Mobile, Tech & Google

I’ve been posting most of my updates to Google+ lately instead of on this blog, Twitter or Facebook. If you want to follow me on G+ and check out my latest holiday shots mostly done through instagr.am, feel free to add me (gplus.to/frankalbert) to one of your circles.

If you don’t have an invite yet to Google+, you can click this link to use one of my 150 invitations.

With that, happy holidays to all of you enjoying August holidays anywhere!

I’m currently sitting on an A340 with destination San Francisco. Going to spend a few days in MTV (Googlespeak for Mountain View, our HQ) with my Mobile ads marketing team.

On my way through the new 2E terminal @ CDG airport in Paris, I stumbled upon an ad for an indoor location app made by Aeroport de Paris called My Way (Android). It allows you to find your way once you park at the airport straight to the gate indicating POIs on the way and any information related to your flight.

This is a great idea and should be integrated into travel apps such as TripAdvisor and TripIt or straight into Google Maps. You don’t want to download a new app for every airport you come to (without even mentioning the roaming data charges).

First we might need to have an open indoor location technology standard that it is easy to tap into. So far, this has relied on WiFi, but without knowing exactly where all the WiFi hotspots are for instance at this airport, it will be difficult to use the information to integrate with other apps.

Should all public WiFi hotspots publish their MAC-address and physical location to create an open ecosystem? Seems we have to depend on 3rd party providers to collect this information for the time being.

Safe travels to those out in the skies today

MMA & Google Global Mobile smartphone study

It’s time to start writing again and this time let me share a bit about what I have been working on lately.

Google organized a major event for advertisers and agencies in Paris last month; Think Mobile. At the event key advertisers highlighted their success stories on mobile. In addition, we unveiled unique research done in collaboration with the MMA (see also MMA France) showing that France is one of the most sophisticated European mobile markets as noted on the Google Mobile ads blog.

If you understand French, you can look at the sizzle reel we produced to recap the event where you can see statements from advertisers such as Air France, Pure Agency and La Redoute among others. You can also check out the amazing Infographics with data from the research for the French market.

Sounds like fun? Yes, it was great fun and it will not be the last in the Think Mobile series!

A random pick in my nightstand shows I have a bunch of books to finish reading. Below are some of those I should start with. If I should have any chance of reading these I should buy a Kindle, but I want to wait until the Kindlebread comes out

• The Art of the Start – Guy Kawasaki (check out his blog for how to change the world)
• Presentation Zen – Garr Reynolds (check out his blog on presentation design)
• The Essence of Shinto – Motohisa Yamakage

@ Google Paris onto Avenue de l’Opera. Can’t beat this location!

Shot taken in front of the Opera in Paris. Is it my iPhone 4 (which has a case protector) or my network provider Orange that is to blame for irregular data connection?

We still have a way to go for ubiquitous high speed mobile data connectivity. In the meantime I’ll play with my EDGE network or hunt for WiFi

Shot this morning from outside the Apple Store @ Opera in Paris.

When are we getting other great tablets? Come on Samsung, LG and HTC; get your stuff out on the market!

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As you can see, this blog has been completely revamped with a crisp new look. What happened?

As of April 1st I joined the Mobile ads marketing team @ Google after spending more than 3 years working as a Product Specialist (those who bridge the gap between the product & sales teams in Google) on Mobile & Local ads.

New role, new opportunities and a new look on my blog. Did I mention it looks amazing when viewed from a tablet device? Enjoy!