Your guide to phone, cellular, and VoIP technologies and plans
15 Nov
If you’ve been wanting to publish your social site, media site or blog content on the mobile web but don’t want to trouble yourself on the nitty gritty of the procedure, you’ll be glad to know about Bango’s “Get on my Mobile” service. Bango, a mobile solutions provider which specialize in helping businesses, brands and individuals establish “mobile web presence”, has launched the “Get on my Mobile” content push service.
Bango’s “Get on my Mobile” which works perfectly with popular sites such as Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Bebo, Friendster, LinkedIn, Blogger, Orkut and Wordpress, links your PC to the mobile web.
Pushing your content such as photos and music file into the mobile web can be easily done via a Bango button that you create on the Bango site. You can link the Bango button directly into a photo stored on your PC website. Bango automatically resizes the photo depending on the mobile phone models that is being used by a user to browse your content.
The “Get On My Mobile” Bango button is free for anyone. To create your own Bango button, just go to www.bango.com and insert the generated code into your website next to the content you want to share on the mobile web. When somebody visits your website, facebook profile or any other social media accounts, they will be given a unique short URL which they will enter into their mobile phone’s web browser to view your content.
The Bango button can also provide you with revenue opportunity via a corresponding charge that is attached to your mobile content. You can also link your Bango button to a mobile website or to mobile versions of social media sites such as YouTube or Flickr. Likewise, the Bango button can also be attached to an email that you can send to your friends and networks.
9 Nov
U.S. Airways, the 5th largest domestic airline in the country, is now the first airline to embrace the power of text message to give in-flight information and frequent flyer registration to its passengers.
Ideal for passengers with connecting flights, this system works by simply sending a text message containing the flight number to TEXTUS (839887). US Airways will respond by sending the accurate flight information and not what is based on the plane ticket.
This will alert passengers if there are any changes or delays in the flight, giving them ample time to adjust their schedules or cancel their flight.
Moreover, customers can also enroll to US Airways’ Dividend Miles program via text message. The process is very simple and can be accomplished in 3 just 3 steps:
Using this SMS is a very good start for US Airways considering that mobile phones will eventually play a big role in major airports worldwide.
Recently, the International Air Transport Association representing 240 airlines worldwide has announced it is working on a standard to use bar codes sent via passengers’ mobile phones as their boarding pass. They simply need to show the phone screen to a reader and that’s it. This new development might even replace the online boarding pass sent via email and printed out at home or office.
1 Nov
Mobile technology is set to invade the online leasing industry with the new Apartment Availability Alert System developed by VaultWare, an online leasing solution provider.
It basically notifies interested renters via text messages or email when an apartment that meets their set criteria becomes available.
Most people looking for available apartments visit several websites to compare prices and check out the details. However, some are disappointed to see that their ideal apartment is already occupied. By opting in with the free Apartment Availability Alert System, prospects are automatically connected and updated about any changes in the occupancy.
Key Advantages:
While this service is exclusively available to VaultWare today, don’t be surprised to find out that this mobile marketing technology will be adopted by other competing companies. Furthermore, this can also prompt other segments in the real estate industry to consider this as an affordable alternative to get more customers.
25 Oct
Verizon Wireless and mShopper, a mobile infrastructure provider that enables shoppers to find, save, share and buy consumer products, have teamed up to deliver an innovative shopping service to mobile phone users. Officially launched yesterday, Verizon Wireless customers can now have access to the mShopper web application right into their mobile phone’s web browser.
So if you are a Verizon Wireless customers, the mShopper application would be a big help the next time your shopping for some items either online or in actual stores. By accessing mShopper’s mobile web 2.0 service, search for the price of your chosen items and see if you are actually getting a fair deal on the items.
mShopper has a catalog of around 9.2 million products listed from hundreds of online merchants. You can search for product listings even if you don’t know the exact search term to use. mShopper’s excellent mobile search engine intelligently searches mShopper’s database to come up with search results relevant to your needs even if you just enter the first few letters of the produce you are looking for.
So, how do you add mShopper’s Mobile Web 2.0 service in your mobile handset? Simply launch the browser in your phone, subscribe and accept the terms and conditions of the service after paying the monthly subscription access fee of $5. This monthly subscription comes with other Mobile Web 2.0 perks such as unlimited airtime for Verizon Wireless V CAST service, ESPN MVP and Get It Now services. on Wireless’ V CAST service, ESPN MVP and Get It Now® services.
24 Oct
Common Short Codes (CSCs) are short numeric codes to which text messages can be sent from a mobile phone. It’s very easy to remember and compatible with the leading mobile carriers. In a new report (pdf file) by mobile media research company M:Metrics, Common Short Code-based messaging campaign is mentioned as an “unprecedented platform for marketing”.
With more than 92.5 million mobile consumers actively sending and receiving SMS or text messages and accessible to 95% of mobile consumers, it offers the greatest reach advantage compared with other mobile marketing methods like mobile search, mobile web ads, and downloadable applications.
Other advantages offered by this method include low cost, easy to use, and proven effectiveness in mobile marketing campaigns across industries and business goals.
“In August 2007, 92.5 million, or 43 percent, of mobile subscribers actively engaged in text messaging. Of these 92.5 million mobile subscribers, 41 million send text messages almost every day. Not only is this number impressive as a stand-alone figure, but it is exponentially higher than the potential reach of the next available mobile advertising method,” said Evan Neufeld, vice president and senior analyst at M:Metrics.
