Category: Small Biz Go Mobile

Small Biz tips on Wednesdays with Ramon Ray

by Mario Armstrong

We are really pleased to work with Ramon Ray, CEO of Smallbiztechnology.com, journalist, technology evangelist, and editor of Smallbiztechnology.com, 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.

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Email Subscribers via SMS TXT – Neat New Tool Helps Connect Customers To Your Email  Content

As I write this, what comes to mind is that just technology is a menu…a menu for you to pick from and use as you see fit that it can be used as a tool to grow your business.

Email marketing company Delivra (www.delivra.com) unveiled its Text-to-Subscribe feature, allowing marketers to quickly grow their email lists and giving subscribers a new and convenient way to sign up for emails. Read the rest on Smallbiztechnology.com http://smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2011/03/email-subscribers-via-sms-txt.html

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Connect your External Hard Drive to the Web for Cloud Access – Pogoplug @ CES 2011

Instead of dealing with recurring monthly fees for cloud storage service, Pogoplug turns your external USB hard drives into remotely accessible devices. Simply connect the Pogoplug unit to your router, plug in up to four hard drives or USB flash drives, login to their free web platform, and all your files become available online. There’s a free desktop application for your Mac, Windows or Linux computer, enabling you to view Pogoplug files as if they are on a local drive. Mobile apps are also available, connecting your smartphone to your personal cloud storage.

See the video at Smallbiztechnology.com:  http://smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2011/02/connect-your-external-hard-dri.html

PaperLinks for Business: Digital Brand Interaction via QR Code

by BrothaTech

We have talked about QR Codes here on Small Biz before. The consensus was that the technology hasn’t gained complete support in the U.S…yet.

That isn’t stopping compaines like Paperlinks from being innovators in the QR Code industry. Last October, the company launched capabilities that enable users to create QR codes on just about anything and offered mini mobile sites to host the information behind the QR Code. Now Paperlinks is reaching out to its potential business clientele looking to give their customers a more interactive and digital brand experience.

Businesses can create their own Paperlinks in minutes by signing up and creating a profile on the Paperlinks website. The “Paperlinks” serve as mobile landing pages for users who scan the QR code to get more information about the product or service. Businesses can customize the Paperlinks by choosing from a number of easy-to-deploy interactive modules. Each module can be updated at any time, with changes reflected in real-time. The drag-and-drop interface makes setting up a Paperlink a snap.

Modules include: Company information; photos, videos, and other media; to promotional offers, downloads, and Social networking feeds. Businesses who use Paperlinks also have access to an account dashboard provides mobile analytics on who, where and when your Paperlink has been scanned. If those features are not enough, Paperlinks has its own free QR Code reader app for most mobile platforms that users can quickly download and get started scanning your businesses Paperlinks.

Business pricing starts at $24.99 and includes a host of features that will get your business slapping QR Codes on just about anything you can get your hands on.

AT&T Premier WP7 Phone and Car-kit for One Cent

by BrothaTech

Great Deal on Windows Phone 7 device with Extras

It can’t get any cheaper more monetarily advantageous for you and your business than a shiny new Windows Phone 7 mobile device and a car kit for one penny.

…Yeah, you heard me correctly

For a limited time, AT&T Premier is offering business customers (large and small alike) or individuals a sweet deal on an LG Quantum, running the new WP7 OS AND and a free car kit for the low-low price of one penny, provided you meet eligibility requirements (see legal mumbo-jumbo here).

The LG Quantum is loaded with features that will ensure your ears stay low to the ground all while not taking up every waking moment of your life. Features include:

– View video, applications, and the Web on a vivid 3.5” wVGA touch screen

– Fire off text messages and email with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard

– Multitask quickly via a 1 GHz processor and 16 GB user memory

If you’re an on-the-go business owner, you will appreciate the fact that the offer also includes a free car-kit that will enable you to keep your hands on “10 and 2” while ensuring your clients that everything is running as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

To get in on this deal, all you need to do is meet the eligibility requirements and sign up for a 1 to 2yr contract (voice & data) with AT&T Premier and you will be running your business hands-free while other so called “fast movers” are tied to their desktops/laptops.

