MobiTMS "Season 2"

With "TMS Search" we have already broken the barrier represented by the need of “a mobile application to download” to use TMS.
The year 2007 was really great for the Mobile Media and MobiTMS. We achieved a cycle of applications developments to offer the “TMS suite” of Internet Mobile services.
This year was also used to develop some test markets with our initial partners (a dozen of magazines and brands) in the different TMS focus domains and the results have shown us the needs and wishes of consumers and advertisers in relation to Mobile Media.

On the consumers side we noted:
- A strong demand for multimedia and interactive contents from the Internet Mobile users
- A large majority are ready to accept to be connected on mobile ads but only if they can receive a “Value Added” for the connection cost. They wish to earn: Goods, Cash back, Discount coupons, Invitation, High value info to store…)
- If a large majority feel the “2D barcode: cool” they still are not ready to download an application on their phone for diverse reasons (they don’t know how to, they don’t want or they don’t have a phone compatible).
- They are more comfortable to use a service “SMS Premium like” first to have a better mobile user experience and to test the service and appreciate the benefits.

On advertisers side we noted:
- A large majority expect to include the mobile media in their ads campaign strategy. According to eMarketer, advertising spent on mobile media will rise to $12billion by 2011.
- They foresee not to consider anymore mobile as a stand alone network but they still continue to feel the approach is very complicate in terms of mobile formats distribution.
- They wish to use a platform which can synchronize digital content between web and mobile.
- They are really interested in the 2D barcode concept as a way to promote and integrate the mobile media into a global media strategy including Print Digital and Mobile, but they are concerned about the impact of the “entrance barrier of the service”, which requires the download and installation of a mobile application, for a early adoption of the concept by a large majority of users.
- They are open to spend a part of their campaign budget on mobile if the users can be identified and if some data can be collected.

Considering the value of all of these informations collected MobiTMS propose for 2008 the “MobiTMS Ads platform” to use the mobile media as a part of a global campaign to offer consumer something personal
The platform has two high value components in direct consideration of the above reflexions.

- The first one offers assistance to create mobile multimedia content, synchronize web & mobile interactive contents (like RSS, Blogs, Videos…) and to distribute the mobile contents generated automatically in all the mobile formats (including iPhones). MobiTMS provide all the tools to offer consumers goods, coupons, cash back, invitations … to be viewed, stored or downloaded and tools for data collection and campaign online management.

- The second component offers solutions to promote and provide a direct access to the mobile content generated with TMS Codes and 2D barcodes to be printed or/and embedded in web widgets or social networks application such as Facebook application

With “TMS Search” the mobile search engine of Codes and barcodes, (which is a Mashup of “SMS Premium” and “Google Search” user experience) TMS now offers, a way to access directly the mobile contents which does not require the download of a phone application. (Read the PR: http://www.pr-inside.com/are-2d-barcodes-the-next-revolution-r295282.htm)

The user who does not want or does not know how to download an application on his phone can use TMS by just going to www.TMSsearch.com with his phone web browser (web icon) and enter the TMS Code. (We can also use a SMS to send the link to the search for the “dummies”)

The users can also choose to download the Free TMS barcode reader and scan the 2D barcode associated to the TMS Code.

With these 2 options TMS is the first service in the world to offer all mobile Internet users a direct access to mobile contents.

Our experience has shown where SMS is predominantly used the TMS Shortcode and the browser solution (which is very close to the SMS premium experience) is the way to access for people who don’t want, can’t or don’t know how to download the application on there phone (or to show them the benefits of the service with some initial campaigns, before asking them to download an application).

Happy New Year and think mobile.