Brian Massey at ClickZ published a great article this week on how businesses have evolved from their first display ad – a static Web site – to rich display ads than can be spread across the Web and targeted to specific customers. Read his article and find out if you're a Homo Webilisite ("Web site Man") or a more advanced Keyanderthal Displayis ("Contextual Display Man").

The Geico Caveman resent this analogy.



-posted by Lindsay

There is a lot of nothing...er beautiful wilderness in the logging city of Cle Elum, Washington. Apparently the city's abundance of open space and unusually high volume of sun has made it the perfect spot for a 75 megawatt, $300 million photovoltaic solar plant. According to a story in TechFlash, developers are one step closer to building this massive plant, which will be one of the world's largest -- spanning 400 acres! The plant will bring power to nearly 50,000 households, create dozens of jobs and give the quaint, Leave it to Beaver-type city a modern technology tourist attraction. It's too early to tell if this site will detract from the number of visitors that head to the world's largest frying pan located in Long Beach, WA.



-posted by Lindsay

WTIA broke the networking event monotony with a text-voted music competition at Seattle's Pyramid Brewery last night. The event featured five tech bands from a mix of genres. The Linkin Park-like Lions Ambition ruled the jungle with Audience Choice and Most Innovative Awards. These guys from Boeing did a great job of entertaining the crowd.

Lions Ambition



-posted by Lindsay

We have some great news to share: CEO Aaron Finn has been named to the prestigious Puget Sound Business Journal's "40 Under 40" listing. Selected from more than 200 nominations, Finn was recognized for his entrepreneurial and civic accomplishments, which include co-founding AdReady, and supporting his local community.

Aaron will accept his award at the Honoree Bash being held at the Seattle Repertory Theatre on September 15. 

Way to go, Aaron!

Earlier this year, the Washington Technology Industry Association named AdReady "Service Provider of the Year" in their 14th annual Industry Achievement Awards.

-posted by Lindsay

At VOXUS, I'm thankful accessing a Facebook account during work hours is not only OK, but encouraged to a certain degree to support our client efforts. This is in stark contrast to many of my peers that are locked out of social networking sites, or cautioned not to use them while clocked in. According to a survey from WorkPlace Media covered by MediaPost's Online Media Daily, 55 percent of workers that have access to the Web at work maintain a social networking site. Only 43 percent of workers access it at work and usually for less than half an hour a day. A whopping 89 percent of the social networking survey respondents held Facebook accounts.

But what this survey didn't find out is who has borrowed their co-worker's Swingline stapler and not returned it.  Now that's a real office crime.



-posted by Lindsay

Last week, Craig Lee at Ortiva Wireless participated in the "Multimedia on Mobile Devices" panel at the CONNECTIONS conference in Santa Clara, CA. Craig also chatted with Parks Associates about Ortiva's latest developments and mobile video market trends.  Check out the video interview here.

-posted by Lindsay

Seattle 2.0 has compiled a list of the top tech startup twitter accounts in Seattle. Here's the top five:

1. @seattle20 (Seattle 2.0)
2. @johncook
3. @calbucci (Marcelo Calbucci)
4. @daveschappell
5. @npost (Nathan Kaiser)

In the #114 spot is VOXUS (@voxuspr.com). Follow us!

-posted by Lindsay

Ever want to take a BusinessWire alternative for a test drive?  When a $9.99 service from Mr. Press Release came across my desk, I could no longer resist.  A colleague had recently explored the ins and outs of no cost wire services (get the free white paper here) and I wondered how a cheap service could compete. Using one of our own corporate releases, we took the plunge.  Here's a run down of the positives and the inconvenient:

The Positives:
- The form was simple and easy to use.
- You can add a logo or other image easily and at no additional cost.
- Visually, the release looked good, nice font and layout at the OfficialWire site (check it out here).
- Your news is indexed in Google News (the holy grail!).
- You can easily delete or edit a filed release. Although, once "payment is received" it gets posted immediately.
- We received two postings and a tweet (Mr. Press Release tweets all of their press releases on Twitter).

The Inconvenient:
- word count limit is 750
- You have to have a gmail account and use Google Checkout.
- The "channels" for distribution are a bit unclear -- we selected "America" (does that mean U.S. or North America?).
- You must have a subtitle. 
- You cannot designate a day or time for your posting (your release gets posted as soon as the payment is received).
- You must plan for a lag that happens from when you submit payment and when the payment is officially received by Mr. Press Release.

