Watch 2012 Olympics on mobile TV

Olympics 2012 will mark the beginning of a significant technology that can change the very way mobile phones are being used. I’m talking about Mobile TV. Err… is there any correlation between Olympics and Mobile TV? Yes, there is.

London Olympics would be the most watched event in 2012 without a doubt and mobile operators and mobile advertisers are thinking of ways to make the most out of this opportunity. The answer for that could very well be Mobile TV.

A lot of operators are testing the waters already and they’ll be ready to help you check out Olympics events right on your mobile phone, come 2012. The most important things that could decide the way operators will bring you mobile entertainment are the auctions for L Band Spectrum, 2.6 gigahertz spectrum, and analogue television spectrum. The reason is simple – these auctions will decide which technology can be used to take mobile TV to consumers in the most effective way. Operators are already very busy working on various technologies to make 2012 Olympics go mobile. Check out this list.

Vodafone, in Italy, brings mobile television to users through DVB-H (digital video broadcasting handheld) technology, backed by Nokia.

Orange and T-Mobile use TDtv technology for mobile television and will soon launch about 24 mobile TV channels to test the market.

BT and Virgin used DAB technology for their BT Movio mobile TV, which is now a defunct service.

Qualcomm’s MediaFLO is yet another technology that can work well with the L Band Spectrum.

The only way mobile operators can profit from mobile TV is through mobile advertising. So, there are talks on that too. I’ve already stated my opinion on mobile TV advertising and I think it will open new avenues for both mobile advertisers and mobile operators. Not to mention, we, mobile users, will end up getting so many options in our mobile phone that we’ll find it difficult to choose one.

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising, All things mobile phones, Mobile TV.

0 comments.

On why experts shouldn’t talk for people - II

Let me state two things.

First, mobile advertisers and cellular operators, at least as of now, give you the option of opting out of mobile advertisements. I, like every other mobile user, believe that it will stay that way.

Second, don’t ever predict things. Operators know their customers too well to do any such stupid thing like making mobile adverts compulsory. They know that customers can switch to some other network at the flick of a finger if they want to. So, operators will be careful enough not to push their customers too far to make them take a strong decision against them.

I’m done. Now you can read what David Haskin said about ‘the demon’ that is mobile advertising and why I said what I said in the beginning.

PS: Now don’t come up with another post which states that mobile operators around the globe will conspire against mobile users and make mobile ads compulsory, thereby leaving them with no choice or some crap like that. If you actually think that way, contact Mr. Steven Spielberg and get your script ready for the next sci-fi movie.

PPS: I already wrote a rebuttal for an expert who ‘claimed’ something similar. Now, here comes another. Let me see how long this series goes!

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising, Rant, All things mobile phones.

0 comments.

Israel Mobile Operator’s Successful Ad-funded Mobile Gaming Service

Cellcom, a leading Israel mobile operator, launched a revolutionary mobile gaming service a couple months back, which was completely funded by ad content. The games were free of cost for the users and had ads embedded in them. They were not banner ads or videos, but ads which came as part of the gaming environment in the form of product placement. Ad sponsors included some big names like McDonalds, Adidas, Nokia, Samsung, and Walt Disney. The mobile operator recently released the results of its gaming campaign, which was very much positive. The gaming service had a stupendous 44% CTR (Click Through Rate), which is extraordinary even by mobile advertising standards. The users were offered coupons and various other incentives to click on the ads and the response rate was double positive. Considering the success of this initiative, I think a lot of other mobile operators would follow suit with such gaming models. What do you feel?

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising, Mobile Games.

1 comment.