Blackberry Storm hits the track

Not only did the storm land in Malta but have a look at what it did on the track :)



Get one now: http://www.vodafone.com.mt/page/services_business_mobilemail_bb.html

Vodafone launches first netbook in Malta

Vodafone has over the weekend launched the first netbook locally. For the record, a netbook is a laptop with in-built mobile broadband functionality. In simple terms, you may get the netbook, go on campus and start browsing without the need of an internet key, WiFi or wired connection.

The usual disclaimer follows: I work with Vodafone and so am bound to be slightly biased so have a look for yourself:

More info:
http://www.vodafone.com.mt/page/DellInspironMini9.html

Online enquiry:
http://www.vodafone.com.mt/jsp/vfm_online_enq/view.jsp

iDay today

Apple has just launched the new MacBook and MacBook Pro. I was initially disappointed to see what seemed like a black and white MacBook but a closer look at the new model revealed the new notebook has a solid aluminum casing. Much more like the original MacBook Pro on the keypad, and a lot like the iMac on the screen part. It's nice too see Senior Vice President of Design John Ive describe the new MacBook design.

In the meantime, back in tiny Malta today is iDay, the day when Vodafone introduced the 3G iPhone in Malta. Vodafone is also holding an iPhone 3G open weekend this weekend. Those who have not yet lined up to feel, touch and get the new iPhone may do so at any Vodafone outlet.

Blackberry is here...thanks to Vodafone!

Vodafone has today launched Blackberry in Malta. I currently own a great Nokia E61 which is a fantastic tool coupled with Vodafone's Push Email, and a very good taste of the term 'mobility'. Now Vodafone's Blackberry solution further enhances 'mobility' in many ways, combining useful applications which literally reduces your office to a simple device. Oh yes, I am biased, very biased indeed...but then again, it's Blackberry and it's Vodafone we're blabbing about!

More about Blackberry: click here

Vodafone Soundbites and some other red snippets

July has been a relatively quiet month on BLAB and we need some catching up on a number of interesting stuff happening locally and abroad. Starting off I'd like to introduce Vodafone Soundbites:



The site has been launched just last Sunday and is being run together with MTV networks. This is not the first initiative Vodafone has done within the international music scene. Vodafone's Music site is another very good example of how interactive Vodafone intends to be. The good thing about it all is that the network is as big as 26 countries and hence should bring much more to its customers than anyone else...but oh yes I am biased and very loyal to this brand.

Locally, and whilst I was on my way to Australia, Vodafone launched yet another interactive service: Breaking News Alerts in conjunction with TimesofMalta. This is no secret since the service is open for all mobile phone users for free.

e-top-up from Vodafone

Vodafone has over the past week launched a new top-up voucher card which comes along with lower calling rates. The nice thing about the '30 Bonus Card' is that it has been launched specifically for online customers.

Admittedly I am a loyal Vodafone fan but the online initiative makes sense even when one considers the latest Eurobarometer survey in which 44% of Maltese customers said they used the internet to make a purchase in the past year.

More about Vodafone's Bonus Card: click here

New Vodafone ad....colourful!

You may have seen this but it's really coming out of the oven, the new Vodafone ad. Enjoy!

2007 Highlights

Below I would like to draw up my list of 2007 highlights of the local interactive and marketing worlds:

#1: Virtual Competitions
In 2007, XFM gave us The Virtual Model and Virtual Rock Star Competitions. The online audience had to vote for their favorite model or band. The winning model got a front page on Pink Magazine whilst the winning rock star got to record her own song, a photoshoot in London (and much more exposure locally). Bands/Artists had to post their home-made video. Some of user-generated content did get some good viewing (ex. Slur - 1,939 views; Drive - 1,249 views; Elisa - 2,141 views)

#2: You - syndrome
On a similar note, Vodafone (Malta) has come up with 'The Face of Vodafone' campaign. In this same year, UK's teen magazine Shout launched a campaign to search for a teen fashion model. The campaign was managed by Miller, the local distributors of Shout magazine.

#3: PM discusses budget online
This was the year in which the Prime Minister (of Malta) discussed politics through an online forum. The budget2008 website has been given a lot of attention in all media. Politics apart, I believe this was a highlight (especially because we did it before The Queen posted her first video on YouTube!). This gets me to the second highlight:

#4: Facebook Malta
The local acknowledgment of online channels also results in a number of important people having their own facebook profile. Apart from the music artists such as Ira, Wintermoods and Salt (my band), a number of MPs also have their own facebook profile. 13,753 have joined the Malta network and that still excludes me and a couple of other lazy people who still plan to join later.

#5: Lamp-post advertising!
In the past 3 years, FacesDisplays introduced bus-shelter advertising in Malta. In 2007, our lamp-posts are also holding promotional banners, similar to the Chogm ones. Brands who have started using the service include Rocs & Inglott, KFC, Burger King & SG Solutions (Apple)

#6: Juice, You and ME
The list of free magazines continued to grow. In March Juice Magazine hit households. The magazine's 160,000 copies are printed in Milan by In-Print. Maltapost also continued to invest in its Direct Marketing services through Mailbox magazine published by 26thFrame. Design magazine ME got its online space at medesignmag.com. Health & Beauty magazine, You, also launched in 2007. The magazine is distributed with The Sunday Times.

#7: 2 Covers, 1 magazine
Tune-in also came up with a first for the local publishing industry. To promote 89.7 Bay's Abel and Elinor, Tune-in published 2 versions of the magazine on the same Sunday. Readers could choose between getting Abel or Elinor on the front page. My household got Elinor!

#8: Shu!
Exit launched Shu! store. The store design was in the creative hands of Chris Briffa Architects. In 2006, Exit and Chris Briffa have also worked together on the 2-22 wine bar, also situated in Valletta.

#9: New / Revamped websites in 2007
I surely did not come across all the local websites which were launched or revamped in 2007, but here are some I know of, and have also blabbed about: GO.com.mt, Timesofmalta.com, Di-ve.com, klikk.com.mt & Kiwilicious.com

#10: I started blogging
And finally, in 2007 we also launched our mini-project which is still at its early stages...and started blabbing on this blog.