IMHO, this service is comparable to some of the free posting sites I've used. The Google News indexing is probably the key differentiator, and for many companies, worth the $9.99 all by itself. Mr. Press Release also offers unlimited press release distribution for $59 a month. This monthly service is a nice option for companies that can't afford traditional wiring fees but that want to keep a relatively active Web presence during the recession.  However, you must be willing to sacrifice the benefits that come with a big name wire service like BusinessWire. Just this month, BusinessWire helped VOXUS get more than 30 release postings and three articles – a stark contrast to the two postings and a tweet we got with Mr. Press Release.

-posted by Lindsay

Just got a peek at the latest mobile video report from Nielsen. After surveying 3,000 mobile video subscribers, they found out that comedy reigns supreme on mobiles. Next is weather, sports, music and news/finance. Does "weather" stick out to anyone else? People are really dialing up video to get a weather report? Hmmm.

Last month, Nielsen reported that U.S. mobile video viewers grew to 13.4 million in Q1. And Pyramid Research projected it to be a whopping $16 billion market by 2014.

It's quite clear that this crappy economy is no match for subscriber demand for mobile video.

-posted by Lindsay

We've all seen it by now: text messages from unlikely senders like Dad, Grandma and maybe even Great Grandpa. This growth of texting among late-adopters has driven up the number of U.S. subscribers using text to nearly 60%. This research, covered by FierceMobileContent, indicates that the greatest growth has occurred in older age groups. Of course the tween and teenage segment continue to lead the pack, sending on average more than 500 texts per month.

Earlier this month, a California teen apparently sent a record 300,000 texts in a single month from her iPhone. Now that's just plain crazy.

-posted by Lindsay

I recently spent a few days in Las Vegas for an annual vacation. We try to stay in a different hotel each time. This year it was MGM Grand's turn. Very quickly I decided this would be MGM's only turn. There were a couple of reasons, but one of them was the fact that there was no TV in the bathroom. How could there be no TV in the bathroom? You're rated four stars, get with it MGM! And while you're at it, please get a luggage software tracking solution that helps vacationers who temporarily misplace their claim ticket to more easily find their bags. Walking your Costco-sized warehouse of checked luggage is exhausting!

On a recent trip to Santa Monica, I was pleased to find my must-have flat screen TV in a single room at the Loews Hotel. The provider? You guessed it -- VOXUS client Totevision. Thank you Totevision for making my dream of having a TV In every hotel bathroom a reality.



-posted by Lindsay

Craig Lee of Ortiva Wireless discussed the latest mobile video trends with Greg Galitzine of TMCNet at CTIA earlier this month.  Check out the video interview here.

-posted by Lindsay

Got a poor credit history? Then T-Mobile has the right cell plan for you. According to a FierceWireless story number four carrier T-Mobile is being accused of lowering its credit standards to boost subscribership. While subscribers with bad or little credit may be a riskier target market – it's a market nonetheless. In fact, I would guess it's growing pretty rapidly during the downturn.

-posted by Lindsay

A Computer for Your Wrist

Was just cruising through engadget and came across the Glacier Computer Ridgeline W200 – a PC for your wrist.  I like the small and portable part, but wouldn't your arm get cramped from holding it just so? What's not clear is why someone would select this over one of those cute netbooks (cause it's definitely NOT a fashion statement). Maybe they're targeting the skydiving CEO?




-posted by Lindsay

Drumroll, please. And the WTIA Industry Achievement Award Goes to...

Some of Seattle's hottest tech companies took home top honors at the WTIA Industry Achievement Awards last night.  Our friends at AdReady (www.adready.com), a company that helps advertisers and publishers of all sizes launch and manage display advertising campaigns, took home Service Provider of they Year.  Congrats!  Click here for a list of all the lucky winners:

John Cook at TechFlash again offered up his predictions before the night commenced.  This year he hit 50 percent correct (a big improvement over last year!).




-posted by Lindsay

CNET just posted some impressive Twitter growth numbers. Apparently, Twitter has grown more than 1,000 percent over the past year(!). That is incredible. Noticing the growing number of businesses using Twitter, VOXUS just published a white paper on the topic. You can get your paws on the paper by clicking here.

Also, find VOXUS on Twitter (@VoxusPR).



-posted by Lindsay

Blogger Matt Asay thinks he knows why your PR stinks. He's got one thing right – if you don't pack the "why the hell should I care about this story" punch into every size and type of PR story, you fail. Seems simple, but you'd be surprised how many press releases go without tackling this basic question in the first para – or at all.

Oh and according to Fortune readers and staff, being a Communications Manager is the number one best bulls**t job. Click here for 19 more "satisfying, lucrative and least useful" jobs.



