Without a doubt, "social phone apps & services" are amongst the most interesting areas within the 2.0 zone. The intelligent phone segment has reached a level of critical mass in many markets. Furthermore, some (open source!) databases and some solution providers are making it much easier now to port apps and content to more mobile phone operating systems. Interfaces are getting (slowly...) better. Digital natives are often preferring their mobile connectivity above web based communications - and they are exploring all new phone features (mms, video, games) that "digital immigrants" have been consistently ignoring.
But the biggest boosts will come from these new phones being "always on", extending the phone's core capabilities with the phenomenon of "presence" (also: "awareness"), and from location based apps, that now seem to become an integal part of the smartest new handsets.
Location based services will thus reach our back pockets, anytime, anywhere - "socializing" communications and content much further than we even can imagine today.
Some of the companies in the list below are blasting away traditional telecom business - in fact, like Skype, or potentially, like Fring, Jajah and Rebtel. Others are - at least for the time being - potentially good ARPU drivers.
I'm sure that the list below is only a very small representation of what's going on in the world. Making these apps & services available for many phones in many countries is a very complex thing (thanx to our beloved manufacturers & operators), so many of them are only available locally, or still virtually invisible because they're targeting only the relatively still small segment of people with the most advanced phones. Others fail to grow to maturity - and visibility - because the telcos still think that they have to play an active role in offering them thru semi-closed portals, and/or because the telcos still take too big a chunk of the (premium) revenues to successfully monetize these initiatives. I also see many cool wap concepts from the beginning of the century making a comeback. Wap push might explode, at last.
Another thing is that many of these companies are European, often originating from smaller (Scandinavian!) markets. For them it's hard to prove the viability of their concepts. And if they do succeed in that in their home market, it's hard to internationalise their business, and reach a massive audience.
A funny aspect of this sub-sector is that many of the entrepreneurs behind them, probably coming from the telecom sector, don't seem to know what's presently driving New Web business. They for instance invest heavily in richly designed front-ends, and endless explanations of how their thingies work, where Web 2.0 companies all go for optimizing the Lightness of their interfaces, and for encouraging their users to 'find' all features themselves, or to teach each other on how to use them.
Finally, I am aware that I've largely ignored everything that's presently happening with and around VoIP. And that I've lost track of most new cool apps that have been developed within the Skype ecosystem. If you know of any source that comprehensively aggregates knowledge on these subjects of the Telecom 2.0 category, please let me know. Update 070904: Mashable has a Skype Toolbox.
But the biggest boosts will come from these new phones being "always on", extending the phone's core capabilities with the phenomenon of "presence" (also: "awareness"), and from location based apps, that now seem to become an integal part of the smartest new handsets.
Location based services will thus reach our back pockets, anytime, anywhere - "socializing" communications and content much further than we even can imagine today.
Some of the companies in the list below are blasting away traditional telecom business - in fact, like Skype, or potentially, like Fring, Jajah and Rebtel. Others are - at least for the time being - potentially good ARPU drivers.
I'm sure that the list below is only a very small representation of what's going on in the world. Making these apps & services available for many phones in many countries is a very complex thing (thanx to our beloved manufacturers & operators), so many of them are only available locally, or still virtually invisible because they're targeting only the relatively still small segment of people with the most advanced phones. Others fail to grow to maturity - and visibility - because the telcos still think that they have to play an active role in offering them thru semi-closed portals, and/or because the telcos still take too big a chunk of the (premium) revenues to successfully monetize these initiatives. I also see many cool wap concepts from the beginning of the century making a comeback. Wap push might explode, at last.
Another thing is that many of these companies are European, often originating from smaller (Scandinavian!) markets. For them it's hard to prove the viability of their concepts. And if they do succeed in that in their home market, it's hard to internationalise their business, and reach a massive audience.
A funny aspect of this sub-sector is that many of the entrepreneurs behind them, probably coming from the telecom sector, don't seem to know what's presently driving New Web business. They for instance invest heavily in richly designed front-ends, and endless explanations of how their thingies work, where Web 2.0 companies all go for optimizing the Lightness of their interfaces, and for encouraging their users to 'find' all features themselves, or to teach each other on how to use them.
Finally, I am aware that I've largely ignored everything that's presently happening with and around VoIP. And that I've lost track of most new cool apps that have been developed within the Skype ecosystem. If you know of any source that comprehensively aggregates knowledge on these subjects of the Telecom 2.0 category, please let me know. Update 070904: Mashable has a Skype Toolbox.