For more information and to sign up, check out the AT&T Premier for your Business website.

Small Biz Go Mobile Looking For Part Time Contractual Editor

by Song

Mario Armstrong Media has an immediate opening for a contractual, freelance Online Editor to join our team. The hours for this position are 10-15 hours a week, flexible. We are looking for an editor who is passionate about entrepreneurs, small business and technology.
The Online Editor for Mario Armstrong’s Small Biz Go Mobile website will be responsible for the writing of daily posts, managing social media channels, working with and editing submissions from freelance writers, and developing strategies to grow traffic including, but not limited to: concepting and running contests, developing partnerships with similar-minded websites and reaching out to guest bloggers.

The ideal candidate will have 2+ years of experience editing and developing a digital editorial brand, be very familiar with cutting edge consumer and small business technology and be experienced using social media on a professional level to grow a brand.

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
– Understanding of cross-linking and SEO strategies or willingness to educate self
– Experience writing about technology
– Keen interest in mobile devices, app, productivity services and online tools that benefit small
businesses; must stay abreast of latest trends, products, channels, competitive set
– Excellent communications and writing skills
– Forward, creative thinker able to introduce best blog/social media practices
– Strict attention to detail
– Must be self-motivated and able to meet short deadlines
– Build editorial relationships with third parties

Please check out http://www.smallbizgomobile.com. We want to work with people who are pumped up about helping small businesses and entrepreneurs get the most out of technology & mobility.  Send a brief cover leter, links to work, and resume to song@marioarmstrong.com and CC nicole@marioarmstrong.com.

Dell: Windows 7 Tablets This Year

by Justin Alcon

Earlier this month, Dell announced plans to introduce a 10-inch, Windows 7 tablet later this year.  Few details were provided about the device; however, the product will be targeted towards the businesses market.
From Dell: “The upcoming tablet is designed for end-users who need greater mobility, as well as IT organizations that demand control, security, manageability and integration with existing infrastructure investments”. Dell’s tablet will empower a more mobile workforce in a way that offers customers the business applications and corporate data they need, while meeting regulatory mandates and IT requirements”.
To me, it seems kind of forced for a tablet device to run a full OS, especially Windows.  Since there were few details or specs announced, I remain dubious that this device was thoughtfully designed. Hopefully,  Dell will prove me wrong with some impressive products specs and releases in the near future.  Read more about this over at CruchGear.

Girl Scouts Can Now Swipe Credit Cards with GoPayment

by BrothaTech

If it’s good enough for the Girl Scouts’, smartphone credit card processing is good enough for your business too.

The Girl Scouts’ of NorthEast Ohio have been equipped with Intuit’s GoPayment mobile payment app and credit card reader for iPhone and Android devices that will allow them to take credit card payments for those addicting little cookies. The promotion is in celebration of the Girl Scouts 99th anniversary in March, and Intuit gladly handed the equipment over to the Girls in order to increase awareness of the GoPayment service. (who hasn’t heard of the Girl Scouts)

From the Press Release:

“We’re glad to put the latest mobile technology in the hands of America’s future business leaders to help them increase cookie sales,” said Chris Hylen, vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Payment Solutions division. “For this generation of girls in particular, running a business and being able to take payments anywhere with mobile apps like GoPayment will become second nature. We’re eager to see how sales will increase now that they take credit cards with GoPayment.

For a limited time, Intuit is extending this same offer to all Girl Scout councils across the country so they can maximize their cookie sales. Councils and troop leaders can get more information by calling Intuit’s GoPayment Girl Scout hotline at: 800-871-3334.”

You can run, but you can’t hide…your wallet as The Girl Scouts can now overcome your lame ol’ “I don’t carry cash” excuse when they roll up on you outside of your local grocery store slanging their product graciously ask your support of their program.