-posted by Lindsay

If your iTunes library is a mess like mine -- missing album art, song titles, etc. -- you may want to check out a company named TuneUp Media. It claims to do a thorough scrub on your library, fixing song titles, artist names and genre. It also fills in missing cover art. How awesome is that?!  The download takes a minute. I can't wait to try this at home!

Buh-bye annoying music note placeholder image:



-posted by Lindsay

I couldn't believe my eyes last night -- Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak is a contestant on the latest season of Dancing with the Stars.  Paired with the gorgeous Karina Smirnoff, "Woz" gave the Cha Cha Cha his all -- yet was still likened to a "...TeleTubby going mad..." Check it out for yourself.

(Yes, that's him in the pink boa...).

-posted by Lindsay

Everybody loves American Idol, right?  OK, maybe not.  I don't really start to enjoy it until the contestants are whittled down to what America thinks are the best six or so (right now there are 13). Die hard fans that want more than what the twice a week show can deliver, can now go to their iPhones to get exclusive content.  According to a recent FierceMobileContent story, FreemantleMedia  and Seattle-based Zumobi have unveiled a $1.99 app that allows fans to track contestant progress, predict results show voting and watch unseen videos.

In case you're wondering, Anoop is my early favorite...

Stril out.

-posted by Lindsay

A man accused of threatening the life of a Tacoma judge showed up at the Tacoma News Tribune yesterday. In exchange for his story, he requested a ride to the courthouse.  Check out the video interview shot in a car by TNT staffers: http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstories/story/646146.html

Now that's new-age reporting.

-posted by Lindsay

I've always thought that you could find out a lot about someone's personality by looking at their music collection.  A new study suggests you can also determine a person's intellience (or lack of) with the same data Virgil Griffith, a college student who gained fame for outing anonymous corporate and government editors to Wikipedia pages, has compiled a chart that links music choice to SAT score. Here's what it boils down to: Beethoven = smart, Lil Wayne = dumb.

Check out Virgil's findings here: Musicthatmakesyoudumb.virgil.gr

Be warned that the above site keeps crashing.

-posted by Lindsay

Oregon Trail was a hit in my day. I have fond memories playing that game for hours in school. There was so much action: hunting, infectious diseases, floods and thieves.  I have to say though, I don't know if I ever finished a game (the class bell always came too soon).  I'll go ahead and assume that if you were alive at the end, you won. As one of my favorites growing up, I was excited to hear they are releasing Oregon Trail for the iPhone. According to LA Times, the new Gameloft version doesn't exactly live up to the riveting original green on black game we all loved. However, I was happy to learn the next-gen game allows you to save your progress every five minutes. With that capability, I'm tempted to jump in a wagon and finish (barring a Typhoid outreak).



-posted by Lindsay

Having trouble picking the right V-day card for your sweetheart?  You might not have to. According to a FierceMobileContent story, mobile messaging firm Mogreet Inc. is offering a digital alternative -- a Valentine's eCard designed for play on your loved one's phone. Senders can personalize the card by adding text.  For the holiday, users can select from a catalog of videos, including a series of eCards based on the movie Twilight. eCards are delivered by MMS or as an attachment to an SMS. The best part: you can wait 'till the very last minute since they'll never be out of stock. This is great news for the procrastinating shopper (you know who you are!) that's used to rifling through the leftover cards and sad carnation bouquets.

-posted by Lindsay

Who uses rabbit ears in this day and age?  Apparently, more people than you would think. The House just announced broadcasters have four more months to make the switch to digital service. According to a FierceMobileContent story, American consumers are still lacking the information and assistance they need to make the switch to digital in their homes (me on the other hand, I've seen 200+ commercials on the subject). Meanwhile, Qualcomm has to wait to utilize the more than $500 million worth of 700 MHz spectrum they purchased to significantly expand their mobile TV service.

I think we should treat the digital transition like taxes.  How many people wait until the last second to file?  Once a rabbit-ear viewer is forced to miss his or her favorite shows, they'll figure out how to get on board.




-posted by Lindsay

NBC has reported rising mobile video viewership numbers, thanks in part to its Emmy award-winning Thursday night comedy lineup.  According to a TV Week article, the network is reporting that its mobile video viewers in late 2008 doubled from the previous year. With a growing number of viewers watching "30 Rock," "The Office" (two of my favs) and others, NBC has earned its #2 position for mobile video usage behind Viacom. These numbers indicate that big laughs = big mobile video viewership.

Now if it were just a little easier to deliver a hit comedy show...