Around 80 additions in this update, in italic.
2Recall* - Record calls on any phone (USA)
3jam - One to many texting
Admob - Buy or sell mobile advertising
Agile - Mobile instant messenger
Allfreecalls - Make free calls from the USA
Anothr - Manage & read feeds in Skype messenger
Aptela - Voicemail2web
Asterisk* - Open source phone system (free)
Bango - Promote your mobile content
Barablu - Free or cheap calls, IM, chat etc. thru mobile & web
Beetagg - Scan branded sema code with your cell to get access to website
Bitbomb - Web2SMSs reminders
Bloglines - RSS readers (web based, mobile)
Blogtalkradio - Host your own phone-in talkradio show online
Bluepulse - Internet 2 cell phone
Braincast - Voicemail2web
Buddystumbler - Find someone to IM with
Busythumbs - Post & share text & photos from cell to blog
Buyyourfriendadrink - Buy or redeem drinks thru cell phone code
Buzzwire - Explore, create & share video & audio on your mobile
Byoms - Personalized IM search agents on your cell
Callthefuture - Place future phone calls
Callwave - Voicemail2text (USA)
Ccube - Call anonymously with other community members
Cellcast - Record audio or video with your cell phone & share it with friends
Cellitused** - Sell your cell
Celljournalist - Sell your scoops live
Cellpedia - Search for mobile phones
Cellsea - Make, upload & share ringtones
Cellswapper - Swap out or in a mobile phone contract
Celltell - Send voice notes from your phone
Chinswing - Voice message board
Cingularmusicid - Have music recognized thru your cell
Clicktoscan - Scan, store & share documents with your phone camera
Clicmobile - Mobile social software
Comvu - Broadcast video live from your cell
Connectmeanywhere - Mobile & landlines over IP
Craigsnumber - Get a temporary, anonymous phone number
Create-ringtone - Create & send ringtones, wallpapers, videos etc. to your mobile phone
Crickee - Send & receive sms for free
Daem* - Take pics with your phone cam, have them recognized & win prizes
Digitalmagics - Stream your mobile videos over IPTV
Dodgeball - Hook in with your mobile & meet friends
Down2night - Subscribe for text alerts on what's happening tonight (stealth)
Dsimobile - Start an mvno network
Earkive - Explore podcasts on your phone (cell & landline)
Earthcaller - Call any land number for free
Ebuddy - Integrates several messengers (formerly E-messenger)
Efax - Web2fax
Egress - Mobile RSS reader
Emoze - Mobile email and PIM data
Enablr - Transcribe podcasts, Text2Snailmail…
Entriq - Multi channel PSP technology & services
Eqo - Call, text & IM your buddies on your mobile
Ether - Set up your call centre, make money
Evoice - Voicemail2web
Eyejot - Communicate through video messaging
Fastap - Design better keypad interfaces for mobile devices
Feederreader - RSS reader (mobile)
Filemobile - Store, organize, share & blog your media
Flotones - Upload & sell indie music over mobile
Flurry - Get your email & more on your current phone
Flurrymail - Your email on your current mobile phone
Foonz - Make group calls for free (USA)
Fotochatter - Publish & share photo on web & cell
Freedigits - Stay anonymous with this VoiP service (USA)
Freerange - RSS reader (mobile)
Frengo - Mobile entertainment & communications community
Fring - Call for free on your 3G cell
Frog - Mobile startpage
Frucall - Mobile price comparison
Funambol - Mobile OS project
Funkycall - Record, upload, deploy & share your phone pranks
Gabcast - Record podcasts on your phone
Gearon - Social mobile network around your cellphone's contacts
Getabuz - Create a voice mail with music
Gizmo - Call Gizmo friends for free, or pay low rates
Glue - Publish & share your website's content on mobile devices
Gmail - Webmail service
Good - Global mobile messaging for the enterprise
Google411 - Voice rec-based search
Googlemobilereader - RSS reader (mobile)
Gotalkmobile - Mobile instant messenger
Gotzapp - Publish & share content thru your mobile
Grandcentral* - Get 1 phone number for all your calls
Groovr - Text to & network with friends
Headmobile - Mobile job board matching service
Hipcast - Record & cast audio via browser or phone
Hobnobster - Web and mobile community & social bookmarking
Hotxt - Skype for sms
Hullo* - Integrates soft, cell & landline phones
Icebreaker - Mobile community software
ICQphone - Call at low rates
Imity - Sense phones (and friends) around you thru Bluetooth
Imobio - Store, share & rank your mobile photos online
Invitika - Organize, report & share events thru your cell
Iotum - Sorts & processes calls on relevance
Iqzone - Upload photo & text for classified ads thru your cell phone
Iskoot - Call people on your online buddylists
Ispott - Mobile treasure hunt
Jabbin - PC2PC voip (Jabber client)
Jabphone - Messenger2phone
Jaduka - Call-us-now features for all online media
Jaiku - Social phone directory showing where you are (Nokia S60 2nd ed.)
