If you are not from California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia or Washington then you may not know it but tonight’s Mega Million lottery jackpot is 370 million. I have never played the lottery but since everyone at work was talking about it I decided to peruse the Mega Millions website to learn a little more. Thats when something struck me as a missed opportunity for an obvious mobile opportunity.
Mega Millions offers you the ability to sign up for email alerts and have all the results of the Mega Millions drawing sent right to your email address. Now, my first thought was why don’t they offer a premium SMS service providing you with the same ability to get the numbers sent right to your phone. But then I started thinking about it and thought why not create a service that does one better and text messages you whether you just plain out won or lost (I guess the same thing could be done for email).
Here is how it would work. When you buy a lottery ticket or tickets you also provide your email address or cell phone number or both. Your number and or email address only gets stored in the data base for this drawing and then gets erased unless you choose otherwise. Your numbers are thus associated with your email and or phone numbers. If your numbers are selected or a certain number of your numbers are selected you receive a text message telling you the good news along with the winning numbers and or the numbers that you won a little of the pool from.
This could also all be online where people sign up for the SMS and Email service online and enter the numbers they have picked or where picked for them and get alerted via that means.
Nevertheless, If none of your numbers are selected then you simply get a text that reminds you of the days of looking under the cap of soda bottles “Sorry, you are not a winner.” And then just to rub it in it displays the calling numbers.
The service could be premium or free, that depends on various business model strategies… but I am sorry, its just such an obvious idea I am surprised its not being offered. But then again, based on the mobile marketing drive here in the US maybe I am not.
I am sure now some one will approach them for this but if some one from Mega Millions reads this just remember where you first heard it from
So, I am not going to go into details on how this happened (or how the topic of cell phones came up) but this past Thanksgiving weekend I had the (getting) rare opportunity of seeing a Motorola StarTAC in the wild (but you can see the very pretty dress she had on behind the phone).
This young lady, like most StarTAC users, was very defensive about her “out of date” phone claiming that she would not give it up for the world and until it dies and goes to cell phone heaven she will continue using it.
For those of you that need a cell phone refresher the StarTAC was unveiled in North America in January 3, 1996 as the “StarTAC Wearable Cellular Telephone.” At the time this AMPS phone was the smallest cell phone on the market and was an immediate success. The young womans phone was a later introduced CDMA version running on Verizon. It was also the first vibrating phone, “VibraCall”, the first vibration feature on a phone. It was then only used by Motorola, as they held the patent[1].
The phone was phased out in or around 2000 but a nostalgia release was made in the StarTAC 2004 in Korea.
Her version must have been a later version because she said she was able to both send and receive text messages.
She claims that the phone has a megahertz level that cannot be made anymore and thus has amazing reception when compared to her other Verizon using friends.
Cant validate that but one thing is sure… they sure do not make them like they used to.
File This One Under Mobile Stumble. Came across this bumper sticker on a New York City Subway platform… so I investigated. Brought to you by the same people that brought us SendSMSNow.com and NightLifeTexting.com (for club promoters) TextToRent.com is simply put a mobile alternative to apartment hunting… which in New York City is very much needed if you ask me. Usually, you find a great listening and call only to discover the apartment is already taken. They claim that the speed in which text messaging works gives you an extra over the “regular†apartment-hunter. The free service essentially lines up brokers that send text message to your phone regarding apartments you may want.
Its really simple. Apartment hunters sign up for the service providing all the information about the type, price range, location etc that they are looking for. Brokers in cohorts with the service find matches per user and pay TextToRent 4 bucks per text message they send.
Right now the service covers Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens but they hope to add the New Jersey Hoboken area. If it works they may even expand to bigger cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.
But they already have competition. Check out SmarterAgent which I wrote about a while back.
During my travels to LA for the CTIA I stumbled upon this expired mobile marketing scheme by Pepsi. 1 in 3 gets a Ringtone” says the label. The ringtones are described as original tones from top artists and probably are. To entice you more the label on the bottle also tell you that you have the chance to win a Motorola music phone which means its either a RAZR, ROCKR or a SLVR. I would pass on that, or ell it on ebay.
But it was not just ringtones you could win. Some of the ringtones where video ringtones (how that works in the US I have no idea). Basically, a winning code will unlock any of over 150 music files that can be downloaded to mobile handsets. The sweepstakes was also promoted across Yahoo Music and several other Yahoo properties.
Nevertheless, the only thing mobile about the campaign was the ringtone and the (possible) phone. There is no SMS involved in entering this sweepstakes. Nope, this is just a regular look under the cap, see if you won and go the website to claim your prize type of deal. Alas, I did not win and the sweepstakes was already over (since 8.20.06) so I could not follow through with the prize to see how it worked. But I would imagine that the ringtone would be delivered via SMS.
