modu Takes Off! Next Stop, The Philippines.

Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest L. Cu (right) and modu founder and CEO Dov Moran show off the world’s lightest phone, exclusively available from Globe.

modu’s recent soft launch took off without a hitch and we’re now in full swing on international shores. We’re excited to announce that Globe Telecom, the second largest telecommunications company in the Philippines will be selling the modu device through Lynk Communications.

Media folks and bloggers were on scene and in fashion at Paul Smith in Greenbelt 5, to witness the launch and give their initial thoughts on the modu / fashion mix. We’re really glad you made it!

Here’s what Lauren from ukaymanila.com had to say about modu. “What I like about the modu is that the bare unit is pared down to the most basic mobile phone features – you can call text, listen to music, and use its 2GB internal memory as a storage device.”

Another great post comes from Liz over on projectvanity.i.ph who said. “I think someone was thinking of me in making the modu.”

New to the whole modu concept? modu is touted as the world’s lightest fully-functional phone by the Guinness Book of World Records; however device is more than just merely record-breaking. Unlike the average mobile phone, which comes with a standard feature set, the modu’s looks and features can be completely customized according to your needs, preferences, and lifestyle.

Once you’ve unboxed modu, you can connect it straight to your pc and load it up with your own media, so that you can show it off to your friends with all the interesting pics and music already on it.

Starting September 18, the modu phone will be made available exclusively from Globe for as low as P7,999 with a Globe Tattoo prepaid kit. Each prepaid kit comes with one free modu express jacket and a year’s supply of immortaltxt. You can also avail of the modu phone through Globe’s post-paid plans. If you get the P500 plan the modu will cost you P7,999, but the modu comes for free if you get a Plan 1200 or higher.

Two Words – Sold Out

Over the past few days we released the much anticipated modu through a soft launch with Cellcom Israel. The response has really exceeded all of our expectations and the limited modu’s that were available are now Sold Out! We also wanted to say Thank You.

If you were lucky enough to get your very own modu, we’re going to be looking forward to your feedback. As always, we’re here to assist in any way we can. Feel free to reach out to us via the blog or by emailing us directly.

Of course, this is just the beginning with more modu and modu jackets being available soon in a wide range of styles, through different parts of the world such as Europe, South America and Southeast Asia.

If You’re In Israel, Now’s Your Chance to Buy a modu

As of Today, modu is Available for Purchase.

modu will be available for purchase as of today to select Cellcom subscribers.
Pricing will be positioned at the 500 NIS price point and customers will be asked to participate in supplying feedback in exchange for free air time.

A stand alone modu will be available for purchase along with your choice of modu express jacket. Purchasing a modu is done by contacting Cellcom directly or by visiting the cellcom mini site NOW.

 As always, post your comments and questions bellow or reach out to us through our many homes online.

Beer + Music + Meat, What else do you need?

Months of hard work finally lead up to our soft launch yesterday and we couldn’t be more proud. With countless interviews and meetings out of the way, it was high time to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate than an evening of friends, food and music 

The whole modu team cleared up their calendars and headed to Shuni Park, the location of a two thousand year old fortress and the perfect setting for a night of incredible wining and dining.

Here are a few scenes from the event

Photos: Oren Izrael 

 

Needless to say, it was a much needed evening to unwind and prepare for everything that’s coming up in the next few days and weeks. We also wanted to remind you that we’ll be posting a special URL very soon, where you’ll be able to get more details on how and where to purchase modu this Wednesday.

It’s launch day

We know, we know, the modu blog has been a little quiet. Ok, even too quiet over the last few months, our apologies. But that’s all about to change over the next few days!

We’ve been quietly hard at work, finalizing modu towards production and gearing up towards our soft launch. This Wednesday July 22nd you will finally have the possibility of being one of the 1st people to get their hands on modu!

What’s modu?

If you’re new to the modu concept, here’s a quick recap. modu is the world’s 1st and lightest modular mobile phone. Allowing you to swap between various mobile devices known as “modu Jackets” with various styles, features and functionality. Still want to see what we mean? Take a look at our intro on modumobile.com and get a real feel for what modu can do.

So where are we now?

Our soft launch is officially starting today within Israel to limited Cellcom customers. A wide release is scheduled for the end of the year across Southeast Asia, South America and Europe.

Starting this Wednesday July the 22nd, Cellcom customers will have the possibility to purchase a standalone modu along with several modu express jackets. Contact Cellcom to get on the invitation list. We’ll also be releasing the URL for a special mini-site very soon that will give you more info on how and where you can purchase modu.

To make sure you stay updated we recommend you follow us through our many social presences. We’ll be keeping you updated as we move closer towards soft launch day! Follow us here, our Facebook Profile, Facebook Fan Page or on Twitter.

What a busy show

Another busy day at the modu hospitality suite and booth.

Highlights from the last 2 days

An interesting announcement:

modu and JBL team up to give high-fidelity music to mobile phone consumers with the first modu music  jacket

Dov spoke on Tuesday at one of the MWC sessions: “The new device Marketplace”  where the title of his PPT was: Device for all seasons – a modular approach to creating the ideal device:

 

 

Benny spoke at the GSMA 2009 Mobile Innovation Global Competition were we competed against 6 other finalists.  A company called, Cootekwon the championship title.  They developed a product called TouchPal which is a soft keyboard that provides better user experience in touchscreen mobile devices.

