The Other Mobile Video Channel - MMS

Mobile video finally is getting traction among users. In a recent Ipsos/Yahoo survey in the last year, video use just across the mobile Web was up by a third. MediaPost reports.

As mobile users come to expect fatter pipes, they don't balk at the sight of a video play button on their phones.

Under most 3G networks, buffer lag and consistency of experience are improving to the point where streaming media is a viable medium. But in most cases involving video, marketers either have to rely on the traditional pre-roll messaging, a branded video effort that pulls people in, or perhaps an SMS push that links to a video.

One alternative that gets too little coverage and attention in the U.S. especially is MMS, Multimedia Messaging Service. This platform works via the SMS channel in pretty much the same way. Unlike the other forms of mobile video advertising, MMS can send a video clip (generally of a very small size) to an SMS inbox for viewing with the phone's native player.

This gives MMS a potential reach far beyond the 35% of the U.S. Market comprised by cell phones. Many feature phones actually do have multimedia playback capabilities, and of course almost all modern phones receive text. And the beauty of MMS is that it shares SMS's greatest strength as a marketing tool - it is the message no one ignores and usually reads in minutes of receiving.

Read full post.

Bridesmaids get Harry Potter-style mobile advertising

CIO on a Harry Potter-style mobile advertising campaign for Bridesmaids.

Mediacom, in collaboration with Universal Pictures, has launched a mobile campaign for the film Bridesmaids.

The marketing company is using a mobile app that runs on on iPhone and Android phones, developed by Aurasma which recognises certain images once they are scanned into a smartphone's camera and runs animations on it. Static images on billboards or in magazines come to life, like the pictures on the walls in Harry Potter films.

Mediacom ran adverts in London's Metro newspaper, Closer, More, Grazia and the women's freesheet Style List, as well as some outdoor advertising in the run up to the release of Bridesmaids.

According to Aurasma literature, the application is free to download and alerts the user when they are in the vicinity of a tagged location, so that they can start it up and run the campaign.

Read full article. Via Paul Swanson+

iPhone's New Face Time Commercial

Spotted on TUAW, Apple's new commercial on FaceTime on the iPhone.

C Yourself campaign for Showtime's The Big C

In conjunction with the upcoming second-season premiere of the drama about a woman's battle with cancer, the network has launched the "C Yourself" campaign. Done through Facebook, the multi-platform campaign will urge users to upload photos of themselves making a "C." For every photo, Showtime will donate $5 to the American Cancer Society, and will award a $5,000 prize to the most creative photo.

[via Broadcasting & Cable]

Get The Look–the Exact Look–With Stipple’s In-Image Shopping Tools

D | All Things Digital reports on how a company called Stipple is taking product placement to a new level. Building on its in-house image recognition technology, the company has signed licenses with nine photo agencies, 50 brands, and 1,300 publishers.

In their own words:: Stipple is looking to attract Photo Agencies, by helping them create new revenue by adding interactive content and shopping to editorial images. They are addressing Brands, to turn editorial images into storefronts and to promote and sell products inside images. And the are targeting Publishers and Bloggers by offering search and social shopping inside the images on their sites.

Appearing Virtually at a Store Near You ...

A promotion for Esquire magazine allows iPhone users to have their picture taken with a virtual image of the model Brooklyn Decker at Barnes & Noble stores. The New York Times reports.

Ms. Decker is not setting foot in the actual stores, but is appearing virtually through a novel use of GPS technology with broad marketing potential. Using an iPhone with a special app, visitors to the stores can select from among several poses by Ms. Decker, who then appears in the center of the viewfinder and is superimposed wherever the smartphone is pointed.

Participants can pose beside her likeness, and some poses — like Ms. Decker blowing a kiss to her side — seem incomplete without an object of ardor in the frame. Users are prompted with the option of posting the images to Facebook or e-mailing them to friends.

Read full article.

Testing a Bar Code Technology for 2-D Smartphones

The New York Times reports on Albany’s transit system which has been blanketed with the bar codes — also called quick response or QR bar codes — which consumers can scan with their smartphone and, within seconds, connect to a Web site, photo or video. In the Albany test, users access QRiousAlbany.com, where they can register for a contest to win an iPad.

