There are so many ways to avoid advertising now, from pop-up blockers to DVRs, where you can skip through TV commercials. But advertisers are a clever bunch, and they are considering ways to deliver commercial messages to your cell phone. Some ideas include text messages with coupons, or ads that are based on your geo-location. "Hey, you're near our video store, stop by for a discount!" the ad might chirp. If the ad is not too intrusive, it's relevant, and it's useful (and maybe you'd get a discount on your cell service), maybe you would want it. That goes the thinking, but a recent Forrester survey found that 79% of people were annoyed just by the idea of ads on cell phones. What would you do if an ad popped onto your cell phone? Would you change services, or figure out a way to block them? Or would you welcome them if they were more discreet and relevant? Share your thoughts in the comments below and I'll include the best ones in the next Your Take Roundup.
What do you think about advertising on your cell phone?
by Mark Glaser, January 5, 2007
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16 comments so far, Add Yours
Ged Carroll aka renaissance chambara said:
January 5, 2007 5:38 PM
My cell phone (or mobile phone in UK English) is an enormously personal device. I resent it when I get unsolicited commercial calls on it. The odds of advertising being able to catch me at just the right time and with the right offering is so small that I can't see a need of it.
On mobile web services like mobile search I would tolerate text ads so long as:
They didn't take up too much of the page
They were not affecting my efforts to see the information that I was looking for
They weren't eBay or Amazon which 90 per cent of Ad Words seem to be at the moment
Grace Nationville said:
January 8, 2007 8:31 AM
Thanks for the collecting the forecasts.
Happy 2007!
Vladimir Sanchez said:
January 8, 2007 8:42 AM
Only thinking about commercials on my cell phone makes me feel annoyed. Now, that is if it's going to be as receiving junk mail, but if I may choose a discrete list of things I am REALLY interested on (and can turn ot on and off), then it's my option and I think it can be util for me.
N. D . Shane said:
January 8, 2007 1:13 PM
I'm not in favor of it...
Omegacode said:
January 9, 2007 1:52 AM
The idea of using geo-location for advertising seems like a good method of dispersing ads. But it may be the case that when people are out and about they have an agenda which they dislike being side-tracked from. I think that if you did a simple random survey, you'd find that the majority of people out and about are following some sort of planned agenda. And even if nothing is on the agenda (say, they are out just to be out) it's likely that they would rather not be disturbed.
Although it is interesting to note that self-report data is not reliable. People often complain about junk mail and cold calls, but the fact is that these methods of advertising persist, because THEY WORK.
To a large extent cold call telemarketing, TV advertisements and mass mailings work. People seem to complain, definitely. But there is some bias to that. The people who do complain are vocal, and the majority of people are mum. Sampling for survey is herein problematic because of the expression of non-opinions.
I think that if the idea were implemented with a way to opt-out (like with the national do not call database) that it will have some, if not widespread sucess.
There is of course, an even better idea. Allow users to download the ads that they like. That sounds odd. yes, but imagine downloading the BMW short movies onto your phone, using the phone's broadband capability without charge. Or better, the sprint "theft deterence" commercial. Users could download and watch multiple ads and gain credits for each ad they watch. Code could be implemented to make sure that users only get credits for the ads they watch, with varying levels of credits based on the demographic information of the user, and the revenue that the ad generates. So say, older users would get more credit from watching ads about cars for example, and young teen users would get more credits from watching ads about teen movies and soft drinks.
Ads that got credit, and that are liked, can be retained onto the phone for re-watching, but rewatching offers no credit until a certain time frame has elapsed. That would prevent people from stacking up on credits simply by watching a high credit ad over and over again.
Such a system offers incentive for users to watch ads, as well as offers a narrowing scheme as to which ads are watched by whom.
This also encourages advertisers to come up with ads that are interesting and engaging, which will ultimately create more product attachment and higher levels of brand loyalty.
With phone memories growing at an increasing rate, there may really be no limit as to how lengthy the content is. Companies may conglomerate their advertising to make a series of short movies showcasing different items. Ex. Story about a main character who uses various super-salient branded items to get out of sticky situations.
Craig Sorenson said:
January 10, 2007 11:57 AM
I believe that if the ads are based on my opt-in, the promotion would be relevant to my interests. I see the cell phone as an dominant force in terms of effectively broadcasting such relevant content to a huge population of users. It is a good thing!
JJ said:
January 11, 2007 10:26 AM
I would be greatly opposed to any type of commercials, ads, or text messages on my cell phone that I have not requested!
tom said:
January 11, 2007 11:06 AM
get away from me.
Rachael said:
January 11, 2007 11:38 AM
Advertising already follows me everywhere, from the sleeve on my coffee cup to the tunnels of the metro (not to mention the metro cars themselves...) Having advertising on my cell phone would not only be an enormous inconvenience, but would make me apt to refuse to use a product, service or company. Annoying me before I have even had a chance to interact with a company or product does not inspire consumer confidence.
jean peterson said:
January 11, 2007 3:27 PM
I already notified the President of Sprint two years ago that if my cell is used one more time by an advertiser, I will cancel my generous contract with them, which is now month to month. My cel is for MY use, not the advertisers, and not for Sprit's desire to increase their revenue by selling my number. I have not received any more unsolicited ads on my phone. Stand up and fight gang. Impeach Bush for not upholding the constitution of theUnited States, which he is required to do by LAW while you're at it.
jean peterson said:
January 11, 2007 3:27 PM
I already notified the President of Sprint two years ago that if my cell is used one more time by an advertiser, I will cancel my generous contract with them, which is now month to month. My cel is for MY use, not the advertisers, and not for Sprit's desire to increase their revenue by selling my number. I have not received any more unsolicited ads on my phone. Stand up and fight gang. Impeach Bush for not upholding the constitution of theUnited States, which he is required to do by LAW while you're at it.
