Comments for The Olympics Go Mobile

The Olympics Go Mobile

2008-06-23T13:04:09Z

The Summer Olympics are nearly here. Beginning August 8th, the world will be watching as athletes compete for the gold in Beijing. Of course, many people will be watching the coverage on TV or the web, but others will keeping up-to-date on the latest news via their mobile phone. To take advantage of the demand for mobile coverage of this event, Yahoo has recently launched a site devoted exclusively to the 2008 Beijing Games. And they're not the only ones catering to the ever-growing mobile audience.

]]> Yahoo's Mobile Olympics Site

From Yahoo's main mobile web site, m.yahoo.com, there's a new link that's been added to the top of the list directly underneath Mail and Messenger. The link reads "2008 Olympics Coverage."

From this link, you're taken to Yahoo's newly launched mobile Olympics site. Here, you'll find Beijing time and weather at the top, and a countdown timer to games underneath. The timer counts down the days, hours, and minutes until the start of the games on August 8th. Once the games begin, that timer will likely be replaced with other content.

Underneath the timer, there's a section devoted to news and photos, which deliver the top headlines with links to read the full stories.

Mobile Reporters

On the flip side, Mobile IM and VOIP company, Fring, is looking for mobile Olympics news reporters. They're hoping to take advantage of the demand for Olympics news coverage by using the event to gain traction and exposure for their service.

On a recent blog entry, the company announced that they would provide 3.5G mobile phones, with camera, SIM card, and unlimited data plans to anyone planning to attend the games and interested in micro-blogging the events. "FringCommentators," as they're being called, will then send in quick updates and photos to their blog. The announcement doesn't say, but the likely destination for these micro-blog posts will be this site, a China fring blog, currently only showing one post which reads "under construction."

More Ways To Get Mobile Olympics News

Of course, the official site for news (in the U.S.), NBCOlympics, will be a lot of people's first choice for mobile Olympics news. They're offering a mobilized version of their site and news via text (text OLYMPMICS to 51515).They're also offering mobile alerts, mobile video, and mobile TV news for select mobile devices.

Mobile widget makers are also getting ready for the Games. Plusmo, for example, has a Beijing widget available here which can be added to your phone to deliver the latest headlines.

For video, MobiTV customers can subscribe to a mobilized channel showing NBC Sports coverage, which come August, will be all Olympics news to be sure.

To get the latest headlines, Google Mobile's News feature lets you customize your page of news, so it's very easy to create a personalized page displaying only the news containing the keyword you entered - like "Olympics" or "Beijing," for example.

Then there is Reuters mobile news service which is available at http://mobile.reuters.com or via text (text NEWS to 25669). They even provide mobile RSS feeds, including this one for sports news.

ABC News looks like they might have some good mobile offerings, too, but I couldn't explore them thanks to a web site error:

Will you be watching the Summer Games on your mobile phone? If so, how? Share the services you will use in the comments.

Comment from Chris on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T14:57:38Z

Great stuff, I hope China doesn't censor the updates otherwise it will be a great one to have for mobiles.

Comment from Bill Bryant on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T15:04:50Z

For what its worth, the *OFFICIAL* Chinese language mobile site also went live last week, at wap.beijing2008.cn (must be viewed using mobile browser – i.e. Opera or on a phone). This is the site that the Chinese government authorities and China Mobile have sanctioned and will be promoting throughout the games. The service provider behind the site is mInfo, www.minfo.com, the leading mobile marketing, directory and search company in China. Happy to connect you with them if interested - the CEO splits his time between China and US.

Comment from Sarah Perez on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T15:33:22Z

Thanks Bill - will that be available in multiple languages, too?

Comment from Bill Bryant on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T16:26:49Z

There will be an English language version available as well (mInfo also has a contract with the Chinese government to create the official English language mobile directory for China)

Comment from Tracy on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T17:52:41Z

I've been reading feedables - I like their Belle rss site - and i know they have an Olympics site on their iphone site - http://olympics.feedables.com

Comment from Tracy on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T17:57:30Z

Oops - I just checked the url

olympic.feedables.com

Maybe I shouldn't type so much before I've had my morning coffee ;-)

Comment from Jon on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T20:19:41Z

Seems the app is made for Yahoo by netbiscuits.com. The content is around 3 days old on both text and photo so maybe this isn't yet ready for primetime.

Comment from Jon on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T20:25:20Z

For the record AFP recently launched a mobile news service in both French and English which you can access here: http://www.afpmobile.com/

Comment from Jeff Nolan on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T22:43:26Z

NewsGator and AFP are partnering together on a portfolio of widgets for Olympics coverage and related content, such as travel and news coverage, and best of the blogosphere.

We will be announcing these shortly, ever mindful that the opening ceremonies are little more than a month and a half away.

Comment from Emily Chen on 2008-06-23

2008-06-23T23:55:30Z

There is a mobile version of the Olympics site being developed by CBS, with an unique twist. Users in Beijing can get specially developed SIM cards for their GSM phones to upload unlimited photos and videos to CBS EyeMobile while in China. The site to purchase the SIM cards is available at http://www.gotobeijingchina.com.

Comment from jeff nolan on 2008-06-23

2008-06-24T02:57:09Z

If the IOC would relax their draconian attitude toward trademarks and licensing we would see an amazing array of Olympics themed apps and services. Instead what happens is that the IOC ends up striking licensing deals with big media and then shuts everyone else out.

Comment from Debra Kaufman on 2008-06-25

2008-06-25T18:49:36Z

The mobile entertainment blog MobilizedTV.com will be in Beijing during the Olympics to comment live on NBC's mobile and broadcast pipeline. Subscribe to MobilizedTV's RSS feed to receive updates and stories throughout the Olympics

Comment from Kelly on 2008-06-27

2008-06-28T05:38:57Z

Awesome news!
The Summer Olympics are nearly here. Beginning August 8th, the world will be watching as athletes compete for the gold in Beijing. The best Olympic mobile phone resources are from Yahoo, Fring, NBCOlympics, Plusmo, MobiTV, Reuters, and ABC News.

Comment from Moe on 2008-07-04

2008-07-04T07:56:52Z

download free olympics game score tracker on your cell phone from following link...

http://www.getjar.com/products/16395/BeijingOlympics

Moe

Comment from Moe on 2008-07-04

2008-07-04T08:46:01Z

Free Mobile Software for Beijing Olympics

Beijing Olympics is a simple launch utility that allows you to gain easy access to this summer’s Olympic Games. You can view information as it happens, such as medal winners, breaking news, and time schedules, all from your blackberry.

http://www.getjar.com/products/16395/BeijingOlympics

Comment from Softweb Solutions on 2008-07-04

2008-07-05T04:21:00Z

Thanks for the nice information.

Best Regards
Arpit Kothari
http://www.softwebsolutions.com

Comment from Larry on 2008-07-04

2008-07-05T06:27:20Z

What do you think of me if I tell people to stop Iraq war in the super bowl finals? You will just say I am stupid. So, come on, it is just a f**king game, and let's do it. We Chinese care about it is because we respect the western culture; otherwise, it is a damn thing. Who cares! I cannot afford any ticket anyway... :-)