Star Wars Fan? Get The Verizon Wireless Motorola DROID R2D2!

When Verizion licensed the Droid name from Lucas Films for their take on Android we thought that was that. We were mistaken:

Star Wars fan? Android fan? Verizon Wireless customer? September 29th at midnight should go down in history for you then. Not only is that when Motorola’s DROID R2D2 limited edition device goes on sale at select Verizon Wireless stores across the country, but it’s also looking to be quite an event. We have been just sent a couple images from one of the participating stores, a store called Vista Ridge in Lewisville, Texas, and we also have some info on what is exactly is happening for the launch — it’s pretty crazy. Apparently, the participating stores will be giving away 5 Motorola R2D2 units, there will be actual “Stormtroopers” at the store (employees dressed up as Stormtroopers), video gaming, a live DJ and more. Stores are getting approximately 200 units and stock will not be replenished.

Check out the story for full details at Boy Genius Report.

Wal-Mart Is Jumping Into The Wireless Service Business...Next Week

Sure it's just an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator), which means that Wal-Mart is essentially reselling T-Mobile's service, but this is still major news:

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday that it is introducing the first cell phone plan that uses the chain's own branding, further demonstrating its clout in getting special deals from wireless carriers.

The Wal-Mart Family Mobile service will run on T-Mobile USA's network. Unlimited calling and texting will cost $45 per month for the first line and $25 for each additional line for the family. The service will be offered starting next week in most of its stores across the nation.

Read the entire press release here.

Doctors Go Mobile

Here's an interesting story over at Computerworld about the growing importance of mobile devices among doctors:

Smartphones and tablet PCs are poised to play a greater role in health care as doctors and patients embrace the mobile Internet, panelists at a mobile health technology conference in Boston said last month.

In a poll of 2,000 U.S. physicians by Manhattan Research LLC, 71% of the respondents said that a smartphone is essential to their practice, and 84% agreed that the Internet is critical to their jobs.

Read more at Computerworld.

Building Customer Loyalty Via SMS Messages

For all of those retailers who still send customers coupons via email or hand out reward vouchers there’s an easier way to gain customer loyalty: SMS messages. Instead of having customers print out page-sized coupons and present them all crumpled up at the register, with mobile coupons customers simply receive a notification which contains a coupon link and present it to the cashier.

“This is easier for the consumer and for the company as well, which now has less need to print and distribute expensive catalogs. The conclusion is simple – mobility is a key to the future success of loyalty programs.”

To read the entire article, click here.

Click here to learn more about mobile coupons at Club Texting.

Click here to learn about text message marketing solutions for retailers at Club Texting.

Mobile Marketing Is Sure To Boom This Upcoming Holiday Season

2009's holiday season was the largest mobile ad season to date. However, early indicators show that 2010 will blow 2009 away in this department. Experts predict that companies will spend more money than ever on mobile marketing campaigns this upcoming holiday season. More people than ever before will be searching for coupons and deals via their smart phones, and companies will be sure to deliver.

“Brands and marketers that do not include mobile in their holiday marketing plans this year will miss out on a growing number of consumers who will be considering products via their mobile devices, especially those with advanced smartphones who search and browse products and brands,” said Neil Strother, Kirkland,WA-based practice director at ABI Research.

To read the entire article, click here.

To learn more about mobile marketing, visit Club Texting.

New Technology From OnStar Lets Drivers Control Their Vehicles From Their Mobile Phones

Ever leave your car and then wonder if you actually locked it? We know, it happens to all of us. But now, with this new technology from OnStar, vehicle owners can power their lights, start their car, lock and unlock the doors through their mobile phones!

“The technology will be launched to customers via unique separate apps from Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC that they will begin rolling out in the months ahead. The OnStar technology is validated to work on iPhone and Android platforms, but we’re exploring opportunities to expand beyond in the future,” Ms. Carriere, a spokeswomen for OnStar, said.

Want to learn more about this exciting technology? Read the entire article here.

.

Juniper Research New Report’s Results Seem Promising

Juniper Research have released their report, Mobile Commerce Strategies: Prospects for Payments, Ticketing, Coupons & Banking 2010-2014 and the study's results seems favorable.

"The study forecasts that rapidly increasing usage of mobile devices for tickets for all kinds of travel and entertainment, plus sports events will be one of the main factors driving the growth of mobile commerce. Mobile ticketing transactions are forecast to exceed $100bn (£65bn), based on gross transaction value, as early as 2012. This is more than double the market in 2010."

To read the entire article, click here.

AdMob Reports That Android Becoming Increasingly Diversified

MobileCrunch has a story up with some interesting results from March's AdMob report on the state of the mobile web:

The report showed the clear stratification of the Android handset market. Whereas in September 2009, there were only 2 major Android handsets, there are currently 11. In September, HTC dominated Android with HTC devices accounting for 96% of all Android web traffic. This month, Motorola took that throne, and accounted for 44% of Android web traffic. HTC was close behind with 43% of requests and Samsung sat at an abysmal 9%.

And how about the iPhone:

Though the focus was on Android, some interesting news came out on the iPhone. Just 2% of iPhone OS web traffic came through the 1st gen iPhone, compared with 39% for the 3GS, 25% for the 2nd gen iPod Touch and 20% for the iPhone 3G.

Head over to MobileCrunch for analysis and more.

Editorial: What Apple and Gillette have in common

Mickey Alam Khan, the Editor of Mobile Marketer draws an interesting analogy between Apple and its App Store and Gillette's razor business:

The genius of Apple is that it has replicated with the newly launched iPad tablet what it has got down pat for previous products such as the iPod in 2001 and the iPhone in 2007, followed by the App Store in 2008.

...

Indeed, it is not the iPad device that’s the prize – it is the revenue from the hundreds of thousands of applications created for that device, locked and unique to the Apple ecosystem. It is the potential of downloads, mobile advertising on applications and revenue shares from sales of movies, music, software, books and media.

Apple, in effect, has learned from Procter & Gamble’s Gillette: create and upgrade the subsidized razor, win the loyalty of its target market and then keep them coming back for refill blades year after year, life-stage after life-stage.

For Apple, the iPad is the razor and applications are the refill blades. The iPod with its songs from iTunes and the iPhone with its songs and applications from the App Store are cut from the same philosophical cloth.

Read the whole thing @ Mobile Marketer.

Are Mobile Marketers Already Embracing Apple's iPad?

According to Mobile Marketer the rush is on:

On the heels of Steve Jobs’ official introduction of Apple’s iPad, marketers and developers are racing out the door with applications and advertising services for the new tablet.

Mobspree has launched TouchPlay, an interactive publishing service that uses the iPhone and iPad’s rich-media capabilities. First up on the platform is “Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed,” a copublishing collaboration between SnackLogic and Gibbs Smith.

...

Scoreloop, a provider of social mobile games, has begun development on games for the iPad.

The game developer said the iPad will allow for a more sophisticated gaming experience with integration of its play challenges, achievements, friend recommendations and social network integration. Scoreloop also supports the iPhone and Google’s Android devices.

Read more @ Mobile Marketer