Coupons You Don’t Clip, Sent to Your Cellphone

Mobile coupons — usually text messages with discount codes sent to a cellphone — are becoming the blue-light specials for the digital age, reports The New York Times, promoting last-minute clothing sales, two-for-one entrees and cheap tickets to the theater.

While some mobile coupons are sent directly from a retailer to a customer who has signed up for mobile updates, the other way for bargain-seekers to get up-to-the-minute deals is to subscribe to a mobile-coupon aggregator. At Web sites like 8coupons, Cellfire, Yowza and Zavers, users can sign up for different retailers’ promotions in one place. The opt-in model means subscribers get only offers they want to receive, making each one worth reading.

Read full article. Related: - Links to other articles on mobile coupons permalink (August 30th, 2009)

Cellfire mobile coupons go national today

Coupons by mobile phone service Cellfire went nationwide for Cingular users yesterday, reports TechCrunch, following tests in California where coupons redeemed at a rate of almost 20%, with some surpassing that mark. "The number of participating merchants is small right now (7 total, including Hollywood video) but with a success rate like that you know more companies are going to be interested." Related: -- Cellfire offers downloadable coupons to Cingular users -- Your cell phone as a personal shopper permalink (June 28th, 2006)

Cellfire offers downloadable coupons to Cingular users

Cellfire has been quietly serving up mobile discount coupons to Cingular Wireless subscribers in California since December. So far, eight retailers, including Hollywood Video and Supercuts, have signed on, according to SiliconValley.com. "The company will take its service national June 27, allowing customers to get discounts on travel, food and other products and services by calling up a coupon on their cell phone screen and showing it to the cashier. permalink (June 9th, 2006)

SK. Mobile coupons to promote a department store

Hyundai Department Store, South Korea's largest department store chain, is issuing mobile coupons to 300,000 customers aged 17 to 30, to increase in store traffic and purchasing, reports Telecoms Korea. "People can download the coupons and get discount or gifts from offline stores and can to forward the coupons to their friends". permalink (May 8th, 2005)

Redeemable coupons by SMS

MyThum, a leading provider of mobile messaging solutions and Givex, a card management company specializing in stored value transaction processing, jointly announce the launch of the Mx-Coupon program to enable the delivery of redeemable coupons to mobile phones through text messaging. [via press release] The consumer then shows their message at the point of sale, where it can be redeemed by merchants currently using the Givex gift card processing platform. permalink (April 5th, 2005)

Mobile Coupons For US Election Voters

A California newspaper is using SMS for instant polling in the presidential election with participants receiving mobile coupons for a meal at a local restaurant, reports 160characters.org. "The Bakersfield newspaper and its television partner, CBS affiliate KBAK-TV (29 Eyewitness News), are using text messaging because traditional opinion polls target land-line phones, potentially excluding voters that are not at home or in the office during the brief time pollsters' calls are made". permalink (October 19th, 2004)

Cents-Off Coupons and Other Special Deals, via Your Cellphone

The cellphone industry hopes customers will want to receive deal alerts at the store, or simply use the phone as a virtual coupon at the cashier. [via The New York Times] permalink (December 18th, 2008)

Gadget Shop trials mobile barcode coupons

The Gadget Shop is claiming to have increased the average transaction value by 50% after it became the first high street retailer to run a mobile coupon campaign - developped by m-bar-go, according to Revolution Magazine. "Shoppers on Oxford Street were sent an SMS message with an embedded barcode, offering 10% discount, redeemable at three of The Gadget Shops stores. The message read 'Christmas has come early @ The Gadget Shop. Save 10% until 31/10/03 with this SMS. Pass it on'. Recipients were asked to present their SMS at point-of-purchase, where the barcodes were read by The Gadget Shop's standard barcode reader. permalink (November 26th, 2003)

Mall of America Turns to Text

Mall of America shopping centres (more than 500 stores, employing close to 12000 people) is now offering their shoppers access to last minute sales offers, in-store coupons and up-to-date event information, thanks to a text messaging service from MallCall International, called 'MallCall, The Text Best Thing'. Mobile Marketing reports.

