YouTube Now Hawking Click-to-Buy Ringtones

Along with overlaid affiliate links to buy MP3s on iTunes and Amazon, YouTube will now feature click-to-buy ringtones on top of videos that feature music from its content partners.

According to a YouTube spokesperson: “We’re constantly looking for innovative ways to offer users more content on YouTube, while providing partners with new opportunities to generate revenue.”

[via NewTeeVee]

Sean Kingston album gets fans online with karaoke

Most music videos might not have the promotional impact they used to. But what about videos that make fans the star, allow them to sing with an artist and seem to pop out of the screen? Reuters reports.

The CD booklet that comes with reggae fusion singer Sean Kingston's latest album, "Tomorrow" (due September 22 on Epic), contains a special image that fans can hold up to their computers' webcams to launch an "augmented reality" karaoke session on Kingston's Web site.

That enables fans to use their computer's video camera to record themselves singing "Fire Burning," along with an animated version of Kingston called lil Sean.

Once fans finish their videos, they can post them to a social networking site, or to SeanKingston.com, where fans can vote on their favorites.

Read full article.

Ring of confidence for Operator Please

Operator Please will provide the soundtrack to a major mobile phone campaign in Britain, thrusting the band's music into millions of British households, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Motorola will use Just A Song About Ping Pong for a worldwide campaign launch of a new mobile phone, and advertisements will begin airing in Britain this week and Australia later this year.

The news has caused excitement among record-label bosses here and overseas, because of the exposure it will give to the Aussie band.

"Global television campaigns are playing an ever-increasing role in launching new artists," said a spokeswoman from Scorpio Music, who emailed S to reveal the band's exciting news."

Usher sings Sony Ericsson’s song

R&B star signed up to promote Walkman phones; SE to sponsor singer’s European tour. mobile-ent.biz reports.

"Usher will appear in the company’s marketing from next month, and will specifically be used to promote its upcoming W350 and W980 models.

Sony Ericsson has also secured headline sponsorship rights for the singer’s European tour, whilst customers will also have access to exclusive Usher content."

Virgin Mobile, Burger King team on ringtone deal

Virgin Mobile USA announced a deal with Burger King and Warner Music Group to introduce the fast-food giant's BK Value Menu concept to the mobile platform, offering subscribers a selection of ringtones for $1.00 each.

The Virgin Mobile Ringtone Value Menu powered by Burger King allows Virgin Mobile USA customers to choose from a list of available options via the VirginXL WAP deck
or online at www.virginmobileusa.com or $1.00 each.

The WMG artists featured were chosen to appeal to a wide range of music tastes and also include Buckcherry, Casa De Leones, Danity Kane, Estelle, War, Group 1 Crew, James Otto, Plies...

[via FierceMobile Content]

Apple teams with 'American Idol'

Apple has become a signature sponsor for "American idol," acquiring exclusive audio and video performance download rights to the hit Fox competish. Variety reports.

"Effective immediately, "Idol" downloads will now only be available on Apple's iTunes store. Also, iTunes will sponsor online streaming of contestant performances on the official "American Idol" website, where it will also have a substantial branded presence.

On the show, Apple's iPod becomes the official digital music player for "Idol," while the iPhone becomes the show's official handset

Apple brands will also be integrated into the show."

Watch an ad, get a free ringtone

Watch a few ads on your mobile and download for free ringtones, games or other such. That’s the pitch Chennai- and Los Angeles-based mobile software firm
mobile-worx is making to India’s more than 210 million mobile phone users, at least those who have phones that can access the Internet.

[via livemint.com]

Hyundai remakes image with mobile phones and music

Hyundai, a car manufacturer long known primarily for its affordable cars, is trying to remake its image while reaching out to a younger demographic on their mobile handsets. ClickZ reports

"... For instance, the company is promoting its Hyundai Elantra by offering MySpace users free ringtones from recording artists like The Ataris and Secondhand Serenade.

It also ran a sponsored text-to-vote campaign incorporating print media and billboards during the South by Southwest music and arts festival in Austin, Texas last March.

Hyundai is also in talks with Reuters to integrate mobile functions into a billboard placement on the news service's digital sign in Times Square."

Mosquitone integrated in KFC commercial

According to MocoNews, KFC has struck a cross-branding partnership with Compound Security Systems, to integrate their famous Mosquitotone (which emits a high level frequencey sound only audible to the under 20 crowd) in their latest TV commercial.

