This time the Carnival of the Mobilists – the line-up of the best blogs and bloggers on all things mobile – comes to us via Holly Kolman. Holly a first-time host, who – true to her blog title – is a real mobile enthusiast brings us COM #221. Kudos for an excellent job and I hope Holly will host another COM soon (!)

The line-up of blogs includes:

• A look at the recent announcement that Japan’s four leading mobile phone makers are teaming up with NTT DoCoMo to develop the operating system for DoCoMo’s next-generation mobile phones (via Ajit JaokarOpen Gardens)
• The real reason why Apple iPhone sales didn’t dip (via Tomi AhonenCommunities Dominate Brands)
• Refreshing realism on the iPhone and app opportunities (via Carl MartinMobsessed)
• A welcome reminder to designers – and everyone in mobile – that not everyone will have or wants to have a smartphone (via new COM member Belen Barro Pena
• The potential headaches associated with supporting smartphones & the opportunity for operators to wring more value from helping their customs use them in the first place (two post via new COM contributors Amdocs)
• An in-depth look at opportunities in gaming and gambling (via James CoopsMobiAffiliates)
• More need-to-know mobile stats (via Andy FavellmobiThinking – an excellent curator of key mobile advertising facts & figures)
• Mobile meets compassion in a new coalition to support non-profits with mobility solutions and know-how they create with social entrepreneurs (via MSearchGroove)

Although many of us tweeted our best wishes, a round of thanks to Antoine RJ Wright for hosting the COM #219 on his birthday. A gift to us all on his birthday is a summary of posts that set the bar.

These include:

• Management, tracking and targeting tips for your mobile campaign (via james CoopsMobyAffiliates)
• A rant about the Nexus (and all smartphones) with humor that reminds us what really makes a good user experience good (via “Mr Fat Fingers” Tsahi Levent-LeviVoIP Survivor)
• Do companies really have a mobile strategy when all they do is launch an iPhone app? (a thoughtful post via Martin WilsonIndigo 102 – look for his more in-depth column on MSG soon)
• A look at what Apple results and sales really say about iPhone’s ongoing popularity (via Tomi AhonenCommunities Dominate Brands)
• What does version 4.0 of the iPhone OS mean for developers? (via WIP Connector)
• A walk through the main points of Open Mobile (a book project I am proud to have edited) and a look at the 35+ mobile trends highest on the radar (via Ajit JaokarOpen Gardens) BTW: Ajit’s submission was chosen as Post Of The Week – all the more reason to read the post and download his book.
• A recap of Bible Tech (via our host Antoine RJ Wright)

Carl MartinMobsessed makes his debut as host of COM #218 and does a great job. We hope he returns to take the honors soon.

Meantime, here are the posts that made the line-up:

• A look at Nokia Bots: four mini-apps that bring new intelligence to our mobile devices –or do they? (via Antoine RJ Wright)
• MSG’s own analysis of why barcodes have a lot of mileage in the enterprise and beyond
• Must-read data points and details contained within the updated Global Mobile Data Market report (via Chetan Sharma)
• Mobile forecasts and milestones for 2010 (via Tomi AhonenCommunities Dominate Brands)
• App promotion basics and a helpful list of companies, destinations and resources (via James CoopsMobyAffiliates
• Are smartphones just PDAs by another name? (via Tsahi Levent-LeviVoIP Survivor)
• A little phone geek fun (via Terence Eden)

Martin Wilson takes the helm for COM #217 and leads us through an eclectic mix of posts and promotions people in the mobile industry need to know.

The line-up includes:

