ShoZu wins Gold for Mobile 2.0 innovations

Michael LoPresti — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:37:14 -0400

ShoZu is mobile utility that aims to speed and simplify the process of interacting with online social media from the mobile phone by enabling users to connect to more than 50 online Web 2.0 destinations. It was recently deemed an exceptional company in the Mobile 2.0 marketplace when it was awarded the top prize in Juniper Research's Future Mobile Awards. Juniper singled out ShoZu because it has some solid numbers to back up the effectiveness of its product--the average ShoZu user generated 20 content uploads or downloads per month, with heavy users generating in excess of 100 such "events." The selection criteria utilized by the Juniper judges included innovation; customer retention and growth; commercial deployment; ease of use; revenue generation; pricing; and capability/functionality.

ShoZu allows users to access a multiplicity of Web 2.0 sites from a single interface, including Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, WordPress, and many others. This eliminates the need to open a mobile browser and navigate each community. Users can mass-publish any photo, video, or other updates to multiple sites from the iPhone or Blackberry. ShoZu CEO Mark Bole said that the company's goal is to help users "manage their online social lives from the handset."

For more:
- read Juniper's announcement of the award

Skyfire brings rich media to mobile web browser market

Michael LoPresti — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:43:05 -0400

Skyfire is taking aim at the big mobile web browsers--namely Safari and Opera--with a product that supports something the others don't: rich media (and streaming video and audio capabilities). Unlike the iPhone's Safari, which requires an additional application in order to view YouTube videos, Skyfire comes equipped with PC-quality capabilities. As mobile browsers race toward PC-mimicking quality, Skyfire represents a giant leap forward in the market. Technically, it supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flash, Ajax, Java, Windows Media and more. The initial private beta supports Windows Mobile 5 and 6 and Nokia Series 60, 3^rd edition ((N-series and E-series). It's not yet supported on Blackberry, iPhone, or Palm Treo.

For more:
- watch Skyfire's demo video