-posted by Lindsay

Super Bowl Sunday is a day of worship in my house. I can't imagine not viewing the entire game from my or a good friend's couch. But I'm sure there are plenty of people that have to work...or will be in transit that day. Thankfully, Sprint has got them covered. The carrier has teamed with the NFL to offer the NFL Mobile Live service, connecting fans with the game wherever they are. According to ProFootballTalk.com, a Sprint partner, the carrier has pulled out all the stops to make sure your Super Bowl XLIII experience is a great one -- including putting temporary towers in high traffic locations. Wherever I end up watching the game, I hope Warner will lead the Cardinals to a sweet victory.

-posted by Lindsay

Amazon is holding a party in New York City on February 9.  The occasion?  Well, we can only speculate at this point. According to Forbes, the company will likely introduce a sleeker and more powerful Kindle electronic reader.  Rumors are swirling around faster performance, a touchscreen and better access to content. Oprah named it her "favorite new gadget" in 2008, which I'm assuming sent their sales soaring. As a thank you, maybe she had some input on the new features.  Can you imagine GPS (Gayle Positioning System) or SMS (Stedman Messaging Service) added?



-posted by Lindsay

Boost eLearning recently announced results of a new survey that indicate employees are not leveraging Google’s basic search functionality for business research. The online survey reports that most employees are unfamiliar with such basic search techniques as synonym finder, site search, or even how to limit by timeframe or file type. As a result, Google business research queries either fail to provide the desired results or waste valuable employee time by burying key information. This research follows the company's earlier finding that 39 percent of all Google searches fail, leading to more than 40 hours of lost productivity per user per year(!).

Google is an extremely powerful business research tool, but employees that lack basic instruction on its use are both losing time and missing opportunities, which could far exceed the value of the lost hours. To get employees up to speed (and fast...) Boost eLearning has released a new course, Boost eLearning Google Search Training Quick Lessons, that focuses on key business research techniques, saving companies valuable employee time and materially improving search results.

-posted by Lindsay

Mobile video consumption is on the rise, leading experts to estimate the market will exceed $15 billion in worldwide revenue by 2012. Driving this market forward is VOXUS' own Ortiva Wireless, developer of the mobile Video Optimization Gateway (mVOG). On Tuesday (1/20), the company announced a commercial deployment with Vodafone Portugal, a tier one European carrier with more than five million subscribers. mVOG is helping Vodafone Portugal dramatically increase the efficiency and quality of mobile video across its network, ensuring a superior viewing experience for its growing Vodafone live! customer base.

“To build strong subscribership in mobile video, we must deliver amazing video quality from the start,” said Jorge Bento, IN and Service Development Director at Vodafone Portugal. “Anything less falls short of our commitment to providing the high-quality, mobile video services our subscribers demand. Ortiva met this requirement in testing, even during noisy network conditions. mVOG will be an essential component to our ability to improve subscriber interest in mobile video services.”

Ortiva's unique combination of operator and subscriber benefits is helping carriers worldwide quickly accelerate mobile video revenue using existing networks. Check them out on their site or in Barcelona, Spain at Mobile World Congress (Booth #1H33, Hall 1-0).

-posted by Lindsay

I love my iPhone, but would love a cuter, smaller version even more. Recently, Engadget helped spread the Apple iPhone Nano rumors a little further. Covering a story in DIGITIMES, the Engadget article reports that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is poised to secure chip orders for a mini-sized iPhone Nano. Rumored to be a low-cost, entry-level version of the original, whispers of a Summer launch have got me on high alert.

Update: President of VOXUS and Apple enthusiast Paul Forecki has just crushed my dreams for the iPhone Nano. He says if the iPhone Nano is ever launched, it certainly won't be this Summer.

Apple: let's prove him wrong.

Paul: confident enough to bet me one iPhone Nano?

-posted by Lindsay

According to a new Wireless Week article, most of us are phone dummies. That is, many users are not taking advantage of all the extra features phones deliver, like cameras and calendars, etc. NPD reports a whopping 45% of U.S. mobile phone users "just make telephone calls." This definitely isn't the crowd I hang around with...but I could see that being the case for older generations. Calculators, text, GPS and other apps would improve the life of so many. Perhaps users just need an in-depth how-to lesson (the quick demo at the store doesn't count) and some pocket size cheat sheets to get on board.

-posted by Lindsay

$100 Netbook Now At RadioShack

Not sure what to get your workaholic loved one for the holidays? Check out the pint-sized 3G netbook now available at RadioShack for $100.  This ultra portable Aspire One netbook from Acer weighs less than two and a half pounds and offers WiFi connectivity.  The catch? You have to sign up with AT&T Mobility's DataConnect mobile broadband service for two years at $60 per month. This little guy (covered by RCR http://tinyurl.com/66jfmb) is the equivalent of a puppy in the canine world.  So cute and sure to draw "ohhs" and "ahhs" from passers by.




