#1 in Mobile Banking - 2008 Awards

While last year was certainly challenging, I believe there were also a number of significant accomplishments within the mobile banking industry. That said I'd like to offer up the following awards for 2008:

#1 Text Mobile Banking - Clairmail

#1 Browser Mobile Banking - mShift

#1 Mobile Banking Wallet - Firethorn

#1 iPhone Mobile Banking - mFoundry

#1 3-Channel Mobile Banking - MCOM

#1 Mobile Banking News & Information - Bank Systems & Technology

#1 Mobile Banking Adoption - Bank of America

#1 Mobile Banking Marketing - Bank of America

#1 Overall Mobile Offering - JP Morgan Chase

#1 Mobile Banking Innovation - Citi/Mobile Money Ventures

#1 Business Mobile Banking - Wells Fargo

#1 Mobile Banking Research - Tower Group

#1 Text Banking Aggregator - Verisign

#1 Mobile Payments - First Data

#1 Mobile Banking Development Tool - Device Anywhere

#1 New Mobile Banking Technology - Mitek

Mobile Payments Update - TowerGroup

Mobile payments to be disruptive industry force - TowerGroup
"Mobile remittances - a person-to-person payment system that is cross-border in nature and involves mobile data applications at either end of the transaction - is moving in on a total global remittances market of a half trillion dollars annually (USD). New TowerGroup research finds that the accelerating investments being made in ubiquitous mobile payment platforms will be a disruptive industry force."

Recap from Mobile Commerce Summit - Part I

As I review my notes from the 14 sessions on mobile banking there is one common theme that resonated through out the conference..."How do I make money?" And as one might expect the answers covered the spectrum:

Bob Egan (Chief Analyst - TowerGroup): Make money using analytics to sell products/services.

Steven Kietz (EVP - Citi; CEO - MMV): Focus on Innovation. Expedite the new account opening process. Innovate around your rewards program - acquisition, tracking, spending.

Brandon McGee (i.e. Me): Incorporate targeted banner messages to cross-sell new products and services to existing clients. Do you have marketing messages on your website and within your online banking service? They should be in your mobile channel as well.

Mark Uicker (VP & Co-Founder - Clairmail): Focus on expense reduction in the form of 1) lower call center volume and 2) reduction in paper which can double as a "green" initiative.

Adam Green (Senior Product Manager - FIS): Opportunities via expedited payments, loyalty and using SMS messaging to increase debit/credit activation and usage.

Serge van Dam (Head of Marketing - MCOM): Making the product FREE is not mandatory. Bank of New Zealand gives away mobile to the top 10% of their client base but then charges $2/month and $0.35/transaction to the remaining 90%.

Bob Hedges (Managing Partner - Mercatus Partners, LLC): Look for compelling use cases out of the commercial, cash management, and treasury departments. Focus on receivables, purchasing, and disbursements.

So what's the correct answer? All of the above. A business strategy consisting of even two of the ideas listed above will generate a positive ROI. Combining 3 or more will lead to very meaningful impact to the bottom line.

Mobile Banking Webinar - TowerGroup

Mobile banking has shifted from being perceived as an interesting option to an essential business imperative, laying the foundation for more robust mobile payment offerings in the future. Learn more >>

Thursday, June 19, 2008, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST
Mobile Banking and Payments: Making Waves, Moving Toward a Flood
Presenter: Charul Vyas, Analyst, Emerging Technologies

Mobile Commerce Summit 2008

Just a quick reminder that the Mobile Commerce Summit is coming up later this month.
Date: June 23-24
Location: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

If you're interested in the mobile channel - this is THE place to be.

Looking for a vendor? They'll all be present including:
* Tripp Rackley (Firethorn)
* Joe Salesky (Clairmail)
* Drew Sievers (mFoundry)
* Lisa Stanton (Monitise)
* Serge Van Dam (M-Com)

Need to "compare notes" with a fellow banker? They're attending.

Like to hear from the analysts? Bob Egan (TowerGroup) and Bruce Cundiff (Javelin) will be presenting.

Hope to see you there!

Mobile Banking Updates

Top Industry Leaders to Take Stage at 2008 TowerGroup Annual Conference
"In continuing its tradition as a top venue for sharing insights on the major issues facing the global financial services industry, TowerGroup today announced that it will host two industry panel discussions at its upcoming 2008 Annual Conference. These sessions will compliment the over 30 strategic presentations led by TowerGroup research analysts. Themed, “Charting Your Course for Success,” the event, which will be held from May 28 to 30, 2008, at Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel in Boston, Mass., will delve deep into the market mandates of the retail consumer and wholesale client management; unearth new opportunities for developing markets; and debate the practical realities of emerging technologies."

Online Resources Announces Two Key Internet Banking Wins
"Online Resources Corporation (Nasdaq:ORCC), a leading provider of web-based financial services, today announced that National Penn Bancshares and Travis Credit Union have signed new multi-year agreements with its Community Bank & Credit Union Services unit for retail Internet banking and other services. The institutions’ combined 100,000 end-users are scheduled to be converted to Online Resources’ platform later this year."

Monitise and Metavante Partner with Carphone Warehouse to Make Money Mobile
"Monitise plc (LSE:MONI.L) and Metavante (NYSE:MV) today announced that they are working with Carphone Warehouse to launch a “mobile money” scheme. The launch will see the introduction of a Carphone Warehouse prepay card, managed directly from the mobile phone, that can be used to shop in millions of outlets worldwide. The deal is the result of a partnership with Metavante Technologies Ltd., a leading provider of prepaid and licensed software in Europe, and Monitise plc, the company behind the MONILINK mobile banking and payments network."