This week we launched some important improvements that you have been asking lately. Check them out and we hope you will like what you see.

New short code in Latvia - 1897

To make end-users’ life easier we have opened new short code in Latvia - 1897. From now on, you can create services in Latvia with this new short code. We have also activated all the current services with the new code. It means that you can replace previous three short codes with one in your promotional materials. The old short codes will remain working until 18th of May. After that, only the new one is used. Replace the information and you will see your users getting happier

New keyword WIN in use

We have added new primary keyword WIN for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Mainly it was demanded for campaign services, but it can be used for other ones as well. Spring is the time for some cool text-to-win campaigns - try it out!

New end-user price added in Latvia

Many users have asked for higher end-user price in Latvia. Now it is possible to create services that cost 2,50 LVL (approximately 3,64 EUR), so you can monetize more expensive content and earn bigger revenue.

Additional security measure for Premium SMS-connectivity service

The HTTP GET requests that Fortumo is making towards your script are now signed with a shared secret. You can check the added signature parameter to be sure that the request is made by Fortumo and not someone else. The shared secret can be found from the service settings page. Full explanation and an example PHP script that checks the signature is included here. However, you don’t have to add the signature check, if you don’t want to, it’s fully optional.

For most of the people Web 2.0 is just a buzzword - round corners, a bit childish web design but nothing too special. But there are some key elements that make Web 2.0 different from yesterday’s web (Web 1.0). Major difference is that Web 2.0 websites allow users to do more than just retrieve information - people are able to create their own content and be part of democratic and organic web.

Main keywords for Web 2.0 are openness, collaboration, dynamic, interactive, context sensitive services, third party content. Vast majority of the Web 2.0 doesn’t have a good business model behind it, although recently we have seen a bit more of the ones that do. There is also a tendency that services with a business model tend to move away from Web 2.0 ideology (openness, third party content, content sensitivity). I think that Google AdSense is the best example of Web 2.0 with a great business model.

But what comes next?

I’m not talking about major buzzword Web 3.0, but we may call it Web 2.5 at least ;). We are going to see business models behind wikis, podcasts etc, so that third parties would also be able to earn revenue. We already have some great examples in that field, but this will become a MUST feature in near future. I believe that creating opportunities for third parties is the next phase in the web and it is almost here.

Context sensitivity, third party content and long tail are creating opportunities for everyone who has ideas, knowledge and will to do something. Everyone will be able to benefit from their knowledge and experience, and what’s most important - the business doesn’t have any borders or limits. One is definitely sure, mobile services are involved as well.