Since the dawn of the personal computer age, millions of us have attended training classes to learn how to build better spreadsheets and killer PowerPoint presentations. Now, as cell phones and other mobile gadgets become increasingly complex and loaded with features, entrepreneurs are finding similar opportunities in the mobile field. New Zealand’s Mobile Mentor provides hourlong one-on-one sessions as well as group training on how to use the rising number of features bundled with mobile devices. Plus, it conducts courses for phone-industry sales personnel on how to explain a mobile gadget’s advantages to customers.

While some consumers are naturally adept at dealing with a device's interface, menus and options, others greatly benefit from a bit of outside help. One of Mobile Mentor's first customers explains: "All it would take is for someone to sit down with me for 1 hour. I've tried myself, got instructions from Vodafone, but it's too hard." Case studies on Mobile Mentor’s website illustrate how mastering a phone’s features can reap impressive productivity gains. In one example, a real estate agent learned how to use her phone to record appointments. In another, a doctor learned how to better use email and other mobile device features while protecting patient privacy.

Mobile Mentor claims to have trained over 20,000 people, but the potential market is many times larger. Entire organizations are going wireless, communicating and accessing the internet via smartphones instead of laptops and landlines. To get the most from their investment, those organizations will insist their employees know how to use the full range of a device’s features.

The need for training will continue to increase as phones inevitably incorporate more features. That’s because unlike computers, a mobile device’s keyboard and screen are limited to what will comfortably fit in its owner’s purse or pocket. And while many mobile devices are likely to mimic the Apple iPhone’s friendlier user interface, a mobile device—owing to its size—will never be as easy to operate as a laptop with a full-size screen and keyboard.

Mobile Mentor isn’t the only outfit offering training, of course. US-based CompuTrain provides web-based and instructor-led courses for BlackBerry users. Also, the innumerable stores and mall kiosks that hawk mobile devices give buyers quick lessons. Given the fierce competition in mobile device retailing, customers may soon demand formal training as a prerequisite to buying. (Related, at trendwatching.com: Status skills—a value shift in status from from passive consumerism to mastering skills.)

Website: www.mobile-mentor.com
Contact: info@mobile-mentor.com

Spotted by: Paul Evans-McLeod

University students in the UK rack up an average of more than GBP 12,000 in student debt by the time they graduate, leaving them with a significant financial burden to cope with as they begin their professional careers. Do Good 4 Debt was recently founded by one such graduate with a two-pronged purpose: to help relieve some of that debt, and to give companies more control over their charitable contributions.

The premise is simple: debt-burdened students are matched with companies interested in sponsoring them to do charity work. They then choose from among a few different participating charities to work for over a period of up to 6 months following graduation. At the completion of each set milestone during the assignment, the student's corporate sponsor pays off a chunk of the outstanding debt.

The site was founded by recent graduate Ian Wallace, who finished his law studies with GBP 14,000 in debt. While working at a local factory to pay off some of it, Wallace explains, he heard the owner of the business bemoaning the way most charitable contributions never produce visible results for the donor. The proverbial lightbulb went on, and Wallace printed up a brochure explaining his idea. Soon after, he was sponsored by three companies. At the conclusion of his charity assignment, he presented a report to his sponsors to show how his work had helped. Meanwhile, his debts were paid off and he had gained valuable work experience.

Membership costs GBP 16 and is open to anyone struggling with debt—not just students. The maximum amount of debt that can be paid off is GBP 9,000. The site won't launch officially until January, but four companies and 100 students have already signed up—Wallace is aiming for a maximum of 500 to begin with. Currently Do Good 4 Debt serves only the UK, but it hopes to recruit ambassadors in different countries over the next year. It's a concept that sounds like a win-win for everyone involved—one to bring to an area near you?

