Swedish Beers are go!!

Yes it's true. Thanks to the wonderful comments and support from Swedish Beers fans here on the blog and on twitter, I now am proud to announce that we have not only some very generous sponsors for our little party, but also a smashing new venue. Not that we don't like Belchica or anything, because we do, but it wasn't quite big enough for us for what we were after this year. Not least, because we have four super sponsors and their guests and a media partner to boot.

This year's event is proudly sponsored by Admob, Silverstreet, Palringo and dotMobi. More about them later.

And our media partner is the rather wonderful Mobile Industry Review who will be interviewing folks for their video show and blog on the night. Be sure to look out for Ewan, Dan, James and Ben to give them your pitch as to why they should include you in their show.

Our venue for the evening is Dostrece which is a two floor bar and restaurant. Yes, that's right, a restaurant too! This means that they will be serving food from their normal menu all evening so you'll get a chance to eat too. Prices are reasonable and it's a mix of Mexican, Spanish and Turkish flavours. @BCN_unlike reviews it here.

The venue holds up to 300 folks at any one time so it's a little bigger than last year's venue, Belchica, and it can be found behind La Boqueria market and the nearest metro station is Liceu. Just walk up La Rambla, walk past La Boqueria and Teatro Grec, then take a left at Calle Carme (or Carrer del Carme) and Dostrece is at number 40 (Google map here). (They also have free wifi if you're desperate to demo your latest iphone app.)

Doors will be opening at 6.30pm on Wednesday 18th February and we'll be open until late so there's plenty of time to drop by and enjoy the fun, meet interesting people and soak up the Swedish Beers vibe. There is no need to RSVP, but since there's a bar courtesy of our lovely sponsors, we will be distributing beer tokens on the night. There will be *plenty* tokens to go round as we have very generous sponsors this year and each token will entitle you to a glass of beer, glass of house wine or a soft drink. So be sure to seek out those with the tokens on the night (that'll be the Swedish Beers crew and our lovely sponsors).

Like our previous events, this is a relaxed evening, no formalities, no presentations, no business cards thrust in your face as soon as you arrive. Just come with an open mind, be prepared to talk nonsense to strangers, enjoy a drink or five and have yourself a good time. Oh, and leave the ties at the door please.

It is likely to get a bit busy at times. But don't worry, people will be coming in and out all evening. And if it's very busy, there's no need to queue to get in. Just check out one of the other bars nearby and come back a little later when it's a bit less frenetic. And we don't have a cloakroom so I don't recommend you bring your laptops with you - it's a liability in Barcelona I'm afraid. You won't need them anyway.

So just to recap:

What: Swedish Beers Mobile Networking
When: Wednesday 18th February, 6.30pm until we run out of steam
Where: Dostrece, Calle Carme 40, 08001 Barcelona tel: +34 9 3301 7306

And of course, it couldn't happen at all without the generous support of our lovely sponsors:

*Admob* Founded in 2006 (on my birthday as it happens!), AdMob is the world's largest and highest quality mobile advertising marketplace, serving more than a gazillion mobile banner and text ads per month. AdMob allows advertisers to reach their customers on the mobile web and enables publishers to increase the value of their mobile sites. AdMob offers advertisers the ability to target and personalize advertising to their customers in 160 countries. Sample AdMob customers include Coca Cola, Starbucks, MSN, Paramount Pictures, Reuters, MTV and many more. AdMob serves ads for over 3,000 mobile web sites, including ESPN, CBS, Weather Underground, Maxim and Peperonity. Russell (genunine old skool mobilist and blogger), Andy and I expect a few more from their crew will be around to hand out beer tokens and generally chew the fat.

*Silverstreet Active Media* is a Dutch based corporation specialized in high-end as well as mission critical Mobile Messaging (SMS) offering global, verified MT termination options (covering more than 700 GSM & CDMA networks) in addition to its vast Premium SMS (25 countries) and Premium IVR (30 countries / 15 languages) portfolios. Constantly striving to excel within its role as one of the leading messaging companies in the industry, Silverstreet handles each customer case with the focus it required to meet the specific needs that each project presents. Through its competitive offering, professionalism, and customer care the company has achieved numerous successful business relationships with MVNO's, MNO's, large brands, and others. The Silverstreet team is new to Swedish Beers, so be gentle with them and be sure to search out Simon and his team for a chat and of course, your beer tokens.

