Category: Small Biz Go Mobile

iPad 2 Finally Launches

by Shy Mukerjee

After what some would call a grueling wait between last week’s announcement and 5 P.M. today, Apple’s iPad 2 has finally arrived in consumer’s hands.  With some analysts already predicting sales of 1-2 million iPad’s this weekend alone, it is sure to be remembered as one of the major mobile tech stories of 2011. Now that you’re finally getting your hands on the hardware for the first time, bringing it home, unboxing your new device… what next?

Thankfully, the Internet is there for you. Hundreds of sites are chiming in with their takes on the ‘must have’ apps for the iPad 2, from major players like CNET to the SF Gate and even the Salt Lake Tribune. But the real question is, what are your favorite apps? What is going to make or break the iPad 2 experience for you?

LinkedIn Today

by Justin Alcon

It’s always exciting to see launches of big new products from well-known and trusted companies. Yesterday LinkedIn did just that  with their announcement of LinkedIn Today.  LinkedIn Today is their shiny new social news offering for business folks. This product is not positioned to compete with Twitter, Facebook, or Flipboard; instead, LinkedIn sees it as the “Wall Street Journal of social news”.

It sounds like a great idea, but how is the execution? In short, not bad. The top stories we see on the site right now are topical and fresh.  Many of these topics are covered in other places, but this product delivers real value when you drill down into industry-specific news.

Here’s a quick walkthrough: First, fire up your LinkedIn app (available on iOS and Android). Once you are logged in, tap the “News” icon (if using a browser, just go directly to LinkedIn Today). When you first use this feature, it prompts you to choose industries to follow. However, if you do not choose any you’ll see a customized feed based on the industries in which you and your connections work. For example, I see articles about the Internet, Computer Software, Online Media, and Design. You can add industries to follow, like Venture Capital, or you can follow specific news sources.

The articles are organized based on how many times each story has been shared by your network either on LinkedIn or Twitter, giving you an idea of what’s important to your social network today. One nice (and necessary, and fairly standard in these times) feature is that you can share or save stories directly from LinkedIn Today. If LinkedIn made this into an iPad specific app, rather than this current one designed for iPhone, it would likely be the best news consumption app on the market. Flipboard for fun, LinkedIn for business.

Square’s CEO responds to VeriFone’s Security Claims

by BrothaTech

Yesterday, I reported on VeriFone’s claims that Square’s free credit card reader’s inability to encrypt credit card information is a serious security issue that needed to be dealt with. It’s only fair that I also report Square’s response to those claims.

In a letter from Square’s CEO, Jack Dorsey, posted on the company’s website, he noted that the information encrypted on the black strip on the back of any credit card is similar to the information located on the front of the card in the sense that anybody who you has your credit card, has all the information needed to steal and use your card, regardless of the type of technology used.

Any technology—an encrypted card reader, phone camera, or plain old pen and paper—can be used to “skim” or copy numbers from a credit card. The waiter you hand your credit card to at a restaurant, for example, could easily steal your card details if he wanted to—no technology required. If you provide your credit card to someone who intends to steal from you, they already have everything they need: the information on the front of your card.

He also points out that if in fact your credit card information is stolen, banks will go through the customary practice of reversing any fraudulent charges. In other words, regardless of HOW your credit card information is illegally obtained (from a Square credit card reader, a VeriFone credit card processing machine, or any other POS device), the same rules apply to rectify the situation.

I think the issue with VeriFone is in the lengths they went to out Square’s alleged security issues. The fake Square skimming app, and the video tutorial went beyond informative and instead explained how to steal credit card information using a Square credit card reader. If there is a genuine security issue, more private and secure methods involving ALL parties could have been taken.

In the end, all of this brings up a valid point – with the accessibility, ease of use, and coolness that technology brings, you still have to be careful with who you entrust your information with…financial or otherwise. The same technology that makes our lives easier is the same technology that can become a hassle.

“Pray for the best, but expect the worst”

VeriFone Publicly Calls out Square Security Hole

by BrothaTech

Square is the popular start-up company that allows iPhone and Android users to process credit card transactions using their phone and a free credit card reader dongle that plugs into the phone’s headphone jack.

