It's been a week since Microsoft went on the attack against Gmail, launching its "Scroogled" campaign portraying Gmail as a privacy monster that reads your emails for ad targeting purposes. How's that been working out? To date, the Microsoft-backed petition against Gmail's practices has gained about over 6,000 signatures -- equal to about 0.002% of Gmail's user base. The Petition To Nowhere At the Scroogled site, Microsoft invites people to sign an online petition. In the week it has been up, it's gathered about 5,600 signatures: That's hardly an overwhelming response, especially consider [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Features & Analysis | Google: Business Issues | Google: Critics | Google: Gmail | Google: Privacy | Legal: Privacy | Microsoft: Business Issues | Microsoft: Outlook | Microsoft: Privacy | Top News

People are starting to shun conventional mobile phones also known as "feature phones." But sales of smartphones continue to grow. According to sales data compiled by Gartner, global mobile handset sales in 2012 hit 1.75 billion units. However that was a nearly 2 percent (1.7 percent) drop from the previous year. According to the firm, "Demand for feature phones remained weak in 2012 and in the fourth quarter." Indeed, feature phone sales were off over 19 percent in Q4. By contrast demand for smartphones continues. As already widely documented Samsung and Apple were the two dominant smartpho [...]

Related Topics: Apple: iOS | Apple: iPhone | Channel: Mobile Marketing | Google: Android | Microsoft: Mobile | Mobile Marketing | Statistics: Mobile Marketing | Statistics: Popularity & Usage | Top News

If at first you don't succeed, get negative once again, seems to be the game plan at Microsoft. Having attacked Google Shopping with a "Scroogled" campaign last November, Microsoft is back again. This time it goes after Gmail as an evil service that invades your email privacy, armed with polling data showing consumer concern -- and perhaps one valid point about an easier opt-out. The Microsoft Survey & Consumer Disapproval Microsoft commissioned a survey of over 1,006 adults in the US from Feb. 1-4, asking about email services that target ads based on the content of your email. You kno [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Features & Analysis | Google: Business Issues | Google: Critics | Google: Gmail | Legal: Privacy | Microsoft: Business Issues | Microsoft: Outlook | Top News

Microsoft Corp announced quarterly revenues this afternoon. Investors received the news with a mixed reaction (the stock is down in after hours trading). The company posted growth in most areas but offered little visibility on the success of Surface or Windows Phones. Microsoft said it made $6.38 billion in net income on revenue of $21.46 billion. Like Apple this week, revenues missed expectations. However earnings per share beat analysts' consensus estimates. As reflected immediately above, the following are the divisional revenue results: Windows Division: $5.88 billion (24 per [...]

Related Topics: Apple | Channel: Mobile Marketing | Microsoft: Business Issues | Microsoft: Windows | Top News

This is the first installment of a regular column following cost-per-click (CPC) trends in search marketing. We will focus primarily on the US market, but we'll also take a regular look at international markets, as well as providing additional insights into segments that appear to be significant short-term trend drivers. Google’s CPC drop has finally bottomed out in January, our analysis finds, supported in part by increasing CPCs and click share on tablet devices.   January 2013 CPC Update, US Search MoM Change YoY Change Google Retail [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Search Marketing | Google: Search | Marketing Metrics | Microsoft: Bing | Search Marketing | Statistics: Online Advertising

Two months after Microsoft introduced the same type privacy policy changes that Google did, and was attacked by the European Union over, the EU is finally getting around to questioning the Microsoft move. Microsoft's change happened on October 19. It was announced with little notice to consumers. Despite allowing for cross-platform sharing in the way privacy changes at Google allowed earlier this year, it attracted virtually no press attention nor that of regulators. In contrast, Google's change drew heavy attention the day it was announced and which continued on. Ten days after the anno [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Features & Analysis | Google: Privacy | Legal: Privacy | Microsoft: Privacy | Top News

A couple of weeks ago Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stood on stage at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium and ticked off the ways that Windows Phone 8 and Surface machines would make Microsoft competitive again against its main rivals Google and Apple. Before that we'd just been given an hour-long feature tour of Windows Phones by Microsoft VP Joe Belfiore: bold design, great camera, personalization, novel apps (e.g., "kids corner," "Data Sense") and so on. And while Windows Phones (8) do have some unique features and the UI is nicely done, none of those individual OS features is likely to lur [...]

