SMS
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More mobile phones than people in Australia
Posted by MattE on 02 May 2008 | Tagged as: SMS
AMTA reports - Number of mobile phones now exceeds Australia’s population
For the first time there is now more than one mobile service for every Australian, with 21.26 million mobile phone services in operation at 30 June 2007, a 7.6 per cent increase from 19.76 million the year before, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority Communications Report 2006-07, released today.
A significant increase in 3G mobile customer numbers helped drive that growth, which was in contrast to a small but continued decline in fixed-phone services over the last financial year.
‘There are now more than 4.5 million 3G mobile services in Australia, a 192 per cent increase between 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2007,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.
Users generally happy with mobile phone service
Posted by MattE on 29 Feb 2008 | Tagged as: SMS
It seems we are a generally happy lot when it comes to our mobile phone service. Now, if they can just get non-metro areas coverage sorted out.
A new survey undertaken by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has highlighted consumer perceptions of mobile phone services and the important part they play in the lives of the community. ACMA’s work reflects AMTA’s own research and points to an exciting year of growth in 2008, particularly in data use and mobile broadband.
Happy 21st mobile phones in Australia!
Posted by MattE on 22 Feb 2008 | Tagged as: SMS
Did you have an early mobile phone. You know, the ones that limited you to a three minute call, not because of the cost, which was pretty high, but because the things were so darned heavy!
I rememember in 1988 seeing a Japanese businessman with one - it was a large thing in a bag that was slung over his shoulder and the handset was joined to it by a coiled lead like on todays landline phones.
Mobile phones have changed our lives almost as much as the internet.
Mobile phone increasingly interruptive
Posted by MattE on 19 Feb 2008 | Tagged as: Communications, SMS
160Characters Association reports that
the mobile has penetrated so deeply into our lives that one in ten Brits would answer their mobile while making love. Mobiya have called this a new form of contraception ‘Mobilus Coitus Interruptus’.
In a recent study from Mobyko.com - men came off worse in the ‘love stakes’ as 15% more women openly confess to taking a call on their mobile whilst performing ‘bedroom athletics’. Overall, one in ten Brits openly admits to having answered their mobile phone during sex – and cutting the act short.
The research also went on to look at adult content stored on our mobile phones. It found that over 70% of mobile users in the UK confess to having ‘adult’ content photos, videos and texts saved on their mobile phones – which they wouldn’t want anyone to see.
Europe on a roll with mobile marketing, so why is Australia still languishing?
Posted by MattE on 18 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Marketing, SMS
I saw this interesting post on the 160Characters Association website that looks at consumers using the web to request more information on products and services. I have a truncated version here.
Here in Australia the advertising of an SMS contact method in mainstream media is still in its infancy stages - the Army is using it and is the Ford motor company. Real estate agents use it to allow initial contact about properties and the Age newspaper is starting to use it to provide classified advertisers with additional ways of providing images on cars for sale.
Despite being quick up-takers of technology, Australian companies have failed to express a desire to utilise the full depth of opportunity that mobile technology can provide.
Al-Qaeda offers cellphone video downloads
Posted by MattE on 07 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Marketing, SMS
In a report seen on textually.org we see how a simple communication method can be used to disseminate information, and there is no way authorities can stop it.
Call it clever marketing, making use of social networks or just overdue, it shows the power of mobile technology.
Video messages of al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri can now be downloaded to cellphones, the terror network announced as part of its attempts to extend its influence, reports USA Today.
Telstra - out to rip off consumers
Posted by MattE on 15 Dec 2007 | Tagged as: SMS
It seems Telstra is scrambling to maintain profitability in the mobile sector as increased competition cuts into their margins.
As an example I received this text message yesterday:
Find people & business u need. Call 1234 for fast& easy assistance. $1.40/call +88c connection request & standard call chgs.
This shows a significant increase in charges when we last look at Telstra directory charges in 2005.
SMS celebrates 15th birthday
Posted by MattE on 05 Dec 2007 | Tagged as: SMS
Love it or loath it - SMS has changed the way we think about communications
SMS 15 years old
SMS has had such a huge impact and become so pervasive in such a short period of time that it is hard to believe that it is just 15 years since the first ever SMS was sent. The party to celebrate the event in London brought together both the sender and receiver of that historic first SMS.On 3rd December 1992 a young engineer at Airwide Solutions, Neil Papworth (pictured left), sent the world’s first ever commercial text message to Vodafone Director Richard Jarvis (right) at a staff Christmas party. Although text messaging has often been accused of causing irreparable damage to the English language, this did not start with the first message which was simply ‘Happy Christmas’.
SMS 15th birthday: Neil Papworth and Richard Jarvis
scannable bar codes - get info fast?
Posted by MattE on 02 Dec 2007 | Tagged as: SMS
I was reading this article when point 9. jumped out at me (mainly because of the graphic!)
MediaPost Publications - 10 Things You Need to Know About Mobile Marketing -
9. There will be a lot of chatter in 2008 about the QR Code, the two-dimensional visual bar code made popular in Japan but years away from U.S. ubiquity. Phones scan a unique UPC-like stamp on any real world object to pull in more information or offers. Hold a phone up to a movie poster, and get a trailer, movie times or even tickets. The prospect of making the physical world this interactive (even transactive) is too delicious to ignore. But we need a standard.
This is something we have been trying to push with ad agencies for over two years here in Australia. They are excited about the prospects that scannable barcodes using mobile phones offers.
But the bit drawback, alluded to in the quote above, is that the mobile phone manufacturers have to see that tis is coming and include the scanner software as standard on mobile phones.
SMS proves valuable marketing channel
Posted by MattE on 26 Nov 2007 | Tagged as: Marketing, SMS
SMS is being used by more and more venues because it provides a cost effective method of distributing messages to members in a timely fashion.
One of our clients uses SMS to inform members of drinks specials, themed events (such as football grand finals and the Melbourne Cup, and opening of new facilities at the club.
By collecting user interest information at the club membership/renewal stage, segmented lists have been developed, ensuring members only receive information and offers that are of relevance to them.
The results speak for themselves - from an initial implementation to send renewal reminders (resulting in 34% of members renewing within a week and the majority within a month) to sending out messages on a fortnightly basis bringing with it measurable results.