"Those who manage to hear it (only youngsters), can hit KFC.com and enter the sound’s precise location to win meal vouchers."

Related:

-- New Movie "The Messengers" includes ringing only teens can hear - Sony Pictures has included the ultrasonic ringtone -- only audible to teenagers but not adults -- as a featured aspect of the film's promotional campaign, which is geared toward a teen audience.

- Links to Mosquitotone articles

Verizon Customers get a Free Ringtone on New Year's Eve

According to a Verizon Wireless press representative that contacted Mobileburn, "Verizon Wireless customers will be able to get a free ringtone download from the company on New Years Eve."

Verizon customers simply need to text the word "Tone" to the number 2007 with their phone and they will receive instructions as to how they can download a free ringtone of their choosing."

[via Mobileburn]

New Movie "The Messengers" includes ringing only teens can hear

To promote the upcoming supernatural thriller "The Messengers," Sony Pictures has included in its dossier of digital-marketing tools a ringtone only young consumers can hear, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"The ultrasonic ringtone -- ringtones that are audible to teenagers but not adults -- are a featured aspect of the film's promotional campaign, which is geared toward a teen audience.

The ringtone itself, which can be purchased for $2.49 at sony.com/TheMessengers, was created specifically for the film.

Adult-proof ringtones first got attention in the form of "Teen Buzz or Mosquitotone" a popular ring tone adapted from a sonar-based security system used in Europe, Compound Security Systems Ltd, to keep teenagers from loitering at retail outlets."

New product plaement: Indian ctors on TB soaps answer ringtone calls

A cellular provider is including ringtones - as placement ads - in India's TV soap opera's. The Business Standard reports.

"In the Balaji Telefilm family dramas the actors will now answer calls ringing to the Idea ringtone.

This is not restricted to one show or a day, but its spread across five soaps during prime time from Monday to Thursday. Star has integrated the Idea ringtone for 50- 90 seconds for four days in a week within shows aired between the prime slot of 8:30 to 11:00pm.

“It is a subtle manner of in-programme branding. We want to be present in the consumers life space and ensure that it reminds people of Idea,” said Pradeep Shrivastava, Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular.

“We’ve planned the Idea ringtone to be placed in the serials wherein its a natural fit. The positioning will be very dramatical. For instance, when a character is awaiting a call which is a turning point in the serial. It will ring long enough for the ringtone to register among the audience. However, it isn’t that everytime the cell phone rings it will ring to the Idea ringtone,” said Paritosh Joshi, president ad sales & distribution, Star India. He further added that ad spots of Idea will also be aired in tandem."

Gobble Gobble ringtone a huge sucess

Turns out the free gobble gobble ringtoness offered by UK's Turkeys website, to boost sales of Christmas turkeys, has been a huge success - as did the competition to win a family stay on a farm – which generated more than 5500 entries, according to Farmers Weekly Interactive.

New Album launches with Voice Messages to 15,000 Fans

Almost 15,000 Dierks Bentley fans received phone calls from the platinum selling country music singer on the street date of his new album release, Long Trip Alone. Top40Charts reports.

" The “Win a Phone Call From Dierks” promotion included a two-step approach: a recorded voice message from Dierks went out to all of his mobile messaging opt-ins on the same day that Dierks made a live call to the winner. More than 4,000 fans registered for the contest, in addition to thousands of fans that already opted-in to receive information from Dierks via their handheld devices.

The pre-recorded calls resulted in 99.9 percent positive market response and a flurry of new fan club subscriptions on www.dierks.com."

Want the new Jamiroquai album weeks before launch?

English band Jamiroquai and O2 have teamed up with Nokia and Sony BMG for a special offer. But as Pocket Picks rightfully points out, the way it works is a bit complicated.

"If you buy a Nokia N73, N80 or N91 phone from an O2 store between today and the end of the year, you’ll get a voucher giving you access to a special online store, with a choice of 30 Jamiroquai hits and five of their videos.

The voucher lets you download any ten songs, one video, the ringtone of the band’s new single, and an image."

