New Media Mindfulness

Trend Report: Teens, Cellphones and Digital Signage Convergence

2008-07-05T00:10:00.003-05:00

Sponsored by:

Overview | Free Download

Today’s teenagers are accustomed to an interactive experience. They have grown up with TiVo®, the internet, and the cellphone. Nearly everything they use has been customizable and community-based. Traditional, image-based advertising just doesn’t cut it for this group.

So why haven’t more retailers taken advantage of digital signage to market to this attractive consumer population? Digital signage can easily provide an opportunity to implement interactive that appeals to cellphone-savvy consumers (such as teens). Moreover, there would be little media-based cost in implementation, as consumers already have cellphones, and you possess the digital signage! To see more on cellphone and digital signage convergence, see the article generously provided by Enqii.

Download "Trend Report: Teens, Cellphones and Digital Signage Convergence"

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Mike DiFranza assures that the OVAB will not miss a beat.

2008-05-23T16:37:00.002-05:00

You can take that statement to the bank.....the OVAB seems to be growing quickly and it is great that the board members and members....well to see the heavy hitters involved....I truly admire Captivate-even with the proper funding they have done a wonderful job-and I assure you it was/is not easy-rewarding-I bet ya!

Norris Steps down as OVAB president/CEO after nine months on the job.

Norris is leaving to become senior vp-strategy and business development/digital marketing and commerce at Cablevision, writes MediaPost.

The association will not miss a beat as far as execution of plans, Mike DiFranza, president-general manager of Captivate Network and chairman of OVAB says.

Suzanne Alecia, president, advertising sales at The Hotel Networks - a founding member of OVAB - will be the new president/CEO.

OVAB recently announced that Arbitron has become a member, and DiFranza says another announcement on new members will be coming soon.
Full Article

Wallspace Effect-the New Billboard Channel

2008-05-03T10:07:00.010-05:00

Marketers Turn Vacant Storefronts In Mall Into Ad Venues

Full article composed by Sarah Mahoney at Media Post's Marketing Daily.

The economy has been especially punishing for retailers, with such chains as The Sharper Image and Levitz filing for bankruptcy, others like Linens 'n' Things teetering on the edge, and dozens more -- including Zales, Ann Taylor, and Talbots...

In the first quarter of this year, the International Council of Shopping Centers says that of the 28 retail chains it tracks, there have been 2,122 store closings, with 38% in apparel, followed by 30% in home entertainment.

So WindowGain, a start-up based in Newton, Mass., has pounced on store vacancies as a new ad medium, with five displays currently running in Boston and eight in the UK. "We have our in-house staff securing high-traffic and high-demographic locations," says COO Prem Hira and then selling the ads to marketers, typically in four-week flights. But given the softness in retailing, "we also offer incentives for longer-term contracts. To date, our longest campaign is 16 months."
The business model is like any other out-of-home advertising company, he says. "We sell advertising time on our digital displays, and we compensate the real estate owners with a fixed monthly fee or a revenue share."
"We all know that traditional advertising is shrinking, and that alternative - including digital and out-of-home-advertising is growing," says Marc Feldman, VP/new business development at Developers Diversified Realty (DDR), a Beachwood, Ohio-based commercial real-estate company that has just entered an agreement to bring window displays to about 75 properties in the next 15 months. "Companies need to reach people where they are. People are spending more and more time at the mall, and our traffic numbers show that," he says. "So this is an innovative way to reach them. When people look in windows, they expect to see things."
Feldman says the technology is especially appealing for marketers with creative that has plenty of movement. "It looks really great when you see fish swimming or balls bouncing," he says. Boston sites have featured sea monsters (from the New England Aquarium), twirling cell phones (Verizon) and even windows (the Museum of Fine Arts Boston recently had an Edward Hopper exhibit, and its display used a moving version of what may be the most famous storefront art ever-the artist's 1942 "Nighthawks.") Right now, DDR, with about 740 properties throughout the U.S. and internationally, is rolling new ads out in its Atlanta properties.

"Ground-floor digital displays are ideal for just about any brand that wants to reach people on the go," adds Hira. Benefits specific to digital displays include real-time information. For example, the Boston.com spots actually pull news, weather, etc. from the boston.com web site.
The economy's loss may well be a boon for companies like WindowGain. The International Council of Shopping Centers predicts that store closings may total 6,500 for 2008, or about 1% of existing stores, which would be the highest since 2001.

Windowgain has a solid foundation and I expect that they will continue to do very well. Reaching the consumer on the move-window shopping-driving by-that is the goal and a smart target to focus on for advertisers.........I do want to mention that I first heard of this company at Digital Signage News Blog

Visit Windowgain to view the entire story.

