Disney to Launch Family, Kid-Friendly Phone Service

Extending its brand further into people's lives, Disney, using the Sprint network, will launch Disney Mobile, a cell phone service targeted t families with kids 11 to 14. Besides phone service, Disney Mobile will offer Disney-related content including ring tones based on familiar Disney songs, Disney branded phones, games and images. The service is set to launch in 2006.

by Steve Hall    Jul- 7-05   Comments ()        
Topic: Brands, Mobile/Wireless

Free Ad Supported SMS Service Introduced

Interspot has announced the beta launch of their SMS service which provides users free text messaging. The text messages are appended with ads which can be geo-targted. Mobile coupons will be offered as part of the service too.

by Steve Hall    Jun- 2-05   Comments ()        
Topic: Mobile/Wireless

Cell Phone Ad Guidelines Adopted, Concerns Abound

While Commercial Alert's Gary Ruskin says, "Good luck," cell phone providers have adopted a set of guidelines, Consumer Best Practices Guidelines for Cross-Carrier Mobile Content Services, which is intended to place limits on marketer's use of the cell phone as an advertising medium. The guidelines call for double opt-in to promotions, how people are charged for air time and wording people can use to opt in or out of promotions. Even as the guidelines are adopted by all major U.S cell phone companies, Ruskin believes cell advertising will, none the less, proliferate and cause a backlash similar to those that have occurred in Europe where the medium is more established. Ruskin is particularly concerned over the guideline's allowance of opt-in list sale to third parties.

by Steve Hall    May-26-05   Comments (1)        
Topic: Mobile/Wireless, Policy

RSS For Mobile Phones Introduced

Is that a Podcast in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Further insuring the cell phone's position is the center of the universe, FreeRange Communications today introduced FreeNews, an RSS news and weblog reader for mobile devices, phones and PDAs. With FreeNews, people can get feeds of Web information—such as news, sports, weather, stock quotes, or company news—directly on their phones.

more »

by Steve Hall    May-18-05   Comments (4)        
Topic: Mobile/Wireless, RSS

Google to Become Stalker

The Media Drop reports Google has acquired (hired the execs of) Dodgeball, a company that enables cell phone users to have a text message sent to their phone when their friends are nearby. Now, not only will Google know your every online move, they will potentially know your physical location anywhere in the world enabling them to port their online contextual ad model to an offline, geotextual, SMS ad model. there's no stopping these guys.

by Steve Hall    May-12-05   Comments (2)        
Topic: Mobile/Wireless

Times Square Nike Board Builds Personalized Sneakers

Launched last week, a new Times Square billboard for Nike allows people to manipulate the board's imagery using SMS to build their own sneaker which can them be purchased online at a web address sent back to the person's phone. The board only accepts manipulation between noon and 1PM and 3PM to 5PM. It's an admirable effort towards increasing time spent with the brand. Though, with the number of people passing by, SMSing the board, it's a wonder it won't explode responding to all the requests.

by Steve Hall    May- 9-05   Comments (3)        
Topic: Mobile/Wireless, Outdoor

Time Inc. Launches Wireless Campaign

Teaming with U.K.-based mobile marketing company Flyxt, Time Inc. launched, on April 1, a text messaging campaign directed towards current and prospective People and Teen People magazines that provided news, polls, horoscopes and chat rooms. The campaign is expected to expand to other titles, including Time and Entertainment Weekly, this week and to Sports Illustrated in a few weeks.

by Steve Hall    Apr-12-05   Comments ()        
Topic: Mobile/Wireless