[via: 9to5Mac]

Square Drops Transaction Fees, Hopes To Boost Volume

by BrothaTech

From my email inbox:

Square drops transaction prices

I’m assuming that Square was paying attention to Intuit and its new smartphone credit card processing service GoPayment, which is one of the reasons why Square has decided to drop their fees for its own no merchant accounted needed service down to just a flat 2.75% per total transaction fee (purely speculation). Now you will still have to pay 3.75% if you manually type in the credit card number, but for both transaction types, the “+15 cents” Square initially tacked on to every charge has been dropped.

Most of the buzz around this announcement by Square is that they will more than likely take a revenue hit by dropping the 15 cents charge, hopes to gain volume in order to further cement itself as the front runner in the relatively new mobile transaction processing arena as other big players (like Intuit, Visa, Bank of America, etc) start to make a move and offer similar services that rival what Square has been doing for a little over a year.

In my opinion, if a move like this from Square can get other players’ attention like Intuit, and thus creating even more competition (which is always good for the consumer), paying per transaction fees as a small business with low volume credit card transaction (and the cool factor for swiping a client’s credit card with my smartphone) still beats dealing with those expensive POS (Point of Sale) machines…that ALWAYS seem to be out of receipt paper.

…But that’s just me

Galaxy 10.1 with Honeycomb

by Justin Alcon

Bringing a new contender into the increasingly-crowded tablet market, Samsung has revealed Galaxy Tab 10.1, their newest Android-based tablet. The new Tab will run Android 3.0, or “Honeycomb”, and can be expected in some markets as early as March.
The updated Tab 10.1 is powered by NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 processor and sports a 10.1-inch screen with a 1280×800 resolution (slightly better than the current iPad’s resolution). There will be 16 and 32 GB models, and both will support WiFi and 3G capability on GSM networks. Unlike the original Galaxy Tab, the Tab 10.1 will not include Samsung’s Android platform customizations or its TouchWiz user interface. It will be a stock, untainted Honeycomb device.
The Tab 10.1 is lightweight at 1.23 pounds; it weighs less than both the iPad and the Motorola Xoom. Android enthusiasts are going to have some tough tablet choices to make in the next month or so, but the relative similarity of the hardware specs between the devices means there isn’t a lot of differentiation going on yet.
The arrival of Honeycomb could finally give Samsung the kind of software user experience needed to compete with iPad in a way that the original Tab could not.

VOXTROT

by Justin Alcon

The cost of making international calls on your mobile can be one of the most dreaded things about international travel. Thankfully, a new startup called Voxtrot (http://voxtrot.com), has jumped on the scene to help with this problem. Voxtrot™ is a Swiss company  founded by enthusiastic entrepreneurs with a passion for cutting-edge technology and innovation.

Bascally, Voxtrot is a  free mobile network.  On the Voxtrot network it’s as if your mobile carrier is giving you free worldwide mobile calls.  Unlike other “free” call and text services there are no logins, usernames or passwords to forget, and you can use your everyday contact list.  In short, you use your phone as you always have, so long as the person you are calling is also connected to Voxtrot. If that’s the case, the call will be free! It’s a potential international-calling game changer.

Right now Voxtrot is only available on Android™, but other platforms will be supported in the near future.  Although its use is limited to others using the service, this is still a great solution for business since it would be easy to set up everyone in your organization before the next big business trip.

So, how is this possible?  Well, in a nutshell, Voxtrot simply uses the Internet to connect you to any other Voxtrotter in the world. It works anywhere, on all types of networks including EDGE, GPRS, UMTS/3G, HSDPA, and WiFi. Voxtrot works seamlessly with the existing apps on your phone and your current carrier.

You can download Voxtrot from the Android Market or you can get it directly with your mobile browser on join.voxtrot.com
You can find out more about Voxtrot on their beta website and on Facebook and Twitter.