Trends - Devices

Going into this post, I should mention one thing: I don't have a smart phone. Sure I have mobile web on my phone, but it would kind of feel like I'm driving a car and being asked what it's like to fly a plane. So I'm going to post my thoughts in a hypothetical world where I own the best dang smartphone there is.

Am I open to mobile marketing? For sure, as longs as it's not pushed in my face and offers me me some beneficial features - even if that's just mild entertainment.

Personally, I haven't experienced an mobile campaigns, but I had helped to develop one for a project with the Rideau Centre. It involved low cost bluetooth points at all entrances, as well as bluetooth touch spots on posters and video screens to accompany the posters. It was for a campaign that included events and seasonal fashion at Rideau, and also inlcuded contests. You would get messages sent to your phone as you enter the mall, and then a greeting an invitation to enter a contest would appear. The poster would also feature the same things, and would offer coupons to download to be used that day in select stores. This was seen as a gateway into the future for Rideau, as it was low cost, and it could be reused for future campaigns.

I think one of the most useful branded apps that I came across was for Dunkin Donuts. While simple, it helped make an everyday process more interactive and efficient. It was a coffee run app where other people could all log on, place their order, and then on your phone you would have a list of what everyone wanted without haveing to hunt them down and write it all out. I like that it shows how to make technology a tool for social centric activities, making it much easier for people to collaborate quickly.

I'm not really sure it would be considered marketeing, but the only thing I can think of that is a local mobile marketing effort, is Metro with the smartphone barcodes for expanding articles and information available in the papaer.

I am not able to use Foursquare of Gowalla, but I would if I could, as I enjoy collecting virtual trophies and would like the concept of incorporating the real world into the virtual.

Even though I haven't used either of those apps, they would not give me any privacy concerns as they are completely voluntary applications. Now if my phone automtically published where I was at all times, that's when I get concerned.