• Details on the forthcoming Mobile 2.0 Europe 2010 event (via the ever-active Rudy De Waele over at the new event website)
• An overview of the top developments and trends at CTIA (via Chetan Sharma)
• What is location really and where is the business value (via Martin Wilson and his guest column on MSG)
• A solid argument for the money – and the excitement – in Mobile 2.0 mashups that analysts might be missing (via Volker HirschVolker On Mobile)
• A discussion of affiliate marketing as a new and potentially much more lucrative way to monetize apps (via James CoopsMobyAffiliates)
• An attempt to answer the question: when do apps make business sense (via PSFK, a New York City-based trends research and innovation company)
• A study of mobile commerce and a look at whether it is best suited to an app or a full-fledged mobile website (via Carl MartinRedweb)
• The decision my Mozilla to put its Windows development on hold (via Tam HannaTamsPPC – the Windows Phone Blog)
• Are operators are confusing themselves and the market when it comes to defining (and understanding) mobile data? (via Declan Lonerganthe Yankee Group)
• A podcast chock-full of highlights specific to the U.K. mobile market (via The Fonecast)
• To what extent can/does mobile education empower students to overcome a variety of physical and mental barriers (via Judy Breck’s guest appearanceHandschooling.com)
• The inside track on BlackBerry’s popularity in the Middle East & a few surprising cultural causes (via Russell BuckleyMobHappy)
• Expert advice to help you make the most of the Android G1 and Magic’s Limited RAM (via Dennis BourniqueWAP Review)

Tam Hanna hosts COM#216, a brief but appreciated summary of the top blog posts of the week. The On the heels of the industry-first report of the app market size and value, several posts choose to focus on the continuing app phenomenon.

Posts that made the line-up include:

• Highlights and data points from the milestone app report released by Chetan Sharma (via Chetan Sharma’s AORTA blog)
• A different perspective on the same report with additional insights and a podcast with GetJar, the number one independent app store worldwide (via MSG)
• An outreach from Verizon Wireless to developers (via WIP Connector)
• A comprehensive post that serves as a mobile marketing guide to Japan (mobiThinking connects the dots in observations made by Japan expert Christopher Billich)
• A hard and fair look at Adobe’s Flash mobile strategy (via Guilhem EnsuqueEverything and the Mobile Software Universe…
• Why the 2.0 version of PayPal’s iPhone application could become one incredibly disruptive technology to the banking and credit/debit card industries (via Antoine RJ Wright)
• A run through a map app allowing people to reserve a parking space for their car (via Coldtags Suite)
• A look at mobile data charges and why transparency is just a part of the discussion (via Ajit JaokarOpen Gardens)
• A real life story reminds us of the collateral damage that can be caused by the wrong information when it spreads like wildfire via social media (via Dr. Jim TaylorMobility Digest)

Again, no Post Of The Week was chosen. The app report is by far the most important industry news/trend. However, Jim’s thoughtful recount of a real-life incident illustrating how social media can ruin lives has my vote.

Tsahi Levent-Levi over at Radvision steps up to host COM #220 – a vibrant mix of posts and insights that fits with the excitement that comes with the celebration of Israel’s Independence Day. Pay special attention to the post-even coverage and videos around this centerpiece event looking at the impact of technologies on our life and work in 2025. Another destination not to be missed: The Wadi – a new site/blog dedicated to the Israeli hi-tech industry. For links and details check out Tsahi’s blog post here.

Other posts included in the COM:

• A look at what iAd really means for the mobile space (via Carl MartinMobsessed)
• How (and why) targeting can potentially increase conversions (via James CoopsMobyAfilliates)
• An analysis that outlines the extent to which Android really is open source and the gaps that may alarm you (via Andreas ConstantinouVisionMobile)
• Why mobile is the Here, the Now and the Future (via Antoine RJ Wright)
• A welcome roundup of stats showing why Asia will dominate in mobile (via Any FavellmobiThinking)
• The security shortcomings associated with using Wi-Fi hotspot connection (via Martin SauterWirelessMoves)
• How Indian operator Idea Cellular is building a business on Pretones, content people can listen to while they call someone on their mobile phones (via very welcome COM newcomer Nikhil Pahwa)
• Musings on a possible Twitter business model that will likely become reality soon (via Ajit JaokarOpen Gardens)
• Tsahi’s own ideas on what videochat on the iPhone may be like

This week the Carnival of the Mobilists – the weekly line-up of top-notch mobile blogging from experts and mobile passionatas — comes to us via the ever-dedicated James Coops over at  Mobyaffiliates.com, the site that lists all the best mobile internet and iPhone affiliate programs and mobile affiliate networks in an easy-to-use directory.

Thanks to all the Mobilists we have momentum and even more members – so keep spreading the word!

