Newsletter Archive - News U Can Use
September 2005 News U Can Use (Part 2)
09/30/2005 - Another busy news month. In case you missed these key stories, here are the summaries with links to the full story:
Cell Phone Will Become an Ad Machine
We somehow missed this one earlier but thought it was important enough for your consideration. In April of this year Teen People, a magazine owned by Business 2.0 parent Time Inc., announced that it will integrate mobile phones into its marketing plans. The magazine will send out weekly updates and breaking news -- along with targeted advertisements and promotions -- via SMS to subscribers.Indicators Show US Consumer Confidence Drops
It appears the announcement never hit the major news monitors, but it could be one of the largest commitments yet to using mobile phones as a marketing tool. Often referred to as the "third screen" in consumers' lives (after television and the PC monitor), the cell phone has long been considered a potentially important marketing and advertising tool, if only because it's the one device consumers carry with them throughout the day. But no one has figured out how to get the advertising to the phone without annoying the recipient.
For the full story, click here.
After taking hits from two major hurricanes and with rising gas prices, a leading consumer confidence index fell significantly to 86.6 in September from 105.5 in August. This is the lowest level since October 2003. Economists noted the decline was larger than expected according to a survey conducted by MarketWatch. But economists also indicated that it would be premature to conclude that consumer spending will follow confidence down.MSN Buys VoIP Company
The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by TNS NFO. The cutoff date for September's preliminary results was September 20th.
Other leading consumer surveys from groups such as the University of Michigan survey have shown similar dramatic declines in consumer confidence following the recent hurricanes that have ravaged large parts of New Orleans and now Texas.
For the full survey, click here.
Seems everyone is getting into the act. We've recently run a couple of stories about the growth of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Now shortly after Google announced its entry into instant messaging and Internet phone service, rival Microsoft announced it had acquired Teleo, Inc., a San Francisco-based Voice over Internet Protocol -- maker of technology for handling phone calls over the Internet. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Teleo, which was founded in 2003, has fewer than 25 employees. The company's operations will be integrated into Microsoft's office in Mountain View, Calif.More VoIP - eStara Comments on eBay Purchase of Skype
An MSN spokeswoman said the company made the purchase in order to improve MSN Messenger's VoIP functionality. "As part of MSN's ongoing investments in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Microsoft has acquired Teleo," the spokeswoman said. "MSN plans to combine the technology and expertise of Teleo with the existing VoIP investments to help advance MSN's efforts to develop and deliver powerful customer solutions throughout the MSN network."
For the full commentary, click here.
Following eBay's recent $2.6 billion purchase of Skype Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) capabilities, eBay indicated it hoped to venture into the burgeoning pay per call market as a way to monetize lead generation. It hasn't been long before Yellow Page industry providers such as eStara wanted to respond.Transferring large files
Joe Siegrist, Senior Vice President of Technology at eStara a leading developer of VoIP-based click to call applications and inventor of the first PC to Phone VoIP for eCommerce application commented that "companies are beginning to realize the commercial uses of VoIP are huge. As the only VoIP-based pay per call provider, eStara is supporting industry leaders, like Verizon Superpages, by developing pay for performance solutions that work online and in print."
According to Siegrist, "eBay has correctly seen the potential of the pay per call market, but their acquisition has been driven by the stand-alone potential of Skype as a revenue generator. Based on what eBay has planned for potential applications resulting from the Skype acquisition, it's clear that eStara, and others, are further along in the development of pay per call and click to call services. It's not just about the voice contact it's where, when, why and how you engage the online customer that matters. It's about integrating voice with data tools."
The Kelsey Group predicts that by 2009 pay per calls will reach an estimated $1.4 billion. "We know that in order to be a player in pay per call, you have to offer phone to phone connectivity," said Siegrist. "Moreover, pay per call is not a peer to peer application, it has to combine both online and conventional telephony components."
With more than 350 large enterprise clients across hundreds of countries in 15 languages, eStara's technology is the most widely deployed click to call service in the world. "It appears that eBay is buying Skype on the promise that they can deliver what eStara has been doing since 2000, which is bridging phone-based and online customer interaction," said Siegrist.
Thanks to Kim Komando for this news item. She runs a very informative website that provides tons of great pc and technology tips. The issue here is regarding very large files you receive through email. Even with a broadband connection, it can really be a problem for many systems.Las Vegas Strip to Get Even Bigger
As an industry, we move a lot of digital pages, ads, proofs, etc. Of course, getting a file on time is also critical. Kim's recommendation is a provider called Dropload.
The site provides a handy way to transfer files quickly. Once you complete the free registration, you can begin uploading files. The files can be up to a whopping 100 megabytes. Simply enter the recipient's e-mail address. They'll get an e-mail with a link for downloading the file. Since they're sent the link and not the actual file, you won't overwhelm their inbox. The files are even scanned for viruses.
For this and other tips click here.
In a city that is known for big bets, building big, and a very competitive Yellow Pages marketplace, the MGM Mirage recently gave the public its first look at the next biggest thing, perhaps the biggest project ever built here or anywhere. The company released more detailed plans for its Project CityCenter, a $5 billion mixed-use monster on the Las Vegas Strip that will boast 18 million square feet of casino, hotel, condominium, and retail space -- roughly six times the size of the company's flagship Bellagio resort.
For the full story click here.