Mobistar launches interactive bluetooth campaign with Aguilera ringtones

Mobistar, one of Belgium's three mobile telecommunications operators, in cooperation with Sony Ericsson, is launching a new interactive Bluetooth campaign. [via Slashphone]

"All Bluetooth users can benefit from a unique one-week offer allowing them to receive free of charge a Christina Aguilera ringtone if they are within 30 metres of an Abribus.

... The Abribus–equipped with a Bluetooth data server–can detect a Bluetooth-activated handset within a range of 30 metres. The consumer then receives a message asking whether he would like to receive a ringtone. If he accepts, the consumer receives from Mobistar, free of charge, the Christina Aguilera True Tone. All one needs is a True Tone compatible mobile phone with Bluetooth technology."

EMI, T-Mobile Launch Ad-Funded Mobile Music Trial

EMI Group says it is working with Deutsche Telekom unit T-Mobile, and Rhythm NewMedia on an advertising-supported mobile music video service, reports Cellular News.

"UK mobile-phone users willl be able watch entertainment, news and music clips from their mobiles.

EMI said in a statement Monday that advertisements would be "specifically targeted" for the artist being selected by the consumer. EMI's largest artists include Coldplay, Gorillaz and Robbie Williams.

Advertising-supported mobile content is one of a range of business models being trialed as a way of paying for online content. "

Motorola Makes Music with Asia's Leading Pop Icon Jay Chou

Motorola has announced that Jay Chou, one of Asia's leading music artists - and " the most famous actor in Taiwan", according to Wikipedia - , has been appointed as a Motorola brand ambassador for Greater China. [ Press release]

Jay will star in Motorola commercials and advertisements and champion the dynamic music experience delivered by Motorola's industry leading music-enabled and music-optimized mobile devices.

Motorola also established a dedicated Jay Chou space on MOTOMUSIC(1) featuring his ring tones and full tracks, along with music videos, exclusive footage and interviews.

... In addition to being a brand ambassador for Motorola, Jay's partnership will include making available his complete music portfolio to all Motorola mobile users now on MOTOMUSIC, the first and largest legal music download site in Mainland China."

Snakes On A Cell Phone mixxer

Mobile music site mixxer is unveiling an exclusive "Snakes On A Plane " mini-site featuring ringtones, video clips, screensavers and user-generated content inspired by the movie. Mobile content can be downloaded for free and shared among users. Justin Oberman for mopocket reports.

"The Mixxer site currently supports 19 wireless carriers in the United States.

The "Snakes On A Plane" film, starring Samuel L. Jackson, hits theaters on Aug. 18."

Related: Customized voice message from Samuel L. Jackson - "Snakes on a Plane"

The Aura of Porsche in a ringtone

During the summer, communication agency DDB, urban furniture company JCDecaux, and Alterwave specialized in marketing via Bluetooth, have set up the first mupy (standalone advertising panel) allowing the free download of a ringtone, specially recorded for the fans of Porsche cars, reveals PR.com

People passing by the poster within a range of 10 meters are invited to take away in their mobile phone a bit of the aura of the Porsche Cayman S, caught into a ringtone recording the 6 cylinders engine into an acceleration phase.

The interactive mupy is installed in Knokke-le-Zoute in Belgium, where fans of quality cars are numerous. Besides the poster, the Porsche Cayman S is exhibited behind a glass cover, just as collection scaled models.

Other engine tones:

-- Ford Mustang rocks your phone - Ford rolled out a new, well, treat for Mustang fans today - cell phone ringtones. One of the available ringtones is "The Star Spangled Banner," played with Mustang exhaust tones.

- FX and G Sedan and Coupe ringtones - The ringtones will allow all Infiniti enthusiasts to experience the engine roars of both the FX and G Sedan and Coupe whenever they receive a call or message

-- LG's Sports Car Mobile Phone with Vroom Vroom Ringtone - the LG M4300 shaped like a car, has an interesting (and obvious) featured missed out by most; it comes with a "car starting engine ringtone, to give users more speedy vibe".

-- Aston Martin engine as a ring tone - A limited edition of Aston Martin and Motorola co-branded handsets, the Motorola V600, are being made. They will be branded with the Aston Martin logo and feature the sound of an Aston Martin engine as a ring tone".

