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DD 3G content at tipping point
by Suzy Bashford Marketing 20 Sep 2006
http://www.brandrepublic.com/bulletins/media/article/593576/3g-content-tipping-point/
News Corp's multimillion-pound investment has signalled the rising stock of mobile content.
The hype around mobile media since the much-publicised 3G auctions in 1999 is enough to make any marketer weary when they read yet again that the channel is coming of age.
But the decision by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation last week to snap up ringtone firm Jamba sends a clear signal that this market is at last ripe for generating substantial returns.
The global media giant has bought a 51% stake in the company, which created Crazy Frog, for $188m (£99m). News Corp plans to merge it with Fox Mobile Entertainment and sell clips, ringtones and wallpaper, as well as launch additional formats.
'People have been talking about mobile marketing for years, but this is a strong sign of confidence in the medium,' says Jamyn Edis, senior manager, media and entertainment strategy practice at Accenture. 'In the last generation of phones, it was very much companies and press getting excited about it, but there was no consumer hype or awareness; now there is.'
Nevertheless, Edis warns that the market is still in its infancy and full of unanswered questions. He predicts that it will take about two years before clear business models are established.
'We know that consumers like texting and ringtones. But will they like music? Radio? TV? Advertising? We don't know. There is a lot of promise, but the market is still there for the taking,' he adds.
Major players from a number of sectors are throwing their hats into the ring. Microsoft, for example, is trialling a 'clip and share' service, which enables users to forward snippets from live broadcasts to friends. ITV, meanwhile, is trying to bolster its fading revenues by offering behind-the-scenes clips of its most popular shows, such as The X Factor. It has struck a deal with mobile network operator 3 to stream, or 'simulcast', its TV content. And BT and Virgin have launched BT Movio, which enables users to subscribe to TV and radio channels via their mobiles.
Initial research suggests that news, soaps, music, documentaries and sports are proving the most popular 3G content. Consumers also have an appetite for user-generated content, such as 3's SeeMeTV, which receives more than 1m download requests every month.
Somewhat predictably, mobile adult content is also set to soar, according to Juniper Research, and will be worth $3.3bn (£1.8bn) by 2011.
However, the market will not generate significant revenues until all parties commit fully to supporting the mobile channel, according to Thomas Husson, mobile analyst at Jupiter Research.
'Content owners - in other words, broadcasters - are not sharing the risk yet,' he says. 'We are not at a stage where it is considered profitable enough to integrate the cost of producing content just for mobile. But it is a promising market and it will happen in the next couple of years.'
Operators such as 3 are inevitably keen to speed up this process by encouraging production companies to create bespoke content. It launched a '3 Pilot Pitch' competition earlier this year, offering the prize of a £50,000 budget to develop the best mobile content idea.
3 is also at the forefront of developing a viable business model for the less- developed mobile advertising market. Advertiser interest in mobile has been limited, but there are signs that this is changing. Last week, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Gillette, Nike and Toyota signed up to support mobile video trial conducted by T-Mobile and EMI.
Graeme Oxby, 3's marketing director, argues that mobile requires a unique form of advertising. 'It can't be intrusive or get in the way of letting the customer do want they want to do,' he says. 'That is why I don't believe consumers will listen to an ad before making a call in return for the call charge being waived.'
While mobile advertising may offer up an opportunity to reach the elusive iPod generation, content has to be compelling enough for consumers to actively seek it out.
One of the most successful methods to date, according to Oxby, has been topping and tailing clips, as Budweiser did with its sponsorship of football-related content during the World Cup.
A number of barriers make it difficult to predict the advertising potential of mobile. One is the uncertainty over the rights of actors and musicians who have worked on the ads, which forced ITV's mobile service to go live without them.
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising is currently tackling this issue; those involved are speculating that it will be resolved by early next year.
Another obstacle is that only 9% of the UK population has a 3G phone, though operators point out that this figure is likely to rise quickly, given that consumers change handsets on average every 18 months.
It is not surprising, then, that advertisers are holding back. A recent Accenture survey showed that while 52% of marketing directors are interested in mobile advertising, fewer than 5% are allocating budgets to it.
Indeed, most advertisers are pondering exactly how they can benefit from the mobile revolution. 'For me, this is the biggest unanswered question,' says Edis. 'I can see where it benefits telecom companies, network operators and content owners. But for advertising, it's too "Wild West" at the moment.
'There is talk of local, customised, targeted advertising, but that is very much a pipe dream at this stage,' he adds. 'It seems to me that companies such as Coca-Cola are getting more out of the PR than the actual activity.'
DATA FILE - GLOBAL MOBILE AD REVENUE PROJECTIONS (dollars m)
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
1 Mobile TV 173 577 1272 2259 3247 4368
Broadcaster/cellular 48 196 534 1220 2078 3101
Video 125 381 738 1039 1169 1267
2 WAP 36 161 531 1181 2122 3130
Search 3 21 101 317 775 1496
Banner ads/other display 33 140 430 865 1348 1634
3 Messaging (SMS & MMS) 629 1320 1872 2308 2587 2694
4 Mobile music 29 97 216 392 588 850
5 Mobile games 5 15 39 87 181 310
Total 871 2170 3931 6227 8725 11,352
Source: Informa
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SS9173
Breacher, Here is the link for the SEC filing detailing the license agreement between Symbol Technologies and Neomedia:
http://sec.edgar-online.com/2002/04/24/0001005477-02-001787/Section40.asp
I believe the license agreement is still in full effect per Article 7 (copied and pasted below):
ARTICLE 7 - TERM AND TERMINATION
7.1 Term. This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue
in full force until the last to expire of any issued patents included within the
Patent Rights unless earlier terminated as provided below.
7.2 Breach. In case of breach of this Agreement by a party, the other party
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving the breaching party
at least sixty (60) days written notice of its intention specifying the cause
for default; provided, however, that if the breaching party shall remedy such
failure during such sixty (60) day period, then this Agreement shall not be
terminated on the date specified in such notice, except that for any monetary
breach, the notice and cure period shall be twenty (20) days, but such cure
period shall not be used as a means to generally extend terms of payment. Any
termination hereunder shall not preclude the ability of the parties to pursue
any other remedies they make have in law or equity. An uncured breach of Section
6.1 shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement.
7.3 Accounting. After any termination of this Agreement, including the
expiration of the last of the Patent Rights, Symbol shall render an accounting
for all unpaid royalties pursuant to the license from the last such report up to
the termination date. Such final accounting shall be made within sixty (60) days
after the termination date.
7.4 Sums Payable. Termination of this Agreement shall not excuse either party's
obligation to make payments of sums due and payable at the time of any
termination thereof, or sums due and payable at a time after the termination
date based upon the licenses or sublicenses of rights under this Agreement prior
to termination.
7.5 Survival of End User Licenses. All licenses granted by Symbol or its
Sublicensees to their customers during and pursuant to this Agreement shall
survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement. The licenses contained
in this Agreement shall be considered intellectual property licenses within the
meaning of any applicable federal or state statute, including 11 U.S.C. section
365(n).
Also, see patent rights paragraph 1.6:
1.6 "Patent Rights" shall mean all patents and patent applications in any
jurisdiction now or hereafter owned by NeoMedia or its Subsidiaries or by any
entity controlled by NeoMedia. An entity is controlled by NeoMedia for the
purposes of this Agreement if it is controlled, directly or indirectly, by
NeoMedia and/or its officers and directors (excluding independent directors).
Patent Rights shall also include any patent that is owned by a party other than
NeoMedia, any of its Subsidiaries, or any entity controlled by NeoMedia, and
licensed to NeoMedia, any of its Subsidiaries, or any entity controlled by
NeoMedia , but only if (i) NeoMedia, its Subsidiary, or any entity controlled by
NeoMedia has been granted rights from the patent owner to grant further license
rights thereunder, such as sublicense rights, and (ii) upon identification by
NeoMedia of any costs actually incurred by NeoMedia, its Subsidiaries, or any
entity controlled by NeoMedia as a direct result of any election and/or
exploitation by Symbol of such patent that are in excess of the costs actually
incurred by NeoMedia, its Subsidiaries, or any entity controlled by NeoMedia for
such rights but for sublicensing such rights to Symbol, Symbol elects to
compensate NeoMedia for such additional costs. Those current patents and patent
applications included within the Patents Rights are set forth in Exhibit 1.6
hereto. In the event that NeoMedia is acquired by a third party, then the Patent
Rights shall not be expanded to include any patent or patent application owned
by that third party other than those owned by NeoMedia prior to such
acquisition.
Clawmann: Please review and advise your thoughts on this language. As the patents haven't expired yet, the license agreement is still in effect...correct?
SS9173
OT Success622, yep...just saw that probably as you were typing your reply, and posted that I just realized the date was year 2000.
SS9173
I guess I should have looked closer...Just realized the date of this PR announcing the merger is June 15, 2000. I wonder what has transpired since then...need to do more investigation...and will it come into play when Motorola completes its buyout of Symbol Technologies.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060919/nytu088.html?.v=64
SS9173
Here is a very interesting PR issued Janaury 2001 that involves all of the companies that formed this merger.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=81306&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=142863&hig...
American Express Company's Harvey Golub Joins AirClic as Chairman, Phillip Riese As CEO
BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 2001--
Announces Acquisition Of Connect Things, Strategic
Relationships With Symbol Technologies, Ericsson
and Motorola And New Funding For AirClic
AirClic Inc. announced today the election of Harvey Golub as chairman of the board and Phillip J. Riese as a director and chief executive officer of AirClic. Mr. Golub recently retired as CEO of American Express Company but remains the company's chairman until April. Mr. Riese was most recently CEO of OptiMark, Inc., a leading provider of technology systems to electronic markets. Prior to OptiMark, Mr. Riese was president, Consumer Card Services Group at American Express, and an 18-year veteran of the company.
AirClic further announced that it has completed a series of important transactions:
AirClic has acquired Connect Things, a technology spin-off from LM Ericsson AB (NASDAQ:ERICY). Connect Things, based in Stockholm, Sweden, brings significant technical capability as well as an advanced database architecture and "high-volume switch" to AirClic. Connect Things infrastructure is already actively used in Europe for connecting bar codes to specific pages in a particular Web site. The purchase gives AirClic immediate presence in the European marketplace, enhances its technical and engineering talent, and provides a product testing capability in a relatively mature market for wireless devices.