Even though this is an old campaign and nothing new (in the world of Pepsi and Ringtones) I wanted to blog about it because I am wondering about the concept of giving away free ringtones, from the carrier perspective at least. There are only so many ringtones an average person will put on there phone… I am sure that a cool exclusive tone from Pepsi will mean that that person will not purchase a ringtone in the future. Did Pepsi or Yahoo Music (who powered this concept) have a deal with carriers or did the carriers only make money via SMS delivery and data downloading cost? It would seem like they would not like the concept of ringtone give-aways or even music give aways for that matter now that they are also getting into the music download business. Not that I care or anything, but from a “carrier relations” perspective it may be an important thing to think about.
Like Mr Sponder I to noticed the new advertisements for New York City Transit’s TransitTrax Podcasts. The podcasts cover everything from staying safe, service advisories, transit news, MetroCard Deals information and even interviews with special guests and subway passengers.
Pretty cool for a service notorious for its lack of ingenuity and communication.
But I have always wondered about podcasts that have the words “update to date” information on them. Update information for mass transit usual means by the minute and its hard to find out via podcast various service interruptions when you have not been a computer that can link up with your Pod in a while.
But I guess its good in terms of what the MTA has to work with. The days of streaming Metro Transit News via SMS far away I guess. But here is an idea for the future.
Proximity SMS alerts for the subway you are waiting for. This will be made possible in the future as the carriers start setting up networks on the platform’s in subway stations. So say the 6 train is delayed at 42′nd street because of an “ongoing investigation.” The Transit SMS alert system could then send an SMS blast to the 6 train platforms and thus any poor soul waiting for the 6 train would receive the SMS. You would have to make this an opt in system of course but I bet most people would not mind. A general opt in system for transit SMS alerts would not work because, well, if I sign up SMS alerts for the 6 train I really don;t care if delayed when I am already up in my office. I way has to be made so that the information only gets to me when I need it and the wiring of NYC platforms is perfect for that kind of proximity service. As the technology and usage rates increase, they could then turn to systems like MMS to deliver the same type of info with pictures, video and voice as well.
The NYC transit authority should take advantage of bluetooth technology offering some of the podcasts and other information via a bluetooth poster and or advertisement. Advertisers will eventually do it so they might as well to. This is also another great way to send out alerts.
Honestly, the more I think about it… the subway, tube…whatever you call it is one of the most fantastic places to play with, test and implement mobile marketing and other mobile tools and systems. It is an amazing ubiquitous with huge potential for mobile… just like the line at the post office.
Anyways, thats my two sense. Here are some more relevant Subway meets Mobile stories for your friday reading pleasure.
In these days of failing MVNO results one MVNO here in the States, Boost Mobile (a lifestyle-based youth brand this is a subsidiary of Sprint Nextel Corporation) is trying to give itself a boost while boosting the hope of teenagers (their target consumers) around the country. In what appears to involve no other mobile marketing campaign other then the name “Boost Mobile” appearing in the billboards, the MVNO has teamed up with the RockCorps volunteerism program to teach Americas youth about the power of volunteering and community caring.
“Boost Mobile RockCorps” (BMRC) is offering young music fans the chance to earn tickets to see Coldplay, 50 Cent, Eminem, Green Day, Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, and Van’s Warped tour this summer in exchange for four hours of service to their communities. Boost Mobile RockCorps is partnering with non-profit organizations again this year to plan more volunteer projects in major metropolitan areas around the U.S. In exchange for contributing four hours of volunteers work, youth volunteers will receive tickets to signature Boost Mobile RockCorps concerts or popular music events in their area. BMRC is now recruiting members through youth-oriented radio, websites, urban guerilla marketing and more. In other words, they are making volunteering cool. It uses the power of music to connect kids to their community.
The BMRC is coming to New York and signs are beginning to pop up around the city asking kids to “Give 4 Hours, Get One Ticket” for the concert that will take place at Radio City Music Hall on August 23rd 2006.
Last year BMRC motivated more than 6,000 young people to get involved and help their community and inevitably become part of a youth movement for social change.
You can’t buy a ticket; you can’t win a ticket; you have to earn a ticket! It’s all about doing community service.
Boost Wireless has approximately 2.6 million customers - the majority of which are under the age of 25 and they are famous for their walkie-talkie product. But it remains unclear what the wireless company is doing with their wireless technology to promote or be used via the Rockcorps activism if at all.
Seems like a great cause and great branding for Boost Wireless though.
So, I was at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) here in New York City today to see the Dada exhibit. It was wonderful. While standing by Duchamps famous overturned urinal a security guard grabbed my shoulder as I took out my cell phone to put it on silent. He was going to confiscate my Nokia N70 because he thought I took a picture. I should have. It would have been in the Dada anti-art establishment spirit
Anyways, while perusing the gift shop I came across a rather interesting item left over from the museums “Safe: Design Takes on Risk” exhibit. The exhibit, which showed at the MOMA almost a year ago celebrated design as one of the most enlightened applications of human creativity by presenting a carefully selected array of objects that have been designed to protect body and mind from dangerous or stressful circumstances; respond to emergency situations; ensure clarity and information; and provide a sense of comfort and security.
The item I found, that is relevant to MOpocket, was Karrysafe’s “Phone Safe” mobile phone protector (modeled above). The arm strap provides stealth mobile phone storage for one of the most information heavy devices you carry with you on a daily basis. Perfect for traveling etc etc…
As the box states, one mobile phone is stolen every 3 minutes ( I have heard that statistic somewhere else as well, somewhere during 3GSM). Anyways, The English company Karrysafe makes sure your phone is not one of them.