Related Topics: Apple: iOS | Channel: Strategy | Features & Analysis | Google: Android | Microsoft: Mobile

Ad network Chitika provided us with some interesting data comparing click through rates (CTRs) and query lengths on the various desktop and mobile browsers based on millions of impressions on its network. It found that Opera (PC) browser users clicked-through more often than other browser users. Opera users are generally regarded as less mainstream and more tech-savvy than other browser users (e.g., Explorer) so it's curious that Opera's CTR would be highest. Next in line after Opera but ahead of all other browsers, PC or mobile, is mobile Safari with a 1.54 percent CTR. Chitika told me [...]

Related Topics: Apple: iPhone | Apple: Safari | Channel: Content Marketing | Google: Android | Google: Mobile | Microsoft: Internet Explorer | Microsoft: Mobile | Statistics: Mobile Marketing | Statistics: Online Behavior | Top News

It's getting very boring to write about the US smartphone market, which is a two horse race. Notwithstanding all the investment, splash and marketing surrounding Windows Phones US consumers aren't buying it/them. And RIM has effectively "gone dark." Metrics firm comScore reported that in September Android grew its dominant market share to 52.5 percent. Powered by the iPhone 5, Apple grew more on a percentage basis (1.9 percent) to achieve a market share of 34.3 percent. The largest handset maker in the US remains Samsung, followed by LG. Apple is a close third with a 17.5 percent sha [...]

Related Topics: Apple: iOS | Apple: iPhone | Channel: Mobile Marketing | Google: Android | Microsoft: Mobile | Microsoft: Windows | Statistics: Market Share | Statistics: Mobile Marketing

Live from San Francisco, it's Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 launch event. Our live blogging will begin when the event starts at 10am, so stay tuned. We'll update as things begin to happen! And we're off. Joe Belfiore, corporate VP is coming to welcome us, asking for Windows Phones to be held up. Saying have been working to improve the phones over time, working with Qualcomm to improve the processor, app store now has 120,000 apps. In fall, 191 countries will have access to the store. State of art of smart phone hasn't evolved much in five years after being "standardized" by the iPhone and [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Features & Analysis | Microsoft: Mobile | Microsoft: Windows | Mobile Marketing

I've spent the weekend playing with a new Windows 8 computer as well as a Microsoft Surface tablet. My first impressions so far? Isn't it a pity that Microsoft ruined Windows with all this touch stuff. I'm going to keep playing with both and trying not to have a knee-jerk reaction. But Microsoft's big picture with Windows seems to be that touch-capable devices are part of our future, so we'd better touchify everything. The problem is, what works on a desktop computer doesn't necessarily work on a tablet -- or on a non-touchscreen computer. With Windows 8, trying to open the import [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Features & Analysis | Microsoft: Windows | Top News

Hold on to your wallets folks, a new crop of mobile devices is imminent. Just in time for the ramp up to holiday shopping, Apple is expected to announce its long-anticipated 7-inch iPad Mini (or whatever it will be called) tomorrow. That event is also rumored to include an interim refresh of the flagship 10-inch iPad in addition to other a couple of other PC-related hardware announcements. Right on the heels of Apple's tablet unveiling Google and Microsoft are holding dueling press events a week from now. Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 event will be held in San Francisco and Google's Android m [...]

Related Topics: Apple: iOS | Channel: Mobile Marketing | Google: Android | Microsoft: Business Issues | Microsoft: Mobile | Microsoft: Surface | Top News

Post PC era indeed. Microsoft announced quarterly results yesterday and, although they were massive, they were flat or down compared with a year ago. Overall Microsoft reported revenue of $16.01 billion. Windows software sales were down 33 percent compared with a year ago. They came in a $3.24 billion vs. $4.87 billion in 2011. Microsoft attributed this in large part to the transition to Windows 8 and delayed enterprise and consumers purchases in anticipation of the launch. Microsoft's other cash cow business, Office, declined a much less severe 2 percent to $5.5 billion (from $5.63 bill [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Search Marketing | Microsoft: Bing | Microsoft: Business Issues | Microsoft: Mobile | Microsoft: Surface