AirClic has closed on a round of substantial funding from Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: SBL), Ericsson Business Innovation AB, Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) and a private investor group led by Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS).
AirClic has received, as part of a broader strategic relationship, a license to proprietary intellectual property from Symbol Technologies relating to scanning applications. AirClic will, as part of this strategic relationship, use Symbol's laser scanners and emerging scanning technologies as central to its product offering.
AirClic's ONE-SCAN(TM) technology allows users of mobile and other Web-enabled devices to directly access the Web site of their choice without the laborious task of typing Internet addresses using the telephone keypad or the alternative small keyboards integrated into cellular telephones, PDAs or two-way pagers. It allows the user to get to the Web page they want without having to tunnel through page after page to get to the desired location. Thus, it allows for easy delivery of information and transactions, and it allows this to happen where and when the user wishes on a device they already have with them - their mobile phone or PDA.
AirClic transforms Web-enabled phones, PDAs and other devices into personal scanning devices by attaching tiny bar code readers to them or incorporating the reader into the unit itself. This is done primarily using Symbol's bar code scanning technology.
AirClic has assembled and maintains a CLIC-THRU(TM) registry which points bar codes, including the ubiquitous EAN, UPC and JAN bar codes printed on products, labels, in magazines and catalogues and other places in the physical world to specific Web pages where information can be found or transactions can be made. This is done through arrangements with e-commerce sites and providers globally on a non-exclusive basis, providing users the broadest array of choices in information and transactions.
AirClic and Symbol have also developed a new, small bar code, the Scanlet(TM). Scanlets(TM) allow businesses and individuals to fully control and determine the specific Web page that particular users will be directed to via the registry. The registry and switch operate globally and are configured to support millions of bar codes and user transactions daily.
With a simple scan of a UPC, EAN, JAN or Scanlet(TM) by an AirClic-enabled device, people will be connected, through AirClic's high-speed switch, directly to the appropriate page of the appropriate Web sites. Here they can order products, find information, and manage everyday tasks and transactions, with the information delivered from that Web site to their device in an appropriate and easy-to-use format.
"AirClic's technology makes portable, Web-enabled devices easy to use," said Mr. Golub. "It eliminates a significant limitation preventing broad utilization of these devices for critical business processes and consumer needs, allowing users to quickly get to the Web page and service they want without having to press lots of buttons or surf Web page after Web page as they search for the desired information."
"AirClic and Connect Things' people and infrastructure, in combination with Symbol's reach and experience in the area of scanning and Motorola and Ericsson's support, make this transformation of Web access possible," added Mr. Riese. "There are many outstanding mobile Web-enabled applications waiting to happen all around the world. AirClic's technology is finally providing the technology, the tools, the infrastructure, a global standard and the economic incentives to allow them to blossom."
AirClic provides open, accessible, and easy-to-use tool kits for application developers to build business and consumer applications using the AirClic platform, and for businesses to incorporate scanning into their advertising, sales, inventory management, distribution and other mission critical processes. AirClic also provides economic incentives to third parties when they either enable portable Web devices or help deploy mobile Web applications to use ONE-SCAN(TM) technology. By supporting an open platform architecture, the company's efforts will be directed towards becoming the global standard for Web-based application providers, bar code users, and Web-enabled device manufacturers.
"Ericsson supports the AirClic symbology standard and the potential benefits it will bring to mobile users around the world," said Joran Hoff, CEO of Ericsson Business Innovation AB, Ericsson's incubator unit. "We intend to work with AirClic to incorporate scanning technology compliant with the AirClic standard into future Ericsson mobile offerings."
"Motorola supports AirClic's open business model because it amplifies choice and simplifies use of the mobile Internet," said Warren Holtsberg, corporate vice president of Motorola Ventures. "The opportunity to incorporate ONE-SCAN (TM) technology into a full suite of Motorola's end-to-end customer solutions is very compelling."
"Through AirClic, Symbol is coming one step closer to its vision of connecting the physical world of people 'on-the-move' and m-commerce to the virtual world of the Internet and e-commerce," said Tomo Razmilovic, president and CEO, Symbol Technologies. "AirClic promises to create the first pervasive use of scanning technology by consumers and major new uses of scanning for a host of business applications."
Product rollouts in major North American and European markets are planned for the first half of 2001. AirClic is in the final stages of negotiating agreements with several top-tier content and applications providers who plan to use the technology to expand their e-commerce capabilities.
About AirClic Inc.
AirClic Inc. operates an open system that provides the technology and infrastructure that transforms any portable Web device - a cellular phone, personal digital assistant, or a two-way pager -- into a simple remote control for thousands of business and consumer applications. Using the device to scan (ONE-SCAN(TM) Technology) a bar code, the user goes directly to a relevant Web page, application or stores the bar code for later use - allowing the user easy access to information, to perform transactions, or to use a specific application. This is done through AirClic's ClicThru(TM) switch and bar code registry which connects a particular bar code to Web pages deep within sites that have the right information or transaction capability. AirClic performs this function for a number of bar codes - most importantly EAN/UPC/JAN and a proprietary small bar code, a Scanlet(TM), which, when leased from AirClic, allows businesses and individuals to fully control the specific Web page that particular users will be directed to in the registry. These codes can be printed on product packages, as they are today, as well as a full range of print media. AirClic provides tool kits and access to Scanlets(TM) to applications providers, corporations and individuals to allow them to develop a wide variety of consumer, business and proprietary applications globally --- for direct sales management, learning, purchasing, replenishment, bill paying and more. For more information, visit www.airclic.com. Also, visit www.airclic.com/partners/index.html for information regarding AirClic application development.
About Symbol Technologies, Inc
Symbol Technologies, Inc., winner of this year's National Medal of Technology, is a global leader in wireless and Internet-based mobile data transaction systems and services. Symbol provides its customers unique value with innovative solutions utilizing application-specific information appliances, data and voice wireless networks, and bar code and data capture scanning. Symbol and its global network of business partners provide LAN and WAN mobility solutions from the enterprise to e-commerce for industries including retail, transportation and distribution logistics, manufacturing, parcel and postal delivery, healthcare, education, and hospitality. Symbol's broad range of information appliances is in use by business and consumers from the factory, to the office, to the home. Information is available from Symbol at http://www.symbol.com.
About Connect Things, Inc.
Connect Things, Inc., a 1999 spinout from LM Ericsson, has developed and initially deployed in Europe an innovative database linkage service that provides direct links between bar codes and Internet resources on a global scale. With origins at an Ericsson research laboratory, the company's system is a highly scalable, highly available, distributed database that supports the registry of hundreds of millions of Web codes. This flexible technology architecture allows the linkage of Web codes to web pages to be tailored to the needs and interests of the Internet user. For example, a user may be directed to a web page in their native language, or to a page that is formatted optimally for their mobile device. The architecture supports Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to allow value-added services to be developed by third party service providers. Connect Things is operating a beta test in Halmstad, Sweden, available to 3,000 homes, which has indicated high consumer and business interest in Connect Things' technology. For more information, visit the Connect Things web site at www.connectthings.com.
About Ericsson
Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world. More information is available at www.ericsson.com
About Motorola
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communication solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 1999 were $33.1 billion. Motorola Ventures, the global strategic venture capital investment arm of Motorola, Inc., actively invests at early stages in developing companies of strategic value to Motorola in order to accelerate access to new technologies, new markets and new talent. More information is available at www.motorola.com.
Note to editors: Images and a video demonstration of the technology are available upon request.
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SS9173
Re: Motorola, Symbol Technologies, Connect Things and AirClic Form New Company to Drive the Growth of E-Commerce Through One-scan Access to the Internet
http://www.symbol.com/news/pressreleases/pr_motor.html
There are some very important points made in this press release IMO:
* From paragraph 1: "...intend to invest up to an aggregate of $500 million to form a new company that will drive e-commerce growth through one-scan access to the Internet."
* From paragraph 3: "By scanning a Web code with a bar code-enabled Internet device, people will be connected directly to Web sites to order products, find information, and manage everyday tasks and transactions. As people scan Web codes with these new Internet devices; information will be sent instantly to the new company's Web code registry, which interprets the nature of the inquiry and delivers corresponding information to users. The information will include product-ordering links, promotional offers, downloads for music, product usage and service data, as well as cross references to other applicable Internet sites."
* From paragraph 4: "This revolutionary breakthrough will let people instantly and easily access Internet sites using a variety of devices without manually entering Web addresses," said Christopher B. Galvin, Motorola's chairman and chief executive officer.
* From paragraph 6: "This transcending convergence of and will allow us to seamlessly link the physical world of `people on the move´ and at work to the virtual world of the Internet, and creates infinite possibilities for mainstream consumer applications."
* From paragraph 8: "This truly will be the fastest, simplest, most direct and portable way to use the Internet" said David Klatt Jr., AirClic's president. "The new company will draw upon the leading products and technologies, top-level partners and personnel, and the funding and patents needed to establish critical mass quickly."
I think this is a very significant development and this board should be doing everything it can to find out a lot more about this merger and its impact on Neom's business.
SS9173
Lituanian, I agree...it would appear this could have huge implications for Neom's qode. I am trying to confirm by getting down and dirty in that manhole that JP sometimes refers to.
SS9173
DD AzoogleAds Establishes Highest Integrity Standard for Online Mobile Marketing to Address Critical Concerns Around This Burgeoning New Medium
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=164202
New Acceptable Use Policy, Established With Robust Consumer Protections, Is First of Its Kind
NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- September 19, 2006 -- AzoogleAds, the leader in performance-based online advertising, is continuing its efforts to establish the industry's highest standard for Integrity Assurance with the creation and adoption of a new Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for mobile marketing publishers. This program joins AzoogleAds' existing campaigns in anti-spam, anti-adware/spyware, consumer privacy protection and anti-fraud; together with these, it helps form a comprehensive approach to ensure the highest possible standards of integrity and consumer protection in performance-based Internet advertising. The new set of standards governs online mobile content offers, and the company believes it is the first of its kind in the performance-based online ad market.
