The battle of the pricing plans is well underway with mobile phone company Meteor the latest to announce its iPad microsim deals.
After months of speculation as to when the iPad would be sold in Ireland it went on sale here last Friday. Consumers who faced uncertainty on which model to go for, now have a choice of data plans to choose from, if they plumped for the Wifi + 3G model.

Last Tuesday Vodafone and O2 revealed their pricing plans, followed by 3 on Wednesday and Meteor on Monday. First off the blocks with Micro Sim data plans was Cubic Telecom. The Irish headquartered mobile network operator, Cubic Telecom launched what it says is Europe’s first SIM card for the new iPad 3G, in May. The SIM card costs €75 and comes pre loaded with 50MB of data.
Meteor currently seems to come out best on its daily tariff for Micro Sim data at €2.99 per day on prepay and free on billpay for customers who sign up to Broadband to Go plans. This deal also includes access to Eircom’s wifi hotspots, which is good news for anybody with a Wi-Fi-only version of the iPad
02’s iPad data tariffs will be available without a minimum term contract and include free access to Bitbuzz Wi-Fi hotspots in Ireland. The tariffs are 500MB for €3.97 a day (for 24hrs) and 5GB for €19.90 monthly (for 30 days).
Similarly, all of Vodafone Ireland’s data plans will be available without a contract. It has launched two commitment-free plans specifically tailored for iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models, a 1 day and 30 day plan - available to customers using Vodafone Micro SIMs. The 1 Day Plan is ideal for customers who want to use mobile broadband on their iPad occasionally and the 30 Day Plan caters for customers who want to browse the web, download music and update apps on their iPad while on the move throughout the month. The 1 day plan costs €3.99 for 500MB of data per day and the 30 day plan, €20 for 5GB of data per month
3 is also offering data plans without a contract -  €9.99 a month for 1GB and €19.99 for 15 GB of data a month.

Not sure how to get an app to market? The answer could be warehousing. According to a recently released in-depth report from GoMo News, which has offices in Ireland and has been reporting on mobile strategy for the last four years, there is a growing trend of selling applications through distributed shopfronts. This model is called the ‘warehouse’, because all of the shopfronts are supplied from a central source.

Cian O’Sullivan, GoMo News Chief Reporter, explains that the Apple Store and the Google Market are “Direct-to-Consumer” (D2C) application shops. “This means that they allow Google and Apple to sell apps to smartphone owners with no middle-men. However, it’s also an incredibly resource-heavy way to sell applications. It requires a lot of employees and man hours dedicated to creating the tools and environment that developers need to profit from your platform.”
Both companies created their own platforms to sell applications on, he adds. “In contrast, warehouses aren’t tied to their own platform. They store and sell applications for any mobile platform or device. Warehouses invite developers to pool their apps in a central location – the ‘warehouse’ – and from here the apps can be sold through any number of shopfronts.”
The report examines the business models, strategies and successes of three different warehouse sellers: GetJar, Djuzz and Apprupt.
In response to requests from its readers and mobile companies to offer more detailed insights, GoMo News decided to carry out research and create a series of reports. The warehouse report is the first in a series of in-depth looks into segments of the mobile industry
For more details, graphs and an in-depth look into the warehouse model, see the full report on http://www.gomonews.com/category/mobile-industry-reports.
Over four years of reporting on mobile strategy, GoMo News has built up a strong industry following and insight into the mobile arena. It is open to suggestions and requests for report topics, both in partnership or as paid research.

A new regular slot has been added to the digital media events calendar with the return of Refresh Dublin to the free networking and talks circuit this month.
Part of and inspired by the Refreshing Cities movement, the intent of Refresh Dublin is to provide a cross-discipline insight into all things design, interactive, creative and technical, so that different disciplines can learn from each other.

Run by a volunteer group of organisers, Refresh Dublin returns with an event on Wednesday 28 July at 6.30pm in Trinity College’s Science Gallery. Web developer Paul Campbell, one of the organisers of the forthcoming Funconf, will give a talk titled ‘The Way I Build is the Why I Build’, which is on the topic of building empathetic products.
According to one of the Refresh Dublin organisers Stewart Curry, design director for X Communications, Refreshing Cities is a worldwide movement about getting people who work in the creative and technical side of new media together and to get inspired, learn off each other, share knowledge and improve the city you’re in.
Refresh Dublin is set to become a regular event, held on the second last Wednesday of each month in the Science Gallery, with the next dates in the diary being Wednesday 28 July, 18 August and 22 September.
According to Curry, Refresh Dublin would appeal to designers and developers for example who work in new media, whether they work for an agency or are freelancers.
It’s also a great network opportunity, he says. “It’s about promoting local talent and trying to improve the professional culture as well. There’s a social aspect to it as well. There’s drinks after the event, so it’s good to meet people who work in different areas and bounce ideas off them.”
Curry adds that this free event will be monthly and is open to having different formats such as workshops and is looking for contributors. “We’re happy for people to volunteer to speak; if it fits in with the whole Refresh idea and you have knowledge you want to share.”

