by Aaron Kirchner-Loeser
Aurnhammer Marketing Coordinator

In a day and age where almost everyone in public is seen talking or texting on their cell phone, it is safe to say that mobility is the way of the future. From social networking to online shopping, almost everyone is doing it.

A study in 2013 showed that 65% of companies in United States and United Kingdom had planned to deploy five or more apps while 21% organizations look forward to deploy 20 or more apps. Given this trend, more and more businesses are looking to take advantage of the mobile market with “enterprise mobility”.

A prime example of enterprise mobility is Hewlett Packard’s ePrint enterprise. Connecting to HP’s network of 300,000+ public print locations such as FedEx, UPS, and more, this app allows users to print from essentially anywhere. In addition, HP’s ePrint enterprise supports corporate printing by using a private-cloud based solution for corporate network printers.

According to a survey conducted across the United States and United Kingdom, in 2013 44% of organizations had already implemented an enterprise mobility project. Also, in 2013 the mobile worker population was projected to reach 1.2 billion. This would account for nearly 35% of the global work force, according to a report from IDC. Given the rising numbers in enterprise mobility, it seems this tactic should be taken into consideration by more companies. In order to assess the success of enterprise mobility, often times the Return on Investment (ROI) is analyzed.

The ROI can be calculated by dividing a company’s productivity gains by its costs. Given that ROI is the foundational metric in measuring a company’s success with enterprise mobility, there are several key considerations. Sometimes, qualitative and/or quantitative benefits can’t be calculated at all, but in a recent study done by Harvard Business School that is depicted below, enterprise mobility is quantified.

A second aspect of enterprise mobility that needs to be considered when weighing the pros and cons of deploying an enterprise app is the fact that as time goes on, the cost per user goes down as well. This may make creating a mobile app for enterprises more enticing, as even though there are serious investments upfront, over time the cost per user starts to decline.

Lastly, outsourcing is something that needs to be taken into consideration regarding the ROI. As costs are key in calculating the ROI of an enterprise, in some cases it may be beneficial to outsource the development of the app. By doing this, costs will be kept down as the costs of in-house development, investments in technology and equipment, and hiring a team of developers are usually more expensive domestically. According to Visage Mobile, outsourcing can reduce costs of enterprise mobility by $160 billion, which is a 35% net savings. To contextualize these large numbers, that is $254 saved on each employee every year!

In effect, enterprise mobility is well worth the investment in the long run. Although creating mobile applications can be time consuming and expensive, the analytics show that more often than not there is a significantly positive ROI that goes hand in hand with enterprise mobility.

To find out more, download the Mobile Enterprise Whitepaper.

Rumor or Fallacy? Let’s Check the Scoreboard After WWDC

by Aaron Kirchner-Loeser
Aurnhammer Marketing Coordinator

With the 2014 Worldwide Developers Conference now wrapped up, several things need to be addressed and some people need to be fact-checked regarding the rumor mill leading up to the five-day long event. Given some pretty inevitably significant announcements, there were also several anticipated announcements that simply did not happen as many users, techies, and bloggers expected and proclaimed.

As the WWDC kicked off last week, it was great to see that iOS 8 will be available to the public this year. Most likely in the fall, dubbed “the world’s most advanced operating system” by Apple, iOS 8 will come with a host of new functions and features. One of the neatest new perks that iOS 8 offers is the updated keyboard. Now, the keyboard will be able to distinguish between who you are sending a message to. This means that it will come up with different suggestions and spell checks depending on your desired recipient, whether it is a business colleague or your uncle from San Francisco. Another awesome feature is the updated Spotlight. In an age of globalization, this feature will be able to better contextualize what you are searching for. For instance, Spotlight will now be able to use your location, pull up Wikipedia pages, and more in order to better suit your search.

