One of the pitfalls that I run into when thinking/doing mobile happens to be one of the more notable items illustrated here: there are approx 4 billion registered mobile devices (3.5-3.75 billion mobile users) but only 1-1.2 billion of them access the web on their mobile (how big is mobile). See what I see? 25-33% of mobile users are online, how does one develop a ministry with mobile when its more than just the web that’s needed?

Now, its been noted (by Google’s Eric Schmitt) that mobile can be a magic wand – of sorts. If you will, its not necessarly the fact that the mobile is connected, but because of its various sensors and the analytics kept with them, a mobile device could unlock interactions where there was none before. This is what I wish to get to get you – the mobile thinking minister or org – to ponder, plan, and do.

Imagine a church with this stance. The doorpost into the church was a digital bulletin board where people posted dates of their salvation, healings, disciples, etc. Bibles in the pew were just as often read as they were photographed and then messaged to those who couldn’t be at the sanctuary (mobile camera with OCR, send as SMS, MMS, or email). Sermons and studies were recorded, transcribed on the spot (speech to text on the mobile), and then posted (online) and messaged (SMS, email, IM) for other communities to interact. And instead of tracks/pamphlets/leaflets, people received cards with pictures or barcodes on them to which they could not just read The Gospel, but are encouraged to share the card with someone else so that they could interact with the Gospel – read, SMS for prayer, map to local church(es), etc. – and be called to the action of sharing that card with someone else.

Its these kinds of interactions that mobile allows us as a Body to work with. The key is to not get stuck on the web. Yes, there’s a signifiant portion of mobile that means “web.” But, we can’t get stuck there if we are going to be applicable to those persons who’s concept of web is the spider they greet every morning.

Take a good look at this video of a CSI spot where they talked about using a QR Code to crack a case. Note how many interactions, both web-based and not, that were facilitated – with the mobile as simply a wand. Then, try something similar in your ministry/org and let us know how it fares 🙂

Some good news out there for those of you who use RIM BlackBerry devices and have looked somewhat longingly at the Celio Redfly. In the past weeks, the versatile Celio Redfly smartphone companion devices have added BlackBerry devices to its list of compatible smartphones. So this means that for those of you who do your work on a BlackBerry, and don’t want the hassle of finding wireless keyboard drivers or carrying a netbook, that you have a solid solution.

A few reviews have already been published about the Redfly+BlackBerry package, here’s a snippet from the review from Brighthand:

…BlackBerrys don’t have an on-screen cursor in exactly the way a PC does, so Celio had to adapt. The Redfly’s trackpad– and mouse if you plug one in — acts like a 5-way D-pad. This can move the selection point up, down, left and right, but not diagonally. Hitting the left mouse button is the same as pressing in on the track-ball on the BlackBerry. The Redfly has a set of Up, Right, Left, Down buttons, and I often find these easier than the mouse or trackpad…

We’ve talked about the Redfly+Smartphone combination here a few times. This is really a good solution for those of you who’d have little to no problem working from your smartphone for long spells, but could use the larger screen and closer-to-full-sized keyboard. Add to that you get 8hrs of use out of the combination, and you really do end up with a very robust mobile solution.

There are a number of churches/orgainzations which may have looked at BlackBerries and Windows Mobile devices as enterprise-like solutions for communication and productivity. This Redfly+smartphone works really well. And, instead of configuring laptops, then having to track those (more expenses), you get something a lot less expensive in the Redfly, and something that requires a lot less maintenance for you (the IT department) and the user.

For more info, to download drivers for your device, or to see the different Redfly models available, check out the Celio website.

If you are using the Redfly, we’d love to hear how you are getting along with it and some of the positives and challenges. Leave your note in the comments below.

A few weeks ago, I had a call with a new friend about how they can utilize mobile better in their ministry approach. After listeninng to what it was that they wanted to do, I recommended a few options to them.

While I won’t share directly what I shared with them, I will state a few of the points and perspectives that drove my answers. These should help you scope out a mobile strategy that works best for you/your organization. Anything more specific, I’d have to refer you to Inner-Linked 😉

(#1) While mobile is one of the largest ares within media (4 billion overall users, 1.2billion of which do mobile web), its regionally and personally more specific than many other media streams. Have a different approach for ages, regions, and even cultures – when able.

(#2) Take advantage of mixed-media approaches to meet your mobile audience. For example, MMM uses RSS, RSS w/SMS, QR Codes, and a mobile-friendly website to be accessible. There’s no silver bullet, you’ll have to scatter-shot a bit and then drive into those pieces that work best.