When arriving at Mall of America shopping centres, visitors have the option to opt-in to the service by texting a number displayed above the entrance. Those who opt in will only receive text messages during Mall business hours for the day. After the Mall closes, the messaging ends until the next time the shopper revisits the mall and opts in again. Customers can opt-out at any time by texting STOP.

permalink (October 19th, 2009)

Send and Receive Text Messages with BulkSMS

BulkSMS provides solutions to send and receive single and bulk SMS messages using the Internet, covering 700 networks globally. Here are some ideas for using sms by BulkSMS: Banking. SMS services enable banks to provide better customer service. These include sending transaction notifications, balances summaries or statement notifications or information services such as rates and special offers. Bidding: SMS services extend the functionality of auctions services to the mobile/wireless devices such as mobile bidding and special interest alerts. Company: SMS services to help a company stay in touch with their staff and customers by sending meeting confirmations, important notices, incentive messages and product announcements. Credit Card: SMS services to notify when purchases are made, of current balances and special offers. Financial: SMS services to send portfolio information, stock quotes, price alerts and news headlines. Groups: SMS services to help groups communicate with each other about activities, meeting and special interest information. Locate: SMS services offering driving directions, yellow pages, street address directory, e-taxi, traffic delays and flight arrival/departure updates. Marketing: SMS services to support marketing campaigns and promotional activities via coupons, special offers and incentives. Personal Info: SMS services offering reminders for birthdays, anniversaries, festivals, gifts, public holidays, bill payments, meetings, tasks & events. permalink (October 5th, 2009)

Wallet of the future? Your mobile phone

An interesting read from CNN on the future of mobile payments and why it's slow taking off in the US.

Mobile phones in the United States will be able to make electronic payments, open doors, access subways, clip coupons and possibly act as another form of identification. These futuristic uses for phones are becoming reality in countries like South Korea and Japan, which typically are ahead of the United States when it comes to mobile technology. ... Gartner Inc., a technology research company, issued a report in May saying mobile payments will increase 70 percent in 2009, to 73 million people worldwide. By 2012, the company says, 190 million people will make mobile payments. Still, that adoption rate is relatively low. Only 3 percent of people in North America are expected to conduct mobile payments in 2012, Gartner says.

Read full article. [via Raphael Hunold on Twitter] permalink (August 19th, 2009)

'Entourage' Star's iPhone App

According to Forbes, Entourage's Adrian Grenier is planning to launch an eco-themed app for Apple's iPhone and Google's Android mobile platform this fall. The effort marks another foray into celebrity-backed mobile applications. Recently, Actor Greg Grunberg (who plays mind reader Matt Parkman on Heroes) launched an iPhone/iPod touch app called yowza!! allowing you to find coupons for stores where you live.

Grenier isn't coding the app himself. Big in Japan, a Dallas, Texas-based firm that created the popular shopping comparison app ShopSavvy, is providing most of the development and design work. The new app, called ecohero, will incorporate ShopSavvy's barcode-scanning technology to help consumers weigh products' environmental and health impact. Read full article. permalink (May 14th, 2009)

Weekly round up of iPhone apps featured in textually blogs

A round up of iPhone apps featured the last couple of weeks in textually blogs: TEXTUALLY Bump: The app that made it 1 billion. WatchOut! Searches for registered sex offenders where you live. Heroes Actor made yowza!!, to find coupons. Epicurious app offers over 25,000 recipes. Social media blog Mashable gets an app. Browse over 20,000 designer handbags with iBags. The Animalizer let's you morph a friend's face. By a woman developer. Find out what's playing at Broadway In Chicago. For a daily dose of The L.A. Times on your iPhone. iFootsteps contains 21 different sounds of footsteps. Help reduce symptoms of Tinnitus ringing in your ears. World Newspapers - A directory of 4000 world newspapers. WATCHING TV ONLINE Movie trailers playing at a theater near you. Great. Land of the Lost, a puzzle-driven iPhone app ties in with movie release. RINGTONIA TappyTunes plays your favorite tunes by just tapping. permalink (May 2nd, 2009)