Interested in participating or attending? See http://refreshingcitiesdublin.org

Elaine Roddy, Director, Buzz PR

Company: I work for BuzzPR a public relations, marketing, event management and copywriting consultancy. Our modus operandum for our clients is to help create a ‘buzz’ about our clients’ business, service or product amongst the people they want talking about it.
Job description: I just started the company two months ago with my business partner Ronnie Carroll. As a Director, I help drive all sectors of the PR/marketing remit from developing the brief, strategy planning and implementation to client service, media relations management and evaluation. We also control the top end business management from corporate planning to business development and financial control.
Likes: I love the diversity. One morning I can be meeting a client to find out their needs then a couple of hours later I can be immersed in creative strategy planning. Another day I can be devoted to copywriting of proposals, scripts or press releases then find myself managing a photocall or TV appearance of a client. I also thoroughly enjoy the satisfaction of taking a campaign from the creative planning through to logistical and strategic implementation and finally seeing the results. This can be anything from media coverage, visual display (of a logo, corporate identity or presentation or simply the production of a quality publication for a client).
Career ladder: I have worked in PR for almost 10 years now in every aspect of the business. I have worked for PR agencies (McMahonSheedy Communications and Life Communications) and also in-house as the PR/marketing professional for companies. I also ran a consultancy partnership (Ro-Ro Consulting) some time ago before a lucrative opportunity to work for an agency again wooed me away! Before we started BuzzPR I also acted as the Director of the National Recruitment Federation for almost nine years. My experience in PR has transported me into a lot of industries from consumer and corporate to entertainment and charitable.
Qualifications: BA in Economics & German. Diploma in Public Relations
Working hours: There are no typical hours in PR and most definitely not when you run a company! I’m always working be it physically during the day or mentally going through things in my mind at night – I love it!
Breaktime: Sometimes I have a business lunch and regularly eat at the desk but I do try to get one or two actual breaks from the desk to have a casual lunch. I learned the hard way that it is important to take a mental break during the day. The rest is so much more productive when you do.
Social media credentials: I confess to being a Facebook and LinkedIn fan. It used to be purely personal but I have recognised the benefits in profiling either BuzzPR or our clients’ activities. I must admit to having to discipline myself in terms of time spent on them. They are a necessary evil for today’s savvy businesses!
News: Independent.ie and Prosperity!
Onsite or offsite: My job is a mixture of both.
Why do you love Mondays: I love Mondays because they are a fresh start to the week and there is so much time and opportunity ahead. Most people are focused on a Monday so you can get their attention. I try not to have meetings on Mondays so I can get stuck into the planning part of the week or copywriting. Mondays when in the office and at full steam I love…now Sunday evenings…that’s another story!

Would you or a colleague like to feature in this section? Email ezine editor, Elaine Larkin Elaine@prosperity.ie with details or mention it to your consultant at Prosperity.

Tim McParland is Portal & Advertising Manager at 3 where he has worked since May 2010.

Company: I work for 3, Ireland’s fastest growing mobile provider. Operating one of Ireland’s largest high speed networks, 3 has over 500,000 customers and is the market leader in mobile broadband with over 200,000 subscribers. You’ll find all there is to know about our latest products and services on Three.ie.
Job description: Working with 3’s creative, tight-knit and uber-inspiring Entertainment team, I’m responsible for the merchandising and generation of advertising revenues across 3’s mobile portal, Planet 3.
Likes: For me it’s my colleagues, the day-to-day variety of the work and the opportunity to carry my online and digital media experience into the mobile space. As the industry develops from its widely-accepted 1.0 phase, my team’s challenge is to ensure 3’s customers get an unrivalled mobile web experience and to ensure we provide brands and advertisers the best possible platform for delivering successful mobile advertising campaigns.
Qualifications: As well as a couple of more recent professional certifications in Project Management and digital media, I hold a B.A. in Computer Science & Economics from UCD and a M.Sc. in International Management from Reims Management School and DCU.
Career ladder: Under the guidance of a couple of great mentors, I spent the first two years after my post-grad as a Commercial Analyst with The Irish Times and DigitalworX, its wholly-owned digital arm. I had the opportunity to work hands-on with some big name brands, getting a priceless exposure to the Irish media industry in the process. I was also lucky enough to gain a wide a network of friends and colleagues, many of who I still plague today (they’ll know who they are!). I’d change very little about my time there.
Working hours: Typical hours are 9 to 6-ish but these will vary according to deadlines and go-live dates. Away from the office and when I get the rare bolt from the blue or see a great campaign or new initiative I’ll always take note.
Breaktime: 3’s new Irish HQ on Clarendon Row couldn’t be more central so we’re duly spoiled for choice. I have a few friends who work locally so when the sun is shining and I’m not out with the team or ticking items off the proverbial to-do list, it’s hard to beat a sit-down sandwich and coffee in Stephen’s Green.
Social media credentials:
It really wasn’t that long ago that our J1 holiday snaps went up on UCD’s Netsoc servers so it’s amazing to see how far social media has come over the past five years or so. I use Facebook for personal use, my professional profile is on LinkedIn and I dabble with a couple of Twitter accounts and Facebook fan pages.
News: Wired, Mashable and TechCrunch are all daily ports of calls list while I have a lot of time for the work of Simply Zesty, real pioneers of the social media space here in Ireland. The Irish Times’ monthly Innovation supplement expands beyond purely digital media but is always packed with brilliant content and I’ll rarely miss the Guardian’s TechWeekly podcast.
Onsite or offsite: Most of my time is spent at our offices on Clarendon Row but between training, off-sites and client meetings I’d spend a fair chunk of time on the move.
Why do you love Mondays? I love Mondays because it’s a new week full of new challenges, I’m always learning, there’s rarely a dull moment and fortunately I really enjoy what I do.

Would you or a colleague like to feature in this section? Email ezine editor, Elaine Larkin Elaine@prosperity.ie with details or mention it to your consultant at Prosperity.