"As the advertising industry continues to evolve, marketers exploring the effectiveness of mobile marketing are faced with a new set of consumer protection concerns presented by this potentially powerful advertising venue. In response to these challenges, the AzoogleAds team has instituted an aggressive policy to ensure the integrity and the quality of the traffic we deliver to our advertising partners," said Don Mathis, Chief Operating Officer at AzoogleAds. "Our advertisers, as well as the mobile phone service providers, expect that the traffic we deliver is legitimate, informed and consensual. We have zero tolerance for mobile marketing publishers -- or indeed, any publisher in our network -- that dupes or otherwise defrauds consumers."
The AzoogleAds Mobile AUP was developed in part based on the standards of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), coupled with existing guidelines established by Cingular Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
AzoogleAds' new policy has 21 separate mandates designed to ensure that its mobile marketing publishers operate with genuine consumer integrity, based on a Double Opt-In and Full Disclosure standard. For example, the company requires that all mobile offers prominently disclose the cost of the content; that the terms of service are fully transparent and not misleading; that opt-out procedures are clearly understood and easy to follow; that consumer privacy rights are strictly observed and protected; and that no objectionable content is associated with such offers.
"Online advertising is a powerful medium to reach consumers -- but only when the consumer trusts the messages and the messengers," said Randy Nicolau, Chief Executive Officer at AzoogleAds. "Our Integrity Assurance efforts are second to none, and provide a high degree of trust for our partners -- both advertisers and publishers. No other company in our industry can match that record."
AzoogleAds has developed extensive Integrity Assurance programs across its business, including AUPs for email marketing and downloadable software (adware), as well as comprehensive enforcement regimes for these. The company has modeled its programs in part on the work of top anti-spyware researchers as well as the practices of Spamhaus, the Internet's leading anti-spam enforcement and advocacy organization.
To review the full Acceptable Use Policy, please visit http://www.azoogleads.com/az/new/mobile_aup.php
About AzoogleAds
AzoogleAds, founded in 2000, is a profitable and rapidly growing online marketing solutions provider. A pioneer in the performance-based advertising industry, AzoogleAds generates the highest volumes of quality traffic through its network and its proprietary search technologies. With unparalleled industry expertise, the AzoogleAds team can deliver the most comprehensive and cost-effective strategic online marketing campaigns for advertisers of all sizes and across all industries. For publishers, AzoogleAds provides high-impact campaigns that enable publishers to maximize earnings on their inventory. The company is privately held and backed by private equity fund TA Associates and venture capital fund Stripes Group. For more information, please visit AzoogleAds' Web site at www.AzoogleAds.com.
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SS9173
Kokonutguy, nice find...great to see that Chas is on the agenda too.
SS9173
DD News Corp To Mobile: You Need Us
http://featured.gigaom.com/2006/09/13/news-corp-to-mobile-you-need-us/
CTIA, Los Angeles: News Corp’s COO Peter Chernin is certainly getting a lot of attention this week after emphasizing MySpace’s weight in the web 2.0 world. This morning, however, he was concentrating on Mobile as part of his keynote at the CTIA wireless convention in Los Angeles.
Chernin talked a bit about News Corp’s recent purchase of a controlling share of mobile company Jamba and how bullish the company is on mobile as an entertainment medium, but his most interesting comments dealt with the harsher realities of the mobile content business in the U.S. Finding mobile entertainment on cell phones is basically a joke right now, he said, adding some reality to the mobile lovefest going on in the convention hall.
His perspective coming from the entertainment industry: we’re selling something no one really needs so companies have to work hard and figure out a better way of making people want that content.
News Corp’s wireless push will likely be good for more than just the company’s bottom line. The mobile content ecosystem in the U.S. needs a heavy weight like News Corp to counter balance the carrier-centric system. And of course Chernin had a few ideas on how to improve it: The industry needs better and more simple business models, more attractive marketing, much easier ways to find the content on or off phones, as well as more standardization between handsets, Chernin says.
Any consumer who has tried to download ringtones or mobile games, would heartily agree. I test this stuff for a living and sometimes being able to just access and find the content is like pulling teeth. What do you think? Any mobile entertainment experiences you’d care to share?
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SS9173
DD Will Mobile Ads Work?
http://featured.gigaom.com/2006/09/18/will-mobile-ads-work/
Advertising might be the salvation of content creators on the web, but will it translate to the small screen? That was the big question on everyone’s mind at CTIA last week. The optimists (read start ups) hoped that ads could catalyze the mobile content market, by offering consumers free stuff. And we all love free.
At the show Sprint Nextel said that it would start offering a banner ad service on its deck powered by mobile startup Enpocket. And MVNO Amp’d Mobile said that it will offer ad breaks in its video channels sponsored by Procter & Gamble. While mobile ads might have been a well-worn topic at CTIA, the market for mobile content and mobile ads is pretty nascent, giving startups like Enpocket hope that they can create decent businesses off of cell phone ads.
One of those hopefuls is San Francisco-based Mobileplay, and we met with the company at CTIA. The 20-person company’s service aggregates mobile media content, like news sites and weather reports, into an ad-supported free service that can be downloaded and accessed from a variety of smart phones.
Mobileplay CEO James Ryan is a former journalist and mobile media exec at AvantGo, an early mobile ad company, and said that the company is now working on raising a Series B that it’s looking to close over the next few months. The company previously raised a $2 million Series A funding last year from Rustic Canyon Partners.
Mobileplay’s service is pretty limited for now, with only around 35 content partners and a downloadable application offered via mostly Blackberrys’ and Treos’. But the idea is a good one. Help content companies mobilize and get a revenue share from advertising while the carriers are mostly sitting on their hands.
Other mobile ad companies like Third Screen Media, and Enpocket are building businesses off of helping content companies serve up banner ads mostly within their own mobile WAP sites. Think Double Click for mobile. AdMob, is a Sequoia Capital-backed startup that is creating an adwords type model for mobile, replicating Google’s web advertising model. mFoundry is another startup that has a mobile ad platform for content companies looking to offer ad-based mobile content without a subscription. mFoundry CEO Drew Sievers says that mobile ads even have the potential to significantly boost wireless data usage.
Of course he admits he’s drinking his own kool aid, but the conversation about mobile ads has come a long way over the past few years. Several years ago companies were clamoring about SMS-based advertising, which always seemed like a really bad idea. (That’s a pure ad in a text message form, not necessarily SMS-marketing, which has some interesting applications, especially when combined with print and TV ad campaigns). But with the mobile web experience getting a little closer to PC-based Internet browsing, the mobile ad market can now take a cue from Internet ad models—less intrusive ads for free service.
No doubt there are still major differences to consider between ads on the deskstop versus the cell phone. During a panel discussion at CTIA, Verizon Wireless COO Lowell McAdam said, “More than the PC the cell phone is a personal space. If customers get an ad they don’t like, we are going to hear about it. We are moving slowly on this.”
Verizon Wireless’ claims that it’s slow on ads out of customer concern, which, strikes us as a little ridiculous. It’s likely more about having control of the revenue from the ads, than any thing else.
Slow moving carriers might be the best thing right now for the mobile ad startups, though eventually some will end up making deals with major carriers. There was a lot of rumors at the show that Verizon would start an ad service similar to Sprint’s in the coming weeks. As for the startups, there will likely be considerable consolidation, and could even end up being interesting acquisition targets by Internet ad companies looking to offer a mobile component.
The question remains though, will an ad-based subscription-free content model become popular on cell phones to the extent that it has on the Internet? Or will subscription-based mobile content always rule on cell phones?
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SS9173
DD Quickmark Operation Guide
http://www.quickmark.com.tw/English/article.html
QuickMark DIY operation guide
You can generate the mobility 2-D barcode for yourself via the "QuickMark DIY" function at QuickMark web site.
Now, Quickmark DIY had provide 2 type of coding schema. The first one is generate QuickMark code for auto dial, web link, business card (name and telephone no. or name, telephone no., email and address) and show text function. An other one is generate QR code for auto dial, web link, send short message, send email, vCard, MECARD, bookmark, show text and structure append.
All the process are all follow below process: 1) Click and choose prefer action type (eg. Auto dial), 2) input text and 3) Click "Generate" 4) Done.
For example, to generate a business card (name and telephone no.). You should entry the name you choose below the "Name" prompt. (eg.: SimpleAct Inc.) and entry the telephone no. after the "Telephone No." Prompt. ( eg.: +886287706690 ), and than single click to generate the 2-D barcode you want.
After code generated, you can choose file format and then download it to your computer. Send it to your friends and let them experience the benefit that 2-D barcode could provide.
QuickMark quick operation guide
Use camera phones to scan and decode the mobility 2-D barcode and enjoy the benefit and convenient of auto input (auto dial, send SMS...) and web link.
Scan and decode
Please also refer to operation manual of the cell-phone. Get into the main menu of cell-phone menu, find ' QuickMark ' or “Mobility barcode” icon, then push “confirm” or “Execute” key to run the QuickMark decoder.
The screen will change similar to while take photo at this moment, hold the cell-phone steady and make the len face to barcode, letting only single barcode maintain on the screen, then moves the cell-phone up-down slowly as possibly, attempt to find clearest reading the position. As long as the decoder judges the situation can be decoded, it will decode automatically. Once in a while, because white balance setting, whole screen shows all black situation when QuickMark was just opened. Wait 3~5 seconds, cell-phone will automatic adjust relevant parameter to meet the environment lighten factor then start to decode. If still not improve, walk to other better lighten position and try again.
Once QuickMark opened, unless user operate to close, otherwise, the program will read the bar code and try to decode until succeed constantly.
If always could not decode success, it should cause by following:
1. Too dark, or there is some shade or light reflect on the barcode.
2. Handle the phone tremble too seriously, too near, too far or the angle overly slopes.
3. The barcode is damaged or polluted, generate mistake or content error.
4. Barcode is too small and exceeding the analytic ability of this cell-phone lens.
Result
Once the barcode is decoded successfully, the phone screen will accord barcode content corresponding difference service, instruct how to continue the following step.
If decoded result is a telephone number and ask if dial the number, you can push “Yes” button to dial, then the phone won’t need you to operate any more, will dial to this number automatically. Or you can push “No” button to cancel the action.