From these additional rumored products, Apple will indeed be releasing OS X 10.10 in the upcoming months. Moving from large, wild cats like Leopard to towns and parks of California, this operating system will be called OS X Yosemite to connote the system’s shear power and beauty. One of the most astounding features of OS X Yosemite is the new way in which one can send attachments via e-mail. Instead of high-resolution picture and video e-mail attachments being bounced back because the file is too large, users can now send attachments as large as 5 GB to the recipients’ mailbox via the iCloud. The way this will work is that the attachment one sends will first be sent up to the iCloud, compressed, and then back down to the recipients’ mailbox.

While some significant software updates wowed us at this year’s WWDC, bloggers and writers were off-base in some of their predictions regarding any new Apple hardware being presented. For instance, neither an updated MacBook nor iHome was mentioned. Additionally, Apple TV was completely left out of the discussion as Re/Code correctly predicted.

One of the most circulated rumors leading up to the WWDC that did not come to fruition was the presentation of the iPhone 6. Anticipated to have a screen between 4.7 and 5.5 inches, there was no mention of it at all. Looks like those that predicted the release of a new iPhone got this one wrong!

Given these momentous announcements and…not-announcements, it will be exciting to see how the world of Apple develops over the next few months. With iOS 8 releasing in October, we already have something to eagerly await. But for now, let the rumors begin for WWDC 2015!

Rumor or Fallacy?

by Aaron Kirchner-Loeser
Aurnhammer Marketing Coordinator

Between June 2nd and 6th, developers from around the world will converge on San Francisco to attend Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Although rumors leading up to the conference in the past have sometimes been true, such as the unveiling of iOS 7 at WWDC 2013, many rumors did not come to fruition.

With the upcoming conference in just a few days, there have been a slew of enticing rumors about new devices and technologies that Apple may unveil, ranging from introduction of iHome to the presentation of the iPhone 6. Since Apple is remaining close-lipped, everything is speculation and we look forward to seeing which rumors are true and which rumors are not.

IPHONE 6: The iPhone 6 is one device that techies and users think will be introduced at the conference. As the iPhone 5’s screen is significantly larger than the iPhone 4, the iPhone 6’s screen is expected to grow. According to MacRumors, the iPhone 6’s retina display could potentially be anywhere between 4.7 and 5.5 inches, which would level the playing field between the size of the iPhone’s screen and that of Android devices like Samsung’s Galaxy and the Nexus. Also, there are rumors that the iPhone 6’s screen will move from Corning Gorilla Glass to sapphire crystal, which is already used in small parts of the iPhone 5 such as the camera lens. This is what the rumored iPhone 6 may look like:

IOS 8: As iOS7 was speculated to be presented at WWDC 2013 and it was, insiders believe that iOS 8 will be introduced at WWDC14. Although the physical and aesthetic appearance of iOS 7 will not change, several new features are expected to be added, including split-screen apps, which will help users multitask, and an Apple Maps update, which will improve not only navigation by adding public transportation directions and more detailed streets, but also connectivity in an age of globalization.

IHOME: Another rumor that has been circulating leading up to WWDC 2014 is that iHome will be introduced. A smart home platform that will run on BLE and possibly NFC (near field communication), iHome would allow users to control the most basic functions of their home from the palm of their hand. This could be anything from opening the garage door when one pulls in from work to cranking up the heat in the winter to turning up the volume on the speakers at a 4th of July party.

APPLE TV: To the dismay of many hopeful onlookers, it doesn’t seem like Apple TV will be one of the keynote presentations at WWDC 2014. In fact, John Paczkowski of Re/Code claims that there will absolutely be no Apple TV at the conference.

With the conference less than a week away, these rumored technological unveilings will not only spark heated and productive dialogue, but also potentially change our lives for the better. Stay tuned for a follow-up WWDC 2014 blog post next week to see which rumors actually become reality!

Additional Rumored Products

-       iOS 8
-       OS X 10.10
-       iTunes radio and Healtbook
-       Updated MacBook air, updated MacBook Pro, and updated iMac
-       New Mac mini
-       IPad mini 3

Another month, another awesome iOS Developer Meetup at Aurnhammer! Many thanks to all of the attendees and the presenters who showed off some really interesting projects.  Here’s a recap for our loyal attendees, and anyone who couldn’t make it.