Website: www.dogood4debt.com
Contact: www.dogood4debt.com/contact.php

Spotted by: Scott Penn

Note: Unfortunately, Do Good 4 Debt's website is currently down. We've contacted Ian Wallace, however he might not be able to respond very quickly: "Ian is currently on a sponsored placement in Rwanda, Africa, helping a local village with various tasks such as teaching, water and crop plantations. Upon returning to the UK in November, he hopes to sign up 500 candidates to the Do Good 4 Debt scheme." An alternative place to leave a note is: www.myspace.com/dogood4debt. — 26 October 2007

At Bird, music and technology come together. The San Francisco-based school of music encourages students to use the latest technology to enhance their musical creativity. Providing instrumental instruction and band supervision to children and teens, Bird goes beyond traditional lessons. "Working with the latest digital audio workstations, all experience levels have the ability to archive their songs, jams and lessons. In addition to vital old-school knowledge like setting up amps and other analogue equipment, students gain an understanding of computer-based music recording equipment and software."

The only thing we're missing, is workshops on how to promote newly recorded songs and videos on YouTube, MySpace and SellaBand. Business opps? Setting up (or relaunching) music schools as centres of music + community + technology, as Bird describes itself. Legions of young people have entered a world where almost anyone can reach a certain level of stardom without having to beg and pray for an A&R rep to listen to their demo tape. Which means there are plenty of opportunities for facilitators that help them acquire good-old fashioned technique enable them to create high-quality sound recordings to upload to the online music arena du jour. (Oh, and it can't hurt to throw in some physical activity—Bird offers yoga, too.)

Website: www.bird-sf.com
Contact: info@bird-sf.com

Spotted by: Nadine Johnson

A while back, we featured a theme park that focused on giving children a taste of various careers by putting them to work for a day. While Kidzania is firmly grounded in the realms of make-believe, elementary schoolers in Tokyo had a more realistic option this summer. For a few weeks in July and August, the Rihga Royal Hotel Tokyo ran a program for guests aged 3–12, employing them for a day.

Children picked one of five different types of work: housekeeping, doorman, front desk, floor service and kitchen, with 72 different tasks to tackle. At the end of the day, the young staffers were allowed to choose their preferred form of remuneration: a gift certificate for books, or a passport for free ice cream every year. Rihga Royal's informal work experience program was open to children accompanied by an adult staying at the hotel.

For an extra JPY 24,150 (USD 210 / EUR 155), parents had the option of hiring a professional photographer to snap shots of their industrious offspring greeting guests or making an omelette. With dual aims of keeping children entertained and encouraging them to consider a future career in hospitality, this seems like a fun program for hotels, restaurants and other industries to try out for size. Just make sure to abide by locally applicable child labour laws ;-) (Related: Dream job holidays.)

Website: www.rihga-tokyo.co.jp/stay/kids
Contact: w-room@rihga.co.jp

Spotted by: Mio Yamada

We've featured efforts by two banks—Postbank and Umpqua—to stimulate children to start their own businesses, but financial institutions aren't the only ones interested in making children financially savvy.

South-African Ka-Ching aspires to empower children with financial and entrepreneurial skills that will help them throughout their lives. The company offers courses that parents can use to teach their children to plan a budget, to control spending, to identify a business opportunity (we assume Springwise is on their reading list), to present a business plan, etc. Ka-Ching sells its courses online and through affiliate partners for USD 147. Customers include schools and individuals in South Africa and abroad.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles-based It's A Habit, a socially conscious startup, spent the last five years developing an educational program to help teach young kids financial literacy. Taking a more playful approach, It's A Habit employs Sammy the Rabbit in books, CDs and training guides that aim ‘to make the American dream accessible to kids no matter who they are, where they come from, or what language they and their parents speak at home.’

Faced with a profusion of stimuli to spend-spend-spend, it can't hurt to show children the other side of the coin. We have no doubt that, if properly marketed, similar initiatives would work well in most countries. Two to look into if you're in education or publishing.

Websites: www.ka-chingworld.com — www.itsahabit.com
Contact: info@ka-chingworld.com — sammy@itsahabit.com

Spotted by: Willem Bonneux