-- Formula 1 engine ringtone - Siemens, who has partnered with the Formula 1 racing series since 1998, will premiere official Grand Prix cell phones in Barcelona. Available as a limited edition, the two new models (S55 S and C55 C) will be configured with distinctive Formula 1 motifs, the F1 logo as a screensaver, and engine-sound ringtones. (2003)

Coke slots in extras to new machines

Coca-Cola said trials of new vending machines that allow users to take digital photos and download ringtones for mobile phones could be replicated worldwide as the soft drinks company seeks to interact more directly with consumers, reports MSNBC.

"The trials of the "Cokefridge," which have been under way in Germany over the past three months, come amid rising concern by governments over the way companies are using new technology to market sugary and salty food and drinks to children."

... The Cokefridge machine, on display at the CIES world food business conference in Paris last week, has an interactive screen that runs advertisements, and allows users to obtain free photos, games, logos and ringtones after they have bought a drink."

... Consumers can use a "Coke Cam" to take a photo of themselves in a frame that contains a Coke logo, and send the photo to an e-mail address or to a mobile phone. They can also interact with a website, www.cokefridge.de.

New Ad For David Lynch Tones

Dark Palette has spotted and posted the ad for David Lynch's rigntones, launched earlier this week.

Related:

-- Film Director Takes Content Mobile - Leave it to film director David Lynch to come up with the latest and strangest in ringtones, writes Wireless Week - with titles like "Angst", "Kill Deer", "StampLicker", "Teeth"... even the Web page is scary.

Pepsi Smash - Original artists ringtones

Pepsi and Motorola are teaming up to offer access to 150 original music and voice ringtones by Grammy Award-winning artists and producers. Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, The All-American Rejects and renowned producers Scott Storch and Luny Tunes are a few of the artists who have produced new ringtones that will only be available through the Pepsi Cool Tones & Motorola Phones promotion.

Pepsi could award more than 260 million ringtones. There will be approximately 800 million Pepsi packages participating in the Pepsi Cool Tones & Motorola Phones promotion.

One in three codes found under the caps of the Pepsi products will be good for a ringtone at pepsismash.com. Yahoo!, the exclusive online partner of the Pepsi Cool Tones & Motorola Phones promotion, developed and is powering the program site, www.pepsismash.com.

MSN to promote Sony Ericsson's Walkman phone

According to NMA, MSN has signed a two-month deal with Sony Ericsson to promote their latest Walkman phone, the W810i, using a 'virtual buddy' gig guide on MSN Messenger.

"MSN Messenger users can download the 'buddy' to their existing contacts list where it will provide up to date information on all the latest gigs, club nights and shows in the user's chosen area.

Users can state the type of music they're interested in and the area they live in and the virtual MSN Messenger buddy will reply with the required listings.

The campaign, which goes live on 27 May, will be supported by Sony Ericsson ad placements on the MSN Today page, in MSN Entertainment, MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger.

Ringtones as a "gift with purchase"

Sony Europe’s Recording Media & Energy division has announced that customers can download five different ringtones from the Sony BMG music catalogue free with every purchase of a 512MB Somny Memory Stick Micro M2

Customers choose from a list of 24 most-wanted ringtones which they download to personalise their mobile phone to suit their mood.

The ultra-small ‘ M2 memory card, enables users to store mobile content such as ringtones, pictures and music videos on compact, multifunctional devices.

To receive their five free ringtones, customers simply need to activate their mobile phone’s WAP connection and then enter their unique promotional code on the Sony BMG Music Entertainment official website . Once complete, Sony will send an SMS to allow the user to download the selected ringtones.

[Press release]

Pepsi and Motorola to Give Away Exclusive Ringtones

Pepsi and Motorola are now giving away free ringtones. One in every 3 bottles of Pepsi will be a winner. In addition, every ringtone winner will be entered to win a new cellphone from Motorola.

Pepsi and Motorola are teaming up to offer access to an unprecedented 150 original music and voice ringtones by Grammy Award-winning artists and producers. Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, The All-American Rejects and renowned producers Scott Storch and Luny Tunes are a few of the artists who have produced new ringtones that will only be available through the Pepsi Cool Tones & Motorola Phones promotion.

[via Mocoblog]

Ringtones Used in Promotion for New CD

Select tracks from pop star Rihanna's new CD, A Girl Like Me, will be offered as downloads to fans wireless handsets, reports Cablecaster magazine.

"Fans are given immediate access to the latest Rihanna TrueTones by texting a code found inside the CD, or going online.

