MsgMe is a platform that aims to be the easiest web-based SMS/MMS campaign creator and manager available. It allows for the creation of otherwise complex mobile marketing campaigns by almost anyone, via a step-by-step guide to create rich mobile experiences for it’s users.

Whether you’re a blog owner, or a rock band, the tools provided by MsgMe allow for an effortless deployment of almost any type of SMS-based mobile campaign. From subscriptions to polls and surveys to coupons, the platform will let you do it all.

With distribution channels such as widgets and “Send2Phone” it’s easy to get your user to interact with your new mobile content. Premium content such as videos, MP3s, ringtones, and wallpaper can even be incorporated into campaigns for brand awareness and customer loyalty.

What stands out the most is the ease of use and the intuitiveness of the control panel when creating a campaign. You start by registering a keyword to identify your brand or message, and then begin to build your campaign using a series of sub-keywords and options that can be presented to the user. There’s to many options to list, but as an example we’ve setup a test campaign that uses some features that might be beneficial for site and blog owners that publish content often. Here’s what you do…

Simply text “MMW” to 67463, which is MsgMe’s shortcode, to see an example of a working campaign. You should then receive an SMS with a set of options. We’ve setup a simple poll, and a “news” section which will return our latest post in a series of SMS messages. Give a try and reply “A” to see our latest post. There’s a ton more that can be incorporated, but this shows a feature that I like personally, which is the use of an RSS feed to distribute content via SMS which is great for mobile readers of a blog. There’s a great analytical system as well to let you know who’s been accessing your content, and how often.

It’s well worth testing out, and by far the easiest self-managed SMS mobile campaign platform that I’ve tested in a while. Version 2.0 of the MsgMe platform is coming out in May as well which will include several updates and enhancements, so stay tuned…

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With Google’s interest in securing a section of the upcoming wireless spectrum that becomes available after the digital switch, there’s been some speculation that the main intention on Google’s mind is to offer a free nationwide wifi network based on the high-power frequencies usually reserved for television.

Not long ago, Google submitted a six-page letter to the FCC outlining processes and tests to avoid interference on the frequencies in question, which was a major concern to the FCC. Google also promised to reserve some frequencies to be used not for wireless Internet and provide free tech support for people using their WiFi.  It looks as though they’re laying the groundwork to dovetail nicely with the launch of upcoming Android handsets.  That is if the FCC and the privacy groups don’t interfere.

If Google can control the network, as well as the handset software, and combine it with their core search engine knowledge, it will post serious privacy concerns regarding the vast amount of personal data and pure information Google would control.  Since Google’s number one goal is to generate a larger footprint to incorporate it’s advertising models into, it obviously makes sense that it would want to place itself at all levels of the process, but controlling and managing that much information could cause problems.

On the other hand, the benefits are enormous in terms of both advertising revenue for Google, and the fact that everyone would have access to a completely free wifi network that’s available anywhere, anytime.  It would take a ton of testing and configuring to make sure it’s secure and stable enough for widespread adoption, but exciting to think about nonetheless.  We’ll see what happens…

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A little off topic, but noteworthy nonetheless; I’ve been using a free service called YouMail for several months now and love everything about it. It’s a service that allows you to divert your cell phone’s voicemail to a new system that allows for several levels of customization with new features added all the time. Of course, being a free service, there has to be advertising somewhere, and YouMail took the mobile marketing aspect to monetize their service in a unique way.

Among the many features YouMail offers, like custom greetings and notification options, is a feature that I find notably beneficial. You can opt to have all your voicemails transcribed and emailed to you or sent to you in a series of SMS messages. It’s great when you’re in a meeting or a situation where you can’t call to retrieve your messages. You can simply read the text messages or email to get the info instead.

What YouMail has done is attached a simple call to action to each text message it dispatches and every email it sends. The call-to-actions advertise a variety of things, but they always catch my attention. I think it’s a unique way to get ad impressions. When each message is transcibed, it’s broken up into 3-4 SMS messages sent in a series depending on how long the message is, and each SMS has a different call-to-action. It’s usually things like “Bet on the 2008 Derby. Reply BET” or something similar, but it’s usually something catchy. The email notifications are the same way.

You never know where you’ll find embedded mobile marketing. It’s slowly finding it’s way into our daily lives more and more to the point that we don’t even notice it anymore.

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Mobile coupons are gaining acceptance more than ever, and it’s due in large part to companies like CellFire that manage large-scale deployment of digital coupons to the masses.  CellFire in particular is setting the standard with it’s mobile application that gives the user an endless variety of savings that can be redeemed instantly, and are always available.

A user can simply access the cellfire app and search an ever-changing inventory of available coupons.  No need to clip coupons, or remember to check a website or an email before you go.  Since the coupons are updated and accessed in real-time, there’s no need for text messages as well.

