Facebook have just made life a little easier for its users! They just released a new mobile app which allows Facebook friends to call each other for free.
The App, which was produced by internet telephony company Vonage, lets users call their Facebook friends using voice over internet protocol (VoIP), providing both parties have the app downloaded. The app will be available on iPhone, Android, and the iPod Touch (for outbound calls only).Vonage Mobile for Facebook is free to download and use and will work across Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G networks.
Later versions will look to include instant messaging, SMS and the ability to make call to mobile numbers directly from the application. An iPad version is also currently being developed.
Although this app does appear to offer Facebook users a very convenient way to contact their friends, it does raise an unavoidable question: how many of your Facebook friends would you feel comfortable being able to call your mobile phone?
Posted by jen | Comments (0)
Check out this made-for-mobile video we produced for Valentine's Day. Click the picture to play it.
It works as a Valentine's card too: you can send it from our site direct to someone's phone (delivered by MMS). Try it out
here.
We'll be posting up some more examples of our work in mobile video soon!
Posted by colm | Comments (0)
In Jan 2008, I went to Tokyo (the new New - York apparently) "on research" to see what's what over in Asia when it comes to mobile and what is now leading the industry for them. I took some snaps and I met with Ogilvy digital (Tokyo).
Tokyo is just a mad place and, eventually, I was dying to go home when faceed with all the media clutter and advertiser presence. In spite of this, it is the real vision of an "always on", digitally mobile and connected society where, if you do manage to intercept a Japanese consumer you have to make it count!
They do this by putting a mobile response number/url/QR code/ or search box on their advertising. This allows consumers to act on the advertising there and then, reducing OTS, and maximising advertising effectiveness (Plus it's relevant and cool etc..)
Here are some snaps of mobile enabled advertising (from Japan!) If you are interested in seeing a full presentation download slides below! (Just scroll to end - past all the pictures)
Donald
Guinness Drip mat pub locator - you snap the QR matrix and it takes to you mobile website.
Mobile response QR code on McDonalds POS, Leads to mobile website where information on menu and nutritional value can be found.
Mobile Search box on advertising
Coca Cola Ambient advertising - snap image and be brought to "coke side of life" mobile website.
PRESENTATION!
Toky'o'Mobile_Return2Sender.ppt (4.92 mb)
Posted by donald | Comments (2)
Tags: donald douglas, mobile marketing japan
In a major positioning move from Nokia they have signed up Spike Lee to direct a new feature film. The twist is that the movie will be a collaborative effort involving hundreds of mobile users sending in their snippets under three themes starting with the concept of "birth".
The movie will premiere at club nokia in Los Angelos and online. Lee has said of the venture, that mobile is the future of filmmaking "whether people want to admit it or not. Speaking exclusively to adage, Spike said that the movie will be a loose narrative and music will bind all the footage together.
Spike Lee also owns his own advertising agency spike DDB which specialises in in youth, sports and branded entertainment marketing - the penny drops!
Spike Lee's most acclaimed work to date includes Malcolm X, Summer of Sam and Inside Man.
Posted by lisa | Comments (0)
Tags: nokia, spike lee, cell phone movie, spike ddb
Although Ireland have no place in the European finals this time around we must soldier on and continue to join in the fun!
And so brings us to Carlsberg's latest campaign that hopes to help us do just that!
Return2Sender is deee-lighted to announce it's involvement in Carlsberg's "Live It" campaign which has just gone live in the past few weeks. "Live It" is primarily executed online and over mobile. The brand is advertising through all traditional channels (On - Pack, TV, Outdoor, DM etc..), banner ads online and mobile advertising.
The main objective for the activity is to get consumers signing up to the promotion to receive their free Carlsberg supporters pack through the post.
Consumers can sign up by visiting the liveit.ie website or by texting LIVEIT to the shortcode provided.
Once registered consumers are given exclusive access to the Live It supporters area where they can catch latest news updates and fixtures, take the footbal quiz, watch videos (incl. retro football moments),upload their own videos of classic footballl moments and downlaod screensavers and wallpapers. A support WAP site for the campaign has also been built and will also provide latest news, fixtures & results, TV listings, retro video vault and free mobile content. The mobile site will also be advertising on 02 active using banner ads.
If you would like to sign up text LIVEIT to 51725! Or visit www.liveit.ie
Posted by lisa | Comments (3)
Tags: carlsberg, euro 2008, new campaign, return2sender
You may or may not have noticed but last week was Budrising week in Dublin and what a week it was.. Jam packed full of already established bands like Hard Fi, The Streets and The Ting Tings and up an coming acts such as Hadouken! and Ravonettes, the gigs took place in urban venues around the city from Monday 9th April.
The week finished on a high with a purpose built stage being erected on the docks of the IFSC. The stage was graced by The Streets and Mix master Mike (I think?? He is the DJ who previously played with the Super Furry Animals).
The Budrising Street Party was a low key event with all 1,000 tickets having being won by those who had pre - registered their details online.
Having attended the gig myself (we did some work there -- see below!) I can honestly say, as branded experiences go, it was top - class.
Upon arrival (after a walk along the red carpet) there were a myriad of activities in which to spend your time including a strong man competition, a vintage shop, a shoebox disco, a falafel stand...the list goes on.