If decoded result is a URL, you can use upper/down function key or refer to the text shown on phone screen to perform following step:
“Move to the website” will launch the browser and surfing to the URL directly*.
“Add to the bookmark / Add to the website” will add the URL into the bookmark of the cell-phone browser, so you are in order to open it again in the future.
If decoded result is in order to send the SMS, it will show the content on the screen of the cell-phone. You can choose “Yes or Confirm” to send out the SMS to the number stored in the barcode. Certainly, you can also push “No or Cancel” to cancel the action.
If decoded result is to send email, push “Yes or Confirm” button to send the content to the email address store in the barcode** , or push “No or Cancel” to cancelling this action.
If decoded result is a vCard / MECARD, push “Confirm” key to storing the corresponding field in the address book to the cell-phone. You can revised those content in the address book afterwards.
* GPRS, 3G relevant settings must be done before use this action.
** Both email account and GPRS, relevant settings must be done before use this action.
QuickMark important information
QuickMark could support the encode/decode mechanism stipulated in “Open Mobile Internet Alliance, OMIA”’s “Mobile Barcode Application Interpretation Standard”- QRCode, stipulated in ISO / IEC 18004:2000 standard.
The mobile device must have at least VGA (3 hundred thousand pixel) camera functions.
The mobile device must have at least 256Kbytes free memory available.
Support device models: http://www.quickmark.com.tw/English/download.html
DD Another PWC player - Quickmark
http://www.quickmark.com.tw/English/index.html
http://theponderingprimate.blogspot.com/2006/09/quickmark-physical-world-connection.html
Sunday, September 17, 2006
QuickMark A Physical World Connection Player
Add Quickmark to the physical world connection list
Create your own physical world hyperlink (2d code) with QuickMark and connect to the Internet with a camera phone.
QuickMark is an open architecture 2-D barcode application platform.
The number of companies offering free 2d code applications is growing pretty quickly.
Why would anyone pay for a 2d code when they can be created for free AND control where they want the user to go?
In the future, name card of everybody will have their own bar code, which could direct scan via the camera phones.
(This is one of reasons why PWC companies need to let consumers create their own 2d code if they want their application to get traction).
With the camera phones with QuickMark installed, just need to scan the barcode, the encode bar code will decode by the QuickMark decoder and then shown the information stored in barcode.
QuickMark is a low cost killer application in m-commerce territory. Neither special high-grade cell-phone nor pre-pay are all un-necessary.
Users can download QuickMark software from http://www.quickmark.com/tw free for support phones.
Generate your own 2d code
See how it works
I see Yahoo or Verisign introducing this same application shortly. Any domain registry service should offer a free 2d code with a ".mobi" registration. In my opinion, Google and others will eventually introduce a 2d code registration and start a "click-to-call" advertising service.
Who's platform gets adopted first or by the biggest audience?
I think any company that can either get their code scanning application on a popular "teen" phone, a company with a high volume Internet portal, or a company that introduces some "must have" tool for their phone and it uses their 2d codes.
I don't see mass adoption coming from advertising incentives.
http://www.quickmark.com.tw/English/profile.html
Company profile
SimpleAct Inc. is a genuine domestic provider major in system software design and develop, familiar in all kind of application in relevant industry. We promise to offer customer and cooperative partner real-time and elastic technological service. The birth of QuickMark opens the limitless business opportunity of telecommunication industry. In the fierce competitive telecommunication market, the QuickMark will bring the new market and chance for cell-phone field, network marketing, the content provider and m-commerce.
Now, SimpleAct Inc. is negotiating QuickMark application with many manufacturer or operator. And users can download QuickMark software from www.quickmark.com.tw free for support phones. Now, cell-phone market had get into maturity, but QuickMark will bring this market into another peak. We expect the revolution will bring the phone users into a new convenient and colorful mobility life.
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Personalizit: Could you restate your question - not sure I understand where you are coming from? All I was pointing out is that CJ said that Neom would engage an analyst by 3rd quarter with coverage by 4th quarter. I was thinking this Reuters report might be what CJ was referring to.
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DD Lenovo tests brand awareness via mobile marketing
Sunday, September 17, 2006
http://business.maktoob.com/itnew.asp?id=20060917124320
In an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile marketing in branding for client Lenovo, Ogilvy's Digital Innovation Group partnered with Third Screen Media in a 4-week test program that achieved breakthrough results among mobile users.
The campaign, which was negotiated and bought through Neo@Ogilvy, Ogilvy's digital media company, documented an unprecedented high click-through rate of 6.66% against an industry average of 3%. In addition, Ogilvy found that aided brand awareness reflected an increase of 188% as a result of exposure to mobile media. The research study was crafted and analyzed by Neo@Ogilvy, in partnership with Third Screen Media and market research firm Kinesis.
The program was created to specifically reach Lenovo's target audience through WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) banners on selected sites on USA Today, CBS Sportsline, GO2 and others. Special offers on the banners would take consumers to a WAP site where they could elect to take a survey by entering a contest for a free phone upgrade.
"Because the mobile marketing space is still uncluttered, carefully targeted ads are able to achieve unbeatable click-through rates that are comparable to the early days of internet ads," said Maria Mandel, Executive Director, Digital Innovation Group at OgilvyInteractive. "Today the average online click through rate is .20%, so our 6.66% underscores the vast potential of mobile marketing in connecting with targeted consumers."
Not only did consumers actively engage in the media, but the campaign was successful in building brand awareness for Lenovo as the maker of the ThinkPad brand. Moreover, among consumers who were exposed to the mobile media and visited the WAP destination site, ThinkPad product recall increased by 74% and 156% respectively.
"As a technology company, it only makes sense for us to use the latest technology possible to build our brand," said Michael Piluso Worldwide Media Manager at Lenovo. "Mobile Marketing clearly represents a vital and growing part of the marketing mix and one in which will continue to garner serious consideration for future campaigns."
The test program ran through the month of June with over 1 million advertising impressions and over 1,300 consumers filled out the research survey. Powered by Third Screen Media technology, the survey and its comprehensive results represent a first for mobile advertising campaigns and will be used as a benchmark as brands actively pursue advertising opportunities on the mobile platform.
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Re: Reuters report - I believe this is the start of the analyst coverage Chuck Jensen referred to in question #6 of the Annual Shareholder Meeting in June.
http://www.neom.com/docs/investor_relations/2006FAQ_Shareholder_Questions.pdf
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OT (maybe) DD: Here are a couple more links regarding the Zune phone coming from Microsoft:
http://www.zunescene.com/zunephone/
http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/21/zune-what-we-know-think-we-know-and-dont-yet-know/
We will just have to stay tuned for further announcements and see if qode will be an installed feature of the Zune phone when released.
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DD Mobile Marketing: Follow the Money
http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?1004164
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I had a more lengthy conversation this afternoon with N E O M regarding his visit to CTIA. N E O M indicated that he was having computer problems so I am going to go ahead and give a little more insight to what he observed / learned at the exhibition.
1) The fall CTIA exhibition is much smaller than the spring CTIA exhibition - maybe 1/10th the size.
2) Neomedia didn't spend a lot of money on having a big booth. In contrast, the Mobile 365 was much larger and more impressive.
3) The Neomedia booth was manned by Rick S, Joe Jensen, David Kaminer, Diane Bowser(sp?), 3 Mobot individuals, and a representative from Sponge.
4) The Neomedia booth was getting good attention.
5) Neomedia personnel were extremely guarded with any information.
6) Regarding qode, the JAVA operating system should be available in about 3 weeks, and BREW by the end of October.
The following are my comments - Not N E O M's: Obviously this wasn’t the time to make a “big splash” with qode or any of the other subs making any announcements. IMO we will see qode launch in the UK - most likely associated with a news media organization - timing to be before Thanksgiving. My belief that it will be tied to a news media organization is based on the testing of qode with AutoXperience ads in the local Ft Myers newspaper. They will demonstrate that it works there then go live big time in the UK. Again, I want to reiterate this is JMHO.
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OT Thanks Beam11...but I wish I had some DD on Neom to post instead!
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DD COMMERCIAL BREAK?
http://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/magazine/features.ehtml?o=2442
Mobile advertising
Mobile advertising encompasses everything from banners on portals, to sponsored video content, to messages sent to users. With operators desparate to monetise content, can they find a model that works for all?
In 2005 when the mobile advertising market was estimated by one research house (VisionGain) to be worth $255 million in Europe and the United States. But in these two territories the business is forecast to exceed $1 billion by 2009. VisionGain makes that number contingent on certain elements falling into place, including outstanding issues to be resolved around business models and revenue share, the type, length and frequency of ads, consumer attitudes and many others.
“Operators will have to walk a fine line between maximising the revenue potential of advertising, while at the same time not risk alienating subscribers and increasing churn by doing so,” a report from the company (Mobile advertising and marketing: Market analysis and forecasts 2006-2011) states. Perhaps the most surprising thing is that mobile advertising is still in its infancy with operators who have, after all, been keen to present themselves as content distributors for some time now.
Mark Slade is managing director of 4th Screen Advertising, an agency which works with the brand advertisers and the mobile operators. For example, 4th Screen is working with 3 to sell its sponsorship and advertising inventory (meaning all the content and space it has available to carry advertising). Earlier this year 4th Screen brokered a deal with Canon for sponsorship of all the World Cup clips sent on 3. And now Slade says he is also working on a Premiership package with operators.
Slade says, “I would like to think advertising will be core to mobile content going forward. Every other channel is keen to attract advertising. Why mobile has been any different I don't know, but that's the way it's evolved. The industry is working out what model works best and who pay for that delivery of content.”
Laurens de Beer is another who thinks that there are definite signs of increased interest in mobile marketing.
“Both brands and media-buyers are more receptive to the idea of mobile marketing then they were eighteen months ago. With companies like Adidas running high-profile, successful campaigns, the idea of mobile marketing is really starting to take hold,” he says.
As Slade points out, the chief issue for operators and the would-be advertisers is working out the business model, and which type of advertising will work best in which circumstance.
Operators face the choice of opening up content for free, and hoping to leverage increased views by then selling advertising. But to do that they have to be sure that they would receive the necessary advertising to support free content.
