Is Apple Changing How it Ranks Apps?

Looks like Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) might be putting a more sophisticated—and potentially more helpful—spin on how it ranks the most popular apps in its ginormous App Store, which currently features an almost inconceivable 350,000+ apps in its catalog. But the news comes amidst allegations that Apple is at the same time making it harder for pay-per-install apps to make their way into the store.

According to some observations from the mobile app analytics firm Flurry, in the last three days, the rankings for several popular apps have been jumping: for example, Facebook has jumped to the number-one ranking, having previously placed between 10th place and 20th place.

One good guess from InsideMobileApps is that Apple has started to factor in active usage into its rankings, rather than basing those rankings on downloads alone, which is similar to how Google (NSDQ: GOOG) ranks apps in the Android Market.

This makes sense, particularly in a market that has been around for long enough now to have an established base of consumers who have definitely taken their foot off the download gas, but might still be heavy app users.

Auto Dealer App

More than a quarter of smart phone users plan to purchase a new or used car in the next year.  And, a whopping 78% of those new buyers will use their mobile device as part of the decision making process, according to an article in Media Post.

The findings come from a new study of 851 mobile users over a three month period ending February 15, 2011.

According to the survey, 15.6% of mobile users plan to buy a new car in the next year and 10.4% will purchase a previously owned vehicle.  That figure bodes well for an auto industry that is clearly on the rebound after several lackluster years.

Clearly, there is a distinct correlation between the higher income users of smart phones and the typical US adult population.  While only 5.5% of adult Americans plan on buying a new car in the next year, 15.6% of smart phone users are making such plans.

And, the car buying plans are being made on the mobile phone.  The study found that 48% of smart phone users planning to buy a car this year are using their mobile phones to conduct initial research on a new car.  44% are using their mobile devices to comparison shop right on the auto dealer’s lot.  32% are even using their smart phones to locate an auto dealer. 

Jim Stutzman Chevrolet-Cadillac is one auto dealer that is investing in the power of mobile marketing for its auto dealership.  The Winchester, Virginia GM auto dealer uses the Cars2Go auto dealer app from Advanced Mobile Solutions to allow consumers to gain real time access to its current auto inventory on his lot.  Consumers can also schedule service appointments via the mobile phone app.

If Stutzman wishes to contact his customers or prospects, he can do so via the send notification of the Cars2Go app or through the company’s text message marketing product.  The service also generates trade in leads via its Cell Ur Car feature.

By 2013, more Americans will access the internet through their mobile device than through the internet.  That’s why Jim Stutzman Chevrolet-Cadillac has invested in a mobile web site so that users can use its Click to Call feature to contact the dealership.

Jim Stutzman Chevrolet-Cadillac knows that its mobile marketing tool will drive more car sales to his dealership so that’s why he’s made the investment in it.

“Everything is moving to the mobile phone,” said Stutzman, “so why should car buying be any different?”

QR Code Use Analyzed

65% of Americans have seen a QR Code.  QR Codes are an important part of your mobile marketing campaign.

Of those people who have seen a QR Code and therefore know what one is, how many have used one?

As to what the consumer would like to use a QR Code for, it looks like everybody is interested in saving money today in this tough economy so a mobile coupon certainly makes sense to the highest number of consumers.

(Source — MGH: April, 2011)

Golf Channel App

The following was taken from the pages of Mashable and its review of the Top 10 Golf Apps to have for the golf season.  It’s great to see our Golf Channel app mentioned in the pages of Mashable.  If you haven’t downloaded Advanced Mobile’s new Golf Channel app, what are you waiting for?  It’s FREE!

8. Golf Channel Mobile

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 To keep up to speed on the latest news and updates from the world of golf, the Golf Channel Mobile app is a good one to have. It provides breaking news, up-to-the-minute tournament scoreboards, player profiles and clips from recent Golf Channel shows. There are also clips of instructional videos from popular shows such as The Golf Fix and The Daily Brew. It’s also available for Android phones.Cost: FREE

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