Bar code campaigns are cropping up in other transit hubs, as well. In Denver International Airport, for example, Colorado-based FirstBank began to offer this month a free download of an e-book to passengers scanning the bar code on posters mounted in terminal corridors.

Read full article.

Nine West uses text messages to highlight its fall collection

Nine West has launched a mobile marketing campaign to promote the retailer’s Fall 2010 Vintage America Collection, which is endorsed by singer Joss Stone. The campaign aims to allow any consumer with a camera phone to receive multimedia content via text message. Internet Retailer reports.

The retailer worked with mobile marketing firm JagTag to incorporate 2-D bar codes on in-store signage, as well as on the collection’s product packaging.

When a consumer takes a picture of a 2D bar code and sends the image either via text message or e-mail to a designated phone number, she is entered into a contest to win apparel, as well as text and video messages of Stone’s performances, behind-the-scenes videos and how-to style tips.

Read full article.

Tokyo trials digital billboards that scan passers-by

Digital advertising billboards being trialled in Japan are fitted with cameras that read the gender and age group of people looking at them to tailor their commercial messages. PhysOrg.com reports.

A consortium of 11 railway companies launched the one-year pilot project last month, and has set up 27 of the high-tech advertising displays in subway commuter stations around Tokyo.

"The camera can distinguish a person's sex and approximate age, even if the person only walks by in front of the display, at least if he or she looks at the screen for a second," said a spokesman for the project.

If data for different locations is analysed, companies can provide interactive advertisements "which meet the interest of people who use the station at a certain time," the project said in a statement.

Read full article

Lost Finale Featured Promotional QR Code For True Blood

Mobile Behavior picked up on blood red QR code that flashed during a True Blood commercial, during Lost' final episode last night.

According to True Blood Newsblog:

This Sunday during the Lost finale on ABC, HBO will air a True Blood promo. Embedded in the promo is a special QR code that will allow you to view an exclusive clip from season 3. And trust me, we’ve seen a snippet of this – y’all won’t be disappointed! Well actually, most of you will be, ‘cuz the promo will be available in the NY, L.A. and Philadelphia markets only.

To see the clip, you’ll need to DVR Lost and look out for the True Blood promo. Embedded in the True Blood promo is a special QR code. To access the clip, simply take a picture of the QR code on your smartphone. This will require a QR code reader, here are the apps suggested by HBO:

Inigma – www.i-nigma.com/Downloadi-nigmaReader.html

NeoReader – get.neoreader.com

Ad for New Apple iPhone Plays Up Video

The ability to shoot video is a key selling point for Apple’s iPhone 3GS, a point underscored in a new ad for the phone. [via BrandWeek]

Apple announced the phone today. The company claims it is two- to three-times faster than current iPhones. A TV spot from set to break next week doesn’t talk about the speed, but instead plays up the phone’s ability to shoot digital video.

The ad features the iPhone in a museum-like holder. A man dressed like a cat burglar drops a camera from the ceiling to get a better look at the phone. “I think it’s the same,” he whispers. Then the camera cuts to an employee entering the room after swiping his security card. The employee picks up the phone and then taps the screen, which shows video of the cat burglar’s camera. The man then looks up to the ceiling.

Voiceover: “It’s the iPhone you love. Now with video.”

Boost Mobile armpit commercial illustrates what's wrong with mobile carriers

Catch Boost Mobile's latest TV commercial on YouTube, using women’s armpit hair as a simile to illustrate what’s “wrong” with most mobile carriers.

[via TrendHunter]

AMF Pension Campaign Will Shock You With a Photo of Yourself at Age 70

Ever wondered what you might look like when you’re ready to retire? Most people don’t, but AMF Pension is encouraging potential customers to look ahead and face the future reality. Trendhunter reports via Adverblog.

Their new interactive ad campaign lets people send in their photos via mobile phone, and AMF sends back a digitally altered picture of them at 70 years old.

The whole process takes minutes, and in all likelihood gets the message across that it’s never too early to start planning for retirement.