Larry said:
January 11, 2007 4:40 PM
No Ads, No Spam, Just leave me alone!
eboo johnson said:
February 21, 2007 4:59 PM
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Nokia 8800-- $180
Nokia N91-- $190
Nokia N80-- $160
Nokia 9500-- $200
Nokia N90-- $170
Nokia n92--$200
Nokia n93--$250
Motorola V3 Razor-- $130
Motorola V3i/V3x-- $150
Motorola a1200 ----$150
Motorola Krzy 1----$190
Sony Ericsson W800i-- $190
Sony Ericsson P910i-- $170
Sony Ericsson w900i--$200
Samsung D500-- $159
Samsung D600-- $175
samsung D900-- $200
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I-MATE JAM Black . $150
I-MATE JAM ...... $160
I-MATE PDA2 ...... $190
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murphy gerrad said:
March 17, 2007 2:22 AM
Nokia N95----$300
Nokia 8800 Sirocco---$350
Nokia 8800-- $180
Nokia N91-- $190
Nokia N80-- $160
Nokia 9500-- $200
Nokia N90-- $170
Nokia n92--$200
Nokia n93--$250
Motorola V3 Razor-- $130
Motorola V3i/V3x-- $150
Motorola a1200 ----$150
Motorola Krzy 1----$190
Sony Ericsson W800i-- $190
Sony Ericsson P910i-- $170
Sony Ericsson w900i--$200
Samsung D500-- $159
Samsung D600-- $175
samsung D900-- $200
SIDEKICK II-- $120usd
SIDEKICK III--$200
Nextel i930-- $130
MICROSOFT XBOX 360 AT--$200usd,
PLAYSTATION 3 FOR--$400
NINTENDO WII FOR----$420
I-MATE Smartflip .. $140
I-MATE JAMin ... $200
I-MATE JASJAR .... $200
I-MATE K-JAM ..... $160
I-MATE SP5 ......... $150
I-MATE SP5m ..... $155
I-MATE SP4m ...... $120
I-MATE JAM Black . $150
I-MATE JAM ...... $160
I-MATE PDA2 ...... $190
I-MATE PDA2k ......... $168
I-MATE SP3i ......... $130
I-MATE SP3 ......... $135
I-MATE Pocket PC ......... $140
I-MATE Smartphone2 ........ $110
I-MATE Smartphone ........ $115
and Other model of cell phones are also available in store. For order enquiry, please email us at: gerraddealersltd@yahoo.com
murphy gerrad said:
March 17, 2007 2:25 AM
Nokia N95----$300
Nokia 8800 Sirocco---$350
Nokia 8800-- $180
Nokia N91-- $190
Nokia N80-- $160
Nokia 9500-- $200
Nokia N90-- $170
Nokia n92--$200
Nokia n93--$250
Motorola V3 Razor-- $130
Motorola V3i/V3x-- $150
Motorola a1200 ----$150
Motorola Krzy 1----$190
Sony Ericsson W800i-- $190
Sony Ericsson P910i-- $170
Sony Ericsson w900i--$200
tom tom GO510 ---$250
tom tom GO90 ---$220
and Other model of cell phones, laptops and games are also available in store. For order enquiry, please email us at: gerraddealersltd@yahoo.com
murphy gerrad said:
March 17, 2007 2:35 AM
Nokia N95----$450
Nokia 8800 Sirocco---$550
Nokia 8800-- $180
Nokia N91-- $190
Nokia N80-- $160
Nokia 9500-- $200
Nokia N90-- $170
Nokia n92--$200
Nokia n93--$250
Motorola V3 Razor-- $130
Motorola V3i/V3x-- $150
Motorola a1200 ----$150
Motorola Krzy 1----$190
Sony Ericsson W800i-- $190
Sony Ericsson P910i-- $170
Sony Ericsson w900i--$200
Samsung D500-- $159
Samsung D600-- $175
samsung D900-- $200
SIDEKICK II-- $120usd
SIDEKICK III--$200
Nextel i930-- $130
MICROSOFT XBOX 360 AT--$200usd,
PLAYSTATION 3 FOR--$400
NINTENDO WII FOR----$420
I-MATE Smartflip .. $140
I-MATE JAMin ... $200
I-MATE JASJAR .... $200
I-MATE K-JAM ..... $160
I-MATE SP5 ......... $150
I-MATE SP5m ..... $155
I-MATE SP4m ...... $120
I-MATE JAM Black . $150
I-MATE JAM ...... $160
I-MATE PDA2 ...... $190
I-MATE PDA2k ......... $168
I-MATE SP3i ......... $130
I-MATE SP3 ......... $135
I-MATE Pocket PC ......... $140
I-MATE Smartphone2 ........ $110
I-MATE Smartphone ........ $115
and Other model of cell phones, laptops and games are also available in store. For order enquiry, please email us at: gerraddealersltd@yahoo.com
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