Jajah - Free phone calls, glocally
Jangl - Hide your cell phone number (Stealth)
Jaxtr - Link your phone to the web
Joopz - Web2Text & Text2Web
Jott - Voice & text 2 email & mobile
Juicecaster - Upload & cast cell photos & videos
Jumpclaimer - Inform your relatives about your whereabouts thru sms
Jumptap - Mobile search solutions
Juvino - Reroute your mobile calls and texting
Jyve - Find, meet & interact with Skype users
Kaywa - Publish & share multimedia on web & cell
Kerpass - Personal security software for web & mobile
Kishkish - Detect lies thru phone
Kuscash* - Mobile wallet community
Kyte - Create & broadcast TV channels from web or mobile phone
Limbo (olim Limbo41414) - Participate in lowest unique bid auctions & sweepstakes - using your cell
Linknsurf - Track & share blogs on your mobile
Litefeeds - RSS reader (mobile)
Loquendotts - Text2sneeze
Lowlandsguide~** - Explore the lay of the Lowland Festival with this mobile app
Mabber - Mobile messenger
Mads~ - Buy or sell mobile advertising
Mblox - Global mobile transaction solutions
Medio - Mobile search & marketing solutions
Mediosystems - Mobile search & recommendation engine
Meetmoi - Mobile dating
Melodeo - Listen to, share, discuss & create podcast playlists, on your cell
Mfoundry - Develop & deploy mobile apps, rapido
Mig33 - Chat, text & call your friends
Millennialmedia - Mobile marketing solutions
Minowireless - VoiP on your mobile
Mixd - Text & send pics & vids to groups of friends
Mobango - Discover & share mobile media
Mobile20 - Wiki about mobile 2.0 initiatives
Mobilealibi* - Schedule a call to get you out of a situation
Mobilecomplete - Test your mobile apps on all devices
Mobiledistillery - Port mobile Java apps to 550 phones, rapido
Mobileglu - Web services to your mobile
Mobileinternetmanifesto - Vision on Mobile 2.0
Mobilereporters~ - Upload & share your video
Mobilicious - Mobile social bookmarking
Mobiluck - IM, text & share media on your mobile
Mobio - Lean mobile lifestyle apps & content
Mobispine - Mobile feed browser
Mobispirit - Platform for mobile apps
Mobitv - Get tv & radio on your cell & laptop
Mobivox - Free or cheap international mobile calls
Moblee - Opt in to offers direct to your mobile
Mobloco - Get daily text alerts on things happening near to you
Moblr - View or upload & share mobile content
Mobo - Order food on the go, get discounts & avoid waiting lines
Mobsaver - Price comparison thru your cell
Mobspray* - Create & share graffiti in places thru mobile2RFID
Mojungle - Live phlogging & vlogging
Moka - Subscribe to book wisdom delivered thru sms
Mophone - Store & share mobile content
Mosh - Upload, share & browse all your stuff on your mobile (Nokia)
Movamessenger - Meta mobile instant messenger
Movoxx - Get localized & personalized alerts & coupons on your cell phone
Mozeo - Text cast to & chat with your own group on your cell
Mozes - Share information & people thru your mobile
Mozesmob - Mobile Q&A
Msgme - Communicate or advertise thru sms keyword service
M-spatial - Mobile local search solutions
Mycoogee - Access, store & share your cell's contents (client)
Myfoodphone - Monitor & modify eating habits with your camera phone
Mygads - Compile info, access, update & share it thru phone, im, web, etc
Mygamma - Mobile community
Mymobilesite** - Mobile web server and site hosting (Nokia)
Mynumo - Create, share or sell mobile content
Mysay - Communicate with friends through voice2web messages
Mywaves - Send web videos to your phone
Nav4all~ - Mobile navigation app, claim & share places with friends
Nellymoser - Mobile content delivery solutions
NIM - Wireless navigation apps for mobile phones
Nimbuzz~ - Free mobile community calls, chats, IM
Nonoh - VoiP