Sony Ericsson Claims Ad Campaign First

Sony Ericsson has announcesd an advertising media first as it teams up with Bauer Media’s lads' mag, FHM, to create the first magazine campaign entirely shot on a mobile phone camera, in order to promote the new Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-shot handset. [via Mobile Marketing]

The Sony Ericsson C905’s unique selling point is its ability to reproduce high quality prints at any size, further blurring the line between dedicated digital cameras and cameraphones. Bauer Media developed the creative idea to put the product to the test for the advertorial and set up a photography shoot using professional lighting, models, hair, make-up and an expert fashion photographer - the twist being that the shot was taken on a Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-shot mobile phone.

Read full article.

8MP cameraphones duel over advertising idea PR brainstorming gives similar results

It seems Samsung and Sony Ericsson have come up with very similar ideas to promote their latest mobile phones. Pocket-Lint reports.

Both companies have called in a professional photographer to use their new mobile phones hitting the shops this month.

To be used in the company's latest ad, a number of "enormous" photos taken by Matt Stuart using the C905 Cyber-shot camera phone are placed in unusual locations to demonstrate something or other about spontaneity.

Meanwhile, Samsung has "armed" well known street photographer Nick Turpin with a Pixon handset and "sent him on a journey that will be dictated by everyday consumers.

Cellcom offers free mobile air time for watching ads

Mobile phone operator Cellcom on Sunday launched a new advertising model in Israel enabling subscribers to accumulate free air time in exchange for watching commercials. Reuters reports.

"Cellcom, Israel's largest mobile phone operator with 3.1 million subscribers at the end of June, will award customers up to 45 minutes per month of free air time for watching the commercials. At the end, viewers will have to answer one or two advertiser questions to prove they paid attention.

... Major advertisers such as Coca-Cola, Nokia and Sony have already signed contracts to advertise on Cellcom, he said.

Mobile Marketing through image recognition

Kooaba allows you to access and search for digital content from your mobile phone thanks to image recognition.

Instead of tedious typing and browsing, kooaba's search results are accessed by sending a picture as query. With this, you can literally "click" on real-world objects such as movie posters, linked articles in newspapers or magazines, and in the near future even on tourist sights...

Kooaba is one of the leading providers of image recognition solutions for mobile phones. Founded in 2006 as a spin-off of the ETH Zurich, kooaba links the real world with mobile content. Well-known European companies (like easyjet, EMI Music) use the innovative technology of kooaba. 

Bauer to trial camera phone-interactive ads in magazines

Bauer Media has signed a six-month deal with Snap Now, the mobile visual-search company, to trial an interactive ad system that matches photos of ads taken on WAP-enabled camera phones and then sends information such as coupons back to the user. Brand Republic reports.

"Kerrang! magazine is running Bauer's first SnapNow-enabled ad this month, for entertainment retailer Play.com. Readers will to enter a competition to win a Creative Zen MP3 Player by sending a picture of the ad to Play.com.

The system removes the need to include codes in advertising copy, enabling consumers to respond directly to ads without compromising the ad copy or imagery.

Bauer claims to be the only UK media company that can offer this service to it advertisers."

Virgin Mobile Pulls Back Racy Campaign

Virgin Mobile USA is now in damage-control mode after running an online ad campaign that encouraged people to disrobe for charity. The Wall Street Journal reports.

"A few weeks ago, Virgin Mobile launched "Strip2Clothe," inviting people to send videos of themselves undressing. For each video posted, it agreed to donate a new piece of clothing to nonprofit groups that help homeless youth. For every five views that a video gets, another article is donated. Its tagline: "Someone out there needs clothes more than you."

... In response to the outcry, Virgin Mobile is giving the campaign a facelift, renaming it "Blank2Clothe." Instead of taking their clothes off, viewers will instead be asked to do anything they want -- juggling, singing or standing on their heads, for example -- to trigger views and therefore, more clothing donations.

Phone Giants Roll Out "Three Screen" Strategy

The nation's largest phone companies sell packages of wireless phone service, Internet access and pay TV to consumers. Now they're taking integration one step further, airing video programming -- and selling ads -- across all three platforms.