-posted by Lindsay

First it's Black Friday...then it's CyberMonday...now its Mobile Tuesday? According to a recent NewsFactor story, mobile marketing firm Mobigosee is launching Mobile Tuesday -- a new mobile shopping campaign aimed to increase sales the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Unlike Black Friday, Mobile Tuesday isn't restricted to store hours and doesn't call for driving, parking, searching aisles or standing in lines. Shopping via mobile is a great option for people like me who favor quick and low stress shopping – any time of year.

-posted by Lindsay

Boost eLearning just announced results of a new survey indicating 39 percent of all Google searches fail, leading to more than 40 hours – or one week – of lost productivity per user per year. These stats can add up fast for a large organization which is why the company has designed an online training course that helps employees quickly and easily learn all of the powerful built-in search features of Google. For more information visit www.boostelearning.com



-posted by Lindsay

Rodika Tollefson of the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal recently sat down with our Founder and fearless leader Paul Forecki to learn the secret to VOXUS' success. Check out the story here.



-posted by Lindsay

Seems like I'm experiencing a rise in spam lately. While I have a folder these junk emails usually drop into, it's annoying to have to view and delete them later. While I don't look inside any of these emails, I do occasionally read the subject lines (spammer marketing speak can be quite entertaining). I got one last night that was both humorous and disturbing. The subject line read "We have hijacked your baby." Can you hijack a baby? I don't think so. In any case, I don't have a baby, but If I did, I probably would have checked to make sure he or she wasn't snatched from the house. It's a shame spammers are getting more aggressive and all we can do is sit back and take it.

-posted by Lindsay

VOXUS is now hiring a Program Director/Senior Account Executive to work from its swanky new downtown Tacoma office. Think you got the right stuff? Click here or view our ad on Craig's list.

-posted by Lindsay

What do you do when your competitor has slowly been pecking away at your reputation for years? Sit quiet? Speak up? Microsoft, which apparently has been TiVoing through the highly entertaining and brand-trashing "Mac vs. PC" commercials, finally appears to be gearing up for a major counter-attack. According to the News Tribune, in September, Microsoft will launch a $300 million ad campaign to help improve its image. Microsoft has hired some major star power for the campaign -- Jerry Seinfeld, Will Ferrell and Chris Rock. I can't wait to see these comedic giants in action, but don't think for a minute that I'll consider giving up my Macbook, iPod or iPhone.

-posted by Lindsay

Our client Boost eLearning, the pioneer in Google search training for large organizations, is interested in hearing about your experiences with Google. If you have a minute to spare, please fill out a survey. Look for the orange starburst at the bottom left of the screen. Survey-takers are automatically entered to win a free Boost eLearning Google Search Training license.

Thanks for your help.

-posted by Lindsay

Google Search is a critical business tool for the full spectrum of roles in an organization. From sales to HR and IT, employees depend on Google multiple times a day to find the information they need to do their job. Yet this tool is highly underutilized since most workers only know a couple of Google's powerful search capabilities. This gap has created a significant market opportunity for training businesses to help workers demystify the Web and turn free data into actionable information.

Seattle-based Boost eLearning is hoping to do just that. Leveraging the fundamentals of adult-learning theory, Boost eLearning Google Search Training instills in workers the repertory of search skills required to extract and harness targeted information in the fastest manner possible. By easily excluding ads, pinpointing geographic areas, extracting certain file types and many other powerful search practices, Boost eLearning's training eliminates the time and frustration of failed searches.

If you're not convinced, check out their free online demo at: www.boostelearning.com

-posted by Lindsay

I headed up to Giggles on Saturday night to see one of my favorite comedians Jeff Dye (third place winner of this year's Last Comic Standing). It seems that social networking has become a bottomless pit of comedic material. Jeff and the two opening acts couldn't resist poking fun at the social networking phenomenon that consumes all of us. One of my favorite comments was from a comedian who admitted to changing his activities/interests to "showing up to work on time, filing, sweeping, etc." when he had his resume out. All of this is a good reminder not to take ourselves or our social networking too seriously.

-posted by Lindsay

Our client Boost eLearning has announced a free training lesson that helps fans across the globe track their favorite 2008 Summer Olympics athletes. The 3 minute lesson available at www.boostelearning.com teaches fans how to find all the latest coverage pertaining to the Olympics regardless of geographic and lingual boundaries. Want to read more about your favorite Romanian gymnast in his or her hometown paper? No problem...and Boost will even help you translate it into English.

