Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
DD Australia: Mobile content expected to exceed $1b
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Mobile-content-expected-to-exceed-1b/2006/03/29/1143441207549...
Mobile content in Australia is set to explode, with revenues from mobile phones expected to exceed $1 billion by 2009, a market analyst says.
Frost & Sullivan's Asia Pacific director of telecom research, Manoj Menon, said on Wednesday the mobile content market in Australia generated $129 million in revenue in 2004 and it's only getting bigger.
Within three years it is forecast to grow to $1.015 billion.
"The mobile content market in Australia is now set for explosive growth, driven by increasing consumer awareness and industry competition to supply new mobile products and services," Mr Menon said.
Speaking at the Mobile Content Australia 2006 conference in Sydney, he said entertainment, enterprise applications and productivity services are likely to be the strongest sources of growth over the next five years.
The personalisation sector, including ringtones and wallpapers, accounted for 69 per cent of the total content market in 2004.
But Mr Menon said entertainment, which includes the lucrative adult services sector, will become one of the biggest movers.
Revenue from the entertainment category is expected to grow 122 per cent by 2009.
"Entertainment will grow exponentially, but in completely new and probably semi-profitable ways, with the key drivers being mobile TV, video, music and gaming," Mr Menon said.
"It will account for more than 50 per cent of revenues in 2009, driven by applications such as gaming, music and mobile TV."
On a global scale, mobile video alone is expected to account for 13 per cent of mobile data revenues by 2009 in the United States.
In terms of the year ahead, Frost & Sullivan said one of the largest challenges for the mobile content industry will be the establishment of successful business models in a fast-paced and turbulent industry.
"In the end, it is consumers and businesses that will benefit from increasingly sophisticated applications and services in ways many may not yet have imagined," Mr Menon said.
© 2006 AAP
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
DD Sizing Up Mobile Advertising
http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?1003897 (click on the link to see the graphs shown in the article)
MARCH 29, 2006
Little screen, big opportunity.
Although advertising on mobile phones is currently minuscule — in budgets as well as size dimensions — if marketers heed the recommendations of a new report from Magna Global, they will begin investigating this emerging channel now.
In fact, in a survey among ad:tech attendees, conducted in December 2005 by, Marketing Sherpa found that experimenting in mobile advertising tied for the top spot with video in a list of tactics advertisers would like to experiment with.
In the same poll, this time asking about actual spending plans, mobile/wireless tied for second place.
"With 2 billion mobile subscribers around the world, 20% annual subscriber growth, new networks capable of distributing video, improving handset capabilities, and rapid turnover of the handsets themselves, mobile phones may become the most pervasive devices able to access video content on a global basis," wrote David Wiser in the introduction to the Magna Global report. "With this footprint, we expect that advertising will ultimately play an important role in the mobile video world. The best opportunities to market to consumers in mobile environments will be through integrated mobile communications devices, and the industry will likely require ad-support to reach the widest possible audience."
The full potential of mobile advertising is still a little way off, primarily because the restricted audience size. However, this will change quickly and eMarketer projects that the number of 3G phone users who watch video worldwide will exceed 500 million by 2009. Even the more specialized audience within this group, those who watch broadcast TV on their phones, will grow to more than 100 million by 2009.
As eMarketer Senior Analyst, John Gauntt, recently wrote, "The challenge for marketers looking at mobile TV for the next two to three years is primarily one of learning about which mobile-native broadcast experiences consumers desire and the degree to which they are willing to accept marketing messages to subsidize or enhance this experience."
eMarketer believes the mobile broadcast video market will exhibit similar adoption and growth trends to those seen in the mobile music market. Mobile music did not take off until players were available that made music sound good, content providers released material that consumers wanted and Apple introduced a business model for digital music that made sense. Mobile TV will follow a similar pattern.
For more on what the future holds, read the new eMarketer report Mobile TV for Marketers: Monetizing the Smallest Screen.
SS9173
thunder13, as far as I am aware, the court is not holding up PC from being introduced to the market. Perhaps Success or Clawmann can confirm.
Also, we do know that Aura Digital is now marketing PC and Shelron plans to introduce PC shortly with their ActiveShopper software.
http://www.aura.net.au/paperclick.aspx
http://www.shelrongroup.com/index.asp?nid=49
SS9173
Ok...that's it...read all those posts by Success622, Koko, myself and a few others and you will have a pretty good understanding of what's in the 10K.
SS9173
From the 10K: SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial
ownership of NeoMedia's common stock as of February 28, 2006, (i) by each person
or entity known by NeoMedia to own beneficially more than five percent of
NeoMedia's Common Stock, (ii) by each of NeoMedia's directors and nominees,
(iii) by each executive officer of NeoMedia named in the Summary Compensation
Table, and (iv) by all executive officers and directors of NeoMedia as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL PERCENT OF
CLASS BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNERSHIP (1) CLASS (1)
-------------------- --------------------------------- ------------------ ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock Charles W. Fritz (2)(3) 30,920,555 5.0%
Common Stock William Fritz (2)(4) 53,150,944 8.7%
Common Stock Charles T. Jensen (2)(5) 15,501,500 2.5%
Common Stock David A. Dodge (2)(6) 4,850,000 *
Common Stock A. Hayes Barclay (2)(7) 3,155,000 *
Common Stock James J. Keil (2)(8) 5,388,619 *
Common Stock Martin N. Copus (9) 3,682,186 *
------------------ ----------------
Common Stock Officers and Directors
as a Group (9 Persons) (10) 116,648,804 17.8%
================== ================
From the 10K: Executive Compensation
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------
OTHER SECURITIES
ANNUAL RESTRICTED UNDERLYING
COMPENS- STOCK OPTIONS/ LTIP ALL OTHER
NAME AND SALARY BONUS ATION AWARD(S) SARS(1) PAYOUTS COMPENSATION
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($) ($) ($) ($) (#) ($) ($)
----------------------- ------ ---------- ------- ---------- ----------- ------------- --------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Charles T. Jensen 2005 197,500 -- -- -- 6,000,000 --
President and Chief 2004 175,386 -- -- -- 4,000,000 -- 386(2)
Executive Officer
Charles W. Fritz 2005 $ 205,278 -- -- -- 6,000,000 --
Chairman of the Board 2004 175,355 -- -- -- 4,000,000 -- 355(2)
David A. Dodge 2005 $ 141,733 -- -- -- 4,500,000 --
Vice President and 2004 122,396 -- -- -- 2,000,000 -- --
Chief Financial
Officer
Martin N. Copus (3) 2005 $ 184,076 -- -- -- 5,000,000 --
Chief Operating
Officer 2004 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
From the 10K: Notes Payable
NOTES PAYABLE
On March 30, 2005, NeoMedia borrowed from Cornell the principal amount
of $10,000,000 before discounts and fees in the form of a secured promissory
note. Cornell withheld structuring and escrow fees of $68,000 related to the
note. The note was originally scheduled to be repaid at a rate of $1,120,000 per
month commencing May 1, 2005, which was subsequently changed to $840,000 per
month, continuing until principal and interest are paid in full. The note
accrues interest at a rate of 8% per annum on any unpaid principal. NeoMedia has
the option to prepay any remaining principal of the note in cash without
penalty. In connection with the note, NeoMedia and Cornell entered into a
Security Agreement under which the note is secured by all of NeoMedia's assets
other than its patents and patent applications. NeoMedia also escrowed
25,000,000 shares of its restricted common stock as security for the note. As of
December 31, 2005, NeoMedia had made payments of $7,000,000 against the
principal, reducing the principal balance to $3,000,000. During February 2006,
NeoMedia satisfied the remaining principal plus interest due on the note in
connection with its $27 million convertible preferred stock sale to Cornell (see
"subsequent events").
