<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Northstreaming - </title><atom:link href="http://northstream.se" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><link>http://northstream.se</link><description></description><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright (C) 2009 mywebsite.com</copyright><item><title>Disney on steroids?</title><link>http://northstream.se/blog/disney-on-steroids/</link><pubDate>Wed 11 Apr 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[Will the mobile industry be the platform for the next Disney? In 2009 game developer Rovio released the game that would bring them phenomenal international exposure. Angry Birds is unarguably one of the most successful mobile games of the touchscreen era. To date there has been more than 700 million downloads of Angry Birds in total - making it the most downloaded game ever.  And breaking the unimaginable billion downloads mark is probably not impossible.
 
To gain such a widespread popularity so quickly was made possible thanks to the mobile industry&#039;s global platforms (networks, devices and application stores). Rovio promptly seized the opportunity fame brought, and started to include in-game advertisements into the free versions of the game. Much thanks to this, their latest game &quot;Angry Birds Space&quot; was downloaded 10 million times in the first three days.
 
Rovio has stated that they aim to grow to the size of Disney, and to breed a long standing pop culture icon among the likes of Mickey and Donald. And this game developer is seriously working on it - ...  building a franchising empire with plush toys, books, clocks, clothing, bedlinen, to mention a few items, and with announced plans to create Angry Birds activity and theme parks. The enraged birdies will also be seen in Disney&#039;s home ground - in an animated TV series and in a feature length movie next year. This move is supported by the purchase of Kombo Animation Studio last summer and a recent acquisition of Futuremark Games Studio. 
 
The game developer is aggressively applying the learnings from (mobile) digital distribution to its expanding franchising business. Rovio is using Amazon as one of their sales channels in order to create a global physical distribution and based on this success they have managed to close contracts with retail giants like Wal-Mart for both digital and in-store channels to distribute their merchandise.
 
Currently Rovio&#039;s proclaimed value is several billion USD while Disney&#039;s market cap is near 75 billion USD, so there is still quite a gap to close, but time will tell us whether in this mobile era an &quot;entertainment house&quot; would be able to pull it off, and if so, even more interesting is to see how quickly they will achieve this. Instagram mobile social photography network created value of one billion dollars prior to celebrating its second birthday - wouldn&#039;t have been possible without the global mobile ecosystem. Neither would Rovio be where they are today if there wasn&#039;t this huge global mobile platform to feed upon. There is certainly something in Rovio&#039;s attitude, operating and distribution model that could teach lessons to the rest of the telecom industry suffering from lack of growth...

/Suvi

Suvi is a Senior Consultant at Northstream

Feedback to blog@northstream.se]]></description></item><item><title>Netopia – It might all be in the network</title><link>http://northstream.se/blog/netopia-%e2%80%93-it-might-all-be-in-the-network/</link><pubDate>Fri 30 Mar 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[Follow me onto a short excursion into a peculiar country - characterised by a telco market at the forefront. In 2011 mobile telephony had its tipping point in terms of fixed to mobile conversion, mobile broadband increased by factor 10 in the last 3 years and the workforce is flexible to a degree that one third is working away from a fix location. Now, imagine a person like me who moved to this country 2 years ago and wondered about quite many a things: why are people monologizing out on the open street? Why is mobile telephony so darn cheap in comparison to my home country? And what sense do TV ads make where landline outlets are ripped out of the wall, why would anyone want that? Leap in time back to now ... the same person 2 years later, now fairly well integrated, sits at home reading these lines. There is no active fixed line outlet in his wall, he uses his cellphone for both private and work, domestic and international calls. And in the tube to and from work he checks emails, streams videos and music or even surfs. When in Rome do as the Romans do. All that can cause occasional annoyance to him is bad call quality or sluggishly loading videos.

Here, as in most other countries, enigmatic sizable organisms control the mobile life. The services they render are at the foundation of all the person above - and everyone else - long so much for, provided through dedicated networks, full of technology and packed with services. These providers differ. One is the oldest and biggest but not necessarily (and self-admittedly) the best in class in terms of service. The others are chasing the top dog´s market leadership with different strategies. One is the outlawish cheapjack, touting its price leadership ceaselessly, another one branded flashily and the third one seen as a bit more serious whilst not as cheap. 

The trophy they are now all after is an elusive creature: customer satisfaction. No one was ever able to spot this one in the crossfire.  Still, being the latest object of desire it is now the talk of town, or rather its absence. Studies underpin this famine and we have elaborated on it before (see our blogpost It´s not all in the network). What these studies don&#039;t tell however is an explanation as of why. One would think it matters as the customer is king and such, and wanting to find a remedy calls for approaching the reasons behind. I go by the assumption that the underlying reason is in fact a lack of focus or attention. If you follow me in this and if there are different ways to pay attention then there must be several ways to customer satisfaction. If not all then at least many roads lead to Rome. Common wisdom would list the competitive differentiators as network, value added services, pricing and marketing, probably in that order. And these must all be seen as sources to derive customer satisfaction from. 