(#3) Doing specific sites for each language variation that will come to your mobile site isn’t stragetic, concentrate on the core languages and develop partnerships to develop the rest.

(#4) Lastly, be interactive. Just because you can view video/listen to audio/browse the web, doesn’t mean you stop at that. Engage the viewer to take action (getting involved, text/tweet feedback, etc.). Think of going mobile as being a handshake, and you are simply using that window to make a first impression, and start a dialogue with someone.

A topic that has come up with the discussion about Katana for Maemo 5 has been the issue of enabling an open source (and free) Bible reader to read paid (DRM-ed) formats. Its been a sticky issue within the electronic Bible realm for sometime, and I don’t know that the discussion will go away anytime soon, but there are some aspects to this discussion that need to be stated so that all parties have the same starting point to move forward.

What is Copyright?

The first thing is copyright. Copyright is the defined as a:

…form of intellectual property that gives the author of an original work exclusive right for a certain time period in relation to that work, including its publication, distribution and adaptation, after which time the work is said to enter the public domain. Copyright applies to any expressible form of an idea or information that is substantive and discrete and fixed in a medium. Some jurisdictions also recognize “moral rights” of the creator of a work, such as the right to be credited for the work. Copyright is described under the umbrella term intellectual property along with patents and trademarks.

In most respects, this makes simple sense to all. Law designed to allow artists to profit from their work without fear of infringement by someone else. When it comes to mobile Bible software, there are several areas where copyright tends to rear its head:

• The coding used to transcode and format the Biblical text
• The Biblical text (per its translators or publishers)
• The code and user interface of the application that reads the Biblical text
• The systems used to develop or support the application or publishers’ copyright

In respect to copyright, its a law. And laws are different for different regions. Some regions will limit a copyright for a certain amount of time to the original creator, whereas other areas might not limit it at all except in certain applications.

And while most of this is pretty simple, the idea of ownership throws all of this into several grayer-than-most areas.

Copyright and Licensing

The problem comes in enforcing copyright in a realm like the Internet where the concept of “regions” tends to get lost very quickly. Because something is attainable, the regional law needs to have a non-regional aspect to it if copyright is going to be skillfully applied. This is where the idea of licensing comes into play. Licensing allows the copyright holder to be compensated for their work, but also for the purveyor of the said work to use that item in a way that best fits them.

We see this in respect to music. When you purchase music (in the US), you are purchasing a license for its fair use. And in many cases, this fair use includes you being able to listen to that purchased music on any personal devices that you own.

Electronic Bibles

The same isn’t exactly the case when it comes to electronic Bibles. Because of publishing rights and regional issues relating to literary works, licensing Biblical content for use across several devices or reader applications isn’t something that’s done from company to company.

This is why there are several Bible reader companies, and many of them do Bible readers for several types of software. Their licence to create and dissemenate only covers the material within their applications, not across it.

Where Ethics Comes In

Therein lies the issue of ethics for the mobile/electronic Bible user. Sure, you can purchase a Bible from “Company X,” but you’d only be able to use it within their application. Because of the limited license (to you), to use that material on another device would mean that Company X would need to develop a container for you to read it.

Even if you are enterprising enough to take Company X’s Bible and use it on Company Y’s application, you still have the problem of licensing. Technologically, its not an issue to do that. Ethically it is. You are circumventing the license in order to gain accessibility. That’s breaking the copyright, and therefore putting the law maker in position to execute justice for the copyright holder.

Solutions???

It would seem though that there are no solutions for issues like this. There are too many devices requiring too much custom code, and then so many versions of the Bible with so many owners of those copyrights. Its not an easy thing to make something available to all and then secure it for those who created it and deserve their compensation for time/resources.

But then again that just may be the problem worth fixing. Right now, companies license Bibles from creators/publishers, not individiual users. If users could also – inexpensively – license content, then maybe that license would have provisions for them to select which devices fall under that licensed use.

Bible software companies would then move into doing things to make their reader applications the selling point, promising compatibility with that licensing scheme, and value-adding whatever else would draw people to them.

I don’t really know what a total solution would look like. But, in light of the many, many, people using mobile and other devices for a Bible, its clear that something different needs to be done so that copyright holders are rightfully compensated, but users don’t have so many hoops to go through just to make sure they can use the materials they’ve created.