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
From the 10K: Financial Statement
NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------
2005 2004
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
NET SALES:
License fees $ 523 $ 343
Resale of software and technology equipment and service fees 354 630
Micro paint repair products and services 1,279 727
------------- -------------
Total net sales 2,156 1,700
------------- -------------
COST OF SALES:
License fees 453 324
Resale of software and technology equipment and service fees 206 604
Micro paint repair products and services 913 541
------------- -------------
Total cost of sales 1,572 1,469
------------- -------------
GROSS PROFIT 584 231
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Sales and marketing expenses 4,186 2,046
Impairment charge 335 --
General and administrative expenses 3,375 2,215
Research and development costs 934 651
------------- -------------
Loss from operations (8,246) (4,681)
Gain on extinguishment of debt 172 140
Impairment charge on investments (780) --
Amortization of debt discount -- (2,500)
Interest expense, net (293) (189)
------------- -------------
NET LOSS (9,147) (7,230)
Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized gain/loss on marketable securities (146) --
Foreign currency translation adjustment 29 (60)
------------- -------------
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS $ (9,264) $ (7,290)
============= =============
NET LOSS PER SHARE--BASIC AND DILUTED $ (0.02) $ (0.02)
============= =============
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES--BASIC AND DILUTED 451,857,851 329,362,127
============= =============
From the 10K: iPoint-Media
On October 26, 2004, NeoMedia announced that it would issue a property
dividend with the distribution of common shares of iPoint-media Ltd. of Tel
Aviv. The date of the property dividend payment will be announced after the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission declares iPoint-media's
registration statement on Form SB-2 effective. iPoint-media filed their SB-2
(Registration No. 333-126342) on July 1, 2005, and amended the filing on January
12, 2006.
SS9173
From the 10K: Holders.
As of December 31, 2005, NeoMedia had an estimated 13,500
recordholders of common stock.
SS9173
From the 10K: Description of Properties
NeoMedia's principal executive, development and administrative office is
located at 2201 Second Street, Suite 600, Fort Myers, Florida 33901. NeoMedia
occupies approximately 12,000 square feet under terms of a written lease from an
unaffiliated party which expires on July 31, 2008, with monthly rent totaling
approximately $18,000.
The Company maintains a production and product development facility for
its Micro Paint Repair Business unit in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, occupying
approximately 4,000 square feet under the terms of a written month-to-month
lease from an affiliated party with monthly rent totaling $2,400.
The Company maintains a training, demonstrations, production,
distribution, and retail services facility for its Micro Paint Repair Business
unit in Ft. Myers, Florida, occupying approximately 10,000 square foot under the
terms of a written lease from an unaffiliated party expiring on February 28,
2008, with monthly rent totaling approximately $9,000.
During 2005, NeoMedia occupied a sales facility at 2150 Western Court,
Suite 230, Lisle, Illinois 60532, occupying approximately 6,000 square feet
under the terms of a written month-to-month lease from an unaffiliated party
with monthly rent totaling approximately $4,000. During February 2006, NeoMedia
cancelled the lease and centralized the operations from this facility to its Ft.
Myers, FL headquarters.
The Company believes that existing office space is adequate to meet
current and short-term requirements for its operations in the United States.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
From the 10K: Employees
As of December 31, 2005, the Company employed 51 persons, of which 25 were
located at the Company's headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida, 7 at the Company's
Lisle, Illinois office (which was subsequently closed during the first quarter
of 2006), 9 at the NeoMedia's micro paint repair facility in Ft, Myers Florida,
9 at the Company's Calgary, Alberta, Canada office, and 1 remote employee. None
of the Company's employees are represented by a labor union or bound by a
collective bargaining agreement. The Company believes that its employee
relations are good.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Therefore, total Neomedia headcount excluding acquisition companies is presumed to be 51 minus the 7 in Lisle = 44.
SS9173
From the 10K: Competition
NeoMedia Mobile
Through the combination of all its business sub units: PaperClick(R),
Sponge, Mobot, Gavitec and 12snap, NeoMedia believes its NMM business unit has
positioned itself to compete as a global leader in mobile marketing solutions.
The individual business units, prior to acquisition, were already known as
leaders in their own respective marketplaces, so taken together, NeoMedia
believes itself now to be one of the most experienced and successful global
end-to-end mobile marketing solutions providers in the world.
However, within the mobile marketing industry there are numerous players,
many of which are just beginning to appear, who offer parts of the mobile
marketing equation.
Traditional agencies are starting to add mobile campaigns to their
clients' overall marketing mix, often at the request of the client. However,
many of these agencies turn to different companies to provide content and
applications, and to the aggregators who have the relationship with the wireless
carriers to obtain the short codes for SMS and MMS messaging. It is important to
note that the PaperClick platform transcends messaging services since, once the
PaperClick technology is on a mobile phone, there is only one step to access the
mobile web--via keyword or numeric entry into the GoWindow(R) or CodeWindow(R)
or by clicking on a barcode or smartcode with the camera in a handset.
In the European market, where mobile marketing has been embraced by many
large brands (and poised to grow exponentially--see Industry Section) and
numerous consumers, the competition is quite fragmented by geographic region and
by product and service offerings. For example, while Flytxt, Aerodeon and
Enpocket have traditionally competed with NeoMedia companies Sponge and 12snap
in the UK mobile marketing marketplace, Mindmatics has provided the principal
competition in Germany. Additionally, Spielplatz.cc is one of the larger premium
players in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Also, Austria-based DIMICO is
focused on premium SMS connectivity and messaging.
