Mass TLC 2011: Privacy, usability key concerns in mobile apps

BOSTON – Privacy issues associated with location-based services took center stage at the Mass Technology Leadership Council’s Spring meeting today. Companies must be transparent in how they handle their customers’ personal information in order to gain the trust of their customers going forward, according to panelists at the event. This is especially important in light of perceived flaws in how Apple Inc., Google Inc. and Facebook have handled some customer information, including apps that track customers’ locations.
The event, which focused on the global impact of mobility and how it is reshaping the world, included key technology industry leaders Kara Swisher from the Wall Street Journal, Bob Schukai from Thomson Reuters, Walt Doyle from Where.com and Michael Shim from Groupon.
Usability in mobile applications is crucial for a company to be successful. Swisher said applications should be self-aware instead of consumers having to open up the app for themselves. Not only that, but she commented that the ability to discover applications is an issue in all of the mobile app stores.
Swisher also sat down with Sean Dalton of Highland, Doyle and Shim to discuss ways to make money in the mobile industry. During this panel, Dalton stressed that companies should focus on growth and creating value rather than monetizing the app in the early stages. That value can then be turned into profitability.