*Palringo* is a communications channel designed to make Instant Messaging work on the mobile: voice if private, text if somewhere busy and photos where relevant. Vocal IM (walkie-talkie style voice) also makes it easy for users who have difficulty typing, for people on the move when it's not appropriate to text, and for users with complex languages such as Russian, Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic. People can keep in touch with friends on popular IM services and social networks like : AOL's AIM, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, Gadu-Gadu, ICQ, Jabber, Microsoft Windows Live Messenger, QQ and Facebook. Palringo works across on the all of the major mobile platforms: Windows Mobile, Symbian S60, Java, RIM Blackberry, iPhone,Android (forthcoming), plus PC's and Mac's. Palringo has been shortlisted by the GSM Association for Best Mobile Internet Service award and will be exhibiting on UK Trade & Investment Stand (AV26 Avenida). Kerry Ritz has set up a Swedish Beers chat group on Palringo if you want to give it a go (it's a free download from your mobile) and will be on hand with beer tokens on the night.

*dotMobi* (the informal name of mTLD Top Level Domain Ltd.) was appointed by ICANN as the official global registry for the .mobi top level domain. It is backed by leading mobile operators, network device manufacturers and Internet content providers including Ericsson, Google, GSMA, Hutchison, Microsoft, Nokia, Orascom Telecom, Samsung Electronics, Syniverse, T-Mobile, Telefónica Móviles, TIM, Visa and Vodafone.

dotMobi makes the mobile phone as useful as a PC for websites & services, just a lot more portable and provides the critical link between mobile operators, handset manufacturers, content providers, brands and customers to make phones the tool of choice for the mobile web. The key differentiator for dotMobi is the mobile user experience. This is driven by the dotMobi style guides which contain a mixture of mandatory and recommended best practices for developing mobile content and services. The guides cover a variety of Internet and domain-related issues and are published on our web site for the mobile web developer community, dev.mobi. And if you want to find out more, there'll be a few of the dotMobi crew in tow at Swedish Beers.

So nothing more to add except to say, have a safe journey to Barcelona and we look forward to welcoming you at Swedish Beers.

Skål

Helen (aka technokitten) and Anna

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CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK TOO
Join the group - you'll be in good company and can keep up to date with Swedish Beers events in London, Sydney and Barcelona.
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I want, you want, we all want Swedish Beers!

Update 01/02/10: 2010's event details are here. Same place, same time, same day (Weds). See you there. Skål.

It's that time of year when the Mobile Industry goes to Barcelona and we're now in the final planning stages with our respective companies, clients, colleagues and what have you. And obviously, Swedish Beers, I'm very pleased to say, has become an integral part of the Barcelona experience for many in our mobile community.

Tis true that I haven't organised anything yet because that is very much dependent on sponsors getting involved so I'm putting a shout out to you all to get involved and dig deep and help us make sure we can put on another Swedish Beers event.

To make the party go with a bang, we need about 4,000 Euros and that will keep 500 or so mobile execs merry for several hours. And we're happy to have several sponsors - it doesn't just have to be one. You bring the money, we'll bring the warm bodies, good cheer and random chat.

So if you have some budget for this and would like to get involved, or you know someone who might have budget, then please get in touch via email. And if you don't have money, you can still help by showing your appreciation for Swedish Beers by leaving a comment as to why you think we should have a Swedish Beers party this year in Barcelona... can you believe it, some folks don't know much about Swedish Beers? So your testimonials would be a great help to us. We want to know what Swedish Beers means to you... so over to you my Swedish Beers chums...

Mobile Monday London & Swedish Beers birthday party round-up

Yes, I know it's been a while coming but it's been kinda busy at technokitten towers lately so I haven't manage to catch up on everything yet but I thought it was about time to tell you about our Mobile Monday and Swedish Beers birthday party.

If you weren't there, you missed a treat. Tim Green, editor of Mobile Entertainment Magazine did a wonderful job in the role of Parky to host our chat show stylee event with guests Dr Mike Short (VP R&D O2 Telefonica), Russell Buckley (MD Europe Admob and Chairman of the Mobile Marketing Association), Madhuban Kumar (Founder, Ereni Partners) and the infamous Bill Thompson from the BBC's digital planet amongst other things. And the mid-way entertainment was provided by the wonderful guys at MIReview. More on that later.

As I was busy organising everything I was in and out of the room so didn't hear the whole thing but since the rooms was packed there were plenty people who did and some of them even wrote about it including Tom Hume, Russell and James Cameron.

And the MIReview guys were fab. They recorded their weekly show live (the first time they've done this) and also did some vox pops at Swedish Beers afterwards. Below are the links to the official segments and the last clip is from Ribot, who recorded the live recording in all its glory so you can see the before and after, effectively.


MIR Show - Week 45 - MoMo London Live from Mobile Industry Review on Vimeo.


MIR Show - Week 45 - Omar Hamoui, founder of AdMob from Mobile Industry Review on Vimeo.


MIR Show - Week 45 - Justin Davies, Co-Founder of NinetyTen from Mobile Industry Review on Vimeo.





Mobile Industry Review invade Mobile Monday London from ribot on Vimeo.