In general, due to the relative immaturity of the mobile marketing
industry, small players have sprung up offering very specialized products and
services. This is even more pronounced in the U.S. where mobile marketing has
mostly been confined to text-to-vote applications.
As the mobile marketing industry matures, NeoMedia expects consolidation
as industry leaders emerge. Moreover, NeoMedia believes its well positioned at
the onset due to the intellectual property, including many patents, on which its
products and services are based. NeoMedia expects that its intellectual
property, coupled with its early aggregation of proven market leaders, will
serve as a competitive advantage as this market rapidly matures.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
From the 10K: Customer Relationship Management
Gavitec, Sponge and 12snap have customer relationship management (CRM)
platforms that utilize the mobile phone to build loyalty among clients,
establishing long-term customer relationships and a stable revenue base.
12snap's 12CRM platform includes design, data analysis, content creation
and ongoing program management. It also includes a mobile couponing solution,
utilizing Gavitec readers, that allows marketers to send out personalized
coupons that link directly to a consumer's mobile phone, making it impossible to
redeem the coupon multiple times.
Sponge's CRM application includes list management, opt-in database
functionality and messaging scheduling.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
From the 10K: Mobile Marketing Campaign Management
Through NeoMedia, marketers and agencies can get full-service mobile
marketing account management including campaign reporting and integration into
media-led campaigns (TV, radio, print, outdoor, direct, events, etc.). Those
marketers looking for a full end-to-end creative solution would likely turn to
12snap. Those marketers who wish to add mobile marketing to their existing
marketing strategy while utilizing their existing agencies would turn to
PaperClick, Mobot, Gavitec or Sponge, depending on their technology or campaign
requirements, or the geographical footprint of their desired market or campaign.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
From the 10K: Strategy
NeoMedia Mobile
NeoMedia has spent the past decade as a pioneer in the now confirmed space
of linking the physical world to the electronic world, developing, patenting and
implementing four generations of continuously refined switch technology that
bridges these environments.
During the past two and a half years, NeoMedia has introduced
PaperClick(R) for Camera Cell Phones and the PaperClick(R) GoWindow and
CodeWindow, to capitalize on the rapidly emerging mobile marketing sector and
using it as a basis from which to demonstrate the effectiveness of its
PaperClick platform. With this industry positioned for rapid worldwide growth,
NeoMedia believes its poised to gain global market share, both from its patented
PaperClick direct-to-web platform and from the platforms, applications and
services of its recent acquisitions.
The acquisitions of Mobot, Sponge, Gavitec and 12Snap have placed NeoMedia
into a leadership position in the wireless solutions industry. Taken together
with NeoMedia's patented PaperClick(R) platform, NeoMedia offers marketers
end-to-end solutions to market to their target audiences via mobile devices
through SMS (text messaging), MMS (multimedia messaging), direct-to-Internet
GoWindow(TM), and CodeWindow(TM), Visual Recognition, and 1-D barcode and 2-D
smartcode recognition.
NeoMedia intends to gain market share in the global mobile marketing
industry through organic growth from existing markets and new and existing
clients, together with geographic growth in new and expanding markets. With the
combination of platforms, services, content and applications now available
through NeoMedia, each NMM business sub-unit has the ability to offer its
existing client base ever more sophisticated and innovative mobile marketing
services and solutions. With the growth of cell phone usage world-wide, and by
having many global brands such as McDonald's, Coca-Cola, adidas and Unilever as
existing clients, NeoMedia intends to bring mobile marketing services to
additional geographic regions around the globe, notwithstanding the immense
potential in the virtually untapped mobile marketing industry in the United
States, which is about 1-2 years behind Europe and Japan in its maturity.
Beyond consumer goods, the PaperClick platform is also an effective
platform for other industry markets and can be utilized through other devices,
such as personal computers. As such, NeoMedia is pursuing opportunities in areas
as diverse as homeland security, banking, search, food labeling, inventory
tracking and multiple enterprise applications--from affinity programs to mobile
service solutions to complete company management systems.
NeoMedia Micro Paint Repair
NeoMedia Micro Paint Repair (NMPR) offers its clients a "one-stop shop" to
obtain a comprehensive line of technologically and environmentally advanced
products and processes for interior and exterior automotive rejuvenation. Its
proprietary Micro Paint Repair system can dramatically reduce costs for current
auto body repair facilities, or create a new profit center for auto-related
businesses that do not currently offer paint repair. Likewise, NMPR can help
automotive repair businesses offer complementary services beyond micro paint,
not only through its product line, but also through training on how to do
additional interior and exterior repairs.
NMPR markets its comprehensive automotive rejuvenation system to a myriad
of automotive industry businesses, from auto dealers to body shops to glass
repair shops, and more. Two facilities, NMPR's headquarters in Fort Myers,
Florida and its Canadian head office in Calgary, Alberta offer repairs directly
to customers, and on-site training to business clients.
Geographically, outside of the United States NeoMedia has expanded its
micro paint repair offering into: China through partnerships with Jinche
(Automart), DuPont and PPG; Scandinavia, through its distribution agreement with
WI-THO AS in Norway; Mexico and Latin America, through its distribution
agreement with Micropaint de Mexico; Australia/New Zealand, through a
distribution agreement with Micro Paint Systems (Australasia) Limited of New
Zealand; and Canada, through a distribution agreement with MDA Co-Auto.
NeoMedia Telecom Services
NTS is a fully implemented alternate billing agent within the Local
Exchange Carriers (LEC's) billing system in Canada. NTS's vision is to continue
expanding its live and automated operator service capability focusing on making
emerging web-based information and transaction services easier to access and pay
for. NTS has aligned itself to provide globally accessible products, coupled
with sophisticated proprietary technology, allowing it to offer this global
marketplace fully-integrated or unbundled solutions. NeoMedia believes that the
future growth of the industry is largely based upon the ability of service
providers to offer multiple billing options for consumer services thus
increasing market penetration.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
From the 10K: Industry Overview
NeoMedia Mobile
NeoMedia Mobile (NMM) business unit encompasses all the technologies,
products and services designed to connect the physical world to the electronic
world, with consumer, enterprise, educational and governmental applications.
Being an early pioneer in the wireless solutions industry, NeoMedia has been
developing its PaperClick platform and applications since 1996. During that
time, NeoMedia has also established an extensive portfolio of intellectual
property.
The original commercial use of the PaperClick technology depended on
utilizing a scanning device (e.g. pen with scanner) to de-code printed codes,
which it would then link via PC to the Internet to enable the consumer to
retrieve extensive information on the Internet. With the advent and
proliferation of the cell phone, NeoMedia realized the immense potential to
reach consumers anywhere and anytime with a device that they carried with them.