The venue itself (inside the tent) was pimed out to the max with LCD screens placed from front to back so that anyone who was any height could catch the main acts.
As for the acts.. Mike Skinner & co put on a rockin show to a limited audience of 1,000 people and with their new found intimacy had to deal with neglige being chucked at them! The band responded well by getting everyone to kneel down for parts of songs before jumping back up for cresendos.
Something that I'm sure was a first experience for all.
In between acts break dancers entertained the crowd and also got most of them involved in some way or another!
For our part, we provided Bluetooth for the gig which was a bit of a first in terms of placing multiple bluetooth pods or units at an event.
The units were fully branded and spouted out ringtones from 'The Streets' and also a handy mobile venue guide.
The venue guide was a video and gave everyone who received it the opportunity to get a taste for the main attractions of the night.
Other mobile stuff at Budrising included SMS alerts around concerts, Mobile internet advertising and WAP site for information and content and finally Bud Snappers who took pictures of everyone as they arrived.
The pictures were saved and subsequently sent out to all those who wanted them.
A great Festival enjoyed by all - looking forward to Budrising Summer 2008 now!!:)
Posted by lisa | Comments (0)
Tags: budrising, dublin, mobile content, return2sender
With the imminent release of Madonna's big comeback album "Hard Candy" and Justin collaboration "4 minutes (to save the world)" the pop Queen is pushing promotion through alternative media channels. Firstly Madonna debuted the single in a Unilever ad (US) for Sunsilk and now she is attacking mobile with gusto!
This time Madonnna will be releasing the new album (7 tracks) exclusively to 250million Vodafone customers worldwide before the album hits the shelves.
The tracks will be available from the 21st of April and will be released at the rate of "one a day" for the week leading up to general sale. Each track will remain live for 24 hours and then replaced with the next one. The exclusive will be advertised on the Vodafone portal and a support site will also feature associated mobile content including ringtones, ringback tones and SMS tones.
John Reid, vice chairman of Warner Music, said: "This is an innovative way to reach millions of Madonna fans around the world, building anticipation and excitement around this landmark release and helping to create a real event for Vodafone customers."
Vodafone is the number one digital music service provider in the mobile industry in Europe and number two digital music service provider overall.
Posted by lisa | Comments (0)
Tags: madonna, hard candy, mobile music, mobile content, vodafone
Came across a clever video today (compliments of Amarach research) which illustrates quite finely how students feel in the new media environment and more importantly within their current landscape i.e. at college, preparing for "real - life". A study was carried out where the students questioned and assessed their own behaviours in a rolling document.
Really interesting stuff which you can watch below
Posted by lisa | Comments (0)
Tags: mediatedcultures.net, mike wesch, manhattan, kansas
In association with Dublin's WHPR we have just launched Mr.T on your mobile! Mr.T and Snickers are back on TV this month after huge success late last year and a WAP site full of Mr.T content is being made available in support of the campaign re - launch. The campaign has become iconic for it's advertising and associations with Mr.T. The ads have been downloaded over 800,000 times on Youtube already.
The WAP site features a whole host of content for free download including - ringtones/Mr.T sound bites, wallpapers, the ad itself, the Snickers "Get some nuts challenge" and there's also a competition offering a chance to win an Nintendo Wii.
The full content mobile internet site has been live for over a week now and is being promoted on the Vodafone LIVE portal. Animated banner ads have been up on various areas of the portal as of last Monday (18th Feb) and results are proving that there is real cut - through to be had for early movers in this environment.
Mobile internet runs on a cost per impression model as opposed to internet banner ads, which are charged per click.
Not only are mobile users responding to the ads but activity on the site itself has far exceeded expectations. Visitors in their thousands are downloading content, watching the video ad on their handsets and forwarding the site on to friends. The result now is that thousands of people out there have the Snickers/ Mr.T content on their phones and are free to pass it along to friends via bluetooth and MMS. So now the brand lives in their phones, their most personal device .
To view the banner ads please visit Vodafone LIVE or to be sent a WAP link leading to the site text the word SNICKERS to the shortcode 51727. (Std text rates apply, ROI only)
If not in Ireland you can access the site by typing in the following URL www.r2s.ie/snickers
You can also give us a call on 01 679 0640 if you would like to discuss the campaign further, find out more about mobile internet sites and also mobile advertising! Get Some Nuts!!! Grrrr....
Posted by lisa | Comments (0)
Tags: mr.t, snickers, mobile internet, mobile advertising, return2sender, mobile content
Music producing Svengali Timbaland ia about to make history by recording the first ever mobile only album. The artist/producer has teamed up with mobile network Verizon to launch their ""Mobile Producer in Residence" program where Timbaland will release a new song every month from March. The music will be solely availble to Verizon customers.
The plan is for Timbaland to collaborate with a new guest artist every month and all tracks will be recorded from the fully equipped Verizon Mobile recording studio bus.
As the bus stops in cities around the US, fans will be able to catch a glimpse of Timbaland's recording process by gaining exclusive access to the Bus itself.
Read what Timbaland has to say on the partnership here.
Posted by lisa | Comments (0)
Tags: verizon wireless, mobile music, timbaland