Online parcel delivery firm says small businesses must capitalise on mobile sales boom

(PRWEB UK) 19 August 2011

Britains leading online parcel delivery specialist has called on small businesses to take advantage of the boom in sales through smartphones.

Recent research has shown that more and more consumers are prepared to buy products through their mobile phones and are enjoying the freedom that mobile shopping offers. Bolton-based Parcel2Go helps businesses of all sizes organise shipping to countries across the world and suggests that small firms should take a proactive approach when it comes to building an online presence.

People are now using their mobile phones to do so much more, from surfing the internet to using social networking sites. Figures released last week by online research specialist comScore revealed that 13.5 million mobile users across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK accessed mobile retail sites in the three months ending May 2011. In Britain, the number of smartphone users accessing mobile sites has increased by 163 per cent over the past 12 months.

Online retail site eBay expects global mobile sales to hit $ 4bn by the end of 2011, double the value of goods sold in 2010. The UK market has been one of the fastest adopters of the technology and an increasing number of businesses now find they have to meet eBay parcel delivery requests following purchases made via mobile phones.

Richard Mercer, Director of Marketing at Parcel2Go, said: "There is little doubt that the retail world is changing rapidly. Smartphones have become commonplace and consumers in the UK have adopted m-commerce technology quicker than many people would have anticipated.

"Parcel2Go launched its own mobile site at http://m.parcel2go.com/ last month. We also partner with a huge variety of UK companies involved in selling their goods online, whether thats through their own website or through third-party sites such as Amazon and eBay. All firms need to recognise the important role that mobile e-commerce is already playing, and that courier services available through Parcel2Go can play a key part in helping to organise a smooth delivery after a sale has been made."

About Parcel2Go:

Parcel2Go Ltd has been offering its customers a comprehensive range of parcel delivery and worldwide shipping services for the past 21 years. Based in Bolton, the company operates a cost effective collection and delivery service available throughout the UK, Europe and USA mainland.

For further information contact: Les Yates

Email: l.yates(at)parcel2go(dot)com

The New Trivia by Sporcle App is Now Available for Download for Mobile Devices

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) October 20, 2011

Sporcle, the online destination and mobile application for fun and addicting quizzes and trivia games, announces that their leading trivia application for mobile devices has been improved and updated, and is now available for download. The newest version of the app will still support use for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and will now also support use on the iPad! The latest Trivia by Sporcle app also features more than 100 new games, functionality enhancements, and fixed bugs from the older version of the app, making it easy to bring the wildly popular online quiz website to your mobile devices.

The new Trivia by Sporcle app has new features and improvements based on the suggestions from Sporcle users. In addition to the new Sporcle app now being supported for the iPad, as well as the iPod Touch and iPhone, there are other great features available to the users. The new search functionality offers users real-time search abilities for any games or quizzes, including the new quizzes that are being added every day. The updated app also features a new user interface, which offers a gorgeous new look, with improved usability.

We are excited to be able to offer our users the ability to take their favorite online quizzes with them while they are on the go, with the new and improved Trivia by Sporcle app, said Derek Pharr, Sporcle Vice President of Products. At Sporcle, we are always looking for ways to improve the online quiz experience for our users, and this app offers a number of great enhancements that we are very excited about."

The new look and feel of the Trivia by Sporcle app allows users to turn their iPhone/iPod Touch and even iPad into an on-the-go treasure trove of trivia. Featuring geography quizzes, sports quizzes, music quizzes and more, the trivia opportunities are endless. Sporcle is the fun way to kill some time or procrastinate while exercising your brain. Hey, you might even learn a thing or two. Visit iTunes today to find the Trivia by Sporcle app and get started!

About Sporcle

Sporcle is a website and mobile application that offers fun and addictive quizzes and trivia games, ranging from trivial diversions to educational study guides. Founded in 2007, Sporcle came to life with the response to its first quiz, the naming the U.S. Presidents quiz. As avid crossword, Jeopardy! and trivia fans, the original quiz was not only to test knowledge, but also as a way to learn a piece of information that seemed to come up again and again.

Sporcle continues to create quizzes for entertainment, memory and diversion. You can play any of the thousands of quizzes and trivia games or create your own games!

###

Are You Addicted to Your Mobile Phone? Infographic by Cash Generator

Bolton, UK (PRWEB UK) 22 November 2011

Cash Generator, the UK discount retailer has conducted a study on mobile usage. If people have their mobile phone switched on 24/7, sleep with it next to the bed and even interrupt sex to answer a call, they could be suffering from mobile phone addiction.

The majority of the population now has a mobile and users are being invited to take an online test to find out if theyre addicted to their handsets.

Are you addicted to your mobile phone? is a new infographic that highlights the tell-tale signs has been unveiled by the buy-and-sell specialists. http://www.cashgenerator.co.uk/are-you-addicted-to-your-mobile-phone.aspx

Cash Generator has identified nine key indicators of mobile phone dependency. If seven or more apply to you then you may need to take action to curb your mobile mania.

Surveys reveal that 40% of people have their handset on 24/7 while 83% sleep with them by their bed.