The Swedish Beers party afterwards at Bar 101 was a blast as usual and special thanks has to go to Future of Mobile and MX Telecom for their generosity and support in sponsoring the evening. There were already lots of people waiting for us by the time we got there, which was great. And there were folks there from all areas of the industry and far too many to name check them all - but included Future Platforms, O2, Vodafone, dotmobi, IIR, Carsonified, NinetyTen, Rummble, INQ, Admob, Ereni Partners, IQinc, MX Telecom, Spinvox, Ring Ring, Media, Trutap, Ribot, Fred's Talent, Hai Media, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Six Degrees, Yahoo!, Google, Kizoom, AdIq, NitroMobile, Symbian, Truphone, Nokia, Synchro Arts, Flirtomatic, Mippin, Ericsson, MMA, Splendid Communications, Vertu, MobGeo, Sony Ericsson, Yiibu, and more besides. It was good to see some familiar faces too and have a catch up over a beer and also good to meet some new faces too.

And a *special* thanks to everyone involved in getting this particular show on the road, especially Sevgi, Stephanie, Lisa and Bryan for their support and help on the night.

Update: in case you're interested, quite a few folks blogged about the evening too so feel free to browse the following blog posts.

http://www.msearchgroove.com/2008/11/11/engagement-is-conversation-admob/
http://mobhappy.com/blog1/2008/11/11/happy-birthday-dear-momo/
http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2008/11/were_live_at_momo_london_swedish_beers_tonight.html
http://www.tomhume.org/2008/11/mobile-monday.html
http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2008/11/momo_london_swedish_beers.html

Mobile Monday & Swedish Beers celebrate together on 10th November

Yes, it's true. Both Swedish Beers and Mobile Monday London have their birthdays round about now - 7 years and 3 years respectively. And to celebrate, we're joining forces and having a big bash combining the best of both events in one big night out on Monday 10th November.

So the format's going to be a little bit different, but we hope you will still enjoy it immensely. So what's in store then...?

The Mobile Monday bit:

Well we have Tim Green, editor of Mobile Entertainment Magazine who is going to be our host with the most on the evening. And he's going to be interviewing four mobile industry celebrities for our delectation, talking about the year just gone and the year ahead and the odd anecdote or three in a chat show stylee. Our esteemed guests are Dr Mike Short from O2, Russell Buckley from Admob, Bill Thompson, a regular from the BBC's Digital Planet plus a mystery guest. There will be time for questions from the audience too.

We will have the MIReview Show joining us too and in the spirit of the evening, they will be presenting and filming some of their show LIVE on stage. (If you don't know them already, think Top Gear but about mobile technology instead of cars.). And we're still hopeful for a surprise or two.

This will all be happening at the CBI at Centrepoint (Tottenham Court Road tube) - Doors opening at 6pm for a 6.30pm start. Don't be late, otherwise you'll miss the Mobile Monday Chat Show as it will only be on for about an hour to an hour and half.

The Swedish Beers bit

Then once the show's a wrap as they say in TV land, we'll move on straight away to Bar 101 (it's underneath Centrepoint at the back) to join the Swedish Beers crew and enjoy some free beer, random chat and general good cheer courtesy of our very generous sponsors - The Future of Mobile and MX Telecom.



There's no formality at Swedish Beers, just turn up, be friendly, drink beer (or soft drinks), chew the fat, talk about mobile stuff (or not) and generally enjoy the vibe. To claim your free drink, you'll need to find one of the generous sponsors, one of the Swedish Beers crew or one of the Mobile Monday organisers to claim your beer token. Without the token, it's a pay bar. But it's open until late, so we can talk mobile nonsense until the wee hours if you like.

RSVP

If you'd like to come to the Mobile Monday Chat Show, please RSVP here by 'adding record' with your name and company details. No RSVP required for Swedish Beers. You don't have to come to both parts of the evening, but it would be fun if you did. The more the merrier as they say and both venues can hold a lot of us mobile types. So spread the word!

See you Monday 10th November in celebratory mode.

Swedish Beers in London and Barcelona needs you!

Yes, that's right. Swedish Beers needs you, dear mobilist. The Swedish Beers team members are currently planning forthcoming events in London for the Autumn this year and Spring next year and are also planning ahead for Barcelona in February 2009 to coincide with Mobile World Congress (MWC 2009).

Swedish Beers is one of the most popular mobile networking events on the circuit but it can't happen without the financial support of very generous sponsors. And if you're reading this, the chances are you already know how good our events are because you've been to one of our events or someone you know has and they've lived to tell you the tale! So if you fancy being one of our generous sponsors, making friends and influencing people, and joining the ranks of being a Swedish Beers friend alongside BT, Admob, Bango, Trutap, Sponge, Major Players, Tanla Mobile, ARN Consulting, PINoptic, MyMart, Colibria and MyStrands please get in touch to discuss the detail of how you can reach the mobilists that other events cannot reach.

skål

Swedish Beers Down Under (#2) – drink beer, talk mobile, drink more beer, talk nonsense…

Good news for all you mobilists Down Under. The last event was so good that the fabulous Jen² team have pulled it out of the bag again and have organised the second Swedish Beers Down Under.