2008-04-11T22:50:00.003-05:00

This post is borrowed from the The Digital Signage Forum Wordpress Blog which has great content and continues to educate me on the latest in the industry.......I have not posted in sometime-well I suppose that happens........in life. So for the few that read my blog, I truly appreciate it and look forward to posting more often....Dave

Is this on your Digital Signage Mind?

March 26, 2008 by digitalsignageforum

This is about Confronting Economic Challenges and the value of what customers are facing in Technology.

JD Events is tackling the real meat and potatoes of what everyone is discussing regarding how to improve revenue, customer experiences and analytics. This particular Keynote Session is Open to All Event Attendees and is available to you from the KioskCom & The Digital Signage Show - April 16-17, 2008 - Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

The economic challenges we face are now forcing companies to rethink their
budgets, and how they spend their advertising and technology dollars. A
more thorough analysis is being done on every opportunity, weighing the
benefits and ROI of each. Customer & Employee Facing Technologies - kiosks
and digital signage - are programs organizations can deploy that show
measurable results. Increased revenues, a better customer experience,
improved operational efficiencies and reduced costs have all been
demonstrated possible through proper planning and implementation.

Attend this presentation and understand:

How to plan for economic challenges that may lie ahead
How you can weather economic slowdowns
KioskCom & The Digital Signage Show Highlights: “A-ha!” moments of the week

Hear from C-level executives who are in the midst of navigating these
challenges:
Robert Fort, CIO, VP of Information Technology, Virgin Entertainment Group
Rob Garf, Vice President, Retail Strategies, AMR Research
Bradley Walker, CEO & Founder, Nanonation

ATTN: Digital Signage Forum Members: You can also save 20% on a full
conference pass! Use Source Code 8KL58D when registering! Visit
www.selfserviceexpo.com and www.thedigitalsignageshow.com for complete event
details and to register. Register for one event and attend both!

Contact JD Events directly at 203-371-6322 or info@jdevents.com with any
questions.

We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas!

For more info visit thedigitalsignageforum.com

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Digital OOH Forum-4/23/2008 NYC

2008-04-11T00:33:00.004-05:00

Out-of-home digital advertising networks – which can deliver advertising in stores, movies theatres, office buildings, doctor's offices and malls – are powerful new marketing and advertising communications channels that are quickly being added to the media mix.

MediaPost's Digital Out-of-Home Forum is designed to help marketing executives understand the rapidly changing market dynamics and potential of out-of-home digital advertising. The program will focus on strategies and tactics marketers and agencies can use to deploy these channels in their upcoming plans, and identify the best sources of assistance so they can take action.

The Conference will examine and explore:

Out-of-Home Digital Advertising Networks

Consumer Exposure to Out-of-Home Venues

Acceptance of Out-of-Home Advertising

What to Consider When Planning, Buying, Measuring and Advertising On Out-of-Home Channels

Audience Metrics for Translating Out-of-Home Traffic and Viewer Impressions

And much more...

April 23, 2008
New York City

For details visit Mediapost.com

Cisco-Movers and Shakers

2008-04-09T00:06:00.005-05:00

Cisco is taking digital signage to another level of exposure-their brand as well...... (The quote below is from an article Bill Yackey wrote on Digital Signage Today.Com and hits the nail on the head.) I would like to see more of this by other companies-advertising in video games on TV, etc.....just would be interesting to see the results as well....

While industry members know the list of “big hitters” in digital signage, Cisco’s product placement strategy and advertising plan is positioning them as one of the top dogs for digital signage in the eyes of the public.

"Cisco is illustrating that they 'get it' in terms of the advancement of digital signage and its place in ad display spending,” said Lyle Bunn, strategy architect with Bunn Co. “Digital signage allows for better message targeting, which will increasingly be based on dynamic ad provisioning. This is the domain of enabling technologies. Internet cookies, cable TV viewing history and cognitive recognition for digital signage all have the same objectives, and each is based on technology supporting target marketing. Message targeting is becoming a back-office technology where ads are pulled from storage and displayed based on pre-set 'if-then' display rules. This is a domain of practice that Cisco understands well and will help advance aggressively."