Nowthen - Publish & share mobile pics
Nutsie - Play your music on your cell
Obopay - Pay with your phone
Octopz - Collaborate on & in any file format
Octro - Mobile instant messenger
On2go - News & alerts on your mobile
Openfire - Enterprise VoiP and chat solutions
Openwave - Adaptive mobile suite for content, communications and context solutions
Openwengo - Make free PC to PC video and voice calls over IP & communicate with your IM contacts
Orgoo - All your communications integrated in one dashboard
Oz - Mobile IM, email & social networking solutions
Papla - Instant messenger (also mobile)
Partystrands* - Let partygoers interact with you & each other IRL, mobile & online
Partysync - Meet & sms people
Payter~ - Pay with your mobile phone
Peekamo - Peekamo - Mobile community
Perooz - Mobile content portal
Pheeder - Alert all your friends with 1 phone call
Phonefeeds - Read your feeds on your phone
Phonegnome* - Add VoiP to your PSTN, SIPped
Phonezoo - Create & share ringtones
Photocrank - Add graphics & caption to your cell cam photos & share them
Picostation - Create & share your phone cam videos
Pixpulse - Upload & share photos and videos on your mobile
Pixsense - Take, manage & share cell phone pics & videos
Planzo - Arrange meetings & events online & thru sms
Playtxt - Socialize, flirt thru sms
Plugoo - Take your IM to any page you want
Plusmo - Fast, customizable way to get the web on your phone
Pocketfuzz - Create & sell your own ringtones
Podlinez - Explore podcasts on your cell
Posticky - Place, access & share notes (also mobile)
Pushy*~ - Personal portal; also mobile
Qipit - Capture & share text with your mobile phone
Quickim - Mobile instant messenger (wi-fi)
Quicknews - RSS reader (mobile)
Rabble - Create it & share it mobile
Radar - Post & get matches for classified ads thru cell & email
Raketu - Free regional and international calls, VOD, IM, SMS, multi media player, podcasting, slide show & feeds from your PC & mobile
Rebtel* - Call international at local rates - using your cell phone
Relive - Geotag your mobile cam photos, then relive & share your trip
Resellular - Get out of your cell contract, or take over a contract
Ringcentral - Phone & fax services
Rminder - Text2phone reminder service
Robocal - Listen out your calendar by phone
Rocketbux* - RocketEngine: deliver targeted offer to credit card holders' cell;
Routecraft~ - RocketLaunch: sms couponing;
Saki - RocketPower: local closed loops for mobile marketing
Scanr* - Local route planner; add your text to locations & share it; also for mobile
Screentonic - Mobile community
Scribeit - Scan, copy, pdf, fax documents using your phone cam
Searchquest - Mobile advertising platform
Seven - Email etc delivered to your mobile
Sharpcast - Group chat thru mobile messaging
Shazam - Real estate map mash-up for cells
Shotcode~ - Synchronize all photos online & mobile
Shozu - Have music recognized thru your cell
Signalmap - Find or add reports on cell strength
Simulscribe - Voicemail2text
Sitòfono - Scan branded sema code with your cell to get access to website
Sky-click - Upload & share photos, videos & text on your mobile
Skylook - Receive calls from your website
Skype - VoIP call centre solution
Smartpox - Record & store all Skype communications
Snapvine - Call, conference, messenger, file sharing
Snapzone - Upload & share your mobile photos
Socialight - Sema-encode & share URLs, phone numbers & email addresses
Sonopia - Create your mobile & online community
Soonr - Send audio files to & communicate with your friends, on your cell
Soziety - Language-learning social network (using Skype)
Spark - Instant messaging & free phone calls
Spinvox - Share pictures & notes with your cell phone
Splashblog - Mobile2web & v.v.