“It is chicken and egg at the minute, Slade says. “Usage is starting to get there in terms of mobile usage, and operators don't want to give it away free. But when you do see free content the usage is immense. Is the operator going to take the leap of faith, see the uptake and then get advertising?”
Faced with such a scary decision, one way to dip a toe in mobile advertising is to seek to use a channel which is already essentially already “free”.
One example is Orange, which is claiming a first in the UK with the launch of interactive banner advertising on its WAP portal, Orange World.
Ads from companies such as Jaguar, Peugeot, Xboa and United international Pictures went live on its site in August 2006. One indication that this is still early days for the concept is the fact that at the launch of the service, only four devices on Orange's network were able to access the adverts.
Steve Ricketts, Third Party Relationship Manager at Orange, says that the devices have been chosen for their different display and functional characteristics, as the operator seeks to build up its metrics on user response to banner advertising. It will also be technically easier to transcode the adverts to the correct formats and sizes for a limited number of devices.
Ricketts says that mobile marketing until now has tended to “enrich” other forms of advert, such as an SMS or voice shortcode. This is the first time in the UK that on-portal banner advertising has been tried out, and he thinks it stands to bring new revenue streams into the industry.
“ARPU is well known as a term, but people are also now starting to talk about ARPO – average revenue per others.”There's no doubt that mobile advertising is still a work in progress, though. Ricketts says that the operator wants to build up its knowledge of usage rates, click throughs, how and when adverts are accessed and responded too. The operator will also keep track of which types of user, bearer and devices are most and least active.
Technically, there is an overhead for operators too. Orange is transcoding, reformatting and supplying on the fly all the materials itself, rather than working with a technology partner, although Ricketts adds the operator is working with Screentonic, a French company which has worked with Orange France. The Orange Broadband team (Wanadoo) is also involved in online sales.
But banner advertising is not a favourite with Slade.
“Operators are reticent to get mobile content companies advertising on their deck, and the big brands are really not hugely interested in running banner campaigns in mobile. They want visibility and interaction through 3G and video services — more so than banners leading through to little WAP sites.”
It seems that brand advertisers might be more comfortable with the TV model, and, crucially, so might consumers.
Pitch's CEO Lourens de Beer says,
“We already understand that to watch a programme on a commercial channel we must also watch three to six minutes of adverts every half hour. On the internet, we accept that if we use certain search engines, a list of advertising partners will come up alongside any search we make. The real question is how to present advertising-funded content in such a way that we are equally prepared to accept it on our mobile handsets.”
Ricketts points out that in terms of content, it is important ads are made for mobile.
“These phones are smaller, screens are different, WAP usage differs from PC web browsing, all of these things mean we have to make sure mobile ads work effectively.”
De Beer concurs, and adds that users must not be overloaded with adverts.
“To bring advertising-funded content to life for the mobile market we need to ensure that the content is constantly updated, providing the latest and best products on a par with traditional paid-for content. At the same time we must ensure that advertising messages sent are relevant, interesting to their audiences and, perhaps most importantly, not overbearing in quantity. At Pitch we place a strict limit on the number of advertising messages our members receive. No customer receives more than three messages a week, which our research has shown us is the level that most people are comfortable with.”
“At the same time we believe that targeting is crucial. All ads sent over the Pitch network are carefully matched to the hobbies and interests and the customer has identified at the registration
stage.”
This issue of personalisation is just as important to Slade.
“Theoretically you could run a one to one advertising campaign, referencing the CRM database profile. That's some way off! But we can deliver impressions and uniques, forecasts for channel traffic, those kind of things, to work out a profile of the type of people using the service. There's already a fairly niche demographic using mobile content and that's quite valuabe.
“It's also about creating specific campaigns for mobile, targeting people's different mindsets at different times of day and what people are using their phones for. There are campaigns designed for people in a certain mindset when they are coming back from work, for example.”
De Beer adds, “The real power of the advertising model is in its ability to target specific individuals with relevant offers. Our approach is to find out the customer's interests and hobbies at the registration stage so that they are only sent advertising messages that are not only relevant but also of genuine interest to them.
Finally, the growth of mobile advertising is likely to lead to a new value chain, between the brands and the operators. Pitch uses specialist sales partners to work with major Media sales houses, as they consider they have the right skills to deal with large agencies.
“But equally we find that we need to educate potential customers as they do not understand mobile advertising well enough to trust their Media Agencies to buy correctly,” de Beer says. “We believe the value chain will become more sophisticated with specialist brokers once the industry matures further.”
How mobile local search might boost advertising income
By Andy Walker, CEO, m-spatial
There’s no doubting the revenue potential from ‘internet style’ mobile search, but the industry is focusing increasing attention on mobile local search (MLS). Already deployed by a number of operators, MLS delivers a powerful consumer and mobile industry search proposition through its ability to create a highly intuitive and personalised user experience - while stimulating usage of on and off-portal content services.
MLS is typically used to satisfy an immediate need based on a users location – finding a nearby bar offering live music, for example. The good services also draw on multiple third party content sources to deliver additional in-depth information to the user. In this example - turn-by-turn directions, venue ‘what’s on’ details, and even the ability to reserve tickets.
Differing fundamentally in concept and execution from its internet local search cousin, which enables users to satisfy ‘research based queries’ to plan future transactions, MLS personalises the user experience to highlight immediately relevant results based on customer preferences, location and time of day. The proximity of the user to local businesses, and immediate intention to purchase, promises to generate income for local merchants and advertising revenues for service providers.
Mobile local search also differs from internet search in the need for an alternative user interface to replace the typical desktop ‘trial and error’ search experience of ‘type, browse and choose’. In the MLS world, this has led to the development of assisted browsing and map-view ‘discovery based’ interfaces - significantly reducing click count. Orange’s ‘Orange Finder’ service is an excellent example of this.
The beauty of Orange’s MLS service is its ability to provide users with a single service that is underpinned by multiple on and off-portal content sources. This not only delivers more detailed local information for users, but raises awareness and encourages usage of all on-portal sites, whatever their position in the portal menu hierarchy.
Through services like Orange Finder, mobile local search is already showing the potential for success – whether delivered on a white label basis or integrated with mobile local search services from major branded search engines.
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DD The Orchard Selects Air2Web in Historic Mobile Content and Marketing Agreement; Deal Enables The Orchard to Offer Label Clients Powerful Creative Marketing Options Using SMS Technology
CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2006
Booth 1125
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060913005....
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2006--Air2Web, the leading provider of mobile messaging and marketing applications, today announced an outsourcing agreement with The Orchard, the world's leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music. The agreement provides The Orchard with digital music delivery to mobile devices globally, creating the farthest-reaching service of its kind.
With a catalogue of more than one million tracks spanning 73 countries and every genre of music, The Orchard is the world's leading supplier of digital music to online music retailers and mobile operators. Partnering with Air2Web will provide The Orchard with the opportunity to further expand its services in the mobile marketplace, where, according to the leading analyst firm M:Metrics, 3 million people in the United States download music over their cell phones at least once a month.
"This agreement gives our labels and artists the ability to connect directly with their fans via SMS technology, so cell phone users across different geographies and carriers can access the same content in a way that's quick and easy to purchase," said Greg Scholl, chief executive of The Orchard. "This opens up a new world of possibilities for The Orchard's clients, who will now have the ability to insert SMS codes into virtually any physical or virtual product they sell, including CDs and downloads, but also in merchandise like T-shirts, and in their print, radio, and TV ads. The creative marketing possibilities are endless, and we're confident that we will work with our label clients to use these tools and drive sales."
Air2Web's connectivity spans over 500 carriers in 170 countries. This global footprint makes it easy for companies like The Orchard to connect with mobile subscribers the world over.
This new mobile service will launch this November, initially offering ringtones from the Orchard's library, which includes content from Masta Killa, MF Doom, Tone Loc, Brand New Heavies, Black Sheep, Ministry, Jerky Boys, Lewis Black, Roger Sanchez, and other Orchard-distributed artists. Users will be able to request the ringtones by texting specific shortcodes. They will then receive a confirmation message via SMS that they must acknowledge before receiving the ringtone. This double opt-in system will ensure compliance with carrier and Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) standards.
"Air2Web is very pleased to have been chosen by The Orchard to provide such a vast offering to a growing consumer need," said Len Emmick, Senior Vice President of Sales at Air2Web. "In some respects, this deal is historic in terms of geographic reach and comprehensive scope. It says a lot about the immense business value of our organization and confidence of our client, The Orchard."
While 200 ringtones will be available initially under this agreement, The Orchard plans to expand its offerings through Air2Web to include its full catalogue of music tracks, ringtones, and mastertones. In addition, the Orchard plans to widen the geographic scope of the deal, beginning with the U.S. and eventually including the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Sweden, Mexico, and China. The Orchard's delivery of ringtone content to Air2Web is enabled by Faspay Technologies, a global provider of mobile content management systems.
About Air2Web
Air2Web is an industry leading solution provider for wireless applications and data services including--advanced SMS and MMS messaging, alerts, mobile marketing, and campaign management for the enterprise and carrier markets. Headquartered in the United States with locations in India serving the Asia Pacific market and locations in France and England serving the European markets, Air2Web extends the reach of businesses for applications, data and advanced messaging to individuals utilizing mobile phones and smart devices. Clients include American Express, CDC, UPS, Cingular, CitiBank, CSX Intermodal, and the Weather Channel. More information on Air2Web can be found at www.air2web.com.
About The Orchard
The Orchard is the world's leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music, with a catalogue of more than one million tracks representing 73 countries, thousands of labels, and every music genre. This catalogue includes titles from multi-platinum acts such as Green Day, Coldplay, Ray Charles, and Barenaked Ladies, as well as from breaking bands like The Hold Steady, Bedouin Soundclash, and Immortal Technique. The Orchard supplies all the leading legal digital music stores and mobile operators throughout the world and markets its labels' catalogues for sync song placements in films, commercials, and television shows. The company is owned by Dimensional Associates, the private equity arm of JDS Capital Management, Inc. whose portfolio companies also include eMusic and Dimensional Music Publishing. The Orchard is headquartered in New York and London, with offices in 23 countries and six continents. For more information, please visit: www.theorchard.com.