Heroes actor makes iPhone app

Actor Greg Grunberg (who plays mind reader Matt Parkman on Heroes) has created an iPhone/iPod touch app called yowza!! allowing you to find coupons for stores where you live. [via Digital Media Online] Features: -- Deals negotiated specifically for Yowza!! users -- Instant results based on your current location -- City and zip code based coupon searches -- Favorite your coupons for easy retrieval at the register -- Keep track of how much you've saved -- Cashier scans barcodes right off your device -- New deals and stores added daily -- ... permalink (April 24th, 2009)

The mobile phone as a universal remote controle

A little-known private company, Akoo International, is setting up a network of digital screens that can send and receive messages from cell phones. The New York Times reports. "The company aims to transform mobile devices into universal remote controls that can select on-demand content from big-screen TVs in airports, bars, and restaurants. With Akoo's network, namedm-Venue, cell phone users can send a text-message request for a music video, sports clip or fashion show to be delivered to their phone or played on a nearby Akoo television screen, which would act much like a high-tech jukebox. In return, companies can deliver digital coupons and promotions to the cell phones. " permalink (February 25th, 2008)

IKEA mobile kiosk

This kiosk spotted at an IKEA store in Seattle, allows you to sync your mobile phone through text messages or by scanning barcodes, giving access to coupons and information on their weekly specials. And when you leave the store you’ll still get regular updates as to what’s new or what’s on sale. [via OhGizmo] permalink (February 18th, 2008)

Sending gifts via text message helps break down social barriers

Sending gift coupons via text messages has become a multi-million-dollar business for South Korea's largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom, since its launch in December 2006, reports dpa, seeing year-over-year growth of 700% from 2006 to 2007 according to Web2.0 Asia. " Kim Mi-ran, a 20-year-old co-ed, smiles at a text message that she has just received on her mobile phone. It says, "Enjoy an Ice Caramel Macchiato coffee at Starbucks." It was from a male student whom she had met socially, but seldom talks to her. "I like this way of letting her know my interest in her," grins the male student who sent the gift coupon by phone."I would be a little too nervous to call her and say 'hi," he adds. SK Telecom says that the carrier has almost 300,000 young users a month sending about 1 million dollars' worth of the "gifticon" brand coupons, which are good for sending small gifts like coffee and ice cream via their friends' cellphones. The service is meant to nurture human relationships, explains Kim Hye-Jin, a spokeswoman for SK Telecom. ... Small sum gift items top the list of more than 100 gifticon items offered by about 40 franchisers, including Mr Pizza, Baskin Robbins ice cream, Burger King hamburgers and many Korean-branded snacks". permalink (February 7th, 2008)

Dillbert: Newspapers will die out within two upgrades of a cell phone

"Dilbert" creator Scott Adams predicts that newspapers will die out within two upgrades of a cell phone. News Tracker reports. "The iPhone, and its inevitable copycats, (let's call them iClones) are newspaper killers," he writes in the Dilbert Blog. "When you have a web browser in your pocket, a printed newspaper is redundant." He admits that 10 years ago, he predicted newspapers would die out in five years. So maybe newspapers will last for at least four upgrades of a cell phone. What would save newspapers? He imagines "your cell phone equipped with a built-in scroll of 'digital paper' that pulls out to the side, like a sideways Venetian blind, for reading web pages and documents." In a nutshell, the top five reasons newspapers will survive according to the Dilbert commenters are: 1. Coupons 2. Toilets 3. Boomers 4. Subways 5. Pet waste permalink (October 4th, 2007)

Study: More participate in mobile campaigns

The youth market has traditionally led the way in mobile marketing, but the older generation is beginning to take part in these campaigns as well, writes BizReport. That is the word from a new study from the UK's Mobile Marketers Association. "Youths are the most likely to use texting features and participate in mobile ad campaigns at 30-40%. However, the older age groups are increasing their use of texting and other mobile features according to the study. ... The most popular services for mobile consumers are downloads (music and video), coupons and coupon codes for better savings and alert-based services like news, weather and sports updates." permalink (February 5th, 2007)

