Industry experts said that the new iPhone 4 is going to change the face of mobile commerce, and both brands and retailers need to adjust their strategies accordingly.

The technology behind the new device is based on the same operating system powering Apple’s iPad tablet, which has already reinvented the mobile commerce experience. With mobile commerce sales reaching $1.2 billion in 2009 and projected to almost double to $2.2 billion this year, retailers need to take advantage of the new iPhone and make their mobile experiences more gripping.

“I think it is finally at a point that even the Rolexes and Tom Fords of the world will be pleased with how the quality of their products will be represented,” said Scott Dunlap, CEO of NearbyNow, Mountain View, CA.. “Second, the iAd network that comes with iOS 4 is about to change everything we know about mobile advertising, and in turn, mobile commerce.

“The ads themselves are as powerful as apps, and can be mini-networked games, video channels and location-based trivia contests. You could even make a purchase directly from an ad. It's the first mobile ad network to have both reach and rich ad units. Mobile banner ads will instantly become archaic, and all of us will have to rethink mobile engagement.”

The slogan that Apple is using for the iPhone 4 is, “This changes everything. Again.” Most industry executives agree, especially in the case of mobile commerce.

“It’s not only the device that will alter mobile commerce, it is the underlying iAd platform which allows for in-app purchasing,” said Neil Strother, Kirkland, WA-based practice director at ABI Research. “Assuming this process is as seamless as promised, and consumers can easily make purchases within apps, then this could be an important step forward for mcommerce.

“Given Apple’s ability to deliver a high-quality user experience and attention to detail, it’s a good bet this will work well,” he said. “It’s important to remember too that this purchase capability will extend to other devices running iOS 4, such as iPads and iPod touch devices.

“So, mcommerce should not only get a boost from users of the latest iPhone version, but also from users of these other devices as well.”

iPhone app reviews: Ice Cream Weather
by Joan Inong

A few days ago, I had an exciting time downloading all different sorts of weather apps for my iPhone. Most of those apps were free, and one of them was Ice Cream Weather. Its App Store description claims that Ice Cream Weather is an app that is supposed to show users where to get ice cream, a five-day weather forecast that includes a rating for how fast one's ice cream will melt in current weather conditions, as well as the ability to change what kind of virtual ice cream cone the user wants to see.

Ice Cream Weather's graphics are perhaps one of the best features of this app. They are simple, but the ice cream cone really takes the cake. The user can customize the ice cream cone to match the type of real ice cream that he or she would get. The start-up screen also looks deliciously cute. The animation is very "child-like," so it makes you feel as if you were 8 again and waiting for the ice cream truck to pull up in the neighborhood. 

However, my favorite feature in Ice Cream Weather is its awesome user-friendly interface. The user can easily switch from one screen to the next; the user can look at the current weather forecast, as well as the forecast for the next five days. After that, the user can switch to the map view, which shows the user some of the ice cream shops in his or her own neighborhood. This

feature is especially helpful because the user might get a little craving for ice cream after seeing the virtual ice cream cone. Also, there is an options menu that allows the user to change some settings, such as turning the music on or off, changing the weather units, and changing the user's zip code. 

The biggest problem that Ice Cream Weather has, however, is the fact that some of the weather forecasts are inaccurate. Of course, most weather apps will have this problem, but Ice Cream Weather has glaringly obvious errors when it comes to forecasting. Another problem is what I call the ice cream "melt-o-meter." It does not really help me determine whether or not today would be a day that could melt ice cream quickly or slowly. This feature is just "fun" nonsense.

All in all, I will recommend Ice Cream Weather with some warnings and inhibitions.

http://www.helium.com/items/1867488-iphone-app-reviews-ice-cream-weather

GlobalMagic iPhone app: Ice Cream Weather garnered highly prized "Battlestar Applactica" status for the week of May 11 and gave the Mac|Life hosts something to smile about.

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