Judging from the submissions, we are indeed getting there. Chetan Sharma’s Mobile Breakfast is a prime example. The speakers were first-class and his summary of the event (which includes an excellent presentation from Rob Glaser, Chairman and Founder, Real Networks. His talk focused on the opportunities created by the introduction of smartphone/”superphones”. What is the impact on discovery and digital presence? How can the social element of mobile best be leveraged? Read on and find out.

AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Terence Eden walks us through Ribbit voicemail. How does it stack up to Spinvox and others? Read on and find out.
• His post shares the “Post Of The Week” honors with Tomi Ahonen’s thought-provoking and humorous look at the emerging app economy. Should we celebrate a market where most the apps are free? Are we heading for another dot-com bust? Read on and find out.
• What does it really mean when Skype is available for download via Ovi? Does this create a new app order that rewards innovation and promotes app democracy? Will people vote with their feet for the apps they like most? Ajit Jaokar presents his perspective.
• Swimming in mobile social networking stats and data points? Of course, we can count on Andy Favell at MobiThinking to bring some order to the chaos.
• WIPConnector introduces us to the Intel Atom Developer Program and reminds us that we can meet up with the Intel team in-personWIP JAM CTIA Wireless 2010.
• What is the Opera Mini experience on Android? Dennis Bournique over at WAP Review presents a thoughtful review and concludes Opera still rocks but there are some shortcomings. What are the pros and cons of Opera Mini? Read on and find out.

Next week the Carnival touches down at TamS60 –

See you there!

This week the Carnival of the Mobilists – the weekly line-up of the best blogs and bloggers on all things mobile – comes to us via Andy Favell over at MobiThinking, a valuable resource with a good selection of mobile advertising stats, reports and white papers. Between Andy’s outreach for old and new Mobilists to submit posts –and my eager tweets () encouraging more people to get involved – COM #214 attracted a whopping 40+ submissions(!). Thanks to Andy for his extra attention to collecting and ranking posts leaving us with the 10+ posts that made the grade.

AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS:

What makes a book a book? Does the iPad potentially change all the rules? What is the impact on how teens and kids interact with information? Read this post from new member Peta Andersen and find out.

What are the key mobile healthcare companies, projects and takeaways from Mobile World Congress? The 3G Doctor, David Doherty, gives us a worthwhile roundup.

Mobile banking and payments are the focus of several posts this week. From the proper design to the importance of partnerships to the inside story on a trial of contactless payments (NFC) in Canada. It’s all here – so read on and find out.

Why is Apple determined not to support Flash? What is the link with differentiation? Francisco Kattan connects the dots, so read on and find out.

This week the Carnival of the Mobilists comes to us via Caroline Lewko and the brand-new (!) WIPConnector. The new site consolidates all of the sites– including the blog, WIPJam information – into one destination and invaluable resource for developers. Please redirect any links you have to the new URL.

The line-up of #213 must-read posts includes:

• Two blogs from COM veteran Volker Hirsh: a progress report on freemium models and a look at the differences between the Web, the Mobile Web and Apps.
• Another analysis of the Mobile Web comes via Ajit Jaokar over at Open Gardens – complete with a chance to download a PDF of his new Mobile Web book.
• Andy Favell and the folks at MobiThinking report on a interesting mobile search experiment
• And the week wouldn’t be complete without a fact-packed and impassioned blog on the pivotal importance of mobile from mobile author and pundit Tomi Ahonen.

Check it out over at WIPConnector and spread the word!

This week the Carnival comes via the personal blog belonging to Terence Eden, mobile enthusiast and Vodafone manager. COM #212 features a broad mix of posts, ranging from a new VOIP white paper available for download to the definitive list of mobile’s top 25 giants. What is high on the mobile agenda? Read on and find out!

Among the highlights:

• Tomi Ahonen connects the dots and adds up the revenues to provide us with an “Ahonen Index” that lists these giants (ranked according to the amount of money they make in mobile only).

• Over at MobHappy Russell Buckley provides us with an in-depth look at Mob4Hire and their unique app testing service that taps the wisdom of crowds.
• Holly Kolman at MobiEnthusiast.mobi – a blog for mobile website owners, developers, marketers and end-users – looks at the recent acquisition of .mobi by Affilias.
• An excellent and insightful post from esteemed colleague John Puterbaugh (also Nellymoser Founder & CEO) sheds important light on the emergence of an app ecosystem and what it means for major players – and the rest of us.