Visa launches pilot mobile payment program

According to Mobile tech News, Visa is now testing the delivery of mobile payment coupons and rewards via text message, graphic and bar code images direct to US consumers' mobile devices. "The pilot, which is scheduled to launch in November with approximately 500 Visa employees in California, is expected to expand to public trials over the next year. Pilot participants will receive payment coupons and rewards that can be redeemed at on-site cafes located at Visa's corporate campus." permalink (November 15th, 2006)

The dead going “hi-tech” in Vietnam

According to tradition in Vietnam, the lunar July is the month to give thanks and praise to parents and ancestors as well as to help lost souls. However, this tradition has taken on some of the trappings of the modern age, wtih vendors selling cell phones or gift coupons, allowing allow the dead to go shopping at ‘underworld supermarkets’. Vietnam.net reports. "CM City’s Binh Tay Market is famous as a place producing votive subjects for export. There a man offered: “You can buy everything for the dead here. If you can’t find the thing you need, you can place an order”. “Nowadays, no one sends ordinary TV sets to the dead, but LCDs. We have LCDs with screens showing all kinds of current game shows,” he added. At another shop, the seller recommended products for the dead: “Laptops for businessmen, I-pod MP3 players or O2 mobile phones for the young...” Related articles on mobile phones and death rituals: -- Handsets get taken to the grave -- The "Phone Angel" -- Japan's camera phone craze spreads to funerals -- The cellphone gravestone -- In Ghana, you can take your Nokia with you -- Dead people in Slovakia are buried with their mobile phones -- Irish are taking their cell phones with them to the grave -- Mobile phone started ringing inside coffin permalink (August 27th, 2006)

Cellphone opens more paths for marketers

AOL The CTIA Wireless trade show in Las Vegas this year is proving how creative marketers can be when it comes to get at you through the cellphone in your pocket, reports USA Today. • Under a deal Sprint announced with the Luxor hotel, when you land in Las Vegas and turn on your cellphone, the Luxor can check you in before you exit the plane. During your stay, you might get mobile coupons for discounted meals, show tickets and other offers. Using the phone's GPS capabilities, the Luxor can see if you are off the hotel premises and tailor mobile promotions to lure you back. Sprint is also working with the Las Vegas Monorail on a service permitting riders to buy tickets wirelessly. You punch in a five-digit code plus the keyword "ride," and get a text message with a mobile ticket. You can either wave the phone at a gate scanner to board, or visit kiosks to print a ticket. • Cingular Wireless will let viewers of the TV show One Tree Hill send text messages to determine plotlines in upcoming episodes. Cingular has already had success getting customers to text in votes on American Idol. Consumers who sent text messages in response to banner ads for the show Veronica Mars got voice mail from star Kristen Bell (in character as Veronica) 45 minutes before the show was to air. Digital agencies Third Screen Media and Carat Fusion, which worked on the campaign, said traffic to the show's website jumped 500%. • At CTIA, Verizon Wireless and Rocket Mobile unveiled a new version of Song IDentity. As before, you can learn the name of a tune by holding certain Verizon handsets next to a radio or other music source for 10 seconds. Now, you can also download corresponding ring tones, if available. • PayPal launched PayPal Mobile, which lets consumers use phones to transfer money to other people, or companies and charities. If you punch in a code to buy the Fox DVD Walk The Line, for example, you'll get a callback from PayPal confirming the transaction. permalink (April 6th, 2006)

Your cell phone as a personal shopper

Several companies are experimenting with better ways to send merchandise information to mobile phones, and they aim to transform the devices into personal shopping assistants, reports the Mercury News. BlueRay "San Francisco's WideRay has placed kiosks in selected music stores, video game stores and theaters across the country and in Europe. When customers come within 25 feet of the kiosks, they receive an SMS asking if they're interested in getting more information about various items the store is selling, perhaps music, ring tones, videos or games. If customers are interested, they can go to the kiosk and choose what to download. The messages and downloads reach customers' cell phones over radio waves using Bluetooth. ... Customers can choose between free downloads and those that come with a fee. But no additional charges appear on customers' cell phone bills because the transaction doesn't involve the wireless carrier. Cellfire Last week, Santa Clara-based Moonstorm released software called Cellfire that would automatically download coupons for stores in the customer's area to Cingular cell phones. Customers don't receive any intrusive text messages but must click on the Cellfire icon on their phones to check out and use the coupons. ... Industry experts say it's a bit too early to tell how well these new mobile advertising methods will go over with consumers." permalink (December 19th, 2005)