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DD Yankee Group Analysts Judge Innovation in Mobile Marketing and Interactive Technology; Analysts' Expertise and Knowledge Play Key Judging Role at Mobile Marketing Association and MITX Awards
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060913005...
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2006--Yankee Group today announced that the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) and the Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX) have each named a Yankee Group analyst to participate in their annual technology industry awards. Linda Barrabee, Yankee Group Wireless/Mobile program manager, has been named as one of the judges for the 2006 annual MMA awards and Jennifer Simpson, Yankee Group Consumer Technologies & Services analyst, will be one of the judges for the 11th Annual MITX awards.
The Annual MMA Awards, which will take place on November 28th at the MMA's Annual General Meeting and Awards Dinner in Los Angeles, recognizes innovation and advancement in mobile marketing. The 11th Annual MITX Awards is the nation's largest awards competition for interactive innovations, and it is scheduled for November 8th at the Boston Copley Place Marriott. Recognized for their leadership in the mobile market and consumer technologies industries, Ms. Barrabee and Ms. Simpson will be among a group of other industry luminaries to honor innovation in mobile marketing and interactive technology, respectively.
"The MMA is pleased that Linda Barrabee is a part of the team that will honor the outstanding developments in mobile marketing by becoming a judge for this year's awards," said Laura Marriott, executive director, Mobile Marketing Association and Vice President. "Linda's insight is appreciated and we look forward to a fantastic lineup of award winners in November."
"We are excited to have Jennifer Simpson represent Yankee Group as a judge for our annual MITX Awards," said Kiki Mills, MITX Executive Director. "Both Yankee Group and Jennifer are strong leadership voices in the industry, and their commitment to research and advancement in technology innovation is greatly aligned with MITX's mission."
Samples some of Ms. Barrabee's and Ms. Simpson's recent research include:
-- Will Mobile Advertising Maximize the Potential of the Mobile Content Market, L. Barrabee
-- Web Voice Services Challenge the Incumbents in Telecommunications, J. Simpson
For more information on these reports or other Yankee Group research, visit www.yankeegroup.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS
For interviews contact:
-- Linda Barrabee, Yankee Group program manager, 617-880-0239, lbarrabee@yankeegroup.com
-- Jennifer Simpson, Yankee Group analyst, 617-880-0310, jsimpson@yankeegroup.com
-- Christina Oh, Yankee Group public relations, 617-880-0238, coh@yankeegroup.com
YANKEE GROUP (www.yankeegroup.com)
Yankee Group is the expert in navigating the global connectivity revolution. For more than 35 years, Yankee Group's strategic vision, research and analysis, quantified market intelligence and credible advice have been guiding innovation and empowering our clients to make critical business decisions. Yankee Group is headquartered in Boston with presence throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
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DD Sprint Goes for Mobile Marketing, Launches New Devices
By Tara Seals
Posted on: 09/12/2006
http://www.xchangemag.com/tdhotnews/69h12193939.html
Sprint Nextel Corp. announced it would delve into mobile marketing today at CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment, and launched three new devices.
The carrier announced it will begin selling advertising on its WAP deck—the first mobile carrier to do so. Mobile Web site owners have offered ads on their sites for some time, but carriers have largely stayed out of the business on their own home pages and navigational areas. The first ads on the Sprint network will emerge in October.
To enable the strategy, Sprint will use a platform from Enpocket. The Enpocket Marketing Engine 6.0, released at CTIA, lets carriers take the subscriber data they have and use it to feed relevant, tailored messages back to the end users. Depending on surfing history, preferences, profile, service portfolio and other information, users will be shown ads matching their tastes.
In a separate set of announcements, Sprint unveiled two new CDMA2000 EV-DO Revision A network cards for the PC and a Windows Mobile Pocket PC handset from Samsung Corp. The PC cards, from Sierra Wireless and Pantech, will function on the existing network until Rev. A is deployed, likely later this year. The handset features Bluetooth, GPRS and GSM support.
Sprint already has one Rev. A card on the market, the Novatel S720.
Sprint Nextel Corp. www.sprint.com
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DD Are you ready for cell phone ads?
Bob Keefe
Cox News Service
Sept. 12, 2006 01:00 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0912cell-ads12-ON.html
LOS ANGELES - Get ready for exciting new services on your cell phone - but first, a word from our sponsor.
Sprint Nextel is expected to announce at an industry conference here this week that it is teaming up with new media advertising house Enpocket to deliver short commercials and other ads on Sprint phones.
Users probably won't be subjected to the ads, which might appear as anything from a tiny banner to a full-screen video clip, when they just make voice calls or send instant messages.
But download a ring tone, and it might come with an ad for a forthcoming TV show. Use a Sprint city guide or map service, and you might also get an ad for a local hotel or restaurant.
As cell phones increasingly add sophisticated features like Web browsing and online gaming, the ads will grow more common, experts say. And they also expect Sprint's competitors to adopt the practice.
While ads on cell phones aren't unknown today, they're typically connected to outside third-party Web sites and not controlled by cell companies themselves.
Go to weather.com with an Internet-ready phone, for instance, and you might see an Exxon Mobil link that you can click to get help finding their nearest gas station. Only visitors to that Web site see the ad, though, and weather.com controls it and profits from it, not the cell phone company.
The Sprint deal could change all that. The new ads could reach every user who accesses Sprint's Web services.
Julie Ask, senior analyst at high-tech research firm JupiterResearch/Kagan, said it the move would be the first for a cell company in the United States. But if Sprint is successful, she said, other cell companies will likely follow.
"It's significant," she said. "There's a lot of pent-up demand" for this sort of advertising.
For Sprint and other cell companies, advertising is a fine line. The profit potential may be huge, but they also have to be careful not to alienate customers who think they shouldn't be subjected to ads on a service for which they pay a monthly fee.
"Ultimately when something lands on your handset, you hold your carrier responsible," said Jay Emmet, president of mBlox, a mobile business consulting firm. TV viewers probably wouldn't call their TV manufacturer or even their cable provider to complain about an intrusive ad, Emmet said. But they might call Sprint or Cingular or Verizon.
Sprint officials have yet to disclose details about the new planned ad service. But in a speech to industry executives here, Paul Reddick, vice president of business development for Sprint, acknowledged the concern.
"We're trying to make sure this is done tastefully and a way that works for entire ecosystem," Reddick said. "There is space for this."
Mobile advertising is in its infancy, but poised for dramatic growth, according to many industry researchers.
Consulting firm Informa Telecoms & Media projects that spending on mobile advertising will reach $1.5 billion next year, double what the firm is predicting for this year.
Within five years, the company estimates, mobile ad sales will hit $11.5 billion - still small compared to spending on television, print media and the Internet ads, but a formidable market nonetheless.
Just a few years ago, mobile advertising was little more than a controversial idea for cell phone companies. But at this week's CTIA cell phone industry conference, ads are among the hottest topics.
Heidi Lehmann, vice president for mobile advertising agency Third Screen Media, said it's clear that mobile ads are coming of age.
Two years ago, Lehmann said, her firm sold six-week mobile advertising spots for about $25,000. Today, she said, the average price for the same amount of time is $200,000. Some mobile advertising campaigns have cost more than $1 million.
"When we started, there really wasn't much awareness" about mobile advertising, Lehmann said. Today, she said, it has become a common part of the advertising plans and budgets of many major brands. Coca-Cola, Ford, Starbucks and other big companies all have used mobile advertising, she and others said.
Right now, the biggest target for mobile advertisers are business travelers who often are tethered to their cell phones.
But in the future, Lehmann and others said, ads will likely increasingly target 18- to 24-year-olds, who in many cases rely on their cell phones even more.
What do you think?
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Your comments
Ad's on cell phones? What will they think of next? If they reduce the phone bill and improve the service? Maybe. I didn't particularly care for the service I recieved when I was a Sprint customer... Remember we always have choices (Maryann9269, September 13, 2006 02:56PM)
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I would have to go without a cell phone. If everyone could get on the same page they would get the message. AOL, Earthlink, etc. have pop-up eliminatores because of the public outcry. To bad the television networks haven't got the message. When it comes down to it, cell phone providers don't give a rip about the consumer, and it doesn't help to complain because whoever you talk to is as far as it goes. If it's an e-mail complaint, it goes to e-mail hell. (Bill1038, September 13, 2006 11:49AM)
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I'm glad I cancelled my nextel service after all.... I'd be pissed if I got ad's for anything.... But carl is right... the cost of the service isn't going to go down... they are just going to make even more money than they already do... which I think is to much. (Michael2103, September 13, 2006 10:27AM)
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So if Sprint is going to profit from selling advertising does this mean Sprint customers will see a drop in their monthly charges?
I doubt it. (Carl7798, September 13, 2006 09:42AM)
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How in the world is this, or should it be, or even COULD this be "against the law"? Paying for a service IN NO WAY entitles you to "no ads". Cable TV and satellite? You're paying for all of those channels, but you're still watching commercials on most of them.
Please, feel free to vote with your dollars and move to a service not putting ads on its phones. But to suggest that this is, or should in any way be illegal, is just ludicrous. (Kirk4571, September 13, 2006 07:30AM)
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I think it should be against the law, as it is NOT a free service......like public tv.... you have to pay for it and shouldn't have to tolerate that invasion of your time and space.... if I were a Sprint customer they would be dropped like a hot rock....and if my carrier does it,,,, they will be.... that is the only way to send them a message and I hope the purchasing public has the guts to do it.....and not cave... (jkristen (Judith), September 12, 2006 11:30PM)
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Just what the world needs...more ads. How long is it going to be before we have to endure pop-up ads on our cell phones before we can make a call? I don't know about everyone else, but I so unbelievably *sick* of being bombarded with advertising everywhere I go. I understand ads pay for things, but this is just getting ridiculous. Hey, here's a thought, how about city stop lights play commercials for Nike while we sit at red lights? Perhaps we can start printing Sprint ads on toilet paper...? Just think of the untapped markets! (Stacey995, September 12, 2006 04:01PM)
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SS9173
DD MangoMOBILE(TM) Introduces Complete Mobile Marketing Solution for Leading Brands
Tuesday September 12, 12:00 pm ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060912/datu041.html?.v=64
MangoMOBILE Technology Powers Cingular Wireless' Onsite Mobile Programs at 2006 Vans Warped Tour
DALLAS, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- MangoMOBILE(TM), a newly launched provider of mobile marketing, mobile content and mobile CRM solutions, today unveiled its suite of proprietary platforms that allows brands to connect one- on-one with consumers via mobile communications. Through its comprehensive offerings -- MangoENGINE, MangoLIVE and MangoCRM -- MangoMOBILE helps marketers, agencies, wireless carriers and content providers develop mobile marketing strategies, execute in-market campaigns and track results against key marketing objectives.
