Android versus iPhone: Brand Fight Goes Global

The Independent are reporting that Motorola are launching their new handset the Droid in the UK on December 7th. The model runs on Google’s Android Operating System, and has won over a number of iPhone fans in the US.

YouGov’s BrandIndex has been the primary tool for tracking the impact that the Droid’s release – especially US Carrier Verizon’s combative iDont ads. We have been delighted that BrandIndex’s scientific brand-measuring data is finally getting the publicity we believe it deserves. AppleInsider, Cell Phone News 2.0, eWeek, and numerous other tech news sites (as far afield as China) have been quick to understand the implication of the BrandIndex figures.

iPayMyCreditCard?

A followup to an earlier post:

It has been suggested that iPhones could be used to make credit card payments, in a similar way in which they are used to pay for iPhone Apps from Apple’s online store. This potential was demonstrated to me some years ago, when a colleague pointed out the striking similarity of her phone’s SIM card and her credit card chip.

YouGov research carried out on Natwest’s behalf revealed that one in four customers are interested in making money transfers between bank accounts through their phones. However, it is possible that a far larger group of people will possess the relevant technology, and security fears may be alleviated as mobile payments became more common.

Innovation from Africa to Europe: Mobile Banking

Africa’s under-developed banking and communications infrastructure has encouraged tremendous growth in the role of mobile telephony. There are perhaps as many as a billion people who lack a bank account but own a mobile phone. We usually think of European, American, or Asian technological innovations being exported to Africa, however, in this case the process has been reversed.

Recent YouGov research for Natwest revealed that 25% of customers are interested in mobile money transfers between banks, 25% would like to receive fraud alerts on their mobile, and 24% would like to be able to pay a cheque in without having to visit the bank.

Natwest have launched a mobile banking iPhone app to tap into this growing UK market.