This was further augmented by the escalation of camera phones in the marketplace
over the past several years. With the PaperClick platform, cell phone users (and
users of other mobile devices such as personal digital assistants) are able to
directly access the mobile internet in one step, via "texting,, "keying,"
"clicking" on printed barcodes or smartcodes, or "keying" in keywords or product
on their cell phones.
To accelerate NeoMedia's entry into the fast-growing and lucrative mobile
marketing marketplace, NeoMedia has made a number of several key strategic
acquisitions already in 2006: Boston-based visual recognition provider Mobot,
London-based applications developer Sponge, Aachen (Germany) based code-reading
specialist Gavitec and Munich-based award-winning mobile marketing agency
12Snap. All of these companies have proven track records in creating highly
innovative wireless marketing solutions that they have successfully introduced
into the market, on behalf of numerous household name consumer goods and media
companies in the US, across Europe, and in Asia/Pacific including Australia and
Japan.
NeoMedia anticipates further growth in the mobile marketing industry to
come from several factors:
(1) The increased growth of mobile subscribers, and those
subscribers accessing the Internet. According to the Cellular
Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) and the
Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), there are over 1.9
billion-plus phones in use worldwide--more than TVs and PCs
combined, and, that by the end of 2008, it is projected that
more than 600 million phone users will have Internet access.
(2) Improvements in Infrastructure. The penetration of high speed
GPRS networks is increasing bandwidths, which in turn allows
more complex application development, faster speed and
enhanced user experience, resulting in mobile customers
embracing mobile content in ever greater numbers and
complexity. NeoMedia's 12snap unit, for example, is now
offering consumers in Germany personalized screensavers and
animations for their handsets..
(3) Enhanced Handset Functionality. Color screens and camera
phones are driving sales of mobile devices in the replacement
market. Worldwide, 295 million camera phones were sold during
2005, and that number is expected to grow to almost 750
million by 2009 (Source: Gartner Dataquest, November 2005). No
less than three products in NeoMedia's arsenal of solutions -
PaperClick, Gavitec's Lavasphere and Mobot's visual
recognition product are technologies that are designed to
bring enhanced user experience to consumers via the camera in
their wireless handsets. Additionally, in early 2006 NeoMedia
obtained a further U.S. patent covering the capture and
processing of bar codes explicitly from camera cell phones.
The Japanese and European marketplaces are leading the way in mobile
marketing usage and acceptance. In Japan, the use of 2D "smart codes" in
advertising and marketing has become increasingly more popular with subscriber
levels now approaching 10million consumers. Northwest Airlines recently ran a
30' billboard of a smart code in downtown Tokyo, promoting one of its Japanese
routes; according to The Wall Street Journal, "For Northwest, of St. Paul,
Minnesota - which last month filed for bankruptcy protection in the face of high
labor costs, soaring oil prices and intense competition - the [smart code]
campaign is a chance to boost its Japanese presence and its reputation as a
technology leader."
In Europe, two specific areas where mobile marketing has already proven
successful are SMS (text) and MMS (picture messaging) mobile marketing
campaigns. There, 40% of brands surveyed have already deployed text messaging
campaigns and 18% have deployed MMS campaigns (Source: Airwide Solutions Feb.
2006). This study also showed that by 2008, 89% of brands expect to use wireless
marketing campaigns to reach their audience, and in five years 52% expect to
spend between 5% and 25% of their marketing budget on the "Third Screen" as the
cell phone is now being described in marketing circles. NeoMedia, by acquiring
Sponge, Mobot, 12Snap and Gavitec in particular, has overnight become an
innovative global leader in creating and executing mobile campaigns and in
developing related content. From campaigns that 7% of the population take part
in - as was the case with a recent Walkers (Frito-Lay) promotion in the UK run
by its Sponge unit - to 12snap winning four prestigious Lions at the renowned
Cannes Advertising Festival, NeoMedia has added companies with wireless
solutions of the highest standard to accompany its groundbreaking PaperClick
technology, driving recognition as one of the lead players in its industry.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
Alan1221, thank you for tracking the Cornell selling...and I also hope you are proven right that this round of selling is now complete.
SS9173
The Neom BOD members have my full support. They have provided top notch leadership and direction with uncompromising business ethics. I completely trust that they will continue to do what's best for the business, and ultimately to build shareholder value. After all, they have a lot of their own personal money invested in Neom as well.
SS9173
Look at the volume of shares pre-2003...much less than today with a lot less shares outstanding.
Our relationship with Cornell started April 2002. http://www.techdaily.info/dg.lts/id.13130/news.news_view.htm
Now don't get me wrong, I am grateful Cornell helped Neom stay alive through the tough times, and it's great they helped us with these recent acquisitions towards our goal of becoming a mobile marketing supercompany. But we have got about $500M shares outstanding and that could potentially double to $1B shares outstanding.
As JP's post today highlights, institutional buying (other than Cornell) is insignificant. http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=10422119
So unless we strike a big gorilla deal with the likes of Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, News Corp, Sprint or Verizon, IMO we won't see a return to even last years high of about $0.70 for quite some time.
Now there is an upcoming event that could provide some stimulation in the pps, and that is, as we all know, CTIA. Maybe Neom will have some great news to share with us and the rest of the world. Hope so! If not, patiently we wait.
SS9173
Aside from Cornell, the rest of these institutions don't hold enough shares to make a significant difference. It is a shame that institutions haven't seen the value in investing in Neom yet...probably related to OTCC-BB, Cornell relationship and share dilution. I look forward to the day when Neom becomes listed on the AMEX or NASDAQ and is free of Cornell funding.
SS9173
Thanks for the updated charts, Jonesieatl. Short-term it is depressing; long-term I am still confident Neom as an investment will do well pending the continued dilution does not get "out of hand".
SS9173
N E O M, good to know that Logicalis - ActiveSymbols is aware of Neom. Did you ask if they had any sort of license agreement with either Nextcode, their partner, or Neom? I still believe they are traversing Neom's IP.
SS9173
DrMyke, thanks for the excellent reports. I look forward to tomorrow's update.
Best regards,
SS9173
DD NTT DoCoMo Seeks Expanded Use of Phones
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/J/JAPAN_NTT_DOCOMO?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAUL...
TOKYO (AP) -- NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan's biggest mobile phone company, said Tuesday it will pay 9 billion yen ($76.9 million) for a 2 percent stake in the nation's second-largest convenience store chain to expand the use of new mobile phones that function like credit cards.
