22 November 2012

Global Consumer Survey 2012 - Register now for the Webinar


Date: Wednesday 28th November
Time: 11AM GMT / 12PM CET / 1PM South Africa / 2PM Qatar / 4.30PM India / 7PM Singapore


Register now

As part of the 2012 Global Consumer Survey release MEF is hosting a one-hour webinar to present the key findings from this year’s 10-country study and to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by the survey.

Moderated by report author Tim Green of Mobile Money Revolution, MEF’s research partner On Device Research will present the findings of the 2012 behavioural and usage mobile content and commerce survey, offering a deep-dive into the data for all participants.

A lively debate from an international expert panel will follow, to discuss what the insights mean for different markets and verticals.

Panellists include:

Diane Alphonse, Head of Marketing, Communication & PR, Barwa Bank
Rob Malcolm,
Messaging General Manager, mBlox
Rohit Bhayana, Head of Global Business Operations, Comviva
William Yell, Executive Head Digital Design, Vodacom
Rimma Perelmuter, Executive Director, MEF
Speaker Info

Sign up for the webinar now, and remember the survey including the 10 individual country reports is available for all MEF members to download for FREE! Non-members can also purchase the reports on the MEF website.

21 November 2012

MEF Americas 2012: Thanksgiving Discount

 

MEF Americas: Mobile Content & Commerce, the essential two day gathering for thought leaders & deal makers from across North & Latin America’s mobile content and commerce ecosystems, has announced a fantastic Thanksgiving offer.

For one week only, you can save a massive 25% on your entry to the 2-day conference in Miami this December. The MEF Americas 2012 speaker line-up represents all players in the mobile content and commerce value chain, including:
  • Carriers: Riding the New Revenue Wave with Sprint
  • Brands: transition to cross-platform media company Red Bull Media House
  • M-Commerce: revolutionizing customer engagement Crone Consulting
  • Mobile Engagement: pushing the boundaries mBlox, SapientNitro & Urban Airship
  • HTML5: Why the browser is the new Super-App with Mozilla
  • China: business workshop UCWeb hosted by Great Wall Club
  • Big Data: the new mobile economy inMobi and PayOne
  • Consumer Trust: privacy & piracy with Federal Trade Commission, IFPI andTRUSTe
And many more being announced daily..

Don’t miss out on the cross-border mobile event of the year. Head to the MEF Americas website to reserve your place by Wednesday 28th November to receive the Thanksgiving discount.

20 November 2012

Mobile Web in Africa 2012 - MEF Members save 20%

Africa’s premier mobile conference, Mobile Web in Africa, returns to Johannesburg November 27th through 29th. Following three sell-out successes, the 2012 edition once again features a day dedicated exclusively to mobile marketing and represents the industry’s foremost opportunity to share knowledge and do business.

Industry experts from companies including Vodacom, MXit, 2go, M&C Saatchi Mobile, Nedbank, Prezence Digital, biNu, Huawei, and Google will share insights on mCommerce, mobile for social good, the rapidly evolving mobile app ecosystem, the feature phone versus smartphone debate, enterprise mobility and the impact of mobile social media.
 
View the complete speaker faculty here.
 
With contributors from South Africa, the UK, Australia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria and over 200 attendees from across Sub-Saharan Africa this is an event not to be missed.

For more information on Mobile Web in Africa 2012 visit www.mobilewebafrica.com or send an email to info@allamber.co.uk. A limited number of half price tickets are available for start-ups and developers and MEF members are entitled to a 20% discount - contact MEF for your promo code.
 
MEF recently announced the launch of a dedicated African Chapter to support mobile innovation, deliver market analysis and connect African business to the global mobile industry - see the MEF website for the details.

MEF Global Consumer Survey 2012 Infographic

 
 

13 November 2012

MEF launches dedicated African Office in association with Vodacom

 
MEF has today announced the launch of a new dedicated African office in association with Vodacom to help promote African mobile growth and showcase innovation.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, the MEF Africa Office will serve as a hub for the trade association’s growing African membership. A MEF member steering committee from across the African mobile ecosystem has already been constituted to drive the regional agenda.

Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director said: “With such diverse innovation originating in the African continent, it is clear that Africa offers the mobile industry a strategic opportunity to learn and do business. There is already strong MEF membership in the region and as an organisation, MEF brings with it over a decade of heritage as a truly global trade body which has established vibrant local chapters in some of the most diverse and challenging markets in the world.

"By launching MEF Africa, in association with Vodacom, we will provide an essential hub for mobile companies throughout the African mobile ecosystem and beyond. A dedicated Steering Committee will provide a strong platform to drive the regional agenda and ensure that the newest MEF office showcases home grown innovation, undertakes relevant initiatives and connects local businesses to MEF’s global member base.”