College is a time for luxurious living and trendy gadgets

 

by Tim Aaron
Aurnhammer Philosopher and Social Media Strategist

For many students across the US, college is a time for luxurious living. From days spent reliving the riveting rhapsodies of Homer to nights spent indulging the mind in focused, philosophical thought, college students live and breathe their first breaths of autonomous freedom and independence, many, even, on their parents’ dime. Inhabiting enlightening havens of liberty and premier instruction, many students delight in an additional luxury as well, namely, that of the luxurious mobile device. And with the number of college students that own smart mobile devices increasing daily, more and more are acclimating to a lifestyle of diverted device decadence. So, what does this mean for business?

Mobile devices, such as the iPhone, are platforms through which enterprises can engage prospective and already-established consumer bases.

If such enterprises were able to calculate the percentage of college students that own and operate such devices, they would be able calculate the potential reach of a marketing initiative targeting the college student demographic.

Since there has been little to no research done with regard to the percentage of college students that own iPhones, and since both college and iPhone demographics are often prudent populations to target, I took some numbers that have been researched and reported in the past and built upon them in a way that led to an approximation of the percentage of college students that own iPhone devices. Here is the logic behind my findings:

Number Crunch:

In 2012, 16% of iPhone users in the US were of college age, 18-22 years old.[1]

In 2012 there were 30+ million iPhone users in the US.[2][3]

Using these numbers to calculate the number of iPhone users in the US, ages 18-22: 30 million multiplied by .16 equals 4.8 million iPhone users, ages 18-22, in the US.

In the 2010 US census, there were approximately 20 million 16-20 year olds, resulting in approximately 20 million 18-22 year olds 2 years later, in 2012.[4]

Using the numbers we have accumulated to calculate an approximation of the percentage of iPhone users aged 18-22: 4.8 million (the number of iPhone users ages 18-22) divided by 20 million (the number of 18-22 year olds total) equals 0.24 or 24%, ie. the percentage of 18-22 year olds that own iPhones.

Conclusion:

So, approximately 24% of 18-22 year olds in the US own iPhones, as of mid to late 2012. But is 24% a conservative or overzealous estimation for the percentage of US college students that own iPhones?

In our calculations, we used 30 million as the number of iPhone users in the US in 2012, which was a very conservative estimation. Since there are more than 30 million US iPhone users currently, and since 16% (the number iPhone users in the US that are 18-22 years old) of a number greater than 30 million results in more than 4.8 million 18-22 year old iPhone users in the US, the conclusion that 24% of 18-22 year olds own iPhones is a low approximation. Moreover, college students tend to come from more affluent families than those in their age group who are not matriculating. Therefore, it is fair to say that the percentage of US college students that own iPhones is likely to be significantly greater than the percentage of US 18-22 year olds in general that own iPhones.

A precise statistic on the percentage of college students that own iPhones would be ideal insight for advertising and marketing professionals seeking to engage the college student demographic. But for now, it is safe to say that significantly more than 24% of US college students own and operate iPhone devices.

Six points of wisdom
For companies seeking to
Increase engagement

by Tim Aaron
Aurnhammer Philosopher and Social Media Strategist

1. Mobile is the new, engaging space in which to advance your brand’s presence

“‘Mobile is the new face of engagement,’ Mr. Schadler [Principal Analyst at Forrester] said. ‘Businesses should stop thinking about it as a small Web site on a tiny computer, and start thinking about mobile as being deeply embedded systems of engagement.’”[1] (Brian Chen: New York Times)

“One billion consumers will have smartphones by 2016. US consumers alone will own 257 million smartphones and 126 million tablets. Apple, Google, and Microsoft will be the software platform for more than 90% of smartphones and tablets worldwide.”[2] (Ted Schadler and John McCarthy: Forrester)

2. Your consumers expect your brand to have a mobile presence

“Your customers expect you to have a first class app available on every platform (Android/iPhone/Windows Mobile/Blackberry) that will allow them to interact with your brand as well as make purchases. The mall space has blown open and shopping has become intimate, mobile and always open for business.”[3] (Irina Kalonatchi: BettiBlue B2B Brand Management)