Earlier this year, Google announced a privacy policy change that was widely covered by tech blogs, the mainstream press and which generated much governmental concern. Last month, Microsoft announced the same type of change. That generated little reaction. Either Microsoft's change deserved the same scrutiny from all the same parties that examined Google so closely or Google got unfairly attacked. This is a long article, so let me say from the start that I don't think consumers need to fear either the change Google did or the one that Microsoft will implement later this month. You can jump [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Features & Analysis | Google: Privacy | Microsoft: Privacy | Top News

Today comScore reported August US mobile market share data. Consistent with the pattern of the last several months Samsung continued to lead other hardware makers, although Apple and HTC were the only OEMs to see growth. Among smartphone operating systems, iOS and Android grew while other platforms continued their slide. Android has firmly established itself north of the 50 percent threshold  in the US among smartphone owners. The operating system now stands at 52.6 percent of all US smartphones. However the iPhone's share jumped a meaningful 2.4 points -- prior to the launch of the iP [...]

Related Topics: Apple: iOS | Channel: Strategy | Google: Android | Microsoft: Mobile | Statistics: Mobile Marketing

When the markets open this morning, Google will -- for the first time -- be valued higher than Microsoft. Google's stock closed Monday at $761.78 per share, then dropped 68 cents per share in after-hours trading. That gave Google a market cap of a little more than $249 billion. Microsoft's stock closed Monday at $29.49 per share and then gained a penny per share after hours. Microsoft's market cap currently sits at a little more than $247 billion. As the New York Times reports, Google's Monday surge also put its market cap above Walmart, making Google the third-most valuable compa [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Google: Business Issues | Microsoft: Business Issues

Bing's social sidebar is now showing Klout information, but this is happening for more than the typical partnership deal. Microsoft is now an investor in Klout. From Klout's blog post today: To build towards that future, I am proud to announce that Microsoft has made a strategic investment in Klout and that we have signed a multi-year agreement where Bing will become one of Klout’s most significant partners. No terms beyond that are given. Klout recently underwent a redesign to help reposition it as a type of social resume service. I'd say Klout has been struggling with the perceptio [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Search Marketing | Klout | Microsoft | Microsoft: Bing | Microsoft: Business Issues | Top News

The top retail websites are slower to load than they were last year, and the problem is at its worst on Google's Chrome browser -- the slowest of three browsers measured in Strangeloop Networks' Fall 2012 State of the Union study on page speed and web performance. Strangeloop measured the performance of the top 2,000 retail websites (as ranked by Alexa) during July and August, and found that the median page load was nine percent slower than its last study, which was done in November 2011. That's measuring first-time page views, which slowed from 5.94 seconds last year to 6.5 seconds this ye [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Content Marketing | Firefox | Google: Chrome | Microsoft: Internet Explorer | Statistics: Web Browsers | Top News

In a previous column, we covered the ways in which you can get your native mobile apps discovered using Paid, Earned, and Owned media. But what about your mobile website? If you’ve built a mobile site and put redirects in place, your content will stand a good change of getting found via mobile search traffic — assuming, of course, that your desktop site is search optimized as well. If it is, odds are it will rank highly on mobile devices and your mobile site can simply piggyback on this search equity via the redirect. But you can’t depend on this scenario alone. “If you build, it [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile Marketing | Microsoft: So.cl | Mobile Marketing | Mobile Marketing Column | Retargeting & Remarketing

Yesterday Nokia announced two new Lumia-Windows (8) Phones. Google's Motorola division also announced three new RAZR smartphones. Today Amazon will announce new Kindle tablets and, probably, a new smartphone (Danny will be live blogging the event). Next week, on September 12, we'll get the iPhone 5. All this is happening in the space of one week. It's something of a metaphor for how intense competition in the mobile market has become. The specs on both the new Motorola handsets and the new Lumia devices are generally impressive. However in some sense yesterday's announcements "cancel eac [...]

Related Topics: Apple: iPhone | Channel: Mobile Marketing | Features & Analysis | Google: Android | Microsoft: Mobile | Top News