Communiqué PR recently completed a project with Dashwire, an independent connected services platform provider. Dashwire offers an industry-leading connected services platform solution that delivers mobile-to-Web consumer services. This means mobile users can sync and manage their personal contacts, text messages, calls, photos, videos and settings from their phone to the Web.
The connected services market is heating up, and Microsoft’s recent entry into the game with its MyPhone service validates what Apple, Nokia and Google are already betting on. Competition is no longer from device maker to device maker (i.e., Nokia vs. Motorola phones). Now, software services are competing to deliver value-added services to consumers on top of phone platforms.
According to a December 2008 press release from IDC, mobile phone shipments in 2009 are expected to decline, however, converged mobile devices (smartphones) are expected to grow 8.9 percent worldwide in 2009. The report states:
“Users have come to realize what these devices can do beyond voice telephony, especially when it comes to running applications. Take a look at how gaming, mapping and location, entertainment, news, and social networking applications for converged mobile devices have taken off, allowing users to do much more than just make phone calls. In response, handset vendors have been building their product and applications portfolios to catch this wave of opportunity.”
Ford Davidson, founder and CEO of Dashwire, has been an active voice in the connected services market. Ford carefully watches market trends, actively blogs about news and trends within and provides the media with a clear point of view on which players are well positioned to emerge as the market leader. As an independent vendor, Ford is well positioned to offer his perspective and expertise to help educate media, consumers and industry influencers.
From a PR perspective, providing media and analysts with a strong point of view on market trends is a great way to help build thought leadership and increase awareness for an organization. Just recently, Ford was quoted in a Reuters’ article about how Nokia’s OVI store stacks up against Apple’s App Store. This placement resulted from our proactive outreach offering Ford’s point of view on the connected services market on the heels of Microsoft’s MyPhone announcement earlier this year.
Ford commented on the increasing competition in the space, saying, “These companies are really entering the arms race.” Reporter Tarmo Virki included the quote in the title of his article, “Nokia takes on Apple in online software arms race.”
The Reuters piece has been picked up by more than 39 publications and blogs, including CNBC, MSNBC, Forbes, Condé Nast Portfolio, International Business Times, the Guardian, eWeek and PC Magazine. The piece also helped Dashwire meet one of their key business objectives and it positioned the company as an emerging leader in the connected services market alongside larger companies such as Nokia, Apple and Microsoft.
For more information about Dashwire, please visit www.dashwire.com, or visit http://blog.dashwire.com/ to read more about Ford’s thoughts on the connected services industry.