Mobile Behavior: an Omnicom Group Company

Jeep is rolling out an iPhone application for adventurous people. TripCast lets you plan, track, and share trips with friends and family. The app also takes advantage of existing social platforms by letting users upload media to Facebook and Twitter. For those who want to follow a friend's trip, but without an iPhone, TripCast can be accessed via the web. The Points of Adventure feature offers more than 250,000 outdoor recreation spots in the United States.

Mobile Marketer reports:

“The strategy is to reach out to an array of consumers - both current and potential customers - who have a sense of adventure and may enjoy sharing their adventures with others,” said Todd Goyer, head of Jeep brand communications at Chrysler Group, Detroit.

This is a creative way for Jeep to expand their mobile and social presence while reaching an outdoors-loving consumer.

Watch the app demo here:

Google has released an Android application that aims to make the time-consuming and frustrating task of finding a parking space a little easier -- and help the environment at the same time.

According to ReadWriteWeb:

The app, named OpenSpot, is very straightforward. If you are looking for parking, simply pull up the app to see a map of nearby openings.

If you are leaving a parking space and feel the urge to generously attempt to share your empty space with fellow Android users, you can place a pin on the map where your spot can be found. The app automatically color codes the pins based on how long they've been active, and removes spots that are older than 20 minutes.

To encourage this behavior, a habit of the generous stranger, Google has included what are called "Karma Points." The more you share, the better your score. The goal is to not just help people save time, but also gas--and the exhaust that comes with circling the block for hours.

Many look forward to a future of networked vehicles, but with mobile phones this is possible today. Spotswitch, Roadify, and Spotscout are all examples of social parking in action. Learn more about the connected parking experience here.

Nokia's Highway Manifesto reminds us of the days before satellite-based navigation and demonstrates how mobile phones can put the technology into the hands of many.

Throughout history, people have been getting lost. The fact is, our sense of direction has never been that strong. We made do squinting at paper maps and asking for directions. Then came SatNav, the remarkable ability to rise above the ground and see the lay of the land with an arrow to guide us where we're going.

In just one week after going free, Nokia's Ovi Maps was downloaded 1.4 million times. Navigation is clearly a critical application; it makes us more efficient and keeps us from getting lost. Long term effects from this new ability could include increased flexibility (lowered risk to exploration) and a heightened sense of security.

Watch the Highway Manifesto here:

Truth in Advertising is a running series of advertisements that portray consumers using mobile technology in their everyday life. They take a look at how brands are demonstrating our want and need for mobility. Click here to view previous entries.

Nokia has created a phone-charging bike kit, set for release within developing markets later this year.

The cable is connected to a dynamo which charges when the wheels turn. The bicycle kit and a series of new handsets, with a standby battery time of up to six weeks, are aimed at users with limited access to electricity, the company said. They will be available during the second half of the year.

According to Nokia, a 10 minute bike ride at 6mph will generate enough power for a 28 minute phone call. With this new excess of energy, imagine riding the streets with Ovi Maps' turn-by-turn navigation.

[via engadget]

Chevrolet's Test Drive is an interactive billboard that uses mobile phones to control on-screen cars. The company embraced digital out of home to provide incentive, hoping that customers would exchange personal contact information for entertainment.

To play the game, users are required to input their phone number. From there, they can select a vehicle and race against friends using the number pad. With mobile phones, everyone now has a video game controller on them at all times. AT&T's Jumbli and McDonald's interactive billboard demonstrate this. Today's brands have the opportunity to creatively embrace consumers in this increasingly participatory media environment.

To see Chevrolet's Test Drive demonstrated, click here:

[via every-ware.fr]

GateGuru is an iPhone app that helps users locate the best food, shopping, and service options within any airport. It is a service that aims to socialize air travel and provide users with airport specific mobile utility. We recently caught up with Dan Gellert, founder of GateGuru, where we discussed the company's iPhone application, future plans, and recent feature in an Apple television commercial.

In this episode of MobileBehavior TV:

• Dan talks about GateGuru's utility in airports
• Apple features GateGuru in a TV ad about family travel
• Dan outlines the opportunities for mobile coupons and advertising
• Demonstration of the iPhone application

MobileBehavior TV is a running video series where we meet and interview thought leaders and creators in the mobile community. Click here to view past episodes and here to subscribe on iTunes.