VeriFone, a leader in credit card transaction technology has a similar product (PayWare Mobile app), but Square’s minimalistic approach to its transactions (no merchant account needed, no credit check, AND a free credit card reader) has proved to be some serious competition for Verifone. I’m not sure if Verifone is generally concerned with the financial security of the consumers, or this is an outright attempt to squash the competition, but VeriFone’s CEO has just released an Open Letter, demonstration video, AND a free fake Square app that allegedly identifies and demonstrates a serious hole in Square’s ability to encrypt credit card information when swiping it through the free credit card reader.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObGQxSuORy0&feature=player_embedded

Whatever the reasoning, VeriFone is serious about this latest development and has called out Square and notified its credit card processing partners (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and JP Morgan Chase). The Fake Square App released by Verifone can be downloaded by ANYONE to test this flaw for themselves.

To back VeriFone, if this is true, the possibilities for ANYONE with the Square reader, a decent card skimming application, and your trust can have your credit card information within a matter of seconds. THAT’S A PROBLEM, and could mean curtains for Square, let alone any legal implications if this particular issue goes mainstream.

To back Square, if VeriFone REALLY cared about the consumer’s credit card security, and not its revenue, would it have just given would-be crooks the keys, complete with an instruction manual and tutorial video to steal our credit card information? Additionally, card skimming is not a new trick and companies like VeriFone have been fighting for years, so it’s not solely a Square issue. In the end, it all boils down to customer common sense as it relates to who you hand over your credit card to.

/Rant off

Nonetheless, the implications are serious enough that it needs to be addressed, and so far, mums the word from Square. Hopefully the company’s representatives will respond and restore its customer’s sense of trust and security and continue to offer its products and services to individuals and small businesses who want accept credit card payments, while offering competition to larger credit card processing companies. Competition is always good for the consumer.

[via: Engadget]

Small Biz Tips from Smallbiztechnology.com

by Shy Mukerjee

We are pleased to work with Ramon Ray, CEO and editor of Smallbiztechnology.com, journalist, and technology evangelist, to bring you our new Small Biz tips on Wednesdays. Each week we’ll be sharing videos and articles featuring hot topics, products and trends in small business.

Boost the Wi-Fi Signal in your Large Office or Home – Hawking Technology @ CES 2011

You can now eliminate wireless dead spots inside your home or office with Hawking Technology’s Outdoor Smart Repeater (HOW2R1). Receive any Wi-Fi signal and boost the signal five times the distance of a standard Wireless-G network. The Outdoor Smart Repeater features a heavy-duty, waterproof design so it can even be set up outside. It’s an ideal solution for an office complex, large home, marine dock and RV park. For more information on the Hawking Outdoor Smart Repeater, visit their website.

At CES 2011, Smallbiztechnology.com checked out Hawking Technology’s Outdoor Smart Repeater: Watch the video.

It’s Time To Consider Quick Response (QR) Bar Codes In Your Marketing (New Service From Snappd)

You’ve seen them in fancy magazines, on bill boards in Times Square, Las Vegas and Austin, your geek friends have shown them off – but you’ve never thought they were for you.

I’m talking about QR Codes – the bar codes smartphones can read with software and when scanned a program is activated, web site pops up, SMS message is sent or some other action takes place.

I bet all of your customers are not using QR codes, nor even most of them. However, QR codes are easy to set up, make you look hip and can increase your marketing to the often younger “smartphone app” crowd. Read the rest of this article on Smallbiztechnology.com.

BlackBerry Protect App Secures Mobile Information

by BrothaTech

RIM has released its own official mobile device protection app (currently in beta) that can backup and restore data if your BlackBerry is damaged or you switch devices. In addition, the app can completely wipe of your data if your BlackBerry falls into the wrong hands.

Small business owners may not have concrete IT policies in place for their device(s). So it’s not uncommon that users secure their mobile data with a simple device password. Backing up and restoring user data may consist of hooking the device up to a computer on an irregular basis. With the BlackBerry Protect app, BlackBerry users can actually create sound mobile security practices to ensure their data is there when they need it and out of reach for others.

