Wireless Watch for April 16, 2004
Digital Orchid supports new NASCAR wireless content; U.K. campaign tries mobile ticket promo; mobile video services still a dream in Europe.
Digital Orchid supports new NASCAR wireless content; U.K. campaign tries mobile ticket promo; mobile video services still a dream in Europe.
New NASCAR Wireless Content
Turner Sports Interactive division NASCAR.com has rolled out a suite of wireless content applications and services for car racing fans on the Nextel network. Created in partnership with wireless developer Digital Orchid, “NASCAR.com to go” is a subscription service providing breaking news, qualifying and race results, series standings, driver updates and other NASCAR content.
U.K. Campaign Tries Mobile Ticket Promo
U.K. mobile operator Orange has launched a series of two-for-one movie ticket promotions in association with the Cinema Marketing Agency (CMA). The promo distributes virtual film tickets to users who text or call a short code from their Orange mobile phone. The campaign was enabled by U.K. wireless firm Flytxt.
“The m-ticketing service also provides the opportunity for data-capture to identify key consumer trends,” said Lars Becker, CEO of Flytxt.
Mobile Video Services Still a Dream in Europe
It seems the growing legions of marketers who have begun deploying video on the Web will have to wait a while before they can even think about using the mobile medium in the same way.
Frost & Sullivan is warning European investors and developers that they shouldn’t expect much from mobile video before 2007. Until that year, the research firm said the revenue opportunity for such services will be hampered by slow device penetration and problems with standards, billing, image quality and ease of use.
SMS, From the Pope to the U.S.
For the first time, the Vatican will begin sending prayerful text messages across the Atlantic, something it began doing in Italy and the rest of Europe in 2003. Subscribers of Cingular and Verizon Wireless are so far the only U.S. residents eligible to receive thoughts, prayers and guidance from the Pontiff’s teachings for .30 a pop. Mobile users can subscribe to “The Pope’s Thought of the Day” by sending a text message containing the words “POPE ON” to the number 24444.