[via the WSJ]

Appaling Peeping Tom viral video to promote LG's Secret

LG's promotional video for their new handset "Secret" highlights the touchscreen feature through voyeurism and softcore. Engadget calls it creepy. I'd like to add appaling. A man secretly filming a woman sleeping in bed from outside a window, and caressing her body on his screen, is not appealing but horrifying. What were they thinking?

[via Engadget]

Your wife called. Verizon commercial

Verizon (video message) commercial spotted on SMS Text News.

Guerrilla Mirror Phones - Rogers Video Phone Ads

Canadian wireless operator Rogers has launched an innovative campaign to promote their new video phone service. Trendhunter reports.

"The giant cell phone decals were placed around Toronto bathrooms in restaurants, bars and clubs, with the screen portion cut out so people would have a live visual of what it would look like when they video called their friends.

The tagline reads, “Look your best. Video Calling is here.”

Mobile TV To Be Biggest Mobile Ad Revenue Generator By 2010

Although the vast majority of mobile advertising is currently based on SMS, Juniper Research predicts that streamed and broadcast mobile TV services will become the most lucrative channels for mobile ads by 2010.

Juniper that spending on mobile TV advertising will grow from $335 million in 2008 to more than $2.5 billion in 2013.

[via The Washington Post / MocoNews.net]

Win $1000 in the Hunt for Bin Laden

A scavanger hunt for camera phones is launching in five cities on Monday, to promote Morgan Spurlock's new movie Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?, premiering April 18. JustPressPlay reports.

Street-teams will create and locally distribute multiple branded reward flyers featuring contest information and unique stills from the upcoming film.

With help from local radio stations, contest participants will search around their towns and cities to snap a photo of any of these images in the two week contest period from their camera phones and email it to a pre-determined email address that will be clearly marked on the flyers between 4/7 and 4/18.

Utilizing the image recognition based mobile marketing technology from SnapTell, each picture will then be verified and the participants will receive a message back confirming their entry into the contest and a link to exclusive content from the film.

Fans will also be able to enter by following clues in promotional ads in local newspapers.

Watch Apple trailer.

iPhone gets video ads from Ad Infuse

Ad Infuse, a San Francisco start-up is launching the first mobile video ads for the iPhone today.

Elinor Mills for News.com gave it a try, but connecting over AT&T's network was just too slow.

I visiting the HFM mobile site on my brand new iPhone and clicked on one of their portable training programs. I then waited as long as four or five minutes while the ad downloaded then a blank white screen came on making me wonder what to do next. The ad finally started playing and I was able to watch the 10 or 12 second anti-drug spot before the training video for working out abs on an exercise ball started playing.

Wow, if that's the experience I think I'll pass.

LG Mobile, Paramount and Marvel to promote technology for "Iron Man" launch

LG Electronics ahs announced its partnership with Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios to launch a multi-faceted campaign to promote the role of technology in the upcoming Marvel Studios film "Iron Man," to be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Prior to the film's May 2, 2008 release date, LG will unveil advertising, as well as retail, online and consumer electronics industry initiatives to showcase the company's high-tech expertise and "leading role" in developing sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing multimedia devices.

[via Just Aother Mobile Phone Blog]

H&M's semacode campaign enables impulse shopping via camphone

H&M has launched a billboard and magazine campaign in Europe, enabling consumers to buy the clothes with their cameraphones, by scanning the semacode. The item is then charged to the user's cell phone bill.

[via My Digital Life]

Ecko billboard lets your mobile handle the graffitiing

This brilliantly designed ad by Marc Ecko sports an LCD that can be painted up by your Bluetooth cellphone, as it allows passers to use their mobile as a spray can to decorate the screen as they please.

[ via Engadget]

Ultimatum For MMS & Picture Recognition

Universal movie ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’, starring Matt Damon, is using mobile picture recognition technology in press ads to promote the film launch, according to 160characters.org.

"Universal is the first brand to use this technology in print media. Previous use of the technology was included in posters to promote Mr Bean's Holiday.

The half page digitally interactive advertisement in national press enables readers to get free mobile content such as movie trailer, wallpapers and screensavers.