-posted by Lindsay

PCs and mobiles are not stealing traditional sofa TV viewers according to a recent Nielsen report covered by Red Herring. In fact, time spent watching traditional TV rose four percent from 2007. These numbers indicate that there is room for all three screens in the market. For me, any time I spend watching TV on my PC or mobile is supplemental to the hours I log in at home on the couch. While I might be a little less productive with TV at my fingertips all day, I wouldn't want it any other way.

-posted by Lindsay

We are now a group on FaceBook. Log in, search for "VOXUS" under groups and request to become a fan. We'd love to hear from you...

-posted by Lindsay

Just read on Wireless Week that Chrysler is going to add WiFi to many of the new 2009 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep cars. My husband (a Chrysler shop foreman) probably already told me this, but I wasn't listening (car-talk goes in one ear...). The Uconnect Web would be a really cool feature for us freaks that can't put our laptops and iPhones down in the car. Very cool, Chrysler. Keep it up! All you need to do now is make your cars more sleek and sophisticated on the outside and I'm in.

-posted by Lindsay

If you're like the majority of users, "in between activities" is the most popular time to watch mobile TV. Next favorite scenarios include "while waiting in line" and "while in transit." Of the same pool of users, 31% report watching mobile content for less than 5 minutes with only 8% watching for 31-60 minutes. Among the non-watchers, perceived expense is the most popular reason for not trying mobile TV services.

To view the full study, visit Wireless Week.

-posted by Lindsay

The Social Networking Dilemma: Too Many, Too Little Time

Having trouble picking the right mix of social networking sites? Well, the list just keeps getting longer (see FierceWireless' Jason Ankeny break it down). These new sites will no doubt contribute to the social networking overload many professionals and students experience today. I can only hope that consolidation in the marketplace comes soon. Wouldn't it be nice to Twitter from your FaceBook?

-posted by Lindsay

Virgin Mobile has expanded its subsidized mobile program, appropriately named "Sugar Mama," with a new Facebook feature. According to a FierceWireless story, Virgin Mobile users that download the company's Fund My Phone application to their Facebook profile can earn minutes when their friends view advertising and participate in market research. I'd like to see this same type of creative subsidization in the mobile entertainment market: allow friends to help other friends earn credits toward TV and video.

-posted by Lindsay

Have you ever uttered text-speak out loud? I'm guilty of saying "OMG" in social situations and yes, I've received some interesting looks. While I thought that may be a sign of some dysfunction on my own part, the long-term impact of mobile communications on language and society never really crossed my mind. The Economist recently took a hard look at this trend. In the article, experts suggest that "Entire subcultures now define themselves primarily or exclusively through their chosen text-messaging or instant-messaging argot." This can be troubling for younger texters learning language in school and also texting shorthand, a form of communication that oftentimes lacks spelling, punctuation, syntax, and other core language rules.

-posted by Lindsay

A new Web site was brought to my attention recently -- www.taaz.com. The site allows women to upload their photos and try on new hair and makeup styles. Having seen a few sites like this before that turn women into clowns, I was skeptical, so I decided to try it out. First, the site was extremely easy to use, no tech-savvy computer skills required. Second, the site offered a ton of hair and makeup selections. The toughest part was determining what was the best look. At the close of the session, you're provided with product recommendations -- for free -- that will allow you to achieve your look in real life.

This site would be a hit at stores like Sephora and regular drug stores like Bartells and Rite Aid. For me, it would greatly slim down the amount of time I spend debating in the aisles. For cosmetic companies, I could see this "photorealistic" virtual makeover driving both sales and customer satisfaction by boosting the confidence a customer has in a product and lessening returns.

Good Luck TAAZ -- women of the world need you.

-posted by Lindsay

Just discovered a new mobile service that helps identify songs based on user voice, hum or whistle. Yes, that's right, you sing into your phone and the service will return possible matches. The service, brought to my attention by FierceMobileContent, is now available for Symbian OS S60 devices, with additional support to come. Check them out at www.melodis.com...

-posted by Lindsay

According to researchers at Informa, the mobile social networking market is expected to reach a whopping $29 billion by 2012. As reported by FierceMobileContent, mobile social networking generated $1.5 billion in 2006 and is on a path of high growth. In a related story, CNET suggests that social networking via mobile devices hinges on the availability of location-based services, providing users with information specific to their location, like what friends are nearby, the nearest jazz club, etc..

Admit it, "mobile social networking" is a mouthful and "MSN" doesn't work either. Anyone else in favor of a shorter name? Maybe "mobisoci"..."mobisocnet." Got any other ideas?

