After watching the introductory video, I really can't see what the standout feature is going to be and to be honest, can't see the point. If people want to know what I'm doing right now - go to my Twitter, if they want to know more than that, read this blog. I'm not sure if this permanent "connectedness" through all these multiple channels is actually going anywhere, other to enhance carriers revenue, increase the amount of Ads google can serve, and play to the "look at me" tendencies of those with the attention span of a gnat...

Rant over...

In business it's usually simpler - the promoter and the idea - if the idea is patentable, and protectable and the market is there, then you're past the first post. If the promoter is experienced, and with a track record, you're even further along. If however, your business is a "service" business, in an emerging market, it's much harder to prove to investor types. Although some of the best business' in the world are "service" based - see Ryanair and McDonalds for example, investors still like patentable, tangible assetts. In the emerging creative service space that MobaNode occupies presently, the value or USP is hard to tie down as the barriers to entry are seen as "low". This gives us a constant dilemma, leading to much head wrangling and brainstorming, trying to justify our place in this market, trying to think of something complicated. However, in the end we managed to distill it down to just 4 words...

Great Content, Done Well

I'm happy with that - for now!

This fact, made for great PR copy and earned exposure in all sorts of places, including the Front Page of the Irish Times...

and coverage was also featured on Radio - 

Morning Ireland (What it says in the papers) - 

and no less a place than the Gerry Ryan Show too -

and fair play to Gerry, he actually got out name right!

This is yet again a validation of the Mobile marketing space with these uber strong players involved. All smaller mobile advertising companies must be dusting down their suits and polishing their shoes waiting for Microsoft, Yahoo et al to come knocking, for as sure as night follows day, these guys will go sniffing too. All good news for all of us in the Mobile space - MobaNode contact details are here - please call, night or day, we don't mind ;-)

Experience Mobile Mobile from James Théophane Jnr on Vimeo.

The tune, though it's "Carol of the Bells" is nearly now more widely known for the Garmin ads - amazing how "brand association" works.

The search giant has launched a new effort to send window decals to over 100,000 local businesses in the U.S. that have been the most sought out and researched on Google.com and Google Maps.

Each window decal has a unique bar code, known as a QR code (a major trend to look for in 2010), that you can scan with many mobile devices including the iPhone, Android-powered phones, BlackBerry, and more. Once scanned, it will take you directly to the business’s Place Page on your mobile phone. What does this mean? Well, by pointing and clicking at a storefront, you can immediately find reviews, get a coupon if the business is offering one, or star the business as a place you’d like to visit in the future—all without stepping a foot inside.

(taken from Alltop.com)

If Google think it's a good idea, then it generally is (though they've been wrong before), but most importantly, with QR codes popping up everywhere, they should become a more familiar sight - and about time too!

Interesting to note that all the phones used in the "promo" video are iPhones and not Android phones...

Thanks to Jan Blanchard from Tourist Republic for capturing on Film the highlights of the awards.

Many thanks to Impact Media, and all the sponsors of the Elevate Award for a great night, and for giving MobaNode a great Christmas Present!

 Innovative work again from the talented guys at Modern Green