Splashdata - From voice to text to mobile or email
Srobbin - Search Google Video on your cell
Starhome~ - Publish & share mobile photos
Stufflinker - Mobile tools for media, payments, shopping…
Sullr* - Reversed mobile phone number search
Supcast - Mobile roaming solutions
Swarmteams* - Mobile and web bookmarking
T9space* - 10x faster browsing on your cell
Talkety - Cheap calls via any device
Talkplus - Publish your media online thru your cell
Talkster - Solutions to set up & manage mobile One2- or Many2Many community communications
Talktrust - Get a second mobile number on your cell
Tapatap - Cross media contest community (http://waptapatapcom/tapatap-userwap/)
Tapgad - Mobile2IM for free
Tapuxmobile* - Call anonymously
Teleflip - Get & reply to email thru sms
Telepo - Mobile fun & community content & apps
Tellme - PC2Text
Text2store - Fixed to mobile convergence solutions
Textamerica - Search businesses thru voice, get rich info or text back
Textmarks - Get best offers & coupons on your mobile
Textpayme - Mobile blog
Thinkingvoice - Publish this click-to-call widget on your blog
Tictap - Customize your own sms info service
Tiggdo - Mobile P2P micropayments
Tipicme - Mobile instant messenger (Jabber client)
Tjat - Price comparison for mobile
Traincheck - Personal mobile portal
Treemo - Mobile instant messaging
Trixbox - Open source (Asterisk) PBX telephone solutions
Truphone - Get an sms with the next 3 departure times
Turbomsn - Mobile instant messenger
Twttr - Post, manage & share media online & mobile
Txtmob - Mobile VoiP
Txtms - Share your contact data through your mobile
Ulocate - Mobile location based services solutions
Umundo - Share where you are thru your cell phone
V4s - Share sms messages with your friends
Velvetpuffin* - Mobile community
V-enable - Upload & share mobile videos and pics
Vephone - Free or cheap calls over IP
Vicito - Add voice to your email
Visto - Mobile Office solutions for operators
Vixo - Mobile speech search
Vizrea - Group text service
Voice20manifest - Send, get & forward sms messages
Voicequilt - Create a present with your loving voice (buy phone time)
Voicesignal - Voice2Test solution for your mobile
Voicethread - Add voice comments to your publications
Voipcheap - Free calls over IP
Voipdiscount - Free calls & SMS over IP
Vpodtv - Upload & share (camera phone) photo content
Vradio - The end of telecom as we know it, the dawn of its total convergence with the web (cf. follow-up article: http://saunderslog.com/2006/09/30/voice-20-a-year-later/)
Vyke - Make cheap international calls over PC & mobile
Wablet - Create & share your (mobile) tv channel
Wadja - Turn your cell into a worldwide radio
Watchmedoing - Call & chat ID
Wattpad - Use & share the web on your mobile phone
Waymarkr - Upload & share mobile videos
Wengophone - Meta instant messager with conference and video calls
Whisher - Publish & share stories on your cell phone
Widsets - Turn your mobile into a life phlogging wearable
Wifinder - Find wi-fi hotspots
Wikipediamobile - Share free wi-fi
Winksite - Create mobile widgets
Xanco~ - Wap version of Wikipedia (by Sevenval)
Xfire - Instant messenger for gamers
Yackpack - Create & share mobile content
Yahoomobile - Manage Yahoo Video on your phone
Yehba - Instant messenger
Yeigo - Talk, IM & text for free to other users
Yoc* - Share media with your friends thru web & mobile (German)
Yodio - Mobile phlog & vlog
Yoomba - Email2IM&2phone (free)
Youmail - Group voicemail
Younevercall - Create your own ringtones (for Linux users)
Youtubemobile - Youtube on your cell
Zaptxt - Record & publish audio anywhere from your phone
Zedge - Upload, explore & share mobile media
Zemble - Record unique voice mail recordings for anyone that calls you
Zeosoft - Personal mobile webserver application
Zinadoo - Design, build & host mobile website
Zingku - RSS to email, sms, messenger
Zlango - Communicate, collaborate & connect thru group text
Zong - Create and make money on mobile services in 10 countries in under 10 minutes
Zooof* - Text2website content sharing
Zozoc - Free international SMS
Zyb - Icon language for sms
Zypsy - Discover, maintain & extend your family ties
Wi-fi 2.0 list
Atlarge - Read & write about web access at airports
Chumby - Always-on wi-fi device to fetch & exchange media & to communicate
Fon*** - Share, buy, sell wi-fi connections
Hotspotr - Wi-fi café hotspot map mash-up (USA)
Ilovefreewifi - Contribute to dbase of free wi-fi hotspots in USA
Jiwire - Locate & map Wi-fi hotspots
Meraki - Free wi-fi network
Wefi - Spot & map wi-fi access points
Whisher - Share free wi-fi
Wifinder - Find wi-fi hotspots
Wifitastic - Turn your wi-fi connection into a profit center
Italic = new. Updated 070311, 070529, 070830.
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