Radio poster tested in Gifu

The city of Gifu in Japan is testing the radio poster system from this month till October. The experimental service is intended for sightseers and local residents. The radio poster system allows people to retrieve SMS messages by showing their RFID cards (or RFID-chipped wallet phones) to a poster. You can play a stamp rally game, receive discount coupons, get information about nearby restrooms and sightseeing spots. [via RFID in Japan] permalink (August 15th, 2005)

McDonald's offers wireless content as part of marketing campaign

McDonald's restaurants in the Pacific Northwest will give away ringtones, wallpaper and coupons to wireless handsets during a Web-based promotional campaign, reports RCRnews Wireless. "McDonald's will use the Web site www.mobilestr33t.com as a focal point for the campaign to offer ringtones from hip-hop artists, classic rock bands, and movie and TV show theme songs." permalink (January 27th, 2005)

Maybeline New York Launches Text Campaign in The Netherlands

Cosmetics brand Maybelline New York has launched a mobile-based campaign to distribute discount coupons in The Netherlands. Emerce (in Dutch) explains the initiative is supported by online banners where users can find the number to text their request to in order to get a 2€ discount on Maybelline NY's products. reBlogged from adverblog . permalink (December 10th, 2004)

M-commerce morphs

A must read article from SignOnSanDiego.com on mobile commerce and some of today's players. -- Soapbox Mobile - envisions wireless sales of movie tickets, concert tickets, even airline tickets. -- Zingo - launched a service in England that allows customers to hail a cab, for a small fee, using their cell phones. cf Too Few Drivers For Mobile Service and Being tracked down by your mobile. -- Mobot - Advertisers and readers checked out the company's pilot program in the September issue of Jane magazine. Companies offered samples, coupons and more information to interested readers. cf Camera phones become ad tools and Taking Pictures of Magazine Ads. -- Digimarc - Oregon-based Digimarc includes a digital "watermark" in the ads. While not visible to the naked eye, the watermark can be decoded by software installed on a phone. cf digital watermarking technology for use with camera phones permalink (November 8th, 2004)

Cashing in on mobile reality

In malaysian, a mobile coupon service allows cell phone users to download discounts, according to The Star. "A new service called “mobile coupons,” enables the downloading of coupons offered by different outlets onto the phones for use later. The customer is given a product code and each download costs RM2. A serial number is also given for each coupon as a security feature to ensure that the coupon cannot be reused or transferred. The service is available for multimedia messaging service (MMS) mobile telephone users." permalink (October 21st, 2004)

People happy to receive SMS promotional vouchers

New research shows that 58% of people in the UK are happy to receive 'coupons' for discount offers and promotions on their mobile phones, and that redemption rates can be as high as 86%, according to Revolution Magazine. permalink (May 25th, 2004)

Junk e-mailers target mobile phones in Asia

Cell phones are becoming the latest target of electronic junk mail, with a growing number of marketers using text messages to target subscribers in Asia, reports USA Today. "Text messages from retailers offering discount "coupons" are already common, particularly in Singapore, and can even be tailored to activate when, for example, a network identifies that a subscriber is close to destinations like shopping malls. Text messages are big money spinners for mobile operators, reaping profit margins of 60 to 80%, so the networks can benefit financially from such spam even as they fight it". permalink (February 3rd, 2004)

Text Messaging New Tool for BMG

Cell phones are becoming yet another weapon in record companies' promotional arsenals. And AT&T Wireless and BMG have emerged as early players in the movement, according to Yahoo News. "Through the service, customers are sent digital coupons for $2 off various BMG titles purchased at Sam Goody stores. AT&T Wireless plans to reach out to 1 million of its customers this month to expand the program. By year's end, nearly 40 BMG titles will have been promoted through a unique text-messaging program created by AT&T Wireless. At the moment, AT&T Wireless is working exclusively with BMG, but the company expects to work with other labels, according to senior director of business development Jon Vlassopulos". permalink (November 17th, 2003)