The codes can do boring things like retrieve your divert status from the network, return your IMEI or perhaps ICCID, but they can also interact with specialised applications driven via USSD Gateways to return useful information and execute transactions. These are applications that are sent specific codes by an operators core network, perform some processing on the data received, and return a response. Things that are non-standard that are enabled by USSD Gateways are services such as USSD-based prepay balance retrieval, USSD-topup, or interactions with NGIN features to alter a network based service.

I looked into USSD codes on the iPhone a while back, not to be used by users typing them in, but more to be used by applications querying information from the network via them. The reason why I wanted to programatically access them? To look at what’s possible for network operators or enterprises to release as iPhone based network service management applications.

Sadly, Apple have disable the use of USSD codes from within the (legitimate) iPhone sandbox available to developers (via the open URL methods, passing in a tel://xxxxxx URL). This means that there won’t be any applications from your operators that will make it easy to retrieve and change network settings that can be released thru the app store – at least not until Apple change their mind about interactions with USSD codes. Which is a pity – there are lots of useful services that would be useful to expose simple interfaces for usage for to the operators end users. USSD is an efficient, fast way to configure the network, using capabilities that most operators already have.

I went looking last night for some new podcasts in iTunes that might appeal to me. I found a couple, but am still left unimpressed.

What I found was…

• Deloitte UK Insights – Interesting analysis from Deloitte UK – based around their recent releases of sector based 2008 predictions. I liked this, but I’d like it to be more frequent than yearly
• boagworld.com – not listened yet
• Enterprise Architecture with Jan Popkin and Enterprise Architecture: Lessons Learned – thinly veiled sales podcasts from Telelogic – authors of the Popkin System Architect tool (which I personally like as a tool, but not as much as Metis Architect)
• Manager Tools – not listened yet
• Pragmatic Programmers – not listened yet
• TelcoTalk – product reviews, US based, but features some international news. I think this has promise, but needs to leave just reporting about device press releases and features, and start to comment more on how the devices are unique in the market, their competitors, business value they create etc…
• The Web 2.0 Show – not listened yet

What I’m actually looking for is IT / Telecommunications / Enterprise / business / strategy / analysis style talking. I’m not after development podcasts (although the Ruby On Rails podcast is good, and I’m expecting PragProg, boagworld and web2.0 show to be similar), but I do enjoy the style of them – talking about new ways of working, the business value of agile methods, interviews with startups and businesses on introduction of new technology into the enterprise etc.

Does anyone know of anything that will fit the bill?

I’ve got a new role at a consultancy based in London, starting with some intensive training on the 10th March. Should be very interesting to start working on the other side of the consultant/customer relationship. I’m really looking forward to it – it’ll be great to be able to interact with a wider range of companies, industries and perform a much more cross-functional role. It should be great! And finally being able to feel like I’m delivering value to people and organisations again – that will be the most rewarding part of the move (of course, I have been delivering value for the past 8 years, it’s just in the last 2 it’s been in a very different way – all advice and recommendations, rather than something tangible).

The biggest thing that I think I’m going to struggle with though is having to pay for phone calls! Spending a long time with free wireless voice and data services builds up some bad habits (from my bank balances point of view!)

Vodafone have launched a new developer community site called Betavine – http://www.vodafonebetavine.net .

From poking around the site, it appears it’s a collaboration space for mobile application developers, testers, and anyone interested in mobile communications. What I’m particularly intrigued (and keen to see how it develops) is the mobile art space.

Application developers can also create project spaces, to enable collaboration on mobile communications projects. So, there are spaces for files, blogging, user forums, private project-only spaces. Of course, Vodafone reserve some rights, so make sure you’re happy with the rules on applications and IPR before you upload – as you should with pretty much anything you do – check the T’s & C’s. The developer space doesn’t appear to be a traditional software development space (like a sourceforge, or a rubyforge), but more like a file sharing space and promotion space. I can’t confirm this, because I have haven’t got a project space yet. Maybe I’ll develop a little something with mojax, and see if I can get it hosted at Betavine.

What’s also interesting if you’re a young fella (or fell’ess) is that Vodafone are looking to run competitions, and offer internships and externships. So, get in while the gettings good I say. I’d have liked to have this sort of thing around when I was at uni… There are some competitions there now with some healthy looking prizes (€5000 for 1st – awarded to your uni to be shared with you) so check it out.

Anyway, I am very pleased that finally, the company I work for has taken this sort of initiative. I personally would have liked to see it done earlier, like, when the first round of handsets came out with development environments. However, software development on handsets has traditionally been complex, time consuming and painful. BUT, with the emergence of J2ME, and more recently AJAX frameworks for handsets it’s becoming a relatively trivial activity. I doubt the concept would have worked before, but I feel now the time is right.

• The emergence of easier development environments.
• The increases in bandwidth in mobile networks.
• The ubiquity of phones in society.
• The innovation and relative tiny amount of capital required to launch web businesses now

It all points (in my humble opinion) to an explosion of innovation and development to offer mobile web style services.