Users take a picture of the ad using their mobile phone and send it via MMS to 82222. The algorithm technology then automatically identifies if they have sent the correct image, it will also identify the type of phone they have and then offer them the appropriate free content, optimised for their specific device. If they shoot an incorrect image they will be informed of this and asked to try again.

The consumer’s picture is matched to the promotional image logged on the database and even partial images taken in poor light or at an angle will be recognisable. "

Click-to-Video Mobile Advertising

Advertisers looking to deliver the mobile video ad campaigns can now use the Click-to-Video landing page service from Nexage, a mobile video solution provider. Mobile Crunch reports.

"This service will make ad campaigns accessible to 550 million mobile phones, including 450 phone models operating on more than 350 wireless networks worldwide.

This self service tool enables advertisers to create mobile Web pages and include videos. The service is based Nexage’s PhoneCast platform, which offers wireless operators and content providers a way to launch mobile video services over 3G networks."

Cameraphone Classifieds

According to ScreenPlays, iqzone inc. plans on launching on August 15 a service that enables camera phone users to take a photo or video clip and post a classified ad in less than a minute’s time.

"Although other do-it-yourself classified services exist online, iqzone is specifically targeting an “under-30 handset generation” who tends to engage in far more text messaging than in PC-based activity, and whose phone likely has an integrated camera.

Sellers will be able to broadcast their mobile ads to a network of free online and paid classified sites and print publications. Buyers can set mobile alerts for items or services of interest or search for items using their mobile phone or the iqzone.com Web site."

Pepsi Using Bluetooth to Distribute Video Adverts

Cellular News reports that Pepsi has started a Bluetooth based marketing campaign, allowing people to download a video clip to their mobile phone from poster adverts.

"The campaign to deliver viral video clips, which went live on April 2nd, runs for two months in outdoor advertising locations consisting of 120 bus shelters in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Denver and Orange County, and pay phone kiosks in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Each of the media networks has integrated Qwikker's Bluetooth content distribution technology into their street furniture. Any consumer with a Bluetooth enabled phone is able to download free video clips from a Pepsi Smash advertisement. The viral video clips being distributed are five "Pass The Mic" clips of freestyle hip hop, provided by Yahoo! Music.

In the first week of the Pepsi campaign, opt-in rates to download content were reported to be 27% across the network."

Picture from USA Today.

"The Godfather" special edition Nokia phone

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of "The Godfather", Nokia has teamed up with Paramount Pictures to launch the Nokia N73 Godfather edition phone.

The N73 Godfather is exactly the same as the standard N73 except it includes a 256MB memory card with a full length version of The Godfather film and a nice presentation box.

[Unwired View via Mad4Mobile Phones ]

StarTAC III gets a bash

For the birth of a new baby, StarTAC III, Motorola Korea wound back the clock to the 1960s, reports Joongangdaily.

"In sync with the theme of retro TV shows, the white search beams at the entrance of their launch party not only lit up the black sky in Apgujeong-dong but also young Koreans roaming around on a festive night before the Independence holiday last week.

It was a typical fashion party, with local celebrities posing at the door and over-the-top decor ― except the obscure object of desire was not shoes or swimsuits but a mobile phone."

"The Science of Sleep". Moblog Your Dreams

Warner Pictures has teamed up with mobile community The Science of Sleep. Netimperative reports.

"In keeping with the theme of the film, the new site invites users to send in their dreams in video, audio and image form via MMS or email.

The best dream captured and shared on the dream blog will win a signed poster by director Michel Gondry and tickets to see the movie. 10 runners up will also win 2 tickets each to an exclusive screening of the movie on Valentines day at the Warner building in London."

Paramount to Launch Mobile Portal

Paramount Pictures and Crisp Wireless are launching a mobile portal for movie promotions and mobile content, according to GigaOM.

"Visitors to the mobile movie sites will be able to browse and purchase movie-related content from their mobile phones, and opt-in to receive alerts about Paramount Pictures."

Nokia Releases 5-Megapixel N95 Commercial

Cameratown reports that Nokia has released a commercial for their new 5-Megapixel N95 camera phone - which can be viewed on YouTube.

