The title in English is “The potential of user generated content in mobil networks by the example of a concept of a mobile Blogging portal in Austria”. The research aims to find out critical success factors of moblog communities and gives solutions and hints for solving them.
Questionnaire by Eric Holzbauer


Company: Kaywa AG
Interview partner: Roger Fischer
Position: CEO
Date: May 4 Start: 22:56 End: 23:51

What do you personally understand by a moblog?
The original definition is: a blog where one can post mms or email by means of a mobile device (phone, PDA). I try to stick with this originial definition and call the mobile version of a blog, a mobile blog.

How do you personally see moblogs as a mobile networks service? A own Value Added Service or just a pusher for increasing MMS traffic?
Definitely the former, but most telecoms just see the latter.

How is the value of Moblogs in the service portfolio of your enterprise? How is the success, the experiences thereby?
Moblogged posts can amount up to one fifth of the posts sent in, so one can definitely call it a success. And if the rates for MMS/email would be lower, that figure could be much higher.
But I would point out that moblogs are just a fraction of our service portfolio. Offering a convergence blog where you can not only publish via mobile, email, or Internet, but also where you can read via Internet and mobile (wml, xhtml, i-mode), PSP, iPod (podcasting), RSS-Reader makes the uniqueness of our platform.

Is user generated content an alternative for mobile portals, in the background of the high content costs?
First, I don't like the notion of "user generated content", as it devaluates somehow the passion, energy, work, joy etc. that a lot of people put into their blog. Second, people just love to read this kind of content - so yes it is definitely an alternative. In the future I see a lot of cohabitation.

Is the coverage with multimedia mobiles to enable moblogs already given in your country?
Yes, but not all phones are yet MMS-compatible. But this will change quickly with replacement cycles now down to 18 months.

Indirectly income sources? Is the leasing of specially positioned Moblogs to other enterprises a source of income?
Yes, but more in the sense of portals and not in the sense of unique mobile blogs.

Are external Payment methods a topic in view to the accesbility to customers from other mobile networks?
Our weblogs are completely open to all mobile networks who don't have a walled garden policy. The partnering with telcos just makes it easier to do the billing for the mobile user. But you can also open your blog via the internet (and from tomorrow afternoon on for free (20MB) - I will communicate the address tomorrow).

What is the typical target group for a moblog portal, like that as it today is existent? How is this expandable?
The typical target group are young people who use MMS and Mobile Internet with ease. As more people get accoustumed, we can assume that sooner or later older age groups will follow the trend.

What are the critical success factors for a well working mobile blogging portal?
Let me quote Jorma Ollila:

The winners will be the ones who understand the consumer early, understand usability, pick the right technology, and place great products at the core of their strategy."

I would add "convergence".

What can be methods to ensure activity on the moblog portal?
See Jorma above. And create a community.

What can be methods to animate the customer to contribute posts, do commentate and on the portal to be active?
Listen carefully and understand the needs of your customer. Then satisfy them. Be responsive, true and authentic.

At present mobile blogs are rather limited to the content types picture and video. Do you think that audio (see Podcasting in the www) becomes also a future extension?
We have audio as well. And audio and video have a big potential. But it has to become easier than it is now. We are working on it;)

What do you think about special moblog software clients like nokia lifblog? Rather easement for the customer or an additional barrier caused by the installation of additional software?
Lifeblog comes often preinstalled on Nokia phones. I think it's ok, but it's just software. And I don't think it's about software.

LBS supported Moblogs? A possible new application scenario?
Sure LBS has great potential. But it needs several parts to make it happen. As for example A-GPS enabled consumer phones. The ones which already existed in Japan in 2003. The other important issue with LBS is privacy.

Why are moblog and Weblog Communities in the USA a big success and in Europe still not very common?
As for weblogs just look to France, they sure have big blogging communities. But we are about 2 years behind the US right now and we sooner or later will catch up, I guess.

Is the moblog service only limited to the form of electronic diaries or are there other use cases?
There are plenty of other use cases. We just have to dig them up. See www.ichiba.ch for another, namely classifieds.

How do you personally see the future development of Moblogs? Particularly in your enterprise?
There is still a lot of growth potential;)