Mobile Marketing

Those two words will be on the minds of marketers and ad agencies a lot more this year. Last year saw more ad agencies and smart advertisers growing to understand the value of connecting with customers anywhere, anytime, anyphone and what it can bring to the marketing mix.

Over the last two years in Jamaica, Digicel led the way with text2win competitions like the Digicel Birthday Club, Caribbean-wide promotion for Guinness and text2vote campaigns; such as the uber successful American Idol like television show called Digicel Rising Stars.

Cable & Wireless also added its share to the market. Additionally, party and event promoters began using it more to build a mobile community and promote their events but we’ve only scratched the surface regarding this.

So watch for more companies and brands and the retail industry seeking to build their own mobile commmunities, wanting to speak to their customers directly, instantly and more cost effectively. Since currently, there is only one mobile marketing platform provider in Jamaica, SMS Communications (with the Ucantel Brand) expect additional providers this year as Indian and American companies have been sniffing the marketplace for opportunity to enter.

Mobile Banking will also get more consumer attention.

Here’s to using your phone to get acccount balance details automatically, real time exchange rates, stock prices and more. SMS Communications has some exciting solutions coming.

Wimax will become more available.
Digicel missed its mid summer 2007 release. They were to launch residential wireless along with a subsidised laptop for customers programme. So we’ve been asking when,and are they still going to? Or are they reworking their strategy to be ready to face the Carlos Slim-owned, America Movil that bought MiPhone for US$70million last year.

About the Author
Ingrid Riley is a new media consultant and tech entrepreneur, with over 10 years local and international experience in technology, media and communications. Her areas of expertise are in Web and Mobile Product Development; Digital Marketing Strategy; Web and Mobile Content and Business Model Development; Research and Consumer Trendspotting.

SiliconCaribe was launched on September 7, 2007 by Ingrid Riley, award-winning investigative journalist and publisher now new media consultant and technology entrepreneur. She serves as editor and leads a small passionate team located in Jamaica, Trinidad, Eastern Caribbean and New York. Our homebase is Kingston, Jamaica.