The Nokia N95 is an all-in-one multimedia computer with a pioneering 2-way slide concept, integrated GPS functionality, a 5 megapixel camera and support for high-speed mobile network, making it easier to watch and record videos, listen to songs, take high-quality photos, browse the internet, or catch up on email while on the move.>

Reuters Offers Free Videos to Mobile Phones

The news agency, Reuters has announced the launch of the first free, ad-supported mobile news video service in the USA, making it the first major news organization in the U.S. to offer such a service to mobile phones. Cellular News reports.

"The service is available to consumers through the Reuters mobile site and it contains breaking news and business video segments optimized for select smart phones such as the Nokia E62, Palm 700w, and Blackberry Pearl."

"Knick Picks: " Virgin coins trend of women snapping themselves in their lingerie

According to The Register, Virgin mobile has launched a PR coup, claiming their "trendsetters" have spotted women using their mobiles phones wearing the lingerie they want to be given for Xmas. They take pictures of themselves in dressing rooms with their cameraphone, and send it off to their boyfriend/husband as a hint.

Sounds more like Virgin is trying to create a trend than having spotted one, nevertheless it's a nice idea, widespread or not. And surely such pictures are welcoming diversion for boyfriends/husbands of the world at work. And who cares if they don't get the message "buy me lingerie", but something else. It's still good for the phone company.

Virgin has even been given the trend a name: Knick Pics."

Personalised adverts on mobile TV

Mobile TV viewers in Norway will be served personalised ads as part of a two-month trial, reports the BBC

"Banner adverts will be sent to mobile phones and tailored to the individual user under the trial by broadcaster NRK, a mobile TV pioneer."

Broadcaster and Ericsson wireless announce ad test

Norwegian broadcaster NRK and Swedish LM Ericsson AB on Wednesday announced what they called the world's first test of customized advertising for mobile phone television. The AP reports.

"For the next two months, volunteers in Norway will receive interactive commercials tailored to their age, gender, interests and location while watching television on their mobile phones, the Norwegian state broadcaster said. Some 20 Norwegian and international advertisers are also participating, a news release said.

... During the test, anyone in Norway who volunteers will be able to access NRK's two television stations and five of its radio channels with their normal mobile phones, using existing mobile phone infrastructure and a Java application."

Samsung promotoes Fantasy Film ‘Eragon’ on cell phones

Samsung is cooperating with film producer Twentieth Century Fox to promote the fantasy film Eragon, on mobile phones. [via Sawf News]

"Eragon, the Christmas blockbuster includes such actors as Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Robert Carlyle and Sienna Guillory , begins in cinemas in mid-December.

Samsung mobile phone users in Europe will be able to exclusively receive free mobile contents such as film trailers, screensavers and wallpapers before the movie premieres as they download from the website at eragon.samsungmobile.com."

Experiencing DMB mobile phones with a latte in Seoul

LG Electronics is partnering with Starbucks to market its DMB mobile phones.

"LG said Sunday it will open an “experience zone” where customers can test LG Electronics’ pocket TV phone while sipping coffee at 10 Starbucks stores in Seoul until Nov. 12.

LG aims to promote its 10.95 mm pocket TV phones equipped with the terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) technology.

Customers will be able to experience “the stylish design and superb image quality” of the firm’s DMB phones there.

[via Digital Chosunilbo]

Sony Ericsson launches limited edition James Bond Cyber-shot phone

Sony Ericsson today announced special silver versions of the K800 and K790 Cyber-shot camera phones as used by James Bond in the eagerly awaited new Bond movie,Casino Royale. [via Esato]

"These exclusive new camera phones which will be available for a limited period of three months.

Casino Royale will be released globally on November 17, starring Daniel Craig as "007".

“With both the latest Cyber-shot phone and the M600 Smartphone being used to assist the non-stop action in Casino Royale, plus a major marketing promotion to coincide with the launch of the movie, this is yet another example of collaboration between us and Sony Pictures Entertainment," says Jan Wareby, Corporate Executive Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing at Sony Ericsson."