Nokia Content Discovery
One of the problems I have previously written about is that most people don’t know they can download extra software and media onto their smartphone.
Nokia’s answer to this was ‘Catalogs’, a built in application on the main S60 menu which in newer devices has recently morphed into something called ‘Download!’.
Very recently, Nokia announced a beta version of an advertising powered version that has provoked me enough to write this post.
First of all, while the original Catalog and Download! applications themselves work very well and are pretty, they just don’t include much of the software the average user might want to download. The content is sadly restricted to a few software developers and media companies that have somehow managed to find their way into the catalog.
In fact, at a London Mobile Monday, the head of media at a large brand asked me if I had seen their latest content in the Catalog. I tried it there and then and they weren’t even listed. Embarrassing. Now, Nokia proposes to overload this marginally useful application with advertising - that’s bound to turn people away.
I believe the Download! application is currently a lost opportunity especially given it is on the main S60 menu. How about including all the freeware currently available for the S60? While you are at it, why not include all the free ringtones, themes and other media (video, MP3) currently available?
At this point I am hearing the Nokia management voices saying… "but we need freeware author’s permission" and "the risks of pointing to arbitrary content". No. Freeware authors want publicity. If you are paranoid, you could provide a way to opt-out rather than opt-in - but I suspect it would never be used. As for risks, isn’t that what Symbian Signed was meant to alleviate? Other risks? Find a way, not an excuse.
Going further, how about keeping the catalog up to date and adding a facility so that users can be (optionally) alerted when new software/media becomes available?
Let’s go even further and create an ecosystem. How about allowing commercial third party developers to submit their own applications and media? How about linking the app and the server side database to say, Paypal, so developers can sell their applications. At the same time, let’s not restrict what can be submitted - let the download and purchase stats drive the market. Let’s not get third party content companies (Handango, Digital River et al) involved as developer commission just gets swallowed up that way.
So, why an ad-funded download application? Surely Nokia can fund this trivial application and direct its development in such a way that it helps rather than hinders content discovery? Nokia, are you really Open to Anything?
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