Well, mark your diaries for Wednesday, 27^th August 2008 at the Redoak Boutique Beer Café, Clarence Street – same venue as last time. Once again, drinking commences @ 5.30pm. This month, Swedish Beers is being sponsored by the lovely people at BlueCentral, so when you have a drink, you’ve got them to thank!

A lot has happened in the mobile industry Down Under since the last bash – 3G iphones launched in Australia to people queuing round the block in freezing temperatures, BlueCentral is launching a mobility solutions arm, NZ’s Hyperfactory is setting up shop in Oz, Telstra is embracing QR Codes in their new Olympics advertising campaign, Xumii is launching, Mega is pitching, Big Brother has finally died a death and there is a new AIMIA Australian Mobile Phone Lifestyle Index Survey about to launch. In addition, we’re all wondering if it's winter or the economic downturn that has us all shivering a little.

At our inaugural event, the place was packed with over 80 people coming and drinking beer. There was a lot of mobile talk going around, a few job offers here and there, some quiet business pitches being made and, later in the evening, a lot of nonsense being talked. Come and meet your competitors, friends, colleagues, clients and suppliers in a not-so-chilly environment and get talking over a not-so-Swedish beer.As one of the attendees at the first Swedish Beers (held just after Mobile Content World Australasia) said ”I really enjoyed the last one. To be honest the networking was more useful than it had been sitting through those seminars all day at MCW.” Praise indeed.

Please feel free to invite anyone else who you find interesting enough to attend!

skål

Swedish Beers Sydney event is brought to you by Sydney mobilists, Jen², who are Jennifer Hiley of 5^th Finger & Jennifer Wilson of Lean Forward


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ABOUT OUR LOVELY SPONSOR without whom the night would just not be as much fun:

BlueCentral is a hosting and mobility solutions provider. At BlueCentral we provide all of your hosting needs, from domain names to dedicated hosting. We have recently expanded our product portfolio to offer mobile messaging aggregation, mobile billing and delivery.

BlueCentral provides a platform to enable your company to achieve future growth, our mobile gateway provides your company with international reach. BlueCentral mobility allows its clients to add mobile messaging to their business without incurring large infrastructure setup costs. We take care of all the complexities involved with these solutions to make it easier for you to manage.

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ABOUT SWEDISH BEERS

Swedish Beers www.swedishbeers.co.uk is an ad-hoc mobile networking event (run roughly quarterly) by British mobilists, Helen Keegan (aka technokitten) and Steve Flaherty of RespondMobile . It has been running in London since 2001 and Barcelona since 2006. Nothing formal, no speakers, no powerpoint, just turn up and mingle and hang out with folks from the mobile, marketing and media worlds.

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CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK TOO

Join the group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2456995682- you'll be in good company and get more details about this and other events, check out some photos and meet some of your fellow Swedish Beer lovers.

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Swedish Beers is launching Down Under

Not content with London and Barcelona, we're very excited to announce that Swedish Beers is launching Down Under with its inaugural event next week in Sydney.

The team behind the launch is Jen² (Jennifer Hiley of 5th Finger and Jennifer Wilson of Lean Forward) and they've booked the charming Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe for your pleasure.

We all know Aussies love their beer and with mobile penetration at more than 100%, it looks like we also love our mobiles so we reckon you'll also love Swedish Beers Mobile Networking. Come along and join us for a beer or three and plenty of chat at The Redoak Boutique Beer Café. Drinking commences @ 5.30pm. Nothing formal, no speakers, no powerpoint, nothing flashy, just turn up and mingle and hang out with folks from the mobile, marketing and media worlds. So if you're friendly, enjoy mixing and have a passing interest in mobile, then come and hang out with the nice Swedish Beers folks Down Under. No need to RSVP unless you'd really like to but do spread the word to your colleagues and friends.

If the London and Barcelona events are anything to go by, this promises to be a good 'un so you'd better be there to check out the action!

What: Swedish Beers launches Down Under

When: Wednesday 28th May from 5.30pm

Where: The Redoak Boutique Beer Café, 201 Clarence Street, Sydney, Australia. (Here's a map)

Unfortunately the London crew won't be there to enjoy the first event Down Under, but we've left you in the capable hands of Jen² in our absence.

skål

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What is Swedish Beers?
Swedish Beers www.swedishbeers.co.uk is an ad-hoc mobile networking event (run roughly quarterly) by British mobilists, Helen Keegan (aka technokitten) and Steve Flaherty of RespondMobile. It has been running in London since October 2001 and in Barcelona for the last 3 years. Find us on facebook too.