That’s just it… I want more from my mobile app experience, so I’m buying an Android phone. Likely HTC…

I’ve been a die-hard Blackberry user for a decade. True to my ‘Crackberry’ roots I’ll still keep my Torch. But it will take second place next to my new Android phone.

After writing the first-ever industry report on mobile search and content discovery technologies for Informa back in 2005-06 the space is exciting again. There was a period (pre-smartphone) when mobile search was dominated by Google, but that is history because our devices can deliver a much more satisfying user experience, encouraging us to conduct more searches and explore the world of apps and content at our fingertips.

High on my radar are the personalization, recommendation and AI start-ups that can connect the dots in our digital bread crumb trails to deliver personalized search results that are more like ‘suggestions.’ Companies to watch include Expertmaker, Primal, Chomp and Cortexica.

Keeping in mind that this is the ‘year of the ear’ (according to Mary Meeker), I am also bullish about voice. The excitement around Apple’s Siri tells us that personalization (Siri is your personal and smart assistant) and voice is a winning combination. My take: This service is sure to spark a raft of services and apps that harness new flavors of search around precision and voice. What can we expect? Disruption.

It’s a good busy year at MobileGroove. Once again, Alexander Vlasblom and I can celebrate just having wrapped up the Netsize Guide by Gemalto, a mobile almanac and analysis I have written on behalf of Netsize for four years. It’s a must-read resource with growing ‘fan club’ (in part thanks to Alexander’s new passion for social media to spread the word), so I encourage everyone to download it here and join the movement.

With that work behind me I am focused on researching and writing what will probably be my best work to date: THE mobile marketing thought leadership resource for agencies, brands and industry professionals everywhere on the planet. I’m proud to collaborate with Millennial Media, an independent mobile ad and data platform company, and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) to make this happen. This definitive work — which will include detailed market data, case studies, best practices and exclusive insights from executives and companies that have harnessed mobile to drive positive business results — is slated for release in 2012.

On top of that MobileGroove counts new clients (welcome Millennial Media!) and new projects. In addition to ‘print’ I have teamed up with UntetherTV to produce a weekly show discussing mobile trends, companies and cool stuff. We did a beta show before the holidays and the response has been extremely positive, so we’re taking it weekly. I’m also gearing up to launch a live radio show in the U.S. in February. Obviously, I am open to ideas for the video and radio shows, so I would like to do a ‘shameless plug’ here and stress that I welcome pitches from your readers and followers. Bring them on!

Well, I got carried away in my answer to question #4 — so you can see where this is going…

I am also very impressed by Chetan Sharma’s survey of us — the mobile industry — and agree that mobile payments and commerce are moving up the agenda. The results are packed with insights and some surprises, and I encourage everyone to check out the 2012 predictions here.

First, kudos to you, James, (!) for starting this series and already showcasing many of the ‘rock stars’ I read and admire.

For me, rock stars are people with passion — people who walk the talk and live the industry. This long list includes (in no specific order) a lot of the people you have profiled: Tomi Ahonen, Nora Goodman, Ilicco Elia, Jennifer Hiley, Helen Keegan, Andrew Darling, Marc Schmoeger… So, keep up this awesome series, James!

I could think of dozens more, but I will keep it to three.

Chetan Sharma, for his professionalism and invaluable industry insights. His events ROCK and I plan to make the trip to his next Mobile Future Forward in Seattle in September.

All the guys at GigaOM Pro for producing excellent analysis and research — and keeping a finger on the pulse of what matters most.

Expertmaker, because the thinking there is beyond path-breaking and I fully expect the company to redefine precision search. (Personal thanks here to Martin Rugfelt for the very invigorating discussions on Skype.)

I am freelance/ free agent to the core. I collaborate — and I have had the pleasure to work with a great bunch of people over the years. In 2002 I was writing special reports about technology and strategy for the Wall Street Journal Europe, and contributing regularly to the likes of New Media Age, EContent magazine and a range of Informa pubs. I also worked with some great guys at Nokia on TheFeature.com, a really cool destination exploring the future of mobile that was way way way ahead of it’s time.

This is a hard one! I enjoy working with Lisa Ciangiulli at Optism and Mack McKelvey at Millennial Media — they are mobile women with a mission and a vision. I also have spent many, many hours working with Alexander Vlasblom on the Netsize Guide. He is totally dedicated to delivering his personal best, and that quality is rare.

Rob Woodbridge, who is doing a great job over at UntetherTV.

Matthäus Krzykowski, who is doing some fantastic work over at Xyologic.com.

Nuance, because voice is going to be big!