Prins Mhlanga, Managing Executive of Vodacom Digital Media, added "MEF has a lot to offer to the telecommunications industry and consumers who stand to benefit from the innovations that will emanate from its initiatives and analytics. Its expertise in commissioning and producing unique reports in the international mobile arena is invaluable and its ability to bring together industry leaders to collectively progress opportunities will benefit the local and African market. We’re pleased to be associated with MEF’s initiative.”

For the full press release with all the details, head over to the MEF website.

07 November 2012

Guest Blog - MEF Privacy Update

In this new regular feature, Simon Bates of MEF will discuss the issue of mobile privacy and the work currently being undertaken by MEF’s Privacy in Mobile Apps initiative, which is working with MEF members to build a robust and trusted mobile ecosystem for consumers and developers alike.

“There's an irresistible market for our data but that doesn't necessarily make us the product – it could make us traders.” David Mitchell
There is a lot of talk right now about privacy. The fall-out from the phone hacking scandals in the UK shone a spotlight on the ways tabloid journalists peer into celebrities’ private lives. But it’s not just celebs – we all have to watch what we put in the rubbish...

The 3rd MEF Middle East Survey

Back in August, MEF began conducting the third survey in its regional benchmarking study in association with KPMG and ArabNet about the mobile and content and commerce market in the Middle East. We invited everyone who does business in the Middle East, no matter where they are headquartered, to share their insights into this key market.

The survey will form part of a unique time series on the Middle East's mobile landscape. As the first mobile focused trade body with a dedicated presence in the region, MEF is committed to supporting growth and innovation in this strategic territory.

The survey closed last month - the results will be released in English and Arabic later this month.

For more information, contact Middle East GM, George Daaboul.

06 November 2012

MEF Global Webinar Series

Webinar

With speakers from the UK VAS Regulator PhonepayPlus, MEF members Silverstreet and KPMG, the recent MEF Asia Webinar sought to explore whether pre-emptive positive action by the industry is the best form of defence against reputational harm, and what form such action might take.
The recording and slide deck is available to download now from the MEF website. 

MEF North Americas also hosted a fascinating webinar exploring the phenomenon of Patent Trolls and Patent issues within the Mobile ecosystem. Moderated by MEF North America Chair Gary Schwartz, the North America webinar was led by guest patent experts from SNR Denton Intellectual Property Partner, Eric Sophir and Kevin Jakel the CEO, of United Patents Inc.

The presentation explored in detail how businesses should respond to threats by patent trolls and examined what considerations should be made when attempting to obtain patent protection for your new ideas, all discussed through the lens of the impact of the “smartphone wars” on the wider mobile ecosystem.
The recording and slide deck is available to download now
 
The next instalments in the MEF Global Webinar series will be announced soon, watch for further updates...
 

04 November 2012

Middle East Steering Committee

MEF Middle East is calling for members for a Steering Committee, with a specific focus on the increasingly problematic issue of piracy within the mobile ecosystem. The Steering Committee will seek to review and clarify rules for the industry while producing a best practice framework that describes how mobile networks can best handle suspected pirated content.

The Steering Committee will be of relevance to MEF members from across the mobile ecosystem including content owners, telecom operators, mobile aggregators, law firms, developers and regulators.

Join the likes of MEF members Qtel Group, Mobily, Du, Qanawat, Perform Group, SnR Denton, Anghami, Livewire and Nazara in being a part of this crucial Steering Committee.

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Middle East GM, George Daaboul.

02 November 2012

Guardian Mobile Business Summit - MEF Members save 20%


The Guardian Mobile Business Summit is the Guardian's platform for leaders in mobile content, commerce and communications.

Join other forward-thinking business leaders, digital marketers, digital publishers, advertising executives and technology suppliers on 19 November, London to debate the challenges and opportunities presented by mobile technologies to the media, technology and wider creative industries.

At this one-day gathering, you will discover intense sharing and networking that will help build a complete understanding as to where to take the next step of your mobile strategy.

Plus MEF members can save 20% on the cost of entry - contact us for your discount code.

Discover the best examples of effective mobile engagement through brands, hear keynote speeches from media and technology heavyweights that will offer deep insight into the macro-level trends that have the power to make your mobile strategy successful in the long-term.

Check out the website for more information

For full speaker details for 2012, continue reading..

01 November 2012

MEF @ Apps World Europe

At Apps World Europe in October MEF hosted two expert briefing sessions.

Guest speakers from SNR Denton LLP and Preiskel & Co LLP hosted a master class on how to navigate the complex legislative EMEA mobile landscape.

Email us to receive a free copy of MEF’s EMEA mCommerce Checklist.

On Day two Alistair Hill, CEO of mobile market research specialists On Device Research, gave a briefing on app development for global markets, previewing exclusive mobile content and commerce insights from the upcoming MEF Global Consumer Survey, covering both mature and growth markets.

Also at the show, MEF Executive Director Rimma Perelmuter chaired a panel on Mobile Entertainment, and why content providers should go mobile, with panellists from Channel 5, EMI Group, Paddy Power, Agant and Pitney Bowes.