Something dramatic occurs in the land of the battle: one of the providers whilst massively investing in its network in order to meet the increasing data hunger does something supposedly outdated, namely, launch a marketing campaign pivoting around exactly that fact. Hereby, it seems this provider puts the customer in focus, originating from his needs, flexibility and reliability of mobile services. This move would, elegantly enough, strike 2 out of the 4 customer satisfaction flies at one stroke. The hunt for the elusive creature is on it seems. Who will bring it in you believe? It is maybe so that this initiative suggest that everything could eventually be about the net - given the value it provides to the customer is accentuated and tied back to focusing on the customer and his needs. This could both prove a successful long-lived branding and a viable way out of (or to profit in) commodity hell (see our blogpost To commodity hell and back). Bravo!
 
Other members of the hunting club, follow this track! Do good and talk about it! After all, it might all be in the network.

/Franz-Josef

Franz-Josef Arnuga is a Consultant at Northstream 


Feedback to blog@northstream.se ]]></description></item><item><title>The Guardian: China&#039;s Huawei moves out of the shadows to join technology race</title><link>http://northstream.se/news/the-guardian-chinas-huawei-moves-out-of-the-shadows-to-join-technology-race/</link><pubDate>Fri 30 Mar 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[The telecoms firm has ambitions to join Apple, Samsung and Nokia in the big league - but if it wants to crack the US market, it will have to offer more transparency]]></description></item><item><title>LTE and the 1800 Mhz opportunity</title><link>http://northstream.se/white-papers/lte-and-the-1800-mhz-opportunity/</link><pubDate>Fri 23 Mar 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[This Northstream white paper examines the take-up and status of LTE two years after the first commercial launch and analyses the key aspects that will determine its future success. 

It is widely recognised that mobile data usage growth, whether on smartphones, laptops or tablets, will continue. In such a market situation, there are a number of challenges for the main stakeholders to cope with, operators, equipment suppliers and regulators alike. Mobile networks will need to accommodate significantly different volumes and types of traffic than today, adopt continuously evolving technologies and make more flexible use of the scarce resource of radio spectrum. 

Previous Northstream white papers have discussed the generic opportunities and challenges LTE technology brings to operators and how to adopt a suitable migration strategy. Two of the major concerns have been how and when voice services could be offered and the availability of ample device portfolios. Voice over LTE will indeed happen soon, and could bring a boost to operators&#039; dwindling voice business, but that is a topic for another white paper. In this paper we instead put our focus on analysing the critical availability of suitable and plentiful LTE spectrum and how that can enable, or inversely prohibit, a continued strong growth of mobile communication. 
]]></description></item><item><title>SvD: Telebolagen sura över nätets gratistjänster</title><link>http://northstream.se/news/svd-telebolagen-sura-over-natets-gratistjanster/</link><pubDate>Sat 17 Mar 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[Pressen på telebolagen ökar snabbt. Den växande datatrafiken kräver väldiga investeringar samtidigt som Facebook, Google, Apple och andra it-företag tar över allt mer. Nu kommer krav på att it-företagen måste vara med och bidra. Eller så får konsumenterna börja betala vad de förbrukar.]]></description></item><item><title>Healthcare communication strategy: Northstream assists an enterprise solution vendor in outlining wireless technology roadmap</title><link>http://northstream.se/engagements/healthcare-communication-strategy-northstream-assists-an-enterprise-solution-vendor-in-outlining-wireless-technology-roadmap/</link><pubDate>Mon 12 Mar 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[The objective was to provide external views and recommendations regarding client&#039;s wireless technology strategy. Northstream provided independent analysis, external information, and recommendations as input to the client&#039;s wireless healthcare products and solutions strategy, ensuring that the views from e.g. competitors, network operators and end customers are taken into consideration in the context of the overall telecom market evolution. Northstream developed recommendations regarding opportunities/risks and potential go-to-market considerations for wireless technology choices.
]]></description></item><item><title>LTE for Public safety: Northstream provides a market analysis of LTE for the Public safety in Europe </title><link>http://northstream.se/engagements/lte-for-public-safety-northstream-provides-a-market-analysis-of-lte-for-the-public-safety-in-europe/</link><pubDate>Mon 12 Mar 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[A client asked for support to to gain further understanding of the European Public Safety communication market. Northstream performed a eco-system analysis of the Public Safety communication vertical in Europe and developed  scenarios of how meet Public Safety communication demand with LTE. The research covered aspects such as stakeholder analysis, end user requirement of voice and data services, regulation &amp; spectrum and delivery &amp; business models.
]]></description></item><item><title>Informilo: A Report Card: The Nokia/Microsoft Partnership</title><link>http://northstream.se/news/informilo-a-report-card-the-nokiamicrosoft-partnership/</link><pubDate>Sun 26 Feb 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[Evoking images of the Allies landing at the Normandy beaches in 1944 Nokia Chief Executive Stephen Elop said in late January that the Finnish mobile phone maker had managed to &quot;establish a beachhead&quot; in the smartphone market. Instead of British, Canadian and American soldiers, though, it is Nokia&#039;s Lumia series of smartphones - the 710, 800 and 900 - outfitted with Microsoft&#039;s Windows Phone software that have done the landing.]]></description></item><item><title>Wouldn&#039;t it be nice... Apps that appeal...</title><link>http://northstream.se/blog/wouldnt-it-be-nice-apps-that-appeal/</link><pubDate>Wed 22 Feb 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[Smartphones and tablets have indeed different usage patterns associated to them. Statistics from a study looking into usage of a news app indicate &quot;meal bumps&quot;, i.e. peaks of increased usage for either kind of device. Whereas the smartphone is the weapon of choice during the faster-paced meals breakfast and lunch the tablet seems to be the smoother choice from supper on and along the evening - until bed time at least when the little device just comes in more handy again. 
So what, you might say, isn´t that pretty self-evident? Fair enough. Nevertheless it sheds light on the rather primordially different requirements posed on apps. As not (yet) owner of a tablet I want to elaborate on what is being expected of an app in terms of it being a smartphone application. 