The deal will allow users of DoCoMo's new credit card payment service "Osaifu-Keitai," or wallet phone, to use their mobile phones to pay for goods at 100 outlets of Lawson Inc., Tokyo-based DoCoMo said in a statement.
The service will be expanded to all Lawson's 8,300 stores nationwide by March 31, 2007.
DoCoMo, which has 50 million subscribers, is banking on the new service to drum up new revenue as it fends off tougher competition and falling phone rates.
The company said it will buy about 2.09 million shares in Lawson on April 14.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
DD Mobile Digital Magazine
http://84.233.149.205/ActiveMagazine/getBook.asp?Path=MCI/2006/03/16&BookCollection=MCI
SS9173
DD Hearst Magazines Teams with Volantis to Launch Mobile Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and CosmoGIRL!; New Mobile Brands for Young Women Extends Hearst Magazines' Multimedia Strategy
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060328005...
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2006--Volantis, the world's leading supplier of Intelligent Content Adaptation(TM) solutions for the Mobile Information Age, and Hearst Corporation, one of the largest diversified communications companies, today announced the launch of Hearst Magazines' Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and CosmoGIRL! for mobile devices. The three leading publications, targeting young women aged 12 - 34, will be mobilized utilizing Volantis' Mobile Content Framework(TM) and will be available on both the Cingular Wireless and Sprint-Nextel networks.
These newest mobile offerings represent Hearst's drive to further develop new distribution channels for its brands, increase readership and build brand support for its unique publications. For initial launch, the downloadable content includes ringtones, "hot" wallpapers, daily horoscopes and a variety of editorial content.
"We are thrilled to provide women with the opportunity to have even easier, always-on access to their favorite information sources for fashion, fun and other lifestyle trends," said Glen Ellen Brown, Vice President of Hearst Brand Development. "This partnership enables us to lead the publishing industry by utilizing Volantis' technology as a platform to establish new media markets and overcome the complexity and daunting diversity of device platforms to fully extend our branded content into the wireless world.""
"We are particularly pleased to have Hearst move to the Volantis platform as a strategic decision to build on Hearst's previous success in wireless," said Matthew Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Volantis. "Hearst's drive to innovate further in wireless matches well with our goal to extend the reach of Hearst Magazine titles to the broadest possible base of mobile consumers."
Hearst Magazines, a unit of The Hearst Corporation, is one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, with 19 U.S. titles and more than 100 international editions. Cosmopolitan, one of the oldest Hearst titles, is the largest-selling young women's magazine and magazine franchise in the world. Since its founding in 1886 the magazine has been famous for its upbeat style and reporting on modern social trends.
Seventeen has been a leading magazine for women since its debut in 1944 by helping to define, socialize, and empower young women. Over the past 62 years Seventeen has helped shape teenage life, reaching 14.45 million readers per month nationwide.
CosmoGIRL!, a publication launched in 1999 which targets young women between 12 and 34 years of age, has received several industry accolades for its success in consumer publishing and has more than 1.25 million readers.
Notes to editors:
Images of the site are available on http://www.volantis.com/story.jsp?story=media_main&tnav=news
About Hearst Magazines
Hearst Magazines is a unit of The Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com), and one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, with a total of 19 U.S. titles and 145 international editions. Hearst reaches more adults than any other publisher of monthly magazines (76.3 million according to MRI, spring 2005). The company also publishes 19 magazines in the United Kingdom through its wholly owned subsidiary, The National Magazine Company Limited.
About Volantis
Volantis (www.volantis.com) is the world's leading supplier of Intelligent Content Adaptation(TM) solutions for the mobile Internet, providing applications, tools and platforms that solve the complexity of delivering optimized services to any mobile device.
Volantis' extensive experience of serving content providers, mobile network operators, and enterprises, along with its standards leadership, enable a unique position for Volantis to create innovative technology for the Mobile Information Age that is more useful and more useable than the PC Internet of today.
Volantis is used around the world by organizations such as 3, Accenture, Channel 4, Cingular, CSC, Discovery, eBay.co.uk, FT.com, HP, IBM, lastminute.com, MobileOne, Orange Poland, Reuters, Telefonica Moviles, Telecom Italia Mobile and Telenor Mobil. Volantis also Chairs the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Device Independence Working Group and is a Founding Member of the W3C Mobile Web Initiative.
Volantis global headquarters are in Seattle, USA, with international offices in London, UK, Hong Kong, China, Madrid, Spain and Krakow, Poland. Volantis is privately held with investors Accel Partners, Kennet Venture Partners, and SOFTBANK Europe Ventures.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
DD DISNEY SELECTS BUDER ENGEL AGENCY FOR MOBILE LAUNCH
$50 Million Effort Opens Battle Against Major Carriers for Share of Cellphone Market
March 24, 2006
By Alice Z. Cuneo
http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=48435
SAN FRANCISCO (AdAge.com) -- Walt Disney Co., poised this summer to go head-to-head with the nation’s major carriers in a battle for share of the family cellphone market, has hired San Francisco agency BuderEngel & Friends for an anticipated $50 million-plus launch.
Disney Mobile’s primary strategy is to target moms wanting to control cellphone use and access, executives familiar with the situation said. To reach moms, the phones offered by Disney Mobile will include a number of exclusive control features planned for announcement in early April. Those features, one executive said, are designed to “make sure the children use phones responsibly,” possibly including features such as control over the number of minutes used and when they are used. “It will be a better way of connecting people and families,” the executive said.
Disney Mobile’s Web site bills it as “a phone that gives moms what they need and kids what they want.” Other selling points listed on the site include “simple, straightforward controls for ease of use; countless customization options for personalization; usage controls that let you tailor your phones to your family’s needs.”
No mouse ears
Disney Mobile phones, from a number of handset providers, will not “have Mickey Mouse ears stuck on it,” said the executive, but will look like an ordinary cellphone with a discreet Disney Mobile logo on it. Collectors’ editions may be available from time to time. Content from the entire Disney content collection will be available on the phone, from princesses to pirates.
The phone will target moms with kids from 8 or 9 on the younger end to about 14, perhaps a little older for girls. According to a July 2005 Harris Interactive study, 12% of 8- to 12-year-olds have cellphones, while 49% of teens age 13 to 15 have cellphones. Of children 13 to 17, 62% are on family plans, while 15% are on prepaid plans and 23% are on standalone monthly plans, according to NPD Group's Mobile Consumer Track.
Already, there are a number of kiddie phones in the marketplace, ranging from those with limited access such as Firefly Mobile and LG’s Migo to Mattel’s MyScene phone, which allows parents to reward children for doing things like chores with extra talk time.
Nevertheless, “by the time kids are 10, they want the phone their parents have,” said Julie Ask, senior analyst, Jupiter Research. Yet, “There are horror stories of parents with huge cellphone bills,” she said.
Disney Mobile is the second virtual phone service from the Walt Disney Co. Late last year, through its ESPN media network, it launched ESPN Mobile, which features sports content. While some of ESPN's service offerings are on the high end with some volume-use plans costing over $200 a month, the Disney Mobile phone is expected to be priced competitively with family offerings. The phones will be sold online and through retailers and Disney.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
Alynnb, and now we know as Paul Harvey says "the rest of the story". Great job!!! I look forward to Shelron's ActiveShopper incorporating Paperclick in the near future.
SS9173
Beacs, I wouldn't be surprised that the pps was and still is being held down by MM's for BSDS and now HipCricket. IMO, we will not see significant revenue, profit, and cash flow improvements reported until after the 1st Quarter 10Q and the bulk of that will be from the acquisition companies and NMPR - not PC and WR. The 1Q-10Q won't be filed until May 2006. It may take until the 2Q or 3Q 10Q's before we see financials improve considerably. In the interim, we cannot discount the effect of the ever-increasing rate of dilution on the share price. So, unless we get a licensing agreement from one of the big gorillas such as Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Verizon, Sprint, etc, the pps may be held within a trading range for a good share of this year. JMHO.
SS9173
The 10K annual report is due this week - no later than Thursday, March 30. I will be updating the M&A spreadsheet in the board header shortly after reviewing the 10K report.
For my views on what to expect in the 10K and second quarter 10Q, please see this post:
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?Message_id=10224664&txt2find=10k
SS9173
DD Everypoint
http://www.everypoint.com/pr_03142006.asp
Everypoint Secures $10 Million in Second Round Funding; Unveils New Class of Mobile Infotainment Applications
Company Poised for Aggressive Growth in $112 Billion Global Mobile Data/Services Market
March 14, 2006 – BOSTON, MA – Everypoint, pioneering a new class of mobile applications for the world's premier content providers, today announced that it has secured $10 million in a second round of funding led by Venrock Associates. Existing investors Prism Venture Partners and TD Capital Ventures also participated in the round.
"We are working with some of the world's leading content providers to deliver dynamic mobile applications to sports enthusiasts around the globe," said Everypoint CEO Evan Schumacher. "Through our innovative approach to application development and delivery, we are redefining how consumers interact with their hand-held devices, providing better access to large amounts of real-time content with superior graphics at a fraction of the cost. We are already seeing strong demand for these applications across multiple markets worldwide."
With an estimated 2 billion mobile phone users worldwide ready to embrace mobile infotainment solutions in the coming years, Everypoint is enabling global content providers and carriers to deliver instantaneous, automatically refreshed content directly to consumers' mobile phones. These companies leverage Everypoint's breakthrough, push-based platform to foster long-term, real-time communications channels to their mobile consumers.
"Everypoint's advanced platform has the potential to foster mass adoption of real-time sports applications for the first time in mobile history," said Mike Tyrrell, General Partner of Venrock Associates. "Their technology platform will transform the end-user experience, while providing global carriers and marketers with powerful new ways to communicate with consumers, build brand awareness, and generate new revenue streams."
"Mobile entertainment is, without a doubt, the future of the phone," said Seamus McAteer, chief product architect and senior analyst, M:Metrics. "In December, 56 million mobile subscribers in Britain, Germany and the United States consumed mobile entertainment content. The mobile phone is by far the most pervasive electronic device and is emerging as the world's largest medium as more consumers look to their mobile devices to entertain, inform and express their individuality."
Everypoint overcomes key barriers inherent in other mobile applications – such as low-resolution graphics, slow 'click-and-wait' response and limited functionality. Consumers download Everypoint applications directly onto their mobile phones, and content is pushed to them on a continuous basis via the company's proprietary and powerful content delivery engine. Superior graphics capabilities, and a proprietary vector graphics engine ensure content is delivered with crisp, vivid graphical images unmatched in the mobile market. The company's proprietary Rapid Application Development (RAD) process ensures applications are scalable and easily updated with new features 'on the fly,' lowering costs for content providers, and ultimately, billions of consumers.
Everypoint's dynamic sports applications include live commentary direct from the stadium, providing mobile users with a true play-by-play experience – one that includes fixtures, results and team stats, all updated in real-time and automatically refreshed.
About Everypoint
Everypoint creates mobile infotainment applications for content providers and carriers around the globe. With an initial focus on the sports market, Everypoint enables companies to establish and maintain valuable mobile relationships with their consumers. For the first time in mobile history, real-time, dynamic, mobile applications are combined with superior graphics, instantaneous content and an easy-to-use interface. Everypoint is headquartered in Boston, MA.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
dlethe's post is must read DD - Mobile Marketing Magazine's interview with Martin Copus published this morning.
Thanks dlethe for finding and posting this excellent article.
SS9173
OT YJ, We make a great team. What are your thoughts regarding ActiveSymbols traversing Neom's IP?
SS9173
Edited: Click on the ActiveSymbols demo and architecture and it sure appears this is Neom's IP. What are everyone's thoughts?
http://www.activesymbols.com/index.htm
http://www.activesymbols.com/architecture.htm
SS9173
OT Great minds think alike! EOM
DD ActiveSymbol (Friend, Foe, or Future Business Partner)
From PP: ActiveSymbol Debuts Camera Phone Mobile Marketing Tool
http://theponderingprimate.blogspot.com/2006/03/activesymbol-debuts-camera-phone.html
Another physical world connection company and another great mobile marketing campaign.
ActiveSymbols lables it a visual "Google" for customers.
From CBS Marketwatch ActiveSymbols debuts MobilePromote
Racing fans attending this weekend's Toyota Indy 300 at Miami's Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 26 will be invited to "Take a Mobile Test Lap" with MobilePromote 1.0, a fun, new service for mobile consumers.
Cell phone users will be able to subscribe to live race-day alerts and download rich content using this brand-new mobile imaging technology service offered by ActiveSymbols , a Logicalis Company and a sponsor of the Rahal Letterman Racing IndyCar team.
The MobilePromote service enables mobile consumers with popular camera phones, from manufacturers such as Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Hewlett-Packard, to send text messages or pictures to an online ActiveSymbols database.
A unique and patent-pending key attribute of the ActiveSymbols technology is its ability to interpret a photograph taken with an auto-focus camera, intelligently match it with an image in its database, and return a response appropriate to the photograph and the time it was taken.
ActiveSymbols works with:
Text Messaging, 1D Barcodes, 2D Barcodes, Branded 2D Symbols, any Branded Image (logo)
Once the message is received, it is matched against a sponsor's promotion and a rich content message link is returned to the caller.
View the demo: http://www.activesymbols.com/index.htm
What can ActiveSymbol do? http://www.activesymbols.com/services.htm
The Logicalis ActiveSymbols™ server can accept and decode images captured from virtually all Webcams, camera phones, web-enabled PDAs, scanners and fax machines on the consumer market today. Here are just some of the ways you can take advantage of this innovative technology:
SymbolSearch™
Used by eRetailers and advertising to drive consumption of digital content (songs, movie trailers, ring tones, wallpaper, purchase information, games).
• Music Search (CD covers)
• Movie Search (Poster and DVD covers)
• Game Search (Game covers)
• Book Search (Book Covers)
• Brand Search (Print Advertising)
• Product Search (Barcodes)
• Business Process Automation (Real-time Real Estate MLS Lookups)
• Games (Snap a picture of a friend and retrieve celebrity look-a-likes)
• Translator (Snap a picture of a sign in a foreign language and get a translation)
• Location Information (Snap a picture of a street sign and receive a map and business directions)
onePic CRM™
Used by business professionals to save and organize copies of important documents while away from the office, and in real-time. No more lost business cards or expenses; send signed documents via fax from your phone. Get real-time research on your contacts sent to your mobile phone.
* ezCard: Take a picture of a business card and get instant information on the person and company.
• ezExpense: Take a picture of a receipt and process it later when you're back at your PC.
• ezScan: Take a picture of a document and save it for future use or fax it to a customer immediately (great for NDAs, orders, POs, etc.)
mobilePromote™
Used by sponsors of promotional events (e.g. live sporting events), mobilePromote™ allows users to sign up for real-time alerts by taking a picture of a sponsor's signage. Sponsors then have access to a captive audience to create loyalty and send event specific promos and purchasing information.
• Enter Sweepstakes
• Cast a vote or participate in a poll
• Real-time Alerts (Sporting news as it happens, trade show schedule updates, etc.)
• Receive Coupons
• Trade Show or Event Registration and Authentication
• General Schedule, Reminder, Update Alerts
MorphMe™
Take pictures of yourself or others and see what you and a celebrity's baby would look like, or morph yourself into a cartoon character or emoticon, and apply various image filters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From CBS Marketwatch: http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B3016F0F6%2D3212%2D4B05%2DA7AD%2DAAA5548C7D6...
ActiveSymbols Debuts MobilePromote Mobile Consumer Service at Toyota Indy 300; Links Popular Camera Phones to Race-Day Alerts, Ring Tones and Wallpapers
MIAMI, Mar 24, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ActiveSymbols:
-- New Service Allows Mobile Consumers to Text Message or Send Photos from Popular Camera Phones and Receive Event-Specific Alerts and Rich Content
Racing fans attending this weekend's Toyota Indy 300 at Miami's Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 26 will be invited to "Take a Mobile Test Lap" with MobilePromote 1.0, a fun, new service for mobile consumers. Cell phone users will be able to subscribe to live race-day alerts and download rich content using this brand-new mobile imaging technology service offered by ActiveSymbols, a Logicalis Company and a sponsor of the Rahal Letterman Racing IndyCar team. And, beginning at the Toyota Indy 300 race and leading up to the Indianapolis 500 race, mobile consumers will be able to enter to win a series of Indy-themed prizes.
The MobilePromote service enables mobile consumers with popular camera phones, from manufacturers such as Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Hewlett-Packard, to send text messages or pictures to an online ActiveSymbols database. Once the message is received, it is matched against a sponsor's promotion and a rich content message link is returned to the caller. As part of the "Take a Mobile Test Lap" service, callers can choose to receive:
-- Alerts -- Same day race-day alerts providing car and driver details throughout the race
-- Themed Ring tones -- Free racing-themed ring tones, including the inimitable and familiar sounds of an IndyCar engine revving and an IndyCar screaming by on the straightaway
-- Additional Rich Content -- Downloadable camera phone wallpaper of Rahal Letterman Racing IndyCar team drivers, including 2004 Indy 500 champion Buddy Rice and 2005 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year, Danica Patrick
-- Subscriptions -- Subscribe to Racer magazine from Haymarket Publishing
"ActiveSymbols offers a whole new dimension for event-specific communications and state-of-the-art brand marketing," said ActiveSymbols president Jeff Reed. "As a sponsor of Rahal Letterman Racing, we felt the open-wheel racing environment offered a perfect opportunity to demonstrate this new mobile consumer technology."
Julie Klausner, marketing director at Rahal Letterman Racing, adds: "ActiveSymbols is unique technology that helps match sponsors and racing enthusiasts -- both of whom are our customers -- in a non-obtrusive way. We look forward to leveraging this new technology with Logicalis."
Win Prizes in the "Take a Mobile Test Lap" Contest
Beginning at the Toyota Indy 300 race and leading up to the Indianapolis 500 race on May 28, 2006, MobilePromote participants will also be entered into a special drawing for a chance to win one of three unique prizes, including:
-- Replica IndyCar -- An authentic scale replica of Danica Patrick's Rahal Letterman Racing IndyCar, signed by the driver
-- HP Camera Phones -- One of a pair of the latest HP camera phones
Race enthusiasts can obtain instructions for subscribing to event-specific alerts for each IndyCar race on signage during each race event, or by visiting the ActiveSymbols Web site at http://www.activesymbols.com
More details about the MobilePromote 1.0 technology are available online at http://www.activesymbols.com
ActiveSymbols for Brand Marketers
The ActiveSymbols platform provides a variety of applications for linking mobile consumers with brand marketers while delivering new revenue opportunities for mobile carriers.
When a MobilePromote consumer texts a message or photographs a branded image from their camera phone and sends it to the ActiveSymbols server, it acts as a trigger for a series of events. When ActiveSymbols recognizes that either the text or image is linked to a brand marketer, it then performs a specific task associated with that brand marketer, such as sending race-day alerts or the opportunity to download a ring tone.
"When ActiveSymbols returns a message related to something that a mobile consumer texts or photographs, the potential of the platform becomes clear," Reed said.
A unique and patent-pending key attribute of the ActiveSymbols technology is its ability to interpret a photograph taken with an auto-focus camera, intelligently match it with an image in its database, and return a response appropriate to the photograph and the time it was taken.
"It is great fun to experiment with MobilePromote, but the technology also has far-reaching business applications," said Reed. "On a simple level, for example, a mobile business consumer can use a camera phone to take pictures of business cards or business receipts, then upload the images to an intelligent database that will sort, file, and store the information for the user," explains Reed.