3.  Mobile apps allow your brand to engage consumers dynamically, anytime, anywhere

“When done right, push notifications enable a brand to socialize with its best connected and engaged customers anytime, anywhere.”[4] (Brent Hieggelke: Mashable)

“Geofence programs allow an administrator to set up triggers so when a device crosses a geofence and enters (or exits) the boundaries defined by the administrator, an SMS or email alert is sent.”[5] (Margaret Rouse: TechTarget)

4. People are purchasing on smartphones like never before

“American consumers spent a healthy $25 billion via mobile transactions during 2012, an 81% rise on 2011. Along with social networking, gaming and emailing, shopping has become one of the top mobile device activities.”[6] (Helen Leggatt: BizReport)

“Because of the rapid adoption rate of tablets & smartphones, eCommerce will continue to grow on the mobile platform… The percentage of mobile shoppers will only increase in the coming years.”[7] (Kristina Knight: BizReport)

“Consumers use their smartphones at many different points in their purchase path. 41% of those who use their mobile phones to help with shopping said they made a purchase directly on their smartphone. 46% said they researched an item on their smartphone then went to a store to make the purchase. 37% said they researched an item on their smartphone then made the purchase online.”[8] (Google)

5. Mobile applications allow for context-aware engagement with consumers, which can be tailored to their wants and needs at the moment they are making purchasing decisions.

“A geofence is nothing more than a virtual perimeter for a geographic area. Simply put, newer location-based applications enable users to build virtual fences around areas of interest. Those fences can be static or dynamic in nature, and possess properties that trigger behaviors such as notifications and automatic location updates upon zone entry or exit.”[10] (Jennifer Van Grove: Mashable)

“Mobile is the manifestation of a much broader shift to new systems of engagement. These systems of engagement help firms empower their customers, partners, and employees with context-aware apps and smart products. To remain vital in this business technology reformation, CIOs must step up and work with other executives to establish an ‘office of the chief mobility officer’ to implement an enterprisewide mobile strategy.”[11] (Ted Schadler and John McCarthy: Forrester)

6. Mobile apps have proven to have positive results for many companies in the past

“Walgreen [is] an example of a business that has greatly benefited from its app. The pharmacy company said that 40 percent of its online transactions came from its one-year-old mobile app, where the most active customers are tapping through to shop, order prescription refills or find nearby stores to get flu shots.”[12] (Brian Chen: New York Times)

“In addition to its popular Android app, Domino’s has also seen success with its iPhone and iPod touch app, which achieved $1 million in total sales in just 28 days, and just three months after its release, the app achieved more than $1 million in sales in a single week.”[13] (Rimma Kats: Mobile Commerce Daily)

Oh Valentine’s Day
How you tickle me every
Time you come around

by Tim Aaron
Aurnhammer Philosopher and Social Media Strategist

For some of us, February 14th is a wonderful day for shared love and affection where individuals emote, demonstrating to others just how much they care. For others, it is a nightmarish day for realized loneliness and tearful rejection where individuals hide themselves in dejected isolation. We at Aurnhammer spurn the polarized conceptions that depict the day as two opposite extremes. So, we’ve created some videos to identify what Valentine’s Day is actually for:

Dating

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdUePq50QyI

Jealousy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2HiXExqYRU

Lust

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jcV53C7uU

Expressing emotions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uERA5DgRfwE

Love songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvD2C_083ro

Realizations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZDpPqjfuoM

And, of course, supporting a government that isn’t full of gangsters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zFJvLItJ8

If you want to create funny, cute, provocative, or even dirty video valentines, download the Say It! app and you’ll be sure to put a smile on the faces of those you love. It’s simple, quicker than making a collage valentine yourself, and can be shared via email and Facebook. Just download the app from the iTunes app store, choose an animated character, record your oh-so seductive voice, and share the video valentine with family, friends, and, of course, that special someone. Updates on the app are pending so check in soon for an even more seamless mobile experience. We hope you enjoy the day of love and cheers to us both if your video valentine helps you get some.