CSC is expected to increase in the coming years given the increasing number of mobile users in the U.S. and their growing addiction to text messaging. In the latest report by CTIA, there are more than 243 million mobile subscribers in the U.S. or about 81% of the population. More importantly, these users are sending about 1 billion text messages every single day.
23 Oct
JumpTxt Access is the new mobile coupon and ticket delivery solution from ImpactMobile. These new mobile ticketing solution sends QR codes to mobile phones which can be used to redeem tickets on point-of-sale or designated outlets in event venue.
JumpText Access despite its complexity is a pretty simple tool that does a pretty complicated task. For brands, field marketing agencies, media buying agencies, venue ticketing companies and other organizations JumpText Access is the solution to their ticketing services needs. As a ticketing solutions, JumpText Access import orders and mobile phone numbers via a user-friendly web-based interface. This can also be integrated into a company’s existing coupon or ticketing system. The JumpText Access designs a customized mobile coupons or tickets that suit a company’s needs including the QR Code. The system sends coupons or tickets to customers’ mobile phones and the system allows for verification of the received tickets. Once a customer arrives the event venue, a CCD scanner is used to verify the authenticity of the mobile tickets.
From a customer’s perspective, JumpText Access’ ticketing system can deliver innovative coupon or ticket at a reduced reasonable price. Being a mobile phone application, JumpText Access gives you ease of use since you always bring your mobile phone with you. It also gives you an opportunity to engage with point-of-sale spots since the mobile ticket or coupon.
Aside from serving as a mobile ticketing solution, JumpText Access can also deliver tickets for any event, whether big or small. Company’s can also use it to conduct other event related promotions which can be programmed into the JumpText Access’ system. This also includes customer benefits such as free drinks, free upgrades, among other promotional stuff.
22 Oct
Hoping for a comeback in mobile music downloading arena dominated by Verizon and Sprint, AT&T has inked a deal with the once famous Napster to empower wireless consumers to download more than 5 million songs starting November.
With this partnership, mobile consumers will be able to:
Price is the most apparent disadvantage with this new venture. Each song is priced at $1.99, comparable to Verizon’s but not competitive enough when you’re up against Sprint’s $0.99 track, iTunes, and Amazon.
If there’s any consolation, there’s a special offer for AT&T customers who select the Napster Mobile Five-Track Pack from their phone will receive the first five songs free.
Via mobility site
19 Oct
Internet movie ticketing service MovieTickets.com has launched its mobile website so moviegoers can buy tickets in advance, search for movies by location or title, read movie news, get local maps of different movie theaters, and get info on new movie releases. Moreover, iPhone users have their own optimized mobile site.
This mobile service has the potential to expand the user base of MovieTickets, particularly those who don’t plan ahead and who are always on-the-go.
On top of that key features, it has a personalization features to give you the power to record and recall your favorite searches and most preferred theaters. This system creates a pattern of your activities so you won’t to repeat your searches again and again.
MobileGates, a leader of location-based services on mobile phones, is the partner of MovieTickets in this new development. This tie-up leads to future business opportunities such as allowing moviegoers to buy movie-related mobile contents like ringtones, wallpapers, games, and screensavers.
If you are interested in this new service, you may want to know the upcoming blockbusters over the next 12 months. Based on the poll conducted by MovieTickets among 2,000 active moviegoers, highly interesting movies are Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Dark Knight (Batman Begins 2), National Treasure: Book of Secrets, American Gangster, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Iron Man, I Am Legend, Get Smart, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, and Charlie Wilson’s War. You may want to try the mobile MovieTickets to reserve for these movies.
16 Oct
Location based services (LBS) are software that react to a user’s geographic position like zip code, city or town name. Among its broad range of services, navigation is the most common.
A new Nielsen Mobile (formerly known as Telephia) study shows that location based services generate more than half of the mobile applications revenue in the U.S. This is primarily driven by the growing number of GPS and navigation applications on mobile phones.
What makes LBS profitable is its premium pricing strategy compared with other mobile applications like weather, sports, wallpapers, music, or personal organization tools. Its average monthly price is $9.23 while other mobile apps range from $4 to $6 only.
Nokia’s acquisition of NAVTEQ and strong interest of other players like Microsoft and Google in the navigation market can further expand this already blooming market.
Other highlights of this study include:
It clearly shows the vast potential of LBS in the years to come. Aside from navigation, it is also a very potent mobile marketing tool because it can deliver highly personalized offerings to mobile users.
Via MoCoNews
16 Oct
Airport check-in will soon be enhanced and will eliminate paper requirements through the International Air Transport Association’s 2D barcode which will be sent to passengers’ mobile phones. This barcode will serve as boarding passes which passengers just need to present during check-in time.
Being the most used gadget worldwide, it is but natural that the mobile phones be utilized for such important purpose as checking-in in airport terminals. This only goes to show how important the functions of the mobile phones have already become.
So now, here’s how the mobile check-in will work:
This definitely simplifies and speeds up the check-in process in airports. Aside from that the process also eliminates the need for paper documents.
IATA Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said that with the use of the 2D barcode, passengers will surely have the convenience of self-service options in a paperless environment. “This standard is an important step in getting rid of paper that bogs down processes and drives up costs,” says Bisignani.
The bar coded boarding passes (BCBP) is set to be implemented by the end of 2010. This will potentially save the airline industry around $500 million annually if full implemented. And in the coming months, IATA will develop standardized processes and guidelines that facilitate global implementation.