Much Music was first inCanada to partner with a music label on a major CD release to drive ringtone sales and improve downloading usability, the specialty service describes."

Mariah Rings Up Pepsi

Mariah Carey has teamed up with Pepsi to write and produce 20 original voice and music ringtones for release this summer, reports E! Online.

"Carey will also star in a national commercial promoting the Pepsi Cool Tones & Motorola Phones partnership as part of her endorsement deal. "

Bacardi B Live Radio available via cell phones

Beverage giant Bacardi has unveiled plans for a worldwide Internet radio station called Bacardi B Live Radio that will be available online and via mobile phones, reports Reuters.

"The station will primarily stream dance music -- with exclusive mixes provided by popular DJs -- and live streams from Bacardi-sponsored concerts and events.

The music industry is jumping at the chance to participate as the sponsoring brands not only bankroll the creation of new services that more widely distribute music and expose artists, but also pay labels licensing fees to access content.

Bacardi is spending as much as $40 million to fund the online and mobile radio station."

Robbie Williams mobile phone

To coincide with the start of his latest tour, Robbie Williams has teamed up with Sony Ericcson and T-Mobile to launch the Robbie Williams special edition W300i handset, reports Pocket-lint.

It is the first time an artist has been directly involved in the design of a phone and is also the first pre-pay Walkman handset launched in the UK.

The clamshell handset will pre-loaded with a range of previously unreleased content - including a "live" video clip, wallpapers and the opening song from his concert. A Robbie Williams logo is embossed on the back cover, and two additional Robbie Williams skins personalise the phone. Fans will have direct access to the WAP site of RobbieWilliams.com on their phone and will see a Robbie Williams video clip when they start and shut down the handset. The Special Edition W300 will be available in all of T-Mobile European markets in June.

In addition, the signature phone will feature a standard Robbie Williams ringtone and a live Robbie Williams sound-byte for the SMS tone.

Pheratones in the New York Times

Pherotones, ringtones with names like Testeroni or El Cuddlero that claim to make you irresistible to the opposite sex (posted several weeks ago in Ringtonia) have been written up in the New York Times who reveals that everything about Pheratones is part of an eleborate and carefully planned viral advertising and marketing campaign - including fake entries in Wikipedia.

"Rather than the revolutionary product that Pherotones promised, the ads were the beginning of a buzz marketing campaign under the guise of a fake product (Pherotones) and a fake doctor (Dr. Myra Vanderhood) with a fake Web site (Pherotones.com), all for a real client with less than $250,000 to spend.

The real client is Oasys Mobile , a little-known cellphone content provider who wanted to introduce its brand inexpensively — with a nontraditional campaign that it hoped would grab the attention of its desired 18-to-24-year-old demographic.

... After placing ads on blogs like Gawker and Defamer, Pherotones.com is now averaging 10,000 page views a day.

.. A video featuring a mock wedding ceremony where the ring tone on a male guest's cellphone compels the groom to run from the altar and passionately embrace the stunned guest has been downloaded about 3,000 times.

... Last week on Technorati, Pherotones.com was in the top 10 percent of the most popular blogs worldwide. It has also attracted attention on insider blogs like AdRants, a Web site that closely tracks the advertising industry.

-- Now Oasys will be able to test the campaign's effect on sales: starting today, the Pherotones Web site is revealing its client by directing visitors to Oasysmobile.com."

Search&Display

Search&Display by Inoventiv (Canada) Corp integrates the power of the internet with the popularity of the mobile, allowing web users to search, listen and buy ring tunes within an online banner ad.

The entire transaction takes place within the banner ad, without leaving the page where the ad resides.

Stephen King promotes "Cell" with his own voice tone

To promote Stephen King's new novel entitled Cell and launching January 24, Scribner imprint has devised an elaborate Web- and cellphone-based marketing campaign which includes ringtones of King's voice . The WSJ reports.

"Scribner will give Mr. King's fans the opportunity to buy ring tones of his voice, saying:

"Beware, the next call you take may be your last" or "It's OK, it's a 'Normie' calling"

Selling ring tones is a popular avenue for making money in the music industry. It hasn't previously been tried in the book business because the idea of a novelist's voice droning from your mobile wouldn't seem to have much mainstream appeal. Mr. King, however, is one of the few writers with enough of a following to give him a shot at making it a viable enterprise."