Other signs of addiction include making or taking personal calls at work; texting while walking down the street; using the phone while in the loo or instead of watching TV; and getting up in the night to check Twitter or Facebook.

The Cash Generator infographic also reveals that 15% of people have interrupted sex to answer a call on their mobile.

But switching the mobile phones off may not be the solution to the growing social problem, according to Louise Bruchez, of Cash Generator.

She said: "Its clear that smartphone addiction in particular is becoming an issue for some people but as some experts advise, switching off altogether can actually be more stressful.

A lot of people keep their phone on so family members or work colleagues can contact them in case of an emergency and that brings peace of mind.

She added: I think we have to accept that mobile phones are now an integral and incredibly useful part of our lives and switching off altogether can actually create more problems than it solves.

Look at the infographic on the Cash Generator website and take the test. That way you can identify bad habits and anti-social behaviour and make a concerted effort to cut them out rather than cutting contact altogether.

Cash Generator, which buys and sells mobile phones along with a host of new and pre-owned products, says that 83% of the population now has a mobile phone.

The most common activity is text messaging and taking and sending photographs, although 44% use their phone for accessing the internet, 38% for checking email and 23% for social networking.

When asked what they would sacrifice rather than give up their phone for a week, 73% of people said they would rather give up alcohol, 63% would stop eating chocolate and a third said they would stop having sex.

*Publications are free to reproduce the infographic for their readers (please credit Cash Generator). We can send it to you in page ready format.

###

Find More Facebook Press Releases

Poo Found on Millions of Mobile Phones in United Kingdom say 2u.co.uk

Lubenham, Leicestershire (PRWEB UK) 20 October 2011

People may insure mobile phones against loss, theft and accidental damage but over the past couple of years reports have emerged from organisations such as Which magazine, and more recently 2u.co.uk highlighting the amount of harmful bacteria that can be present on mobile phones. Suitable precautions should be made to keep them clean.

2U Ltd director Grant Burrows asks how many people realize the importance of protection from deadly germs such as E. coli that are alive and well on phones?

In July 2010, Which magazine reported that there is eighteen times less bacteria on a gents toilet handle than there is on the average mobile phone and in October 2011, a study by the The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine discovered that nine out of ten mobile phones are contaminated with some kind of bacteria.

2U Ltd director Grant Burrows wonders how many people realize the importance of protection from deadly germs such as E. coli that are alive and well on phones?

Dangerous bacteria such as E. coli, which is transmitted through excrement, and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found on one in six mobile phones. These kinds of bacteria can lead to serious stomach upset, diarrhoea, sickness or worse and researchers believe that mobile phone contamination largely exists because too many people fail to wash their hands properly, if at all, after going to the toilet.

Most think they know how to wash their hands properly. Its simple hygiene learned as a child. But who really knows how to do it effectively in order to kill germs so nothing is left lingering? A quick dip in water with a bit of soap unfortunately is not sufficient. Apparently, soap doesnt actually eliminate germs, it merely lifts them off the skin.

It takes around fifteen seconds of thorough cleaning to eliminate germs from hands when washing and as soon as the tap is touched, germs spread to hands again!

The right way to wash hands is to wet them with plenty of water, add soap and then wash thoroughly between each finger and under fingernails. Remove all traces of dirt and work up to the wrists.

Wash hands, including wrists for approximately fifteen seconds, then rinse off with clean water to ensure all dirt and germs are removed.

When turning off taps, do so with a paper towel if possible. This ensures that germs do not get back onto hands from the tap when turning them off as taps and sinks can have lots of potentially harmful bacteria lurking around them, especially those in toilets.

Washing hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer in this way, combined with cleaning mobile phones, is the surest way to prevent germs from building and spreading. But whats the best way to clean mobile phones so they are hygienic without causing damage to it and what products can be used?

Some mobile phones with their tiny digit keypads can be very difficult to keep clean and hygienic but there are several products on the market that can help. Use a dry alcohol wipe which kills the vast majority of known germs and is specially manufactured for use on mobile phones.

Use rubbing alcohol cleaners for electronic equipment to keep mobile phones germ-free. Simply ensure the gadget is not live - take the battery out first.

Take a Q-tip, wet it slightly with the alcohol cleaner and apply it gently to the surfaces of the phone. Take care not to wet it too much and dry off with a dry wipe immediately.

Check any product used is suitable for iPhones, mobile phones and LCD screens first and always read the manufacturers instructions and directions beforehand.

Mobile phones are not the only gadgets contaminated by bacteria. All gadgets including iPads, games consoles, Sat Nav's, computer or laptop keyboards and iPods and MP3 players are prone to bacteria build-up. Bacteria can live successfully on these devices as they are warmed up when switched on and lets face it, how many bother to turn them off - even occasionally?

Keeping mobile phones and other gadgets clean makes sense and as they are taken into hospitals, are kept around young babies or people with low immune systems, it really is wise to take a few moments to bust those bugs into oblivion and keep them hygienic.

