BlackBerry enables in-app purchases as well as balance between work and life!

Research In Motion introduced its BlackBerry Payment Service, enabling developers to monetize their software via in-application purchase options.

According to RIM, BlackBerry App World developers can offer in-app digital goods including content such as ebooks, magazines, and photos, as well as other services like video streaming or voice transcription.

However, RIM does not allow BlackBerry developers to sell virtual currencies or in-app credits, physical goods or services, and digital goods used across multiple applications.

In other news, RIM is giving BlackBerry users work-life Balance through their new feature, BlackBerry Balance.

Research In Motion will allow its handset owners to split work and personal data stored on the devices using this new feature.

The decision to separate work-related emails sent using the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) from personal photographs, social networking activity and web browsing is BlackBerry’s bid to stay competitive in both the business and consumer markets.

Balance is expected to make its debut onto handsets in North America in the next two months, but there is no indication of a wider release yet.

It is expected to be available on all BlackBerry devices in the future, including the company’s as-yet unreleased PlayBook tablet.

Starbucks launched mobile payment services across its 6,800 company-operated U.S. stores; customers with certain mobile devices can now buy their coffee with the wave of their smartphone.

Starbucks Card Mobile is a free app that enables iPhone and BlackBerry users to fund in-store purchases via their smartphones. Customers who’ve downloaded the free Starbucks Card Mobile App can now pay for their order by holding their handset in front of a countertop scanner and processing the app’s on-screen barcode. Here is a video of Starbucks’s Card Mobile: http://bcove.me/24g1mkmb

In addition to mobile payment capabilities, the Starbucks Card Mobile App enables customers to manage their Starbucks Card account, check their current balance, reload their account with any major credit card, view their My Starbucks Rewards status and locate nearby Starbucks locations.

According to Starbucks, more than a third of its U.S. customers own smartphones. Within this segment, about three quarters have either iPhone or BlackBerry devices. Starbucks said it is developing a similar service for Android devices but does not know when that will be available.

This mobile payment program is only available in U.S. Starbucks locations at the moment. But that’s still a lot of places to pick up a latte with a smartphone!

Happy Birthday to the Mac!

Apple introduced the very first Macintosh on January 24, 1984, beginning an era that is still going strong 27 years later. Steve Jobs introduced the Apple Macintosh on January 24, 1984 and received wild applause from the crowd of 3,000 people. It was originally introduced simply as the Apple Macintosh and was re-branded as the Macintosh 128K when its big brother, the Macintosh 512K, was introduced in September 1984.

Apple has evolved it’s business beyond the Macintosh computers and has revolutioned the music and mobile industries with the introduction of the iPod, iPhone and iPad. In the latest earnings release, apple revealed that their new iPad device has sold close to $15M.

The iPad is definitely a hit based on the reports & iPhone sales are coming in ahead of estimates. In addition to these, Apple’s App Store has just posted its 10 billionth download, just two and half years after the store opened in July 2008.

Up to this point, consumers have largely driven Apple’s iPhone & iPad growth, and these technologies are said to be creeping into corporate world.

For those that want to relive a piece of history, here is the demo of the first Apple Macintosh by Steve Jobs. Demo of the first Mac computer by Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder and chief executive of Apple Company hasn’t exactly been in the best shape for a while now. Mr. Jobs, 55, who recovered from pancreatic cancer after surgery in 2004, has not appeared at public events since October. He appears considerably skinnier these days & now he’s taking time out.

Steve Jobs sent out an e-mail message to all Apple employees saying that he is taking “a medical leave of absence”, so that he can focus on his health. He says that he will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company; only, he’ll do it from home. This is the third time he is taking a step back in less than a decade. Whether Steve Jobs returns or not, he will definitely be hard to replace; it was because of him & his extremely talented team that the company succeeded over the past years.

Steve Jobs’s perseverance, management style, innovative qualities, creativity, outlook on design, charisma, and overall business “know how” can’t simply be replaced. His unique & great qualities have made him the technological guru of his time and of technology today.

Steve Jobs kept the development of products like the iPhone 4 and iPad on track, increased Macintosh computers sales and improved Apple’s financial performance during an economic downturn; his performance has always been a heavy dose of reassurance for the investors. He succeeded many negotiating grounds because of the strength of his personality. The persuading & negotiating role that he has is very important, as Apple seeks to become a bigger power in media distribution. It would be hard for anyone in the industry to have a comparable level of influence as Steve Jobs does.

Of course no one expects Apple to suffer in the short term, as the company has a long product cycle. But we don’t know what will happen over the long term if Mr. Jobs does not return. The problem here isn’t the operations of Apple and their ability to keep doing what they’ve been doing; the problem here is that Steve Jobs’ inspiration is irreplaceable. With all his unique characteristics and talents, and the breakthrough innovation he introduced to Apple, we are not sure if anyone can fill his shoes.

He changed many lives for the better. We hope he’s back on his feet soon and returns to work at Apple.

My previous video post was just funny and worth the watch but this video tells a story that touches close to home.  Although it is the story of Nativity done the digital way, that is not the story I am referring to.  I am referring to the social, mobile and digital story that surrounds our lives and although sarcastic in nature, this video captures it in a unique way that really demands a second thought.  It is completely out of context when it relates to the past, so relevant to today yet the audience is exactly the same – people.

I hadn’t realized how many of my everyday words have multiple meanings until I saw this clip. It is definitely worth the watch and a great little break in the day. Enjoy!

Attending this convention i hear echos of words here that I hear at all the conferences and conventions I’ve been both speaking at and attending this past year: Mobile, Mobile Mobile! So why the sudden frenzy? …one could say it’s because the fruit is ripe for the picking. Over the past couple days I have listened to many of the top retailers speak to in some cases verbatim what I have in a couple of my keynotes I’ve presented. IT excites me to see this convergence where brands, retailers and agencies share a very similar mindset, for this is the right fodder for the magic to happen. Over the next couple days I will be recapping some sessions and moments at the event, but to start I’ve jotted down a couple quotes that I found to be on point:

“Technology is secondary to the customer experience”
Phil Mckoy, Target

“Mobile is about communication – a means of making business better”
Andrew Koven, Steve Maden

“Mobile is not just a way to give out coupons…the differentiator for brands and retailers will be apps… mobile web will still need to be part of the mix similar to the dot com”
Pratik Pal, Tata Consultancy

“Coupons are a dangerous drug, they can erode your customer and your product”
Jamey Maki, Golfsmith

Plastic Mobile will be at the The Big Show event taking place in New York City January 10-13, 2011. We look forward to seeing you all at the event and exploring mobile commerce in 2011.