Codes, text messages on cell phones drawing customers

In a lengthy article on the virtues of Marketers using codes to sell cell-phone content - -- ringtones, screen savers, wallpaper and text alerts -- the Knight Ridder Tribune News writes that that marketers can drive buyers directly to their content by publicizing a code in print ads or in other media and that some record labels are putting codes on CD cases to sell ringtones based on popular music.

For example, Jamster, a company that sells ringtones based on a variety of music genres, tends to market on cable-TV channels such as MTV and BET, where Cingular advertises less frequently. "Even when we offer the same content, (short codes give a marketer) the ability to reach new people," Nagel said.

Some marketers believe that short codes eventually will become as pervasive in advertising as Web site addresses are now, said Drew Hull, research director for NPD Group, a market research company in Port Washington, N.Y. "You hear people say that short codes will be tomorrow's URL," Hull said."

The Rise of Branded Ringtones

Consumers with a fondness for their favorite brands are downloading branded content to their phones to personalize them, and brand marketers are beginning to realize that every promotional asset (from logos and images to sound bites) has the opportunity to become a digital sales tool, explains iMedia Connection.

Consumers respond well to ringtones that are highly recognizable, whether that's from heavy radio play or advertising. Each time their phone rings, others around them hear the advertiser's message. And it's not just the idea of ringtones and wallpaper that's driving consumers, but also the integration of other promotional elements, such as the use of free promotional codes and giveaways that reward those who download branded files.

According to a study by research firm LogicaCMG, 90 percent of mobile phone users admit to being influenced by marketing promotions offered by their network provider. In return, companies are able to reach consumers wherever the road takes them, and it's no mystery to marketers that the more consumers interact with a brand's content, the more likely they are to carry that with them when they make their purchasing decisions.

The Tampax ringtone

P&G giving away a ringtone to promote its Tampax brand, reports Adverblog.

"According to New Media Age (sub. req., Tampax is running an on-pack promotion driving girls to this website where they can create their own personalized ringtones and share them with other site visitors.

To send your personalised ringtone to your mobile you'll need a unique code found on promotional packs of Tampax Compak."

To be honest, this does not appeal to me as a woman. The music is not pretty or familiar and making your own ringtone is too geeky. Can you imagine someone asking you where you got that ringtone? and actually having to answer, "from tampax".

A mood approach would have been more clever. Ringtones to relieve the blues that often are part of this medieval deal that comes with womanhood. Anyway, that's my two cents worth.

BET promotes ringtone sales with videdo pop-ups

BET has begun embedding text-messaging codes into its music videos, encouraging viewers to order a download of each song's ringtone directly from their mobile phone, reports Reuters/Billboard.

"While such cross-marketing is a common practice in Europe, this is the first time a U.S. video channel has integrated mobile messaging on air to sell ringtones.

According to BET CFO Scott Wills, about 50 percent of the music videos the network airs now contain a 10- to 30-second pop-up note that prompts viewers to "get this ringtone" by sending a text message to the short code "BETTV."

Each prompt features a different product code that must be included in the message to identify the desired ringtone. "

Is there a Mad Dog in Your House?’ competition

To mark the launch of the new site, Mad Dog Mobile is also on the hunt for the country’s wildest, wackiest creatures with the ‘Is there a Mad Dog in Your House?’ competition.

Teens with mad dogs in their lives can take a picture, record his howl or film a video and post it to the site at www.maddogmobile.com by October 31st, 2005. The best clips will be turned into mobile ringtones, videos and screen savers for the Mad Dog online community to download to their phones.

[via Telephony World]

McDonald mobile coupons for a McFlurry

Today, McDonald's restaurants in Southern California have a new way of connecting with young adults -- through their cell phones. As part of an innovative promotion, cell phone users can send a text message code from their phones to receive an electronic coupon good for a free McDonald's McFlurry. Once the electronic coupon has been sent back to their phone they simply visit their participating local McDonald's restaurant and redeem it.

"The coupon code (Text "McFlurry" to 73260) will be displayed on busses and billboards throughout Southern California. Internet users can also access the coupon by visiting www.mobilestr33t.com/and can send free ringtones and wallpaper to their handsets.