The company also will leverage its established relationships in music, sports and entertainment to develop mobile marketing programs that appeal to targeted consumers. MangoMOBILE announced it is currently working with Cingular Wireless, the official wireless sponsor of the 2006 Vans Warped Tour, to execute several of Cingular's mobile marketing programs throughout the touring music festival.
MangoMOBILE Technology Suite
MangoMOBILE features one of the broadest and most robust mobile technology platforms in the industry, including:
* MangoENGINE - This proprietary mobile content management system is
used for provisioning and distributing exclusive and catalog-driven
content. The system can easily customize and execute programs based
on specific customer requests, from categorizing campaign content to
creating and managing unique branded mobile storefront Web sites, as
well as designating consumer price points and providing multiple
payment options.
* MangoLIVE - This event and campaign management system has two key
features that facilitate instant interaction between consumers and
mobile campaigns. SmartMESSAGING is an in-venue platform that
manages, monitors and delivers mobile messaging, allowing consumers to
take advantage of Text2Screen, Pics2Screen and Text2TV options at
concerts or events. Adding a layer of interactivity, SmartRESPONSE
then delivers relevant mobile content to fans for purchase while
they're still in-venue.
* MangoCRM - The targeted mobile subscriber database provides a cost-
effective mobile CRM platform, which gives an accurate assessment of
consumers' interactions with campaigns. This platform allows
customers to monitor mobile campaign activities in real-time, giving
them the flexibility to adjust programs to maximize consumer
interaction, benefits and results.
"Mobile marketing is one of the most exciting and effective ways of connecting brands with their target markets, and MangoMOBILE delivers the most strategic and feature-rich mobile platforms in the industry," said T.J. Person, president of MangoMOBILE. "Our suite of mobile marketing solutions, combined with our experience and relationships in the wireless and entertainment industries, allows us to deliver effective programs and results currently available in the marketplace."
Existing Industry Relationships
MangoMOBILE has relationships with the wireless industry's heavyweights, including Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and the Canadian carriers in North America, in addition to relationships worldwide. MangoMOBILE supports more than 500 handsets, including those from LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sanyo, Siemens, Sony Ericsson and others.
The company will soon launch several unique direct-to-consumer Web sites with access to thousands of ring tones, wallpapers and screensavers, as well as mobile fan clubs, offering selections of packaged content delivered directly to consumers' phones.
MangoMOBILE and Cingular Wireless at Vans Warped Tour
MangoMOBILE worked in partnership with Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., Cingular's Youth Marketing Agency of Record, directly with Cingular Wireless and Warped Tour's founder, Kevin Lyman, to develop an interactive mobile marketing strategy for the music tour, including several short-code driven messaging programs that give fans an unprecedented Warped experience. The campaign includes delivery of a daily band schedule, Warped Tour mobile photo blogging and "meet the band" instant win promotions.
"Cingular tapped MangoMOBILE to execute a very compelling mix of mobile programs for the 2006 Tour that has created an interest and investment for Cingular Wireless and its fans," said Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman. "Specialized programs such as the band schedule updates and instant win promotions engage the fan, as well as the sponsor, because it creates an interactive environment onsite at the shows."
About MangoMOBILE
MangoMOBILE(TM) has assembled one of the most technologically advanced mobile marketing platforms in the industry to help brand marketers, agencies, wireless carriers and content providers engage consumers one-on-one via mobile marketing campaigns. The company leverages long-term relationships in music, sports and entertainment to develop campaigns for its customers that include mobile messaging, mobile content provisioning and delivery, and mobile CRM. Headquartered in Plano, TX, MangoMOBILE has relationships with the wireless industry's heavyweights, including Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and the Canadian carriers in North America, in addition to relationships worldwide. MangoMOBILE supports more than 500 handsets, including those from LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sanyo, Siemens, Sony Ericsson and others. For more information, visit http://www.mangomobile.com .
MangoENGINE, MangoLIVE and MangoCRM are either registered trademarks or trademarks of MangoMOBILE in the United States and/or other countries. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and/or company names are the property of their respective owners.
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DD News Corp, in search of a strategy on the mobile side of things after pioneering some early efforts in mobile content, has bought a majority (51 percent) of Verisign-owned mobile content firm Jamba/Jamster, for about $187.5 million. The site Jamba will be merged with News Corp's own lukewarm mobile content site/service Mobizzo. JAmba brand name is used in Germany and other European countries...Jamster is used in UK and U.S..
According to the WSJ, the merged company will keep the better-known Jamba name; Fox Mobile Entertainment president Lucy Hood will be CEO. VeriSign, which acquired Berlin-based Jamba in 2004 for $266 million, will keep 49 percent. The acquisition never really fit with VeriSign but should fit right in with Fox's ambitious mobile sales plans.
This is not the Fox Interactive Media side; this is the FEM side which doesn't really work with FIM (political issues internally)...Fox Interactive has a separate mobile division, headed by John Smelzer.
Jamba's mandate: as explained in the WSJ story, it will be to primarily increase Fox mobile presence in Europe and other places, where Jamba has traditionally been strong. Among its first offerings will be ringtones, wallpaper and short clips from "The Simpsons," available for a yet-to-be determined monthly subscription fee next year. In addition, Jamba will sell content through MySpace.com, which means that it will come out of the FIM pie.
Jamba division generated about $500 million last year, but this year has been brutal, and will fall to about $300 million, according to Verisign expectations, due to European troubles as we have detailed here before.
Source: moconews.net email received today.
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Is anyone paying attention to details when these PR's and filings are submitted? Apparently not!!! Someone needs to be held accountable!
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DD ENPOCKET RELEASES MOBILE CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
http://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/news_wire/news_wire_story.ehtml?o=2432
Enpocket today announced the availability of the Enpocket Marketing Engine (EME) 6.0, the latest version of its mobile campaign management system. With this release, Enpocket enables mobile operators to target their marketing messages and manage their advertising inventory using demographic, transactional, behavioral, location and other advanced data parameters.
“Mobile advertising is a potentially significant source of additional revenue for operators,” said Enpocket CEO Mike Baker. “With this release of our platform, we are enabling operators to leverage their data assets to provide a more compelling mobile advertising proposition to publishers and brand marketers.”
The EME is a mobile marketing and advertising platform that manages, reports and optimizes all types of consumer-brand communications on the mobile handset. EME 6.0 integrates in one platform all of the key requirements for mobile carriers to offer advertisers high ROI mobile advertising programs: consumer profiling and targeting, rule-based campaign logic, integrated browsing/messaging mechanics, rich media and end-to-end reporting and analytics.
"The appeal of advertising on the Internet has been about reach, measurement and targeting," said Linda Barrabee, Program Manager, Yankee Group. "Combined with the rich subscriber data held by carriers, the mobile device takes it a step further by not only allowing advertisers to effectively measure their campaigns, but also create more targeted campaigns than they ever could on the Web."
Key 6.0 enhancements include:
State-of-the-art targeting capabilities that for the first time allow advertisers to select designer mobile audiences using behavioral profiles, demographics, location, browsing and purchase behavior, and time of day
High performance ad serving integrated with text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messaging for automated, push-pull campaigns
Advanced inventory forecasting, management and tracking for real-time campaign trafficking and performance optimization
Integrated “beyond the click” campaign mechanics that enable consumers to click-to-call, click-for-coupon, click-to-locate, and click-to-Web
Sophisticated reporting and analytics functionality enabling advertisers and media buyers to analyze and optimize campaign performance
Enpocket has been powering mobile advertising for leading carriers and publishers around the world since 2003 and serves hundreds of millions of impressions per month.
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Re: Changewave - That's exactly how I have handled it here on this board...posting a general summary without copying and pasting the text.
Aside from it being illegal to copy and paste the material, it is also not fair to subscribers who spend the money to get the newsletter updates.
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DD Sybase to Buy Mobile 365 for $425M
Sep 06, 2006
http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=24573
Sybase is adding to its mobile portfolio, grabbing messaging service provider Mobile 365 for about US$425 million in cash.
Sybase sells applications to enterprises to help their employees work in the field. With this acquisition, it will be able to offer managed services that are hosted on Mobile 365’s global network, said Marty Beard, senior vice president of corporate development and marketing at Sybase. The deal will also put Sybase in the business of carrying mobile messages among wireless carriers and handling billing for those messages, which Mobile 365 does now, he said. Beard sees growing opportunities in both areas.
Sybase can now go to companies such as Yahoo or Nike and offer to sell them a hosted enterprise application or to carry out a mobile marketing campaign to consumers’ cell phones over the Mobile 365 network, he said.
The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Mobile 365 will become Sybase Mobile 365, a wholly owned subsidiary led by Beard as its president. Sybase expects the acquisition to add to its profits within 12 months after the deal closes.
The company’s approximately 330 employees, mostly working in London and Singapore as well as its Chantilly, Virginia, headquarters, will stay on where they are, he said. The actual purchase price may change depending on Mobile 365’s working capital as of the closing date.
Mobile 365 is privately held and had revenue of about $90 million in its fiscal year ended March 31. The company has its own network for carrying messages using SMS (Short Message Service), WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and instant messaging. That network links in to major operators such as Verizon Wireless, Vodafone Group, Cingular Wireless and China Mobile Communications.
-Stephen Lawson, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)
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Sean, I sent an email to Corporate this morning suggesting exactly that wording: NewsCorp selects NeoMedia's One Click to Content(TM) qode(R) solution to link print ads to the Mobile Web. In light of yesterday's Enpocket news (I posted this morning), the timing would be perfect.