For more information on protecting and insuring the iPhone 4S, mobile phones and other gadgets visit http://www.2u.co.uk/iPhoneInsurance/

More Ipod Press Releases

The Most Addictive Mobile App on the Planet, Opinionaided, Launches on Android

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 20, 2011

Mobile question-and-answer company Opinionaided today announces that its popular app is now available on Android phones. The launch will continue to grow the companys highly engaged user base, which spends an average of over two and a half hours using the app each month.

Opinionaided is the fastest way to share and receive opinions and advice. On average, responses start to arrive only six seconds after being shared and users receive between 50 and 100 responses overall. The company is finding that its user base consists of people who are augmenting their traditional social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, with its opinion-based community to get unbiased, honest feedback in real-time.

How it works:

1. Anyone can download the free Opinionaided Android app from the Android Market to start asking and answering questions in a variety of categories, such as relationships, sports, politics, fashion and technology.

2.

Flying Poodles Wins Prestigious Parents Choice Award Best Mobile App 2011

Emerald Hills, CA (PRWEB) October 29, 2011

Just in time for the holidays, an adventure, an emergency, a rescue, and the most adorable cast of characters to meet Christmas in ages. Flying Poodles is a new classic children's holiday tale. Karen Morss, author, commented, 'We are thrilled to receive this award. The magical world of the Flying Poodles comes alive on the iPad. To be able to share this story with children all over the world is our heart's delight.'

Flying Poodles - A Christmas Story is available in the iTunes App Store and as a hardcover book at http://www.Flying-Poodles.com. A portion of the proceeds support Smile Train, saving the world one smile at a time. View a trailer of the book at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2uHSfsGhB0

Parents Choice Awards Committees identify the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels. The Parents Choice Awards

iPad vs. iPhone Mobile Learning Research Reveals Differences In Student Behavior

Austin, TX (PRWEB) January 24, 2011

GetYa Learn On (GYLO), an Austin-based educational software company, today announced results from research investigating how college students use the iPhone/iPod Touch compared to the iPad while studying for an Introductory Statistics class at Abilene Christian University (ACU). The app used in the research, Statistics 1, is an e-textbook that has been tested for three semesters at ACU and students have consistently reported that it helps them learn statistics and save time.

During the Fall 2010 semester, students in the class used the app on both iPhones/iPod Touches and iPads. Preliminary findings showed that 60 percent of students reported that for studying and test preparation, they preferred the iPad version because of the larger screen size; however, students reported that having the iPhone/iPod Touch version was equally important because the device is always with them.

The Statistics 1 app was useful on both devices but I bring my phone with me everywhere I go so it was a lot more practical to use the app on my iPhone, said one student. Another student relayed that, although the size of the iPad allowed for easier navigation, the iPhone app was far more useful because it was more accessible and always with me.

In a questionnaire given to the class at the end of the semester, 86 percent of students involved in the study reported that using the Statistics 1 e-textbook app helped them study statistics. The specific parts of the app that were reported to be most helpful included the examples in the lessons, quizzes with feedback, flashcards, glossary, and the Standard Deviation calculator.

Were witnessing an educational revolution, one defined by students harnessing the power of smartphones and mobile devices to drive their own learning, stated Priya Nihalani, M.A., GYLOs Chief Research Officer. Our findings confirm our hypotheses that use-patterns differ based on the form factor of the device.

ACU and GYLO have collaborated since 2009 to explore factors that affect learning with the iPhone and iPad in the context of higher education. Nihalani and GYLOs CEO, Dr. Michael Mayrath, will be presenting on the future of e-textbooks and mobile classroom applications at ACU's Connected Summit in late February.

The Statistics 1 e-textbook app will be on sale for a limited time starting Tuesday, January 25 on the iTunes Store. The app will soon be available for Android devices.

For more information about GYLO, visit GetYaLearnOn.com, follow us on Twitter, or be our fan on Facebook.

Acquity Group Mobile Audit Reports 210% Increase in Retailers Deployment of Mobile Sites Over Past Year

Chicago (PRWEB) October 10, 2011

Acquity Group LLC, a leading global brand eCommerce and digital marketing company, announced today the results of its third-annual Mobile Audit, which analyzes Internet Retailers Top 500 companies on their rate of mobile adoption.

This years Top 10 Best-in-Class companies leading the way in mobile initiatives include, in alphabetical order: Amazon, Armani Exchange, Barnes & Noble, Buy.com, Cabelas, Gilt Groupe, The Home Depot, Newegg, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart.

These ten retailers are executing mobile tactics that are positioning them ahead of the mobile commerce curve, said Tom Nawara, Vice President of Digital Strategy and Design at Acquity Group LLC. All of these companies have made a focused commitment to mobile, and its paying off. Not only have they implemented mobile-optimized sites to support a wide range of devices, but they have taken initiatives a step further with exceptional transactional functionality and well-designed apps that meet customer needs.

The results show that 37% of the analyzed e-tailers now have a mobile site, up from only 12% in 2010.

The study also found that one in four retailers have at least one mobile app. These numbers have steadily risen over the past few years, a key indicator of the mobile revolution: