Tag: mobile technology

Koozoo taps the crowd for video-based geo-marketing

| December 17, 2012

 

mobile geo-marketingKoozoo developing new service that could revolutionize geo-marketing

Koozoo, a start-up based in San Francisco, California, has received $2.5 million in seed funding that will help it continue developing an ambitious project that could change the face of geo-marketing and online search. Advertisers are becoming increasingly interested in using geographic information to target consumers. This information can go a long way in developing marketing campaigns that have a strong impact on certain demographics. Koozoo may be able to help revolutionize geo-marketing by tapping into consumers to provide their geographic information in the form of videos.

Platform turns smart phones into live streaming devices

Koozoo aims to provide live video information to consumers, which is produced by consumers themselves. In a sense,  the company is working to develop a platform where people can provide geographic information in a very dynamic fashion. This information could be something simple, such as the length of a line at a local restaurant, or more complex, such as whether a particular store is open and what deals they are offering that day.

Video feed could provide information on local stores and other attractions

The Koozoo platform can turn a smart phone into a live video feed, with the approval of their owners, of course. The idea is that consumers can use the platform to provide access to visual information that could influence traffic to physical locations, such as restaurants, stores, and beaches. This information can be freely accessed through a mobile application, which will display a live video feed. Koozoo users can turn off the streaming service whenever they choose. If Koozoo can establish an extensive network, it may be able to provide constant video information to consumers at all times of the day.

Advertisers could benefit from Koozoo

Geo-marketing is not exactly a new concept to the world of advertising. Marketers have long used geographic information to target consumers, but the tools they have access to are beginning to evolve with the advance of technology. Koozoo’s service is not designed solely with marketers in mind, but advertisers could stand to benefit from the platform if it proves popular among consumers and other early adopters.

Mobile games for kids may not be as secure as they should

| December 17, 2012

 

Mobile Games ChildrenFederal Trade Commission targets mobile games designed for children

Privacy in mobile games has become a very problematic issue, according to the Federal Trade Commission, a government agency focused on consumer rights. According to the agency, the developers of mobile games that target children are not doing enough to protect the privacy of these consumers. These mobile applications often collect information from their users, such as name, email address, and even financial information provided by parents. If these applications are compromised by malware, this information could be exploited, with catastrophic consequences.

Mobile games for children are not developed with privacy in mind

Developers of mobile games, especially those targeting children, rarely have privacy as a primary concern. Younger consumers are not necessarily considered to have access to any vital information that would attract the interest of a hacker, but this is not usually the case. The Federal Trade Commission notes that many young consumers make use of their parent’s information, often without the knowledge of their parent. While this practice is typically rare, the growing popularity of mobile devices and their reach to a younger audience is causing this practice to spike.

Developers not supplying enough information

Moreover, the Federal Trade Commission suggests that developers of mobile games have not done enough to provide parents with the information they need to make informed choices regarding the applications that their children use. Mobile games designed for younger consumers are often marketed in a way that would be appealing to children, not adults. The agency notes that only 15% of the mobile games it examined for its investigation provided information letting parents know that there are in-app advertisements, many of which are designed to acquire information from the person following them.

Privacy continues to be a major concern for mobile consumers

Privacy continues to be a hot topic in the mobile space. Companies like Apple have run into legal trouble in the past over their privacy and security methods. Privacy concerns are beginning to affect the mobile applications market, with consumers becoming less willing to purchase or download a particular app unless they can be convinced that their information is protected in some way.