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DD Here is the official Enpocket Press Release
The Sun signs exclusive mobile advertising agreement with Enpocket
http://www.enpocket.com/news/press-releases/the-sun-signs-exclusive-mobile-advertising-agreement-wit...
05 Sep, 2006
The Sun newspaper today announced that it will offer mobile display advertising on it’s off-portal WAP site, Sun Mobile, in an exclusive deal with Enpocket, the global leader in Intelligent Mobile MarketingTM.
Sun Mobile receives hundreds of thousands of visits by consumers each month and provides an ideal channel where brands can place clickable mobile display ads (“mobile banners”) and text links alongside its existing rich mobile content. Sun Mobile joins other off-portal media owners and mobile operators that have chosen Enpocket to manage their mobile advertising initiatives, including ad technology, trafficking and sales.
Enpocket’s Intelligent Mobile MarketingTM solutions are used by leading brands, media companies and operators to deliver integrated mobile marketing targeted to meet consumers’ personal interests.
“Now that we are seeing very healthy traffic going into Sun Mobile we are looking at monetising the site through supporting advertising,” said Simon Ashley, commercial manager, News Group Digital. “Enpocket brings unrivalled experience in delivering consumer-friendly mobile marketing, and is now enabling us to lead the way with the exciting opportunities in mobile advertising.”
Mobile advertisements will appear as text links and graphical banners that users can click on. Calls to action include:
- Click to call
- Click to download content (video, music, games etc.)
- Click to receive a simple text message (SMS) or a multimedia message (MMS)
Enpocket is the only provider to offer integrated messaging and ad serving through one platform, enabling truly integrated marketing to specific user profiles.
“With analysts predicting revenues of $10 billion by 2010, mobile advertising is poised to become a major part of the interactive advertising landscape,” said David Barker, Managing Director Europe, Enpocket. “Mobile marketing is entering a phase where interactions beyond simple text messaging will become the norm. We’re now seeing demand from our brand clients to extend the reach of their media plans into mobile through targeted mobile ads.”
The Sun will serve mobile advertising using the Enpocket Marketing Engine, the world’s most widely used mobile marketing software. The Engine’s carrier grade capabilities are used by operators including Sprint, Airtel and Softbank Mobile (formerly Vodafone Japan) to deliver targeted mobile advertising.
About News International
News International Limited is the main UK subsidiary of the global media company News Corporation. Times Newspapers Ltd (TNL) publishes The Times and The Sunday Times and News Group Newspapers Limited (NGN) publishes The Sun and News of the World. TNL and NGN are part of the News International group.
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DD Enpocket Handed Sun Brief
http://www.mobilemarketingmagazine.co.uk/front_page/index.html
The Sun newspaper has agreed a deal with mobile agency Enpocket for the provision of mobile display advertising on its off-portal WAP site, Sun Mobile, which receives hundreds of thousands of visits each month. Sun Mobile joins other off-portal media owners and mobile operators that have chosen Enpocket to manage their mobile advertising initiatives, including ad technology, trafficking and sales.
The mobile ads will appear as text links and graphical banners that users can click on. Calls to action will include: Click to call; Click to download content (video, music, games etc.); and Click to receive an SMS or MMS.
The Sun will serve mobile advertising using the Enpocket Marketing Engine, which Enpocket says is the world’s most widely-used mobile marketing software. The Engine is used by operators including Spring, Airtel and Softbank Mobile (formerly Vodafone Japan) to deliver targeted mobile advertising.
“Now that we are seeing very healthy traffic going into Sun Mobile, we are looking at monetising the site through supporting advertising,” says News Group Digital Commercial manager, Simon Ashley. “Enpocket brings unrivalled experience in delivering consumer-friendly mobile marketing, and is now enabling us to lead the way with the exciting opportunities in mobile advertising.”
For Enpocket, Managing Director Europe, David Barker, adds:
“With analysts predicting revenues of $10 billion by 2010, mobile advertising is poised to become a major part of the interactive advertising landscape. Mobile marketing is entering a phase where interactions beyond simple text messaging will become the norm. We’re now seeing demand from our brand clients to extend the reach of their media plans into mobile through targeted mobile ads.”
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OT Ninja, yes I received an email from Sherry with the news releases. Check your spam filter if you have one?
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DD Action Engine Shares Mobile Advertising, Usability Expertise at CTIA; Company Execs Speak on the Rise of Mobile Marketing, the Future of the Smartphone, and Consumer Application Development
CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2006
Booth 504
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060905005...
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2006--Shattering the mobile usability barrier, Action Engine(R) Corporation, the mobile application platform leader, today announced that company executives Jim Souders, senior vice president of worldwide field operations, and Steve Roberts, chief product officer, will be speaking on mobile advertising and usability at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2006 being held from September 12th to 14th at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles. Action Engine will be in booth 504.
Souders will speak on "The Rise of Mobile Marketing" panel being held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on Monday, September 11th, in the Sierra Ballroom of the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles. Part of the Mobile Entertainment Summit, "The Rise of Mobile Marketing" recognizes mobile marketing and advertising are still in their infancy in the U.S., but their power to sway millions of people is abundantly clear from successful campaigns such as Cingular's groundbreaking SMS voting on "American Idol." The session will address the future of mobile marketing and promotional tools such as short codes, the mobile Internet, and multimedia.
Souders will also present "The Future of the Smartphone" in the Smartphone Summit, which will be held on Monday, September 11th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 409. The Smartphone Summit is dedicated to bringing attendees the top Smartphone-based enterprise solutions from all Smartphone OS platforms including Symbian, PalmSource, Microsoft, RIM, and Linux.
Roberts will speak on "Consumer Application Development" in the Wireless Data University, which will be held on Monday, September 11th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 403. The Wireless Data University, hosted by Andrew Seybold's Outlook 4Mobility, prepares attendees to take full advantage of industry opportunities and turns them into wireless data experts.
About Action Engine
Winner of the IDC Top 10, the Fierce 15, and the Mobile Star Awards, Action Engine(R) Corporation, the mobile application platform leader, delivers a breakthrough in mobile application usability. The Action Engine Mobile Application Platform(TM) introduces a browserless, client/server approach to searching for and discovering mobile content that takes 80% fewer keystrokes and trips to the network, and drives 20x faster response times than competitive alternatives. The company's award-winning mobile search, mobile advertising, and location-based service solutions enable content providers and wireless operators to quickly deliver a superior mobile user experience. Action Engine's software has been deployed by a robust list of global companies that include Sprint, Verizon Wireless, SingTel, Optus, MSNBC.com, TiVo, and SmartVideo. Additional information is available at 425-498-1500 (Americas/AsiaPac), +44-0-1628-509088 (UK/EMEA), info@actionengine.com and www.actionengine.com.
Action Engine is a registered trademark, and Action Engine Mobile Application Platform and Brand-n-Go are trademarks of Action Engine Corporation. All other names, brands, or products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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DD Cellfire Joins the Mobile Marketing Association
Tuesday September 5, 8:00 am ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060905/sftu052.html?.v=71
SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellfire Inc. announced today that it has joined the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA). Cellfire will work with the MMA to drive widespread acceptance of next generation mobile applications designed to increase consumer choice and usability.
"The MMA's leadership and commitment to mobile marketing has been fantastic," said Brent Dusing, CEO of Cellfire. "Today, mobile coupons are emerging as the hottest new way for retailers to reach consumers and raise brand awareness. We're looking forward to working with the MMA and its members to ensure our customers stay ahead of the curve in mobile marketing."
The MMA is an action-oriented association designed to clear obstacles to market development, to establish best practices for sustainable growth, and to evangelize the mobile channel for use by brands and third party content providers. Its members range from handheld device manufacturers to wireless carriers to any company focused on the potential of marketing via the mobile channel. Cellfire is one of 28 new members in the past month alone.
"Cellfire's focus on opt-in marketing solutions further enhances the consumer experience through choice and usability of mobile applications," said Laura Marriott, executive director of the MMA. "We welcome Cellfire to the MMA and look forward to the company's active participation in the association to further drive the adoption of the mobile channel in fresh and innovative new ways."
Cellfire(TM) is a free downloadable application that provides valuable coupons from a host of local and national retailers within the user's geographic region. It is the only mobile coupon service available today that provides money-saving deals for some of the most popular national venues.
About Cellfire
Silicon Valley-based Cellfire is pioneering opt-in marketing solutions tailored for consumers' mobile phones. The flagship service Cellfire is the first-ever application that consumers can download to their cell phones and begin receiving coupons to use at their favorite stores, restaurants and entertainment venues. Major brands such as Hollywood Video, Bath & Body Works, T.G.I. Friday's and 1-800-flowers.com are among the many retailers where consumers can get discounts using the opt-in mobile solution. For more information, please visit Cellfire at cellfire.com.
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DD Google intros mobile ads service
By Colin Gibbs
Sep 5, 2006
http://rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27220
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Google Inc. has joined the mobile marketing playground with a wireless version of its AdWords service.
The Internet giant quietly launched the offering that allows AdWords customers to place marketing messages—including clickable links—in listings retrieved through Google’s mobile search service. AdWords customers can develop their own mobile advertisements and marketing campaigns, and can set daily budgets, establish scheduled marketing messages and pay only when consumers click the ad or call the business.
The U.S. offering follows April’s launch of a similar service in Japan. Google is working to patent a system for click-through ad placements that determines the type of device being used and automatically takes a user to a mobile Web site or places a voice call, depending on the phone’s capabilities.
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Interesting commentary by TS tonight. Bottom line: he says Neom's business strategy is a moving target...that the increasing dilution is a huge issue...and he plans to have a serious heart-to-heart talk with Management this week. He says he will report his findings promptly.
His weekly alerts on NEOM have shown increasing concern. I think tonight's post is written such that if his meeting with Management doesn't go well, he may tell subscribers to move their money elsewhere.
I hope instead he becomes once again very excited with Management's imminent launch of qode, and he starts to tout the stock to subscribers again.
NEOM is at a critical juncture IMO...they have got to convince TS that they "have their act together." If they don't, the pps will get even uglier IMO.
If you are a believer in NEOM's long term future, that may setup a huge buying opportunity.
It will be interesting to watch this play out.
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OT Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, GONEOM! It's a wonderful blessing.
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