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Posted by on Nov 14, 2012 in Apps, Marketing, Mobile | 1 comment

StackMob makes API Calls FREE

StackMob makes API Calls FREE

StackMob makes API Calls FREE  You read right.. The company StackMob who provides an end-to-end platform for mobile apps is announcing today the launch of “StackMob Marketplace for third-party services, as well as changes to its pricing structure to API Calls.   StackMob has announced that API calls (as of today) are FREE.   Seeing as I just wrote an Article about a competitor to StackMob (Kinvey) just yesterday it’s worth saying that this will have a major impact on not just Kinvey but other start-ups as well like Parse, and others..   StackMob CEO Ty Amell said, “It doesn’t matter to us whether someone’s making a million API calls or 20 million API calls – the cost is fairly manageable on our parts. So we felt like this was a blocker to innovation on the developer’s side,”    “And we feel like API calls are starting to become a commodity, where it’s really how can you provide value beyond that?”   StackMob is also launching a marketplace for third-party...

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Posted by on Nov 14, 2012 in Apps, Marketing, Mobile | 0 comments

Push Notifications Boost App Engagement and User Retention

Push Notifications Boost App Engagement and User Retention

Yesterday I wrote an article..  “Best Tips on growing your App Business”    ..and in that article I spoke a lot about Customer/User loyalty, engagement, and retention   So I guess this is kind of a Part 2 (if you will) of that article.   So let’s jump right into this.   It seems rather obvious that push notificiations would increase engagement..   ..but how about retention?  User retention as a result of push notifications doesn’t strike me as being very intuitive. Engagement, yes and here’s why.   Naturally, people HAVE to either “dismiss/don’t allow” or “allow” the notification they’re receiving which would theoretically, in it of itself increase “engagement”.   But what exactly is considered to be  “Good Engagement”  in the App Business?   To me, Good Engagement are these things – and in this order:   1) Users are using your app on a daily, or at least weekly basis.   2) Users are rating your app upon request of the push notification (because they’re happy to)   3) Users are telling others about your app...

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Posted by on Nov 13, 2012 in Apps, Mobile | 0 comments

Best Tips on growing your App Business

Best Tips on growing your App Business

 “Downloads = success”  This is the most common assumption in the App Business. ..but in reality, those are just vanity metrics.   At the end of the day in addition to downloads you’re also looking for loyalty.   WHY?   Because it’s always cheaper to retain a customer/user than it is to get a new one. Ask anyone who knows a thing or two about business. The cost of acquiring a new customer is roughly 7x higher on average than that of what it is to retain a customer(user in this case).   So what you really want is.. Downloads + Loyalty   When you think of downloads you always want to consider activer users commonly referred to as DAU (Daily active users) and retention.   Retention is the biggy here.   Spending money on acquiring users to have them go right out the backdoor won’t leave you with money to spend very long.  You want to ensure that your users stay happy and engaged for as long as...

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Posted by on Nov 13, 2012 in Apple, Mobile | 0 comments

iPhone 5S Coming to a Apple Store near you

iPhone 5S Coming to a Apple Store near you

As reported earlier today by several sources, Apple is allegedly preparing the next generation iPhone 5S this December.   Quoting Apple directly,   “Apple may be changing its release schedule to favor a more rapid iteration of the company’s flagship product, matching the short update period that the iPad went through.”   According to the Digitimes,  the iPhone 5S is said to begin production with an initial run of 50,000 to 100,000 units.   If the above is true, Apple may be hinting that the iPhone 5S will debut in June. Prior to 2011, Apple released iPhones in June or July. However, beginning with the iPhone 4S, Cupertino’s release schedule switched to fall.   We shall see,  ...

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Posted by on Nov 13, 2012 in Apple, Mobile | 0 comments

Samsung raises processor prices 20 percent on Apple.

Samsung raises processor prices 20 percent on Apple.

And the worst part is..   Apple doesn’t really have a choice but to PAY the extra 20%. While Apple is working on securing agreements with two other processor manufacturers in Taiwan TSMC and Kinsus Interconnect Technology Corporation.  Apple reportedly purchased over 200 million processors from Samsung this year, and if it maintains its past and current device sales growth trends, the volumes it requires will only increase.   It appears to be the perfect storm as Samsung will erode Apple’s product margins and use the money to directly subsidize their phones. This is why most companies.. (not Apple of course, they’re different)   ..never single-source components.   I guess that’s what happens when you sue the hell out of your supplier and expect them to just “take it”.  In this instance, I would say Samsung has certainly “taken it” 20% more to be exact. 😉  ...

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