Monty's Gaming and Wireless Outlook - Issue 210

It’s true! Hollywood starlet Drew Barrymore is a Brentford FC fan, she told me so herself earlier this week.

It’s a long story, but involves a cool restaurant in West Hollywood, an ex-Brentford chairman who owns the restaurant, Dan Tana’s, and an article in the Observer Sunday newspaper that said the Hollywood A list all supported Brentford because of their affection for the owner.

So I introduced myself to Drew and we had a little chat. She eventually told me she was crazy and hysterical about Brentford (after confusing the Super Bees with ‘Brentwood’) and saved herself for that shocking faux pas by complimenting me on my sweater. And all this independently verified by members of reputable companies Microsoft, Player X, Freeze Tag and Top Image.

Naturally this was my high point of this week’s CTIA in Los Angeles and made up for not seeing Bob Dylan anywhere, although almost-fellow-icon the Doors’ Ray Mazarek gave an interesting presentation on the mobile Doors brand.

Not sure what he meant about that because I was recounting my LA WOMAN story to a colleague and it didn’t really LIGHT MY FIRE, but perhaps that brand will BREAK ON THROUGH… Sorry, it’s been a long week.

While the Autumn show is smaller than the Spring equivalent, CTIA is still a must-attend event and there was a sense that things are hotting up for both music and video. Like many a couple before them, operators and handset manufacturers seem to have finally copped off with each other after secretly fancying each other for years... and that’s only good news for the consumer.

They’ve finally realised the way to the hearts and minds of that customer is to embed content on handsets. It’s obvious. That content serves as an educative, free and content-rich preview experience that allows the customer to be gently patted on the arse as they’re shown how to download quality content. Why don’t I say content one more time? Here we go - content. Time to get a flight back to the UK mayhaps.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that all the figures that suggest people will continue using their iPods and not listening to music on their phones and only 1% of people will pay for video content should be ignored.

The love-in between the operators and handsetters will ensure the mobile entertainment market tips as extensively as I did at the restaurant where I met Drew Barrymore. Did I mention that Drew Barrymore liked my jumper and supports Brentford? I did?... oh...