MWC Preview from W3i’s Derrick Fountain: ‘Unlimited power and unlimited data for every user!’
Today we have another MWC preview post from one of our Developer Advisory Board members, Derrick Fountain, from W3i.
WIP: Hi, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you and your company do.
DF: My name is Derrick Fountain. I’m the Product Manager for the W3i Ad-Funded Payment Platform and Apperang product. The first is a monetization solution for freemium iOS games that have in-app purchase capability, allowing gamers to earn virtual currency for installing apps being promoted by our advertising partners. The second product, Apperang, is a similar model, except we incentivize users with real cash instead of virtual currency for installing recommended apps. The Apperang iOS app was approved a week ago, and we are wrapping up the first update in preparation for a big market launch in the coming weeks that will include both an iPad and iPhone/iPod touch versions to augment the existing website version.
Prior to W3i, I was the Product Manager at Internet Broadcasting, where I managed a network of premium mobile news portals. I was also Product Manager of the redesign of the desktop version of Post-Newsweek’s network of local news portals
WIP: What do you think will be the big stories and news at MWC this year?
DF: I’m really looking forward to the Eric Schmidt keynote. In particular, a big story will be how Google positions its latest updates to the Android Market relative to Amazon’s App Store. It’s always interesting to hear passionate panel discussions and debates on which platforms will win in the future . I’m sure there will be no shortage of highly opinionated, highly informed thought leaders at MWC.
WIP: What are you personally hoping to hear more or learn about at MWC?
DF: One of the key areas that I’m interested in is the latest thinking and attitudes toward mobile broadband and data usage. Consumer confidence and adoption of the products and services we bring to market are indirectly impacted by the whole unlimited vs. usage debate. This also ties into a second story I’m looking forward to at MWC this year, monetization. We are currently seeing a pivot in the industry where engagement has a direct impact on monetization. The shift away from paid downloads (total units x revenue-per-unit-sold) to the freemium model (total users x revenue-per-DAU) where usage plays a major factor in monetization.
WIP: Do you have any advice for your fellow MWC attendees?
DF: Yes, attend the WIPJam session. I have attended other WIPJam sessions, but this is my first MWC. Based on what I heard about MWC from my colleague that attended last year, the WIPJam at WMC is by far the mother of all WIP Jams.
WIP: Will your company have any big news to share at MWC?
We definitely have some big announcements to make. We have a big announcement coming up in March so I won’t spoil the fun by giving away the details. This product will allow us to deliver even more value to our advertising partners that turn to W3i for the distribution of their free and paid iOS apps. Instead of spilling the beans here, I will encourage everyone to watch W3i.com in early March for the big announcement. In addition to next month’s big announcement, we will bring several new freemium game titles to market under our Recharge Studios publishing business. Those announcements will hit the wires in coming weeks as well.
WIP: Finally, if the MWC fairy dropped down out of the sky and granted you one wish for the show, what would it be?
This question reminds me of the whole “if I had a magic phone” video clip that ran on Youtube a few years back. I have two simple wishes. Unlimited power and unlimited data for every user.