It’s been a manic couple of days in Barcelona; here’s a quick summary of some of the stuff not covered so far…

Rubicon Project
Rubicon Project, which operates a digital advertising real-time trading platform, has released the results of research into the global mobile advertising market conducted in January and February, 2014 among leading agency trading desks around the world.

The research reveals that whilst investment in mobile advertising represented an average of 7 per cent of total agency trading desk spend in 2013, agency buyers anticipate it will more than double to account for 16 per cent of total ad spend in 2014. In addition, 95 per cent of the buyers surveyed intend to buy, or have already bought, inventory via mobile private marketplaces in 2014.

Agency trading desk buyers expect mobile spending will be split across in-app inventory (36 per cent), mobile-optimised sites (31 per cent) and standard web formats delivered to tablet devices (33 per cent) in 2014. Standard advertising formats are most in demand followed by rich media and expandable formats, then video formats.

When asked how they buy mobile inventory, 90 per cent said they use demand side platforms (DSPs) compared with just 49 per cent of respondents when Rubicon Project surveyed the market this time last year. 38 per cent said they use ad networks (up from 30 per cent in 2013), and 36 per cent buy directly from the publisher (up from 22 per cent in 2013).

In terms of the metrics buyers use to measure mobile campaigns, cost per action (CPA) or cost per install (CPI) metrics were most popular (69 per cent), alongside clickthrough rates (CTR – also 69 per cent). However, slightly more than a quarter (26 per cent) optimise for reach. There’s an infographic depicting the findings here.

Deutsche Telekom/Telefónica Deutschland/Vodafone/MasterCard
MasterCard has announced a partnership with Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica Deutschland, Vodafone and TREVICA (a MasterCard-owned payment processing company) to create a new mobile platform and accelerate the development of mobile payments in Germany. The three mobile operators represent 80 per cent of mobile customers in Germany.

The partnership means that instead of connecting to individual mobile operators, issuing banks can now connect to TREVICA and have access to a number of mobile operators with one single integration to the TREVICA platform. The companies plan to extend the offering beyond Germany during 2014.

Jasper Wireless
Jasper Wireless, a connected devices platform that powers the mobile Internet of Things (IoT), has announced an agreement with POST Luxembourg to power IoT and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) services for both its international and local enterprise customers. POST Luxembourg is the country’s largest provider of telecommunications/ICT services.

The cloud-based Jasper Platform is designed for enterprises across all vertical sectors, from automotive to consumer electronics and from utilities to transportation and logistics. To date, over 2500 enterprises have standardized on the Jasper platform across 16 mobile operator groups worldwide. Other mobile operators using the platform include AT&T, América Móvil, NTT DOCOMO, Telefónica and VimpelCom.

Accenture/KPN
Accenture and KPN have developed a proof of concept using Google Glass and the Accenture Video Solution (AVS) for interactive television viewing, storage and control that they say has the potential to greatly enrich the TV user experience. While not yet developed as a commercial product, the companies are exploring the potential applications of wearable technologies for television viewers, and are demonstrating the proof of concept at MWC. Using KPN’s Interactive TV service, which is built on the Accenture Video Solution software platform and enables subscribers to watch TV on more devices, the companies are showing how Google Glass integrates with the AVS platform to offer hands-free, voice-controlled interaction, and seamlessly shares TV content between the main TV screen and Google Glass.

Three examples are being demonstrated. The first is Advanced Remote Control or Companion Device, which enables viewers to control TV functions like channel, program, and program preview selection, volume control, pause, and fast forward/rewind, giving viewers a single, platform-independent device to manage and control the TV directly.

The second is Second Screen, which allows viewers to access an extra layer of real-time information while watching programs. The third is TV Everywhere, which enables viewers to select a program stored on the cloud, and continue watching it on another device while away from the primary TV.

Boost Communications
Boost Communications has raised an additional £1m in funding from Norwegian state-owned venture capital fund Investinor and the private venture capital fund Norsk Innvasjonskapital (NIK), following the previous £3.7m invested between 2012 and 2013. Boost will be using the new round of investment to expand its footprint in London and Dubai.

Citrix
Citrix has launched ByteMobile Insight, a big data analytics solution designed to provide immediate, actionable intelligence for mobile operator monetization, marketing and customer care organizations. Citrix said the solution enables users to create new revenue streams, improve marketing effectiveness and increase subscriber loyalty. ByteMobile Insight is available for immediate deployment.

ByteMobile Insight collects and enriches usage, location and CRM data from a variety of sources, including ByteMobile platforms deployed in the mobile core network. Actionable intelligence is delivered to any operator organization via an interactive user interface as ready-to-use reports or via API or file extracts. The solution is designed to operate on a stand-alone basis or integrated with other big data architecture elements. Citrix is demoing ByteMobile Insight at MWC in Hall 5, stand 5A21.

Point/Handelsbanken
Point and Handelsbanken have teamed up to launch a mobile payment managed services solution for micro merchants and other small businesses in Sweden that want to use smartphones and tablets to conduct transactions. Point is providing parent company VeriFone’s EMV-compatible PAYware Mobile devices and managed services including software support, deployment and helpdesk. Handelsbanken, a Nordic bank with a regional branch network encompassing the UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands, is using the Point solution to deliver a branded mobile payment service.