-posted by Lindsay

Finding good local restaurants in Seattle is an easy task thanks to a number of new dining review Web sites, like Ultraspoon and BooRah. On the other hand, sites that can direct you to the nearest, cleanest toilet, are few and far between. A new company named MizPee is hoping to change that. Brought to our attention by Paul Rasmussen at FierceWireless Europe, MizPee allows guests to rate local restrooms and access this critical data via the Web and mobile. Like traditional star ratings, the more toilet paper rolls the better...

There are already 18 facilities included on MizPee in the Seattle area and many with good ratings. To find an acceptable toilet near you, visit: MizPee.

-posted by Lindsay

The SIIA just announced the finalists for the 2008 CODiE Awards. With nearly 30 entries received in the Best Mobile Solution category, two VOXUS clients top the list. After a thorough peer product review, Formotus was honored for its click-and-deploy mobile application solution and Perlego was recognized for its mobile device lifecycle management offering. See a full list of finalists here.

Winners will be announced May 20, 2008 at the CODiE Awards Gala in San Francisco, CA.

-posted by Lindsay

This one makes me laugh...Boost Mobile wants to help its "single and looking" subscribers find love this Valentine's Day. Now through February 14 users have access to a mobile social networking site called Crush or Flush for $.69/day. With the service, subscribers can find, rate and meet people within the Boost network. Seems pretty easy if you don't mind the risk of being "flushed." According to a Wireless Week article, more than 30,000 have already signed up...

-posted by Lindsay

Streaming-capable phone? Check. 3G network? Check. As reported in Wireless Week, YouTube has announced that tens of millions of videos will be available to an estimated 100 million+ devices. Previously limited to specific devices and operators like AT&T's Apple iPhone, YouTube is opening up access to mobile users everywhere using 3G and streaming-capable phones. The new expansion is poised to drive mobile video uptake by providing mobile users with access to a vast library of videos and allowing users to access account info and post comments via m.youtube.com and youtube.com.

-posted by Lindsay

Rhonda Wickham over at Wireless Week recently posted the top ten shows mobile subscribers viewed in September 2007. Reality shows Deal or No Deal, Big Brother 8, America's Next Top Model, Dancing with the Stars and The Biggest Loser took five of the top ten. NBC edged out other major networks with three of the top ten. See the full list and the top ten YouTube videos for September here.

-posted by Lindsay

When I heard Nick Lachey (singer, reality star and Jessica Simpson's ex) was coming to Tacoma the other weekend, I couldn't resist hatching a plan to get my photos and experience posted on perezhilton.com, a celebrity gossip blog that gets more than a million hits per day. My task was fairly simple: get good photos, draft a compelling story and send to Mario Lavandeira (aka Perez Hilton) in a timely manner. With my mission laid out, I thought in advance about potential subject lines, strategized about what pictures would be most valuable and prayed that it was going to be a slow Hollywood news weekend.

Despite a busy weekend of celebrity gossip and disaster, my story made it onto perezhilton.com in less than 48 hours. To date, more than 170 comments have been posted. While I somewhat expected to get my story posted via Perez, I did not know that this experience was going to go full circle. By that I mean, I did not anticipate hearing about my blog success on a local radio station twice -- once WHILE Nick Lachey was a phone guest.

Below is a timeline of my incredibly exciting blogging adventure:

Friday, August 24
8:00 PM: Charged camera batteries

Saturday, August 25
10:30 AM: Arrived at Richard Karn Celebrity Softball game at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, WA
10:35 AM - 12:30 PM: Snapped photos of Nick Lachey and surrounding celebrities, including his girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo
12:45 PM: Met Nick Lachey, received autographed picture
11:40 PM: Sent 3 color photos of Nick Lachey and quick write-up of experience to famed gossip blogger Perez Hilton

Sunday, August 26
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM PT: Checked perezhilton.com incessantly
7:55 PM PT: Received a "thank you" note from Perez himself!

Monday, August 27
11:28 AM PT: Perez posts my three photos and an excerpt from my email in his blog entitled, "They're On the C-List Now"
11:29 AM PT: Started bragging about my success to friends, family and co-workers

Tuesday, August 28
7:32 AM PT: Seattle radio hosts Jackie and Bender of Kiss 106.1 discuss the celebrity softball game and mention photos of the event made it to the infamous perezhilton.com
8:37 AM PT: Jackie and Bender speak to Nick Lachey via telephone about the charity softball game and briefly chat about Perez' coverage of the event

-posted by Lindsay

Ever catch yourself dreaming up a new gizmo and praying it will come to market some day? Maybe I've been living under a rock, but Engadget just brought the Sony Reader to my attention (...a concept I thought I had invented some time ago...). The Reader is the size of a paperback book, carries around 80 full-length titles and provides enough battery power for 7,500 page turns. The display looks like old fashioned ink on paper and the text size adjustable. While you can't make calls from it, the Sony Reader does allows users to upload your favorite photos for sharing.