CellFire is close to introducing a brand new service called Mobile Grocery Coupons, which will be a service that’s integrated with major grocery store chains to offer special discounts and content to customers in real-time.  According to their website…

“…Cellfire’s mobile grocery coupon service will provide shoppers at major grocery chains with exciting exclusive discounts directly using their mobile phones and grocery savings cards. Many consumer brands are already on board, including General Mills, Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark. We will be announcing the program launch very soon…”

The app runs on almost every phone made, and with several carriers.  It looks like they’re trying to incorporate their technology into other uses like the grocery store example which should prove to be interesting.  As customers become used to the savings and ease of use of the loyalty programs and other features the cellfire system provides, they’ll be more apt to continue shopping at that particular chain.  The marketing potential is huge on several levels.

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BlueBite is a bluetooth proximity marketing system we’ve talked about before, that uses bluetooth and wifi technology to beam content and advertising directly to mobile devices.  It’s had it’s privacy issues, but when done correctly it can be a great marketing tool.  Ace Marketing and Promotions thought so too.

The two companies have a cross-marketing agreement that will allow Ace Marketing to offer the proximity marketing services provided by BlueBite, and will provide its clients with a revolutionary interactive, and situation specific, consumer experience to help them market their products or services.  Since Ace already covers nearly every aspect of marketing across all mediums, the bluetooth technology is a nice compliment to their already impressive portfolio of services.  In the words of Ace’s CEO…

“…This partnership means individuals will be able to truly interact with advertising, downloading and redeeming a digital coupon for example, or viewing exclusive out-of-home video content that pertains to what they are doing at any given moment. This new medium enhances and simplifies everyday activities such as shopping and travel. And since the transmissions are independent of cell phone carriers, the content is always free…”

Ace Marketing has already deployed BlueBite’s technology in a few major markets like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, and BlueBite has already transmitted 30-second videos of CW’s shows at strategic locations, two-for-one beverage coupons at nightclubs around the country and content to drive booth foot-traffic at trade shows.

The two companies plan to set up bluetooth “hotspots” in shopping malls, sports arenas, concert venues, airports, transit hubs, and other high-density foot traffic areas. Every deployment will allow mobile phone users to opt-in to receive various digital content, via Bluetooth and WiFi, when they are in the vicinity of the target location.

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We’ve touched on the topic of mobile image recognition in regards to mobile marketing before, and it seems a new company is entering the market every day.  Unlike barcodes, almost any image can be recognized and linked to digital content, which makes much more sense when it comes to using the technology for mobile campaigns.

A company called MoBot has what they call “Mobile Visual Search Technology,” which is a fancy way of saying image recognition via a mobile device.  Like similar companies, MoBot aims to connect consumers with any camera phone, on any wireless carrier to brands, mobile content, and commerce without the use of complex codes, navigation, and changes to any cross-media campaigns.

The platform takes into account that most camera phones don’t take the best quality photos, which can hinder the recognition process.  Because of this, they built a system that relies on image recovery, pattern recognition, and image matching capability to enhance the accuracy.  In their own words…

“…cognitive science research has shown that the human brain uses blobs to recognize objects, that is, your brain does not use sharp edges to determine that a table is a table or a face is face. Mobot applies algorithms patterned after these methods to solve the problem of mobile visual search…”

MoBot’s technology seems to be one of the most accurate systems available at the moment, and large brands are taking notice.  AT&T recently partnered with MoBot to offer interactivity on it’s more traditional media advertising.  User’s could then snap a photo of an advertisement, book cover, etc. and text it to AT&T to receive relevant content.

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ActiveMedia has a mobile solution for just about every situation; from mobile ticketing to mobile “loyalty” and a few days ago announced the launch of their new mobile marketing platform dubbed ActiveFRONT.  It aims to “comprehensively bring the power of WAP and SMS together to deliver fully integrated mobile marketing campaigns.”

ActiveFRONT aims to offer fully managed, “campaign-aligned” mobile Internet sites that work with SMS and WAP marketing campaigns to deliver a unique marketing impact and significantly richer brand experience to the end-users.  ActiveFRONT seeks to be particularly relevant for marketers wanting to run mobile campaigns that feature community-portals for things like special interest groups, lead generation, product catalog, and content sales and delivery. Raj Singh, Managing Director, at ActiveMedia said this about the new platform;

“We are proud to leverage our deep experience and unmatched understanding of mobile marketing to bring this cutting edge services suite. ActiveFRONT services include campaign conceptualization, design, building, hosting, content management, and auxiliary services such as SMS/WAP push, plus campaign management and promotion. We are sure that this suite would be of great benefit to brands and agencies looking to tap the mobile medium. ActiveFRONT is part of our ongoing commitment in 2008 to offer marketers a complete portfolio of mobile marketing and advertising services.”

The platform looks like it takes good advantage of WAP campaigns opposed to other mobile channels only because of the increased interactivity of a WAP environment.  Because of this, ActiveFRONT includes a ton of call-to-actions that can be used to boost the campaign; things like Click2SMS, Click2Call and Click2Email.

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