Mobile Industry Review Show Special Reports

We had a chat a little while ago with Mark Curtis, top chap at mobile flirting extravaganza, Flirtomatic. We've long been watching Flirtomatic's growth and I hold them to be a shining beacon of the mobile data industry. They're one of the first services I can recall who actually designed their entire operation around the mobile handset. They've one of the best sign-up procedures. Ever. Try it out, if you haven't already. They've evolved their own internal economy, they're knocking up 140-150 million WAP pages a month. And they've just done a deal with Germany's media giant 'ProSiebenSat' to see them launch formally into that country.

We recently talked with Tricia Duryee, Principal Correspondent at mocoNews.net about her recent exclusive on T-mobile USA launching an app store, similar to that of Apple. It's a fantastic move. They are the first mobile operator to break ranks, and, as Tricia and I discussed, this could have substantial ramifications across the industry. T-mobile USA are, it seems, going to be launching an application store to serve their entire handset range. That seems like a rather smart decision when Apple are knocking back millions from their App Store. If I recall correctly, I think Steve Jobs told the Wall Street Journal that the App Store itself could be a 'half billion thing' (words to that effect) shortly.

Lastminute Labs' FoneFood is an awesomely simple the application takes your location and food preference, displays a list and Google map of options that are bookable. Users can then book and receive an SMS confirmation direct from the handset - no credit card required (genius!). As it's connected to the same system that provides online bookings through Lastminute's regular website it also shows special offers that are available (as above). It's brilliantly effective and backed up by their impressive catalogue of around 6000 restaurants Europe-wide (with more being added) the value and ease are immediately appealing.

I had a super time talking with Sulim Malook, CEO and Founder of Blue Systems recently. Blue Systems are a leading provider of real time financial information to both business and day traders. They've had a PC based service for quite a while, but only recently did they decide to implement a mobile version of it. What platform did they choose to standardise on? Blackberry. Obviously. I took one a Blackberry pre-loaded with Blue Mobile on it to the Maldives for the Desert Island Challenge and it was particularly impressive seeing the real time share price of Vodafone on the FTSE exchange whilst on the beach.

Special Edition iPhone3G Launch Edition: Dan Lane reports live from the Apple store on the collective balls-up that O2 and Carphone Warehouse made of the iPhone 3G launch. Little did he know at the time of recording he had almost another 4 hours to wait...

David Hogben of NinetyTen on the mobile industry and what's kicking with their new service, BuddyPing.

We interrupt our podcast schedule to bring you this exclusive chat with mobile social networking guru, Justin Davies of NinetyTen. NinetyTen are the people behind BuddyPing.com (also the kind sponsors of the Unlimited Drinks London event next week).