Some of the features of BlackBerry Protect include:

  • Wireless Backup and Restore of contacts, calendar, memos, tasks, browser bookmarks, and text messages based on a multitude of scheduling options.
  • Incremental backups: Backup only what has changed since last backup
  • GPS capabilities so you can locate your device on a map
  • Find your device via a Loud Alert function
  • Wipe all contents of your device online

BlackBerry Protect is a free download from BlackBerry App World. Note: BlackBerry Protect does not work in conjuction with BlackBerry Enterprise Server. So check with your organization’s IT department if you’re using a company-issued device.

And remember to always backup ALL of your data!

Samsung Galaxy Improved by iPad 2 Announcement

by Justin Alcon

Like it or love it- you have to be fairly impressed with Apple’s iPad 2 announcement. Faster processor, lighter weight, thinner profile, front and rear cameras, same low price.  The announcement has led Samsung, purveyor of the Android 3.0 tablet Galaxy Tab 10.1, to re-examine at its own hardware model and, according to executive VP Lee Don-Joo, “improve the parts that are inadequate.” I don’t know what those inadequacies are, however he does note that “Apple made [the iPad 2] very thin”. He goes on to say that Samsung will change its pricing strategy with the Tab 10.1. It was originally going to cost more than the 7-inch version of the Galaxy Tab, but in light of Apple’s new product, Samsung will have to cut prices and improve quality to keep a market share.

UPDATE: The fine folks over at BGR report that the Galaxy 10.1 will be shipped as planned, with no impact from the iPad 2 announcement: “Samsung denied the report this past Saturday, saying it plans to release its second Galaxy-branded Android tablet on schedule.”

Can your business go wrong with mobile coupons?

by Mario Armstrong

Many small businesses are anxious to try out group buying websites to market their business to consumers but before you pull the trigger and offer an online deal there are a few tips you should think through. Primarily, make sure you place limits and some fine print on your deals–you don’t want customers coming in trying to game the offer & take advantage of the opportunity and you don’t want to create an environment that could be a customer service disaster. These group buying sites like Groupon & LivingSocial can be a great way to use mobile to drive customers but beware of the pitfalls like this small business owner realized.

Apple & iPad get serious about small business with new Joint Venture!

by Mario Armstrong

This just hit my email inbox. Coming off of the iPad2 announcement yesterday it was interesting to see this email from Apple. Apple is introducing “Joint Venture”, which apparently is a new program geared to small business owners to help them with Apple products ranging from their Mac to iPhone, and iPad. This is a smart move from Apple as we all have witnessed the growth of entrepreneurship and small business, especially in these economic times. The email from Apple also states “we’ll set up your new Apple products, train your employees, and give you priority support. And you’ll have the full support of our Business Team”.

What are your thoughts on this? Will this help more small businesses purchase Apple products?

OS 4.3 Will Bring Mobile Hotspot To AT&T iPhone 4

by BrothaTech

It won’t be long before AT&T iPhone users are somewhat right back on the same level with Verizon Wireless iPhone users with the upcoming OS upgrade to the latest iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Within the upgrade to OS 4.3, it has been confirmed by AT&T brass that its iPhone 4 will also get the mobile hotspot feature that will enable up to 5 devices to utilize the iPhone’s wireless signal to get online, check email, etc.

AT&T spokesperson Seth Bloom stated “To utilize this feature, customers will need to subscribe to the DataPro 4GB/$45 tethering data plan.”

I currently use the VZW iPhone and the mobile hotspot feature definitely comes in handy when I need to access my laptop to send an invoice or any other business document that’s not in the cloud. Another added bonus is it cuts down on amount of gadgets if you use BOTH an iPhone AND a seperate MiFi device. But be warned, your battery life will suffer, so make sure you are plugged in if you are using the hotspot feature for an extended amount of time. If the AT&T version is similar in functionality, it will be a very well-received feature for AT&T customers as well.

Whether you praise AT&T for its fast 3G, or praise VZW for its reliable 3G, one thing you can now say about both in regards to their iPhone versions is that both can now (legitimately) share the internet connection; something that I my opinion will be a standard feature on all smartphones within the next year.

[via: intomobile]