[Press Release]

Hi-tech posters want you to look, listen, sniff

Last week posters promoting the new the cartoon band Gorillaz' single went live in Sydney and Melbourne. Hypertag, the infra-red technology behind the posters, allows people to point their phones at a poster and download a 40-second ringtone grab of the single.

EMI is following in the footsteps of Universal Pictures and Coca-Cola, which have both used interactive posters to bring their brands to life.

Over a fortnight earlier this year, 1800 people downloaded ringtones, wallpaper and a calendar reminding them of the release of the film "War of the Worlds" from 10 such posters . [via The Sydney Morning Herald]

Previous campaign involving ringtones and Hypertag:

-- Summer Festivals Get Hypertags

-- Interactive hypertags campaing for "The War of the Worlds" on bus shelter poster

-- New Order promos album with free ringtones

-- Hypertag to hand out national and rugby anthem ringtones to fans

-- Wearable Hypertags used in field marketing at music and sporting events

Watch the iTune phone commercials

Boris Novak on his blog The Challenge has posted videos of the MotoRrokr's TV commercials.

According to Novak, "the idea behind this is to appeal to majority of public one does not wish to scare them of by putting on the market with which public could not identify, so for example for advertising of mainstream fashion one uses average girls and guys, etc."

Related: -- Cingular music phone ads take cue from iPod images

Shopfar offers iTunes credits in shopper loyalty scheme

A new shopping portal, Shopfar, launched today that rewards users' loyalty with music rather than points, reports UK's NMA.

"Purchases on the shopping sites affiliated to Shopfar.com earn free credits worth one, ten or 100 songs. These can then be redeemed on Apple's iTunes Music Store.

Shopfar claims it has hundreds of shopping sites affiliated. These include Expedia, Figleaves, Ebay and HMV, which launched its own download service to rival iTunes last week.

By offering music, Shopfar - which is a collaboration between Karma Collective and iTunes - hopes to offer a new twist on loyalty shopping sites in a crowded market.

Shopfar also offers another channel to market for Apple's iTunes service on top of the dedicated Motorola phone which launched this week.

Cingular music phone ads take cue from iPod images

Madonna will front the ad campaign for the phone. The ad will see a number of musicians squeezed into a phone box, to promote Motorola's phone with built in iPod.

According to Reuters, The No. 1 cellular carrier takes its ad cues from popular iPod imagery in commercials that begin airing on Thursday.

"In one Cingular commercial, a young woman walks down the street, hooked into her music-playing phone. As she passes shop windows and street puddles, her reflected image jumps and grooves to the blaring music, a nod to the gyrating monochrome dancers seen in iPod's advertising.

The wild motion and sound stops when she receives a phone call, just as the new device is programed to pause any music for an incoming call. The ads were created by Omnicom Group agency BBDO.

Television ads for the new Cingular service break on Thursday night on youth soap "The O.C." on the Fox network, geared toward a young demographic. A dedicated Web site for the new phone, makemedance.com, features 10 different characters that will dance to tunes picked by the user."

Madonna to promote iPod phone

Motorola and Apple have hired a host of music stars, including Madonna and Iggy Pop, to promote their iPod mobile phone, according to a source close to the project, reports Netimperative.

The news was broken by analyst Roger Entner who said he had been briefed about the device and the partners producing it.

The ad will see a number of musicians squeezed into a phone box, to promote Motorola's phone with built in iPod.

According to a report in The Sun, Motorola intends to have musicians from every generation appear in the ads, created by media firm Ogilvy & Mather.

The firm is reportedly in negotiations with The White Stripes, Alanis Morissette and The Bravery to appear in the ad."

Sony Ericsson creates buzz for Walkman-branded mobile phone

Sony Ericsson is using digital media to create a global buzz around the launch of its first Walkman-branded mobile phone/music player, the W800, as part of a multi-million-pound through-the-line ad push, report New Media Age.

For the first time, the mobile handset manufacturer is planning to premiere the ad for the W800 online before it airs on TV, and has also filmed an alternative ending for it that will be shown exclusively online.

The campaign is based around the theme that the W800 provides the 'Soundtrack to your life'.

In addition, Sony Ericsson plans to compile an online list of the world's top 100 favourite songs via a new site called walkmanphones100.com. Users will be able to vote for their top three songs of all time, with the winner to be revealed at the end of the month. [via adverblog]

Related article : - The Walkman phones 100 soundtrack