"In addition, we are developing more complex applications for the technology, including the ability to intelligently interpret images such as logos and respond accordingly," says Reed. "For example, if a racing fan takes a picture of the Rahal Letterman Racing logo, then emails it to our database ActiveSymbols will then send a link to team-specific information, such as car and driver statistics. The possibilities are endless for both consumers and business partners."
MobilePromote 1.0 and other ActiveSymbols technologies will be demonstrated during the CTIA Wireless 2006 show, held in Las Vegas, April 5-7. A major consumer launch of the entire ActiveSymbols platform and applications is scheduled for the Indianapolis 500 race event, held on Sunday, May 28, 2006.
"At Homestead, race fans will get just a taste of what the ActiveSymbols platform can do," said Reed. "At the Indianapolis 500, the biggest and most historic open-wheel race in America, we'll have finished our test drives, and we'll be ready for full competition."
About ActiveSymbols
ActiveSymbols, a Logicalis Company, is bringing mobile consumers together with brand marketers via a unique and patent-pending brand image database technology. ActiveSymbols(TM) Enterprise Server (patent pending) is an enterprise-class scalable platform enabling image and object recognition (computer vision), text recognition (OCR), biometrics (facial recognition), and linear (1D) and 2D barcode decoding from everyday consumer devices such as camera phones and PDAs. We like to call it "visual searching in the palm of your hand." For more information on ActiveSymbols, please visit www.activesymbols.com.
About Logicalis
Logicalis is a global provider of high-performance technology solutions. Logicalis and its affiliated companies employ 1,000 people worldwide, including highly trained service specialists who specify, design, deploy and manage IT infrastructure to meet the needs of over 5,000 corporate and public sector customers. Logicalis maintains strong partnerships with technology leaders such as HP, IBM, Cisco and EMC.
Logicalis is a part of Logicalis Group, a division of Datatec Limited (JSE:DTCJ), a $3 billion business listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. With its international headquarters in the UK, Logicalis Group has annualized global revenues of approximately $750 million from operations in the U.S., UK, Germany and South America. In North America, Logicalis' annualized revenues amount to some $475 million with over 450 employees in the U.S. For more information, visit www.us.logicalis.com.
Indy 500(R) and IndyCar(R) are registered trademarks of Brickyard Trademarks, Inc.
SOURCE: ActiveSymbols
Communication Strategy Group for ActiveSymbols Arthur Germain, 631-239-6335 agermain@gocsg.com www.gocsg.com Copyright Business Wire 2006
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
DD Webinar: Cracking the Mobile Marketing Code: Top 10 Lessons Learned - March 30, 2006 - 12 Noon EST
http://www.fiercemarkets.com/webinars/mobilemarketing/Registration.htm
The mobile marketing playing field is wide open for marketers -- but only if they can crack the code for successful mobile marketing. Join us for this webinar and learn the top 10 "lessons learned" from mobile marketing pioneers. Learn what's working and what's not from a mobile marketing industry thought leader and the founder of one of the most dynamic mobile marketing companies. Bring your questions for the Q&A period following our speakers’ presentations.
Confirmed Speakers:
Laura Marriott
Executive Director
Mobile Marketing Association
Jack Philbin
Founder & President
Vibes Media
Drew Sievers
Co-founder and CEO
mFoundry
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
DD Miva launches pay-per-text mobile ad service
By Staff
23-03-2006 04:11 PM
http://www.netimperative.com/2006/03/23/Miva_mobile
Search marketing network Miva has partnered with 118 118 to launch a new pay-per-text ad channel that lets advertisers reach potential customers via their mobiles.
The TXT//AD service is being launched in the UK via an exclusive deal with directory firm The Number, owner of the 118 118 brand. The new product enables advertisers for the first time to buy space within 118 118 text messages.
The ads will be sold by targeted ‘Ad Groups’ allowing companies to reach highly relevant audiences actively interested in their products or services. TXT//ADs include advertisers' phone numbers as well as special offers or advertising straplines.
Seb Bishop, director and CMO at Miva, said: "118 118 texts tens of millions of directory callers with their enquiry details each year. TXT//AD for the first time gives companies the opportunity to have their number and any special offer included within these messages.
"A car hire company, for example, could now buy space in every text message sent in response to 118 118 enquiries for companies in the 'airlines' Ad Group. We believe this is an incredibly powerful and highly targeted new ad model."
William Ostrom, communications director, The Number, added: "Mobile callers to 118 118 ring us because they have an immediate and direct need to reach a business or service. Now, we've developed and tested a proposition that we believe greatly increases the value of every message, without making any additional charge to the end user."
TXT//AD has been tested and researched by Saville Rossiter Base amongst a sample of 500 mobile phone users. The research found nearly 60% of respondents who were sent the message recalled it, and 14% of these people used the additional number.
The majority (93%) of users said they would like to receive an additional number in future.
Three quarters (75%) of respondents said that they could see clear benefits in the Service, while just over 80% of respondents were also interested in an enhanced offer (such as a discount on goods or services) and the majority said that even if they didn't use it immediately, they would do at some point.
Half also said they would think about sending the information on to family and friends.
Miva will manage the sale of the new model to advertisers and their agencies; the company's editorial team will also work with advertisers to develop the copy for the new ads.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173
DD Rumor Mill: Amdocs to acquire Qpass (from fiercemoco.com email today)
According to insiders, CRM specialist Amdocs is acquiring mobile content enabler Qpass for somewhere in the range of $260 million to $280 million. Amdocs would not comment on rumors and Qpass could not be reached before deadline. Supposedly Lucent also made a bid for Qpass but dropped out of the bidding at the $240 million mark. (Coincidentally, Lucent is also rumored to be acquired by Alcatel today.) Amdocs is a somewhat unexpected suitor to Qpass as its business is largely focused on customer relationship management. But who doesn't want to get into the mobile content business these days? If the rumor proves true, the deal will undoubtedly be compared to VeriSign's recent acquisition of m-Qube, which fetched $250 million. These acquisitions are further evidence of a robust market for MoCo.
QPass' mobile content services enable the buying and selling of digital goods across mobile, VoIP and WiFi networks. The company manages the entire digital commerce transaction process from content sourcing, merchandising and delivery to billing and customer care. QPass' customers include Cingular, T-Mobile International, Vodafone, Sprint, Alltel and Skype. The company says it has processed more than 400 million premium downloads since it launched, which adds up to $900 million in gross retail sales.
Further insider reports claim that Qpass recently acquired Simplewire, a wireless messaging infrastructure company specializing in SMS aggregation. Simplewire powered Verizon Wireless' premium MMS services and has partnered with Sprint for a premium billing system still in beta.
Stay tuned to FierceMoCo for more information on this developing story.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SS9173