From the back of the box:
Hands free carrying convenience for your mobile phone. The ‘Phonesafe’ can be worn under clothes or on show. You can use it in situ. You know where it is - it’s your choice if others do or not.
Bodycool fabric ensures cool comfort
2-way stretch fabric gives universal fit for most types of mobile phones.
See through PowerNet allows ‘on arm’ dialing and talking
Low profile design allows comfortable concealment and easy access.
I actually bought one figuring that this may be a useful item when traveling to certain areas of the world.
For those of you that care. I finally found the source of the mobile bluetooth campaign I wrote about here. It emanates from a giant billboard on the corner of 51st Street and Broadway in NYC. One the service does not do well is recognize that your phone has already accepted the Bluetooth download. After I downloaded it again today it kept asking me over and over again. The example of the software I saw in Las Vegas (written about in the original post) was able to do that.
The billboard also gave no indication about the bluetooth service.
For those of you that use Orbitz to book travel arrangements the fact that they have a full mobile travel alert option called TLC that informs your mobile phone through SMS and voice on things like your flight status, is nothing new. What is new, however, is the mobile marketing program that Orbitz has put into full swing to a) let people know about the service and b) get people to use Orbitz. Even though I already knew about the service I guess the mobile marketing aspect of it has to be filed under my Mobile Stumble category since I first heard about this one via a radio commercial while driving.
It started out as a regular Orbitz commercial but then quickly began to explain the TLC services. Then it said… “Wanna try it out yourself? Text TLC to 63411 to learn more about TLC and get special offers.” As soon as I was out of the car I texted as instructed. Here is what I got back:
Use promo code 60TLC on Orbitz .com. Like receiving these Orbitz TLC msgs and promos? Reply YES to this msg fir more info. Max 2/mo. Std and other charges may apply.
The promo code, by the way, gets you 60 bucks off any Orbitz purchase. So, I guess if you want to get more promos later on (the current one ends on the 25th) then you have to be willing to receive 2 text messages a month from them. But also, 60 bucks off of Orbitz could b a lot and is a really nice offer. Now if only there was a mobile technology event I could jet off to to take advantage of this mobile offer. It would make great story when I got there.
Nevertheless, I like this mobile marketing campaign. It has all the right bells and whistles. It uses a mobile phone in the way it is meant to be used and promotes a mobile service of a more than mobile company to draw people in. That is class and well thought out. It also gets people used to receiving and sending text messages which is a big plus.
By the way, the TLC service works pretty well as well. I have used it several times.
As fate would have it, while walking through Time Square on the way to the Mobile Marketing Forum here in NYC (more on that later), I stumbled upon an interesting bit of mobile marketing being attempting by UK based automobile company Land Rover. As I ventured downtown on Broadway toward the Marriott Marquee my N70 beeped as if I was receiving a text message. When I took out my phone to see who could possibly be texting me at 8-oclock in the morning you could imagine my surprise when I saw the message “Land Rover is trying to connect to you via Bluetooth. Accept?.”Remembering the stories I have heard about Symbian phone virus’ being spread via bluetooth from a company I met at the Mobile Monday Would Summit called F-Secure I clicked no. The message came again. I clicked no again. This continued. Finally, I figured “well, I have all my data backed up and am carrying 4 extra cell phones with me so lets just see what it is.” If its a virus, i figured, then we can put F-Secure to the test. (To all those who care, if I really wanted to stop receiving the bluetooth requests all I had to do was walk away or turn off my bluetooth as “visible”)
I clicked yes. In a few moments the bluetooth message was delivered to my inbox (that is how it works on Symbian phones). I opened it up and to my surprise the RealPlayer application started up and the commercial that showcases the Land Rover LR3’s GPS navigating a cargo plane from France to Corsica began to play. It was very much like the one you can see here only at the end it instructed me to visit the website in which I just directed you.
Some of you may remember the billboard across the street from CTIA Las Vegas in which the company BlueCasting demonstrated this type of proximity marketing system, enticing you with a giant poster of a half naked woman (total Las Vegas style). So I immediately looked around for any Land Rover ad’s or billboards from which this message could have come from but, alas, could not find any (it was Time Square so I may have missed it). I wanted to know more about this and figured that someone at the Mobile Marking Association Forum I was about to attend would know something about it but when I talked about it it was news to people. I looked online for it but could find nothing.
So I am sharing the info with you. Breaking the story I guess. There it is, my first real life mobile proximity market experience. But that is all I have to share, the experience. Anyone know more?
If you are not from California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia or Washington then you may not know it but tonight’s Mega Million lottery jackpot is 370 million. I have never played the lottery but since everyone at work was talking about it I decided to peruse the Mega Millions website to learn a little more. Thats when something struck me as a missed opportunity for an obvious mobile opportunity.
![Lr3 Cargo[1]](http://www.mopocket.com/graphics/LR3_Cargo%5B1%5D.JPG)