In the meantime, don’t break a license just because you can. Follow the laws of your land, and work with those groups who are trying to enable change in a legal and God-affirming means. We all win when things are done in good order.

As if I were not excited enough about mobile. In a recent conversation at VSN was shared the link to a presentation titled Using Mobile Technologies for Outreach and Education. This is a great topic, and something that I am personally putting into action within various places and events in my life. Check out the resources here.

Also check out the site Golden Swampthat has a ton more resources on handschooling and other mobile-education topics.

I wish that I could have written this a bit earlier, but my friend Tomi Ahonen posted some really neat stats about mobile devices the other day. Here’s a quick summary:

• More than 3 billion people in the world use SMS;
• The total revenues for SMS has passed 100 billion dollars, which is more than the combined total of the global music, global video gaming, and global movie industries!
• 31% of mobile phone users use the mobile web (over 4 billion registered mobile phone users globally);
• A little over 1 billion PC internet users versus 1.2 billion mobile internet users

Personally speaking, these numbers are amazing. And just point to the sheer impact that mobile devices have been over the last 10+ years.

That’s not to say that the PC will go away, but mobile means a lot more to more people than PC does. And we are just getting started.

This past Monday was the second meeting of Digital Disciples Charlotte. Compared to thelast time we met, there was double the people (six people!), and tons more stories to go around.

For this, our second meeting, I was asked to facilitate the discussion and have something of a flow to things being done. We opened up in prayer, and then had some time where we gave a small introduction (name, how long in Charlotte, and something about that ‘intersection of faith and technology that brought you out to Digital Disciples’). We are a storied bunch, and I (personally) really enjoyed hearing all of the ways that we have kind of gotten to that one point. A common theme early on was transition.

We then moved into a small section of time where we just reflected on the Word a bit. I read from Proverbs 2:1-8 and talked about 5-10min on how our use of technology has to follow in the ways of Godly wisdom and understanding. How it is a good thing to acquire knowledge and use this technology, but we have to hold ourselves to a high standard of integrity if others are going to receive this gift as wisdom and understanding (applied) from us.

Honestly, I didn’t want to be overly long with that section of things, but God impressed on my heart that the Word should be broken some that night.

After that I asked a discussion question that pretty much led us into the rest of the time together (about 1hr 30min total time for the evening). The question was, what are some of the ways that you are using or seeing technology being used that you can share with us to learn from? From that we talked about email adoption (and overall the speed of tech adoption) in some churches, to what constitues a tech strategy, to the effectiveness of Facebook and Twitter when groups are cross-generational, to Twitter Lists. Overall, a nice suite of topics and some of which we need to circle back around to and share best practices.

The ended in prayer and basically the same kind of fellowhsip and connecting that had been happening throughout the night. I came out of Digital Disciples Charlotte encouraged and challenged. Personally, I’ve been mulling over a number of things, and Monday night just kind of put me in a place where God filled me up some, and now I am challenged to live out another testimony. I’d like to say that in the next meeting that I’ll have a solid success story to share of a faith-technology encounter. Hopefully, everyone else who shows up will as well.

In terms of the next meeting, the first Monday in December (Dec. 7th) is most likely going to be the date. However, that’s not firm just yet. I asked the question about what other days would be suitable (and proposed Saturday, but I know how packed Saturdays in December can be). If you have some suggestions, please respond to this post, on Twitter (use the hashtag #ddclt), or at Facebook. We’d like to get a firm date as soon as possible so that people can start planning. This Monday we had one person come from Columbia, SC (about 75min south of Charlotte), so we want to be respective to distance and time where possible.

Other than that, let’s continue to connect. If you would like to connect with any of us who have met at Digital Disciples Charlotte, catch us on Twitter (@susanjspaulding, @BrettQ,@itybtyctykty, @faithandhealth, @JustWarrenC, and @mobileminmag) or Facebook. Hope to connect with you next time, and stay tuned to these connected spaces for updates towards the next meeting time.

There has a been a number of happenings in the area of mobile bible applications. Here are the highlights of what’s come in the past week+:

OliveTree Releases Symbian S60v5 Beta and updated BlackBerry and Android applications

The folks over at OliveTree have been kicking it into high gear with mobile application updates. They’ve released an early beta of their OliveTree Reader for Symbian S60v5 devices (Nokia 5800XM and N97, Samsung i8910, and Sony Ericsson Saito). Testing is happening in this very public beta to get feedback before making this official. So jump in by downloading the reader and giving your feedback in the OliveTree forums.

