Mobifun’s Weblog

Mobile security company AdaptiveMobile has secured $14 million in a second round of funding led by Doughty Hanson. Noor Financial Investments and Intel Capital also participated in the round, reports Red Herring. AdaptiveMobile had previously raised $6 million. The new funding will be used for R&D and sales. The company sells its software to carriers so it can boost subscriber numbers by 20 million with one sale—it has 85 million subscribers and customers in the US, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific

The combined business models of pornography, social networking, and mobile technology has been very effective with PixMeTV, the first “citizen pornography mobile phone movie platform” where users can create their own profile, upload, and sell their own self-shot adult movies. Its rapid growth of more than 5 million page impressions per month has prompted them to setup a mobile affiliate partner scheme.

“We’ve created an environment that lets anyone with a videophone be the Producer, the Director, the Star - and importantly the Salesperson - of their own adult movie,” said Jason Greane, Director of PixMeTV. We’ve seen some great early stage growth, and feel our unique pre-populated white-label offering will be of real interest to non-mobile companies looking to enter the user generated mobile space, to established websites looking to mobilise their web community and to wapsite owners looking to broaden their mobile portfolio into user generated content”.

The bottom line: sex cells anytime, anywhere. While the content is somewhat sensitive and inherently seductive, I urge you to look at the business process of this company and probably learn a possible “best practice” in the field of mobile marketing. There is no doubt that the mobile industry needs a major makeover.

Coca-Cola’s 2nd biggest brand, Sprite, is experimenting on mobile social network in its desire to capture the powerful teen market. Dubbed as Sprite Yard, it is the first “community-to-go” that combines photo sharing, message board, planner, and digital downloads in one simple interface for mobile phones.

The company’s executives admit that there will be no profit from this venture. But knowing that 80% of 18-24 years old own mobile phones, it is enough motivation to create something big as this Yard.

But with social networking giants like MySpace already in the mobile playground, will Sprite Yard create the much needed buzz?

Accessing the Sprite Yard is easy and simple. Anyone with a WAP enabled phone and access to a data plan can join the Yard. Beginning June 22, U.S. consumers can text “YARD” to 59666 (”Lymon”) and receive a reply with a WAP link to access the Sprite Yard for the fist time. Clicking the link directs the mobile device to the “Yard” where they are invited to register by selecting a tag name and password. As soon as they are registered, users can opt to create a profile to share information about themselves with their friends in the Yard.

“The global adoption of mobile marketing provides a unique business opportunity for brands to create and maintain relationships with their audiences,” said Laura Marriott, President, Mobile Marketing Association (MMA). The Sprite Yard was announced today at the MMA’s Mobile Marketing Forum in New York. “With the Sprite Yard, The Coca-Cola Company is among those setting industry best practices and generating excitement around engaging consumers through mobile in fun and meaningful ways.