Wireless. It’s a word that evokes a sense of freedom and infinite possibilities. A word that conveys an unplugged, free flowing attitude without constraints or pre-conceived notions.
Wireless. An unrestrained mobile information superhighway that ebbs and flows without pause.
It’s a term imbued with the frenzied spirit of youth, of creative restlessness, of mobile interaction and connection. And it is all happening now at Austin’s South by South West (SXSW) Interactive conference – where traditional technology and fast-moving social networks collide to create a new generation of wireless revolutionaries.
We at RCR will take you behind the scenes of the wireless revolution, providing news and analysis from an interactive and edgy perspective. A unique insight into a world of mobile trends and attitudes hammered out by grassroots entrepreneurs. By generation X and Y themselves. Live, loud and proud.
We call it RCR Unplugged, and believe us when we say it will rock your world.
As well as providing you with news from the show floor and direct from the bloggers lounge, RCR Unplugged will also be bringing you the scoop from a plethora of keynotes and panels over the next four days.
Just a handful of the sessions which have thus far peaked our interest and whetted our appetite:
WAP: Do It or Skip It? – As the penetration and use of mobile browsers builds, web site owners are faced with a new dilemma of what content to optimize and what platform to optimize for. This presentation will discuss current realities and emerging trends to help attendees sort through the options for their own sites.
Moleskin to Mobile: Consume or Create! – Mobile devices are the frontier consumption vs. creation for over 2.5 billion people in the world. Do we, the people, use our mobile devices to consume other’s creations or do we create with our mobiles? As designers, developers, and creators, will we let the manufacturers & operators define the mobile space or will we?
Mobile 2.0: The Next Frontier – The growing horsepower of next generation mobile devices and the increasing speed of mobile networks allow us to do away with technologies such as WAP. Mobile devices can now easily view websites, as well as create and playback media as if on a desktop or laptop. Does this mean web applications don’t need special considerations? When you have an always-on connected device that is aware of it location and most and always with its user, a whole new paradigm of connected, social, and location based experiences emerge. With Rich mobile Internet Applications on the horizon, what are the possibilities and the potential considerations when designing and developing next generation mobile applications?
The Future of the Music Industry is Mobile – The music industry is undergoing a drastic transformation, with CD sales plunging and consumers seeking ease and accessibility when it comes to their tunes. Mobile is the future of the industry. This panel would discuss and illustrate how mobile is the next phase of the sales and marketing of music.
Mobile 2.0: Delivering Branded Video Content Consumers Thirst For – The third screen is perhaps the most personal, private and dangerous ground for marketers to tread upon. In this treacherous space, consumers will either hate your messages or thirst for more. Learn how to deliver rich media that provides value to most important mobile markets.
Mobile Makes Meaningful: Going Beyond Social Networking Dotcoms – User-centered mobile technology and web services integration give a second-stage boost to where social networking AND mobile marketing is headed. See what is and could be happening when voice, data, web, and personal connections break out of their traditional silos. Includes commentary on Android, iPhone, and other smartphone/social productivity platforms.
Designing Rural Infrastructure: A Euphemism for Money Laundering – Traditional design methods of building out rural infrastructure often become multi-year projects that are breeding grounds for corruption and inefficiency while destroying indigenous cultures and natural environments. Utilizing mobile devices and intelligent design to implement a decentralized approach to building out basic infrastructure needs provide rural areas access to critical necessities.
Developing Cross-Platform Mobile Applications – This is all about practical mobile Web application development. Want to know how to create cross-platform mobile Web applications for many devices, including the iPhone and Windows Mobile? Want to know what current initiatives and technologies make mobile Web application development easier and more powerful? This panel is for you.
Building Device-Aware Mobile Content – Sure the iPhone is cool. So are the dozens of other SmartPhones out there. And what about those millions upon millions of other phones that people have? If you want your mobile site to work with those, what do you do without having to construct a different site for each phone?
Mobile Internet’s Future – Super Phone or Sub Computer? – By 2010 there will be 400 million Internet-enabled mobile devices in consumers’ hands – more than notebooks and desktops combined. These devices will open the door to a robust internet, social networking, media player and web applications on one highly-integrated device. But what form factor and applications will become the norm? This panel will take a forward-looking view of what features and practices will be preferred by the consumer and the design challenges to deliver them to the marketplace.
Building a Bridge with Barcodes – The QR Code Invasion – QR Codes have made a tremendous impact on mobile internet around the world but have yet to break-out in North America. In Japan, users are utilizing 2D barcodes to place hyperlinks throughout the physical world on everything from bookmarks to tombstones. Join Evan Jones, innovator of QR code technology, as he discusses the potential waiting to be unlocked behind this powerful technology
Smartphones: Evolving From Early Adopter to Early Majority – As consumers become more educated on the infinite number of things they can do with their smartphones, there is myriad opportunities for mobile industry players. This panel will discuss the evolution of the smartphone from purely an enterprise device to a mainstream device and assess the opportunities for all players.
Battle Royale: The Mobile Ad Network Cage Match – Senior Execs from the top mobile ad networks defend their most heinous mistakes of the previous year. There will be a social media campaign to drive content and submissions. Judged by Anil Dash and Merlin Mann and Ted Rheingold.
The Mobile Web for Good: Hype or Reality? – 80% of the world will access the web first through a mobile — what does that mean for social good? Panelists will include app developers of mobile web solutions for health, environment, economic empowerment, and social justice. Do they make a difference? Explore cases and key issues in a fast-paced and interactive session.
Emerging Trends of Mobile Technology – iPhone 2.0, Android, Flash Lite 3.0, Streaming Video, Electronic Wallets, … Mobile technology is growing rapidly and becoming an intrinsic part of consumer mentality. Hear the experts discuss the role of mobile in today’s lifestyle, discuss emerging technology, and predict national and international trends.
Mobile Ubiquitous Banking and the Future of Money – Nearly half the world’s population now has a mobile device and more than a thousand cell phones are being activated every minute. The ubiquity of mobile devices will make new services available to billions of people worldwide who have not had access to traditional banks or credit cards. In developing countries such as Kenya – where nearly 8
0% of the population is excluded from the formal financial sector – text messaging is be
ing used to transfer money to friends and family living in other countries. Moreover, new forms of currency are being created – trading cell phone minutes for goods and services, for example. This panel will explore the challenges and opportunities as banks go mobile, and how the revolution in mobile financial services will change the way we think about money.
Mobile Marketing — Will They Really Click On That? – Is it smart to base your business model an unproven mobile ad strategy? This panel will discuss the reality of mobile advertising including targeting and clickthrough stats from the companies that are doing it right. These experts will provide advice on how to use mobile advertising to reach a larger audience.
The Influence of Social Media on Mobile Marketing – Mobile social networking/UGC revenues are projected to reach $11.2B in 2013 and publishers are clamoring to monetize their mobile content and better leverage social media. This session brings together leaders in mobile advertising and social media, explaining how mobile can take both marketing and consumer connection to the next level.
To see what other wireless and mobile sessions will be on offer, check out the official panel picker.