There has also been an update to the BlackBerry and Android versions of the OliveTree application. Those too can be downloaded from the mobile-enabled download page.

Maemo 5 Bible App (Katana) Development Moving Forward

The topic of a new Bible application for Nokia’s Mameo5 platform has continued with some really solid success. Already, there has been some movement by a number of developers to port the existing Rapier application to Maemo5 (testing on a live device only remains there). And then for the newer application – tentitvely named Katana – there’s some work being done in a basic UI, and discussions about a plug-in approach that would enable the use of paid Bibles from folks such as OliveTree, in addition to the already planned for support for Sword and Palm Bible+ bibles.

If you’d like to learn more or join the development efforts, throw your eyes and prayers into the discussion.

Logos’ Bible Software App for the iPhone

Logos has also jumped into the mobile application world with its Bible software application for the iPhone. This is a free application which allows its users to read, search, cross reference, compare versions, and even set up reading plans, all from an iPhone or iPod Touch device. As with many mobile Bible applications, this one requires a wireless connection as it connects to the Bibles featured at bible.logos.com. There’s tap-and-hold functionality for viewing Hebrew/Greek, verse/text comparison, and linked cross references.

If you are looking at a Bible app to compliement your Logos library, this would probably be your best bet. For more information, visit Logos’ iPhone software webpage or iTunes.

Got News?

Got news about a Bible application – new application, text, or public beta programs, shoot us a note about it so that we can help you spread the word.

Here’s part two of one user’s experience with mobile devices and its intersection with their life. Check out Part One of this story and then submit yours.

Then I heard about the upcoming [Nokia] N95. And I wanted it. That wasn’t ideal as I found that Orange had sneakily locked me in for an extra 6 months (actually, they’ve gone and done that again this time, now I think about it, by a different method). I bought out of the contract and got me a new Nokia N95 on the day of release. Some people had all sorts of problems with the device, but mine has been going strong with regular daily use for over two and a half years. There’s no silver left on some of the buttons (and hasn’t been for a long time). But it’s still up and running.

The N95 uses the Symbian operating system, which brought me back into the realm of available software: Olive Tree Bible means I can always turn up a reference when requested. E-Reader saves me taking a case full of books when I travel (or it did – these days everything I want seems to require a US credit card). A card full of MP3 files means I am never without a range of music (and I have a cable to connect it to the car radio). I don’t carry files – data protection is a hot topic within my circles.

Then last autumn, I invested in a netbook. In conjunction with a phone dongle, I now have the full internet anywhere there’s a signal. I chose the netbook with windows on because of the dongle plug and play, and it has given me access to anything I can possibly need: Open Office, Firefox browser, email, and I can run the Methodist liturgy programme and such things. I even use it as a music player for dance practice. On holiday, I carry a camera cable, and turn my blog into a travelogue. The netbook nicely fits into my handbag.

And these days my primary phone is a c905. (The N95 has my work sim-card). I have to say I am not impressed. It has all the limitations of the k750i but has none of the advantages: the build quality extremely poor, and the camera, while boasting a wealth of megapixels lacks either the excellent software of the k750i or the optical lens of the N95.

Which brings me to where I am now… looking for something to replace the c905 as my primary phone (because the case it broken, the earpiece doesn’t work and it’s now having problems charging). I’ve looked at the Sony Ericsson Satio (but I’m wary of SE after the c905), I’ve looked at the HTC HD2 (But I actively dislike the capacitive screen, and the camera is weak). So I’ve almost settled on a Nokia N900. If I could just get the nerve up to click that ‘buy now’ button.

As for using devices for ‘my ministry’, I suppose I’m not sure how that works for two reasons. Firstly because I’m nervous of pretending that my history of gadgets is anything other than a closet materialism that just enjoys toys. It can be easy to make ‘holy’ noises to cover up the bits of our humanity we’re less proud of, and I wouldn’t want to do that. And secondly, I’m not sure I make a distinction between my ‘ministry’ and other aspects of my life. If I support someone who’s having a tough time over Twitter or Skype, is that ‘ministry’?

If my teddy bear chats to children struggling with understanding a death in the family, or offers his stories free for worship leaders and teachers on his website, is that ministry? Is my presence in various communities ‘ministry’? To me, it’s all just me, being the person I am called to be wherever I am, online or off. Loving people and God to the best of my (limited) ability in whatever environment. And enjoying playing with the tools God has blessed me with. 😉