-posted by Lindsay

Seattle startup Exbiblio is developing a product that will allow users to find electronic copies of printed materials online. Due out in the Fall, the company's product will enable users to scan printed text and phrases to easily find full text matches online. According to a Puget Sound Business Journal story, "...the company aims to partner with a mobile-phone maker, to embed Exbiblio technology in handsets ..." Company founder, Martin King, is one of the creators of Tegic's ubiquitous T9 software.

-posted by Lindsay

A new GPS-enabled cell phone/dog collar from Pets Mobility has hit the market that will allow owners to locate lost pets and talk (yes, talk) to them or the kind stranger that finds them through a two-way cell phone. The new technology, featured in Wired, is just one of the latest digital doggie products aimed to improve a pet owner's life.

-posted by Lindsay

Need help organizing your notes? A new beta service from DropJott promises to help folks store, view and edit notes more efficiently. Briefly mentioned in Forbes, this company allows users to apply some sophistication (and a pretty interface) to what is a rather mundane process of collecting notes and creating to-do lists. Like online social debt management company, BillMonk, DropJott is the latest organization to pop up in the free online personal management space.

-posted by Lindsay

The producers of Ignite are bestowing another geek night on Seattle in mid-February and you're invited. The two-part event begins with a warm-up "Make" event where attendees band together in a hands-on creative project (last time they built bridges out of popsicle sticks...) followed by a speedy round of "Ask Later Talks," many of which center on -- you guessed it -- technology. So, if you're a self-professed geek or are interested in experiencing the Seattle tech underground at its finest, this event is for you.

-posted by Lindsay

Ever try to describe your favorite YouTube video (Tyson the skateboarding Bulldog comes to mind...) to a friend or family member and wish you had quick access to the real thing? Verizon just inked a deal with the mega successful YouTube to make this service a reality. The continued growth of the mobile content space, underscored by several acquisitions and multi-million dollar investments this year, tells me that the Verizon-YouTube service is likely only the beginning of the mobile entertainment offerings Santa will be bringing us this season.

-posted by Lindsay

The Sundance Film Festival last week acknowledged mobile phone video as a viable film genre with its first pilot project calling for short 3-5 minute clips specifically for the small (really small) screen. Submitted films will be showcased in Barcelona next year at the 3GSM World Congress. Academia have too extended a warm embrace to the emerging mobile video market. In September, Boston University announced the first "mobile-phone movie-making" course in which students explore mobile phone/device filmmaking methodology. Who knows, maybe BU will churn out the lucky winner.

-posted by Lindsay

A posting on CNET’s Blogma today reminded me of two things. Firstly, the fact that I might be the only person in my peer group that has not yet created a MySpace page and secondly, nothing in the world is free (for very long). Using music license sniffer software from Gracenote, MySpace will now be cracking down on users uploading illegal music. Repeat offenders will even be booted. So the next time your "friend" has gone missing, you can probably guess why.

-posted by Lindsay

The Vancouver Sun recently reported that B.C.-based Monro Communications is capturing the attention of education enthusiasts with its online movie software product that allows users to assemble images, sounds and film clips from Internet resources into motion pictures. The content, which never leaves the company’s server, allows teachers to add audio-visual components to traditional book-based lessons without worrying about copyright infringement.

-posted by Lindsay

RCR Wireless reported that T-Mobile USA will select a handful of consumers in the Seattle market to trial its T-Mobile Hotspot @ Home offering. Seattlites will be the first to demo the “landline killer” that allows users to leverage both cellular and Wi-Fi networks with a single handset.

-posted by Lindsay

Dolce & Gabbana made a splash last year with its runway-inspired gold Motorola RAZR phone and it appears Levi’s is too jumping on the fashion phone bandwagon. According to a story on Mobile Weblog, the company is developing a Levi’s branded phone aimed at Europe, one if its largest markets. Can't wait to see if other major clothing brands and fashion designers follow suit.

-posted by Lindsay

A story Friday on CNNMoney.com reported that prominent PR firm, Edelman was recently busted for “faux blogging” on behalf of its client, Wal-Mart. It’s a shame that the employees (named by first AND last name in the article) chose this unethical shortcut and risked the progress of its Working Families Behind Wal-Mart campaign. While it’s clear that blogs (like every other medium) can be manipulated, the popular form of communication should not be discredited, rather only placed in the hands of responsible individuals.

-posted by Lindsay