First, a very simple and clean interface is critical for success, and second a somewhat narrowed down set of total functions and options making both setup and usage fool proof. With the smartphone app markets maturing after 3-4 years´ existence users have increasingly higher expectations in terms of usability and relevance. We do not have more time at our disposal, and for those short moments on public transport or cueing for coffee or lunch there is a full range of apps installed on my device fiercely competing for my short attention span. 

Those risen expectations make that dumbed down apps will not find users´ acceptance. Fair enough, Angry Birds had some success (...), but shooting grouses fluttering over a screen will not win any future award. Now, you might say, this is a contradiction in itself saying we need simpler yet complex apps. Provenly it is not. Apple has showcased this quadrature of the circle to be possible. No matter if you are a follower of this religion or not, its core dogma is combining a rich set of features with a shockingly high level of simplicity and usability. The call for more Apple like apps is for power in function whilst usage being easy as pie. 

Two examples where my need for a smooth smartphone app remained unsatisfied: a) Electronic business cards apps and b) password encryption and storage solutions, like Keypass. Even though there are many of both, cumbersome setup and usage have led at least me to conclude that none of the existing solutions can currently satisfy my requirements. Even though I am able to live without both I think about it as lost chances - for app programmers in unrept profits and for users in not available benefit. 

An encouraging example is TED - Ideas Worth Spreading (which is always a great thing no matter how applied). The app allows me to easily bookmark my favourite inspiring clips, maybe because they are too long for a short metro ride to work or just because it is convenient. At home I can watch them on a bigger screen and without time pressure. But I would like to bookmark even clips watched at home on my lean-forward. App vs. desktop 1 - 0. Even better would be to have both integrated (remember the &quot;old&quot; 3-screen notion?). Registering an account at TED I would expect the following: videos bookmarked early in the morning on my way to work appear on my account for follow-up back at home. Integration is the name of the game. This will drive users to the app, make them initially potentially pay for it and eventually use it and spread the word about it. 

To conclude in this sense, let me recommend a great app I just found through a review: Zite really is what I call an Apple amongst apps. It is easy to setup (took me 15 seconds to customize it); it is visually appealing, with headlines and pictures in the cover story panel looking as great as never seen on a small smartphone screen. It features this effortless way of using it with an interface that just seems tailor-made for my fingers and intuitions; tapping, swiping, everything works as my intuition suggests at the first approach: tap once to make the menu bars disappear, tap again to make them reappear; swipe left and right to browse between the sections initially set as preferences (arts, politics, etc.). Last but not least, it is functionally rich. By feeding a certain selection from a set of prestigious high-quality newspapers and magazines it makes me feel what no newsfeed so far have managed: this is one app that satisfies my daily needs in terms of news on my smartphone close to exhaustively. This and no less is what every app should aim for. Developers, please be inspired. Service Providers, please be encouraged to facilitate. Users, please make your voices heard. Wouldn&#039;t it be nice?

/ Franz-Josef

Franz-Josef Arnuga is a Consultant at Northstream


Feedback to blog@northstream.se
]]></description></item><item><title>Galina Garpenståhl</title><link>http://northstream.se/team/employee-spotlight/galina-garpenstahl/</link><pubDate>Wed 15 Feb 2012</pubDate><category><![CDATA[]]></category><description><![CDATA[Galina Garpenståhl is a Strategy Consultant at Northstream with experience in the areas of market strategy and business development. Prior to joining Northstream, Galina worked as an independent consultant and has been involved in projects for companies and organizations such as Travelport, Stockholm School of Economics, Ericsson, Warner Bros, Atlas Copco etc. as well as worked as Business Development Director for a Swedish game publisher. Before moving to Sweden Galina worked as E-Marketing Manager for Vivacom (a mobile network operator). 
Galina holds an MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics (2008) and a Bachelor&#039;s degree in Business Administration from the American University in Bulgaria (2004). 
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