 

 

modu at MWC

Show at MWC is now officially open and we wanted to share with you pictures from the Fira as well as other updates:

 

2 mains Press releases:

Telefonica- modu and Telefonica enter into pilot of modular mobile phones in Latin America

http://www.modumobile.com/#/press_release/item_198/

 

Lynk Communications- modu secures  $38.5 million initial order to bring its mobile phone ecosystem to Southeast Asia

http://www.modumobile.com/#/press_release/item_199/

 

 

Some pictures from the show:

 

 

 Thanks to our official photographer Lior LubraniJ

Mobile Trends

Our earth hosts 7 billion people and 3.8 billion active mobile phones.  Most of us upgrade our device every couple of years.  Each of us engages in a different personal relationship with our handheld. 

My parents regard it as a phone they carry in their pocket, plain and simple.  My co-workers write messages on their mobile device, and use it to manage their calendars. I use it to read the news. Generation Y and cultures in the Far East use it heavily for rich media, music, games, digital payments, infotainment and entertainment.  We can only begin to imagine how Generation Z will integrate the telecom gadgets of the future into their lives. 

Together with you, every month or two I will use this blog as a platform to explore global, local and glocal trends in the mobile space. 

We will take a look at various aspects of cell phone usage, including:

·         Countries and People: Cell phones in much of the West have penetrated over 100% of potential users.  Less developed locales often rely on mobile networks more than land lines, adding millions of new cellular subscribers monthly.  The average age of people using mobile devices decreases daily.  Who and where are the end users?  How are they changing?

·         Cell Phones and Mobile Media: Is the mobile phone on its way to becoming our personal television set?  Will advertisers soon recognize the mobile phone as the next Internet?

·         Cell Phones and Entertainment:  Music, movies, books, news items, games, social interaction, hospitality and sports.    How can the mobile phone further enhance the way we inform and entertain ourselves, and enjoy leisurely activities? 

·         Cell Phones and Transportation:  Can your cell phone drive your car?  Manage your use of public transportation?  Encourage you to walk? Tell you where to go?

 ·         Cell Phones and Electronic Payments:  Will I be able to leave my wallet at home, empty, and migrate my plastic cards to my phone?  Will I use it to pay merchants and peers, withdraw money from an ATM, conduct my personal business?  Will I receive shopping incentives on this electronic wallet?

·         Cell Phones and Personalized Software:  Some mobile platforms already allow users to choose from thousands of software applications.  How far will that go?  

 

·         Cell Phones and Personalized Hardware:  Will the trend towards personalized software extend to the shape, look, feel and hardware specs of each person’s device?  Like genomics, which seek to customize medicines to each patient’s genetic code, will mobile phone manufacturers do the same to suit their end users’ preferences?

 

·         Cell Phones and Human Behavior:  Will the features in your phone change the way you go about your life?  And how will your daily habits impact the design of cell phones of the future?

·        Cell Phones and Humanity:  Can mobile phones fight world poverty?  Some people think so.  And how can we minimize their harm to our environment?

 ·         Cell Phones and Ice Cream:  Can our mobile phone feed us ice cream?  Or replace our schools?  Or decide how to furnish our houses?  What outrageous concepts, currently unfathomable, could become the cell phone feature of the day a few short years from now?

·         Cell Phones and Medicine:  Will you carry your medical records in your phone?

·         Making Money: On each of these topics, can mobile network operators and device manufacturers deliver enough value to end users to create sustainable, profitable business models? 

 

Discover new directions in the mobile world.  Share your thoughts.  Perhaps we can start a new mobile trend or two of our own. 

Oded Salomy

Director of Corporate Development, modu^TM

 

To receive email updates about my future blog posts, write me below with your email address.  We will not publish your email address.

 

It’s all about personalization

In the world of personalization of applications and content, modu is presenting a different paradigm where each and every user can select one’s own device according to the preferences, the activity or the life style.

modu platform enables partners from other arenas to enter the mobile world; using the core modu phone inside a consumer electronic device enabling mobile services, personal content and connectivity.

Quality Rocks

One thing that never ceases to interest me is people. You can almost never have enough of watching people, and you literally spend a lifetime understanding them. People are the main asset of every organization (commercial or not), and not in vain modu had made it to be its top value: “People first”. In my essays I will try to give you a glimpse into the everyday life within our corridors; to share with you my point of view in the experience of being part of the group that forms modu.

Being a part of the hi-tech industry can be quite demanding and time consuming, especially in case of a start-up. Nonetheless, every now and then you may encounter someone who nurtures an alter ego: a side vocation that helps one keep his soul vivid. Sometimes I can’t help wondering which ego is alternative, and which is really the primal one. Let me get you acquainted with such a person: a QA group manager who’s also the leader of a rock band.

195dB is the name, and good hard rock music in Hebrew is its game (in case you wonder about the nature of this name, try to find out how to measure such a valueJ). Along with their hopefully soon to publish debut album, the band’s two guitarists, bass player and drummer, would soon celebrate their fifth year of playing together. Two weeks ago, on the second evening of Hanukah, was a night of a very special show. This was the band’s first concert to be played in the format of the upcoming album. Many friends have gathered in Tmoona Theater in Tel Aviv, to show support and to experience a less familiar side of someone they know daily, as a colleague.

As the lights went off, the guys took their places on the stage, and the fun began. The show went very good, and great music sprung out of the amplifiers, enthusing the audience. The dim space became full with flickering lights and colorful sounds. I can’t write so you’d feel as if you were there, but the photos attached (taken by yours truly) are sure to give you a taste of that night’s excitement. The next day, our rock star came back to be the same ol’ Tal, the guy from the QA, who keeps a Gibson in the closet. Take a look around. It might be fun to meet the alter ego of someone you know for ages, from across the hall.

One last thing: as a people, we’re going through rough times, these days, and I wish us all to come through them, to live a saner future.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading what I had to tell you.

See you all next time,

Shalom.

More information about 195dB and a clip from the show can be found in: http://www.myspace.com/195db.