Sunday, February 21, 2010

ReadWriteStart Weekly Wrapup

As we head toward the final week of February, and the Winter Olympics in Vancouver get set to begin their second half of competition, its that time again to for the ReadWriteStart Weekly Wrapup. In this week's edition we've got some tips to get your iPhone app ranked higher, as well as a funding opportunity for getting your iPad app ideas off the ground. Our Never Mind the Valley series returns as we profile New York City, and in the most discussed topic this week we talk about Square's new mobile credit card scanner and its possible implications for small business.


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Square's On-the-Go iPhone Credit Card Scanner Will Cost $1



The blog iPhone Alley reported Monday night that Square, the forthcoming mobile credit transaction service co-founded by Twitter's Jack Dorsey, will launch early this summer for the low price of $1. By plugging a small square card reading device into the iPhone's headphone jack, anybody with the device can instantly conduct credit card transactions using the service's iPhone app.



Hacking the iPhone App Store's Ranking Algorithm



iphone_sales_feb10.jpgIf you're a mobile app developer, one of your biggest concerns is getting noticed. Companies like Smule and Tapulous already have recognized brands; however, for the independent app designer, the promotion process requires a fair amount of strategy. One proven method of increasing downloads is becoming listed as one of the App Store's top selling services. We spoke to faberNovel's Baptiste Benezet to find out how indie developers can hack the App Store ranking algorithm.



Former CNET and Fox Co-Founder Wants To Fund Your iPad App



It's coming up on three weeks since Apple announced its highly anticipated iPad device, and the news frenzy surrounding the announcement has begun to die down. As is the trend with many new devices, the response to the iPad has covered both extremes, from fans who claim the device will change the world, to haters wondering why anyone would spend a dime on it. One thing that is certain is that iPhone application developers are excited by the possibilities provided by the new tablet device, and now a new fund raising collaboration, AppFund, is looking to capitalize on this excitement.



Build Business Cases, Not Business Plans



businessplan_presentation_feb10.jpgIn the ancient times before the internet, a business plan was what you wrote to appease the Gods of private equity and venture capital. It was a thick document, full of scientific analysis, market data and of course, a J-curve shaped projection of sales. The problem was that few investors would make it through your epic masterpiece. Instead, they'd skip to the juicy parts. Former CEO of Elance and current founder of Roach Capital Partners, Eric Roach, shares what he's kept in the business plan to raise $55 million dollars in venture capital in two months.



Never Mind the Valley: Here's New York City



Known by many as The Big Apple, and by some in the tech scene as Silicon Alley, New York City has been an international hub for media, art and business for decades. More recently New York has ebbed and flowed with the success and failures of the Internet startup culture, and is now well on its way to cementing its reputation alongside Silicon Valley as a driving global force in the industry.


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