parents’ old rotary dial and party line.

So, Google Tags give you the opportunity to make your site stand out from your competitors. They also allow you to promote a marketing message that could help increase your click-through rate. This all gives you the opportunity to give customers a value add that could result in more business being generated through the online channel.

On the surface, Google Tags sound like a pretty great opportunity for a business to increase its online presence. And for any business that is currently running online campaigns, it also sounds pretty expensive.

However, the cost for this enhanced listing is only $25 a month. No CPC or CPM, just a flat rate of $25. Now, that probably peaked your interest. For only $25 you can differentiate your site from your competitors. That sounds great. Unfortunately, your competitors are thinking the exact same thing. So, when Google rolls out Tags to your area, don’t expect to be the only business that takes advantage of this opportunity.

What do you think of Google Tags? Are you currently using this feature? Are you planning on using it when it becomes available in your area?

What you may not know about me is that I am also an avid soccer fan. Growing up in a vibrant soccer community, I started playing when I was 4 years old and fell in love with the game. And my immediate love for the sport continues to grow to this day.

So naturally, my attention is currently directed towards the greatest sporting event on the globe—The 2010 FIFA World Cup. As part of my preparation for the celebration of this beautiful game, I went looking for World Cup iPhone apps to enhance my World Cup experience. Below are a handful of the premium World Cup apps and brief overviews of their main features.

Fox Soccer Channel’s Ticket to South Africa
Features breaking news, team tracking, video and a game-by-game text scroll (featuring scores, rosters and goal details among other things).

iSouth Africa 2010
Features game information, schedules, detailed venue information, team/player information and the ability to track your team’s progress through group play.

ESPN FIFA World Cup
A very similar offering, ESPN’s app provides access to tournament news and history, play-by-play, live audio, live commentary and in-game video highlights.

FIFA News
This one’s pretty straight forward as well, offering all of the FIFA news that you’re looking for, straight from the source.

Virtual Vuvuzela
This app allows you to replicate the infectious crowd noise of the vuvuzela horn right from your iPhone, complete with team specific designs. This one’s sure to make you the hit of your World Cup gathering!

Beyond simply allowing soccer fans like me to consume live updates, highlights, expert insights and more…each of these apps also represents something larger. These apps show that companies are recognizing the needs of their audiences by creating mobile apps to meet them.

So forget about soccer for a moment (as if that’s even going to be possible for the next month), and think about your company’s audience. Have you created a mobile app that helps you meet their needs? Well, if you haven’t, then who has? Don’t let your competitor score (I’m talking customers, not goals) over you!

Get on top of the fast paced world of mobile marketing, contact Oneupweb today! We would be more than happy to develop the mobile app that will ensure that your brand stays relevant in this ever-changing space.

Worried about what’s really natural, organic and safe? The information is out there and the research is easy to access! The USDA is a good place to start if you’re going to take on a more natural lifestyle. And if you’re tech-savvy, GoodGuide has an iPhone app to make the process less painful. Really, it just takes some research and common sense to find which products are truthfully labeled.

I buy my groceries at a local market and rarely do my purchases include organic products. I’m still unable to justify the cost compared to the benefits that organic offers. I don’t, however, fill my cart with Twinkies and Mountain Dew. For the most part I actually skip the center aisles of the store—my main objective is to purchase fresh whenever possible. I enjoy eating healthy (yet edible) foods, while still maintaining my weekly food budget.

I also do my best to be green to and from the store. For instance, if I remember to bring reusable bags, I’ll bag my groceries without wasting plastic or paper ones from the store. And now that the weather is nice, I might even bike and leave my old-gas-guzzling-rust-bucket at home.

I’m not at the point where I will pay more for a product just because of its environmentally friendly status. Although, with the right marketing and spin, I may find myself more attracted to the organic idea. I can’t help, but enjoy great advertisement…after all, I do work at Oneupweb!

Beginning today, June 7, and for the next five days, developers will gather in San Francisco to learn more about Mac and iPhone development. They will also be given the opportunity to meet and network face-to-face with Apple’s own developers. And who else would you expect to be the keynote speaker at the conference? You guessed it,  Steve Jobs will be announcing some big news—let’s hope he doesn’t disappoint us.

The iPhone, now three years old, has higher expectations and its competition has become fierce. Google’s Android is a major competitor that has raised the brows and attention of Apple. Despite the fact that the Android has gained popularity and offers features that the iPhone does not, Mr. Jobs isn’t the least bit worried that it will surpass the iPhone.

For me, although I’m not a developer and have no plans to attend this conference, I’ve been anticipating this day. Perhaps I’ve been preoccupied with thoughts of the name Apple has attached to their new upgraded phone. If I could throw my hat in the ring, my submission would be… iLift. Why? An eyelift is a cosmetic procedure which gives one a more appealing, younger look and feel. Isn’t that exactly what’s happening to the iPhone? Prior to surgery and over the past year, the iPhone had been feeling sluggish, dull and the pressure to accessorize. The iPhone just knew it was time to add some “blitz” and “bling” to its appearance. With an improved display, metallic buttons and a camera flash, the new iPhone will be stunning! The reinvented iPhone will be introduced today with enhancements that are predicted to blow our socks off (or rather our sandals…seeing how it’s summer).

Even Mascone West, the building where the conference is being held, has prepared for the big event with a facelift of their own! The WWDC Conference is only one way that Apple will introduce their new iPhone model; one could say it’s their “coming out” party. Now that the event is open to the public, does anyone want to attend with me? For a mere $1,599 you can be front and center and…be the first one in your neighborhood to own the iLift.

Geez, I hope Steve sees this post and decides to change the name!

P.S. Steve, if you are reading…remember, great minds think alike!