Cisco Homepage
Digital Signage Today.Com

QuickPlay/Amobee Mobile Video Ad Platform Goes Mainstream

2008-04-08T11:43:00.003-05:00

QuickPlay/Amobee Mobile Video Ad Platform Goes Mainstream
Vodafone mobile TV in Europe

Mobile TV and video firm QuickPlay has partnered with Amobee, which provides mobile advertising, to launch a mobile ad platform for video.
Similar in some ways to MoPhap and Vantrix's Ad Booster, the service provides:
Ad serving capabilities
Dynamic ad selection based on consumer profiles and contextual data
Rich media buys and ad-sourcing options
Dynamic video ad insertion in real-time
Metrics, including ads watched and for how long
The service was first implemented on Vodafone Italy's FreeVideo service. Amobee says Vodafone Italy's 3G users were able to freely access a plethora of "high-quality, local and branded video content" as a result.
Come 2010, the mobile video subscriber market is expected to total 59 million worldwide. As of November '07, about 77 percent of subscribers are in the EMEA and Asia/Pacific regions.
A recent study found consumers are willing to tolerate ads if they get free content, such as online video, in exchange.

Full Story via VOX

GO HEELS!

2008-04-05T12:01:00.001-05:00

Run, Baby, Run
SAN ANTONIO – There are plenty of national programs that want to employ an up-tempo transition offense. There are just not many that want to try to run with North Carolina. Nobody does it better, faster or more efficiently than the boys in Carolina blue, and the Tar Heels plan to prove that fact on Saturday.
Full Story Discuss

AirMedia: Boarding All Investors

2007-11-08T06:09:00.000-05:00

Interesting: I found a great link/tool in which you can type-in any URL, including blogs, and then find where or what search engine sites (google, digg, sphere, technorati, etc) the URL is connected too, listed, tagged or related. Not being a webmaster and still learning I thought that was pretty cool and is where I found this article and link to www.dealprofiles.com blog. (somehow was related to mine)

AirMedia: Boarding all investors
Posted on November 8, 2007 by ttaulli

In China, the advertising market is booming. And, so is the airline industry.
As a result, the combo is supercharging the growth of AirMedia. You see, this company is the largest digital advertising network focused on the travel sector in China.
On Tuesday, the company came to America – for an IPO (the ticker is AMCN). The stock spiked 39% despite the plunge in the US markets.
AirMedia operates more than 2,000 digital TV screens in airports as well as over 16,000 screens on airplanes. And, yes, advertisers have come on board, such as China Mobile (NYSE: CHL), Hitachi, Lenovo, and Nokia (NYSE: NOK).
Revenues for the first nine months were $15.9 million, up from $6.7 million in the same period a year ago. There was also net income of $4 million.
To get more background, you can check out DealProfiles.com.

Full Story

Billboards Are Sticking Around-With or Without Glue

2007-11-08T06:05:00.000-05:00

Billboards are sticking around - with or without glue

Simon Marquis (an advertising industry consultant and a former chairman of Zenith Optimedia)
The Guardian
Monday October 29 2007

One of the curiosities of advertising in our souped-up, interactive, digital age is the enduring popularity of poster advertising.

Even the glue is new. I enjoy hearing broadcasters, media buyers and planners and other advertising professionals gripe about the cost and rates attached to Outdoor. Sold out in many markets (so they claim), well then just sell by Q or even a few weeks for a whisper campaign or product launch....or you know something of that nature. OOH has worked hard and I'll let the professional tell the rest, as he has the knowledge, wisdom, insight, and character that I look up too-even if they are

As the internet devours ever greater chunks of the advertising cake each year, you might have thought that dear old-fashioned billboards would be the first to suffer. Not a bit. Outdoor (or Out of Home, as it has become more properly known to reflect the multiplicity of advertising opportunities) is positively bouncing with health, while other established media are fighting hard just to stand still. A medium characterised by such hi-tech wizardry as blokes on ladders with pots of glue and very large sheets of printed paper still cuts a dash in today's online world.
There are many reasons for this. For one thing, the medium is less and less about blokes on ladders. Many of the media that now qualify for the category Out of Home are themselves digital (escalator panels in some London underground stations for example). Others (taxis, toilets, health centres, trains, boats and planes, supermarkets, the backs of buses, airports - you name it) are modern media operations that don't require an overalled labour force armed with gluey brushes.
And there are brand new techniques of installing advertising images on to poster sites: leading outdoor company JC Decaux has recently launched its "dry-posting" technology in which new ads are posted without glue and in one piece - a palpable efficiency and one that the company believes is the most significant advance in the medium for decades.
Then there are the sites themselves. Long gone are the days when posters were just 10ft by 20ft panels with a simple wooden surround. Travel out of London towards Heathrow airport and you'll see a variety of shapes and sizes of poster site, housed in elaborate architectural constructions that draw the eye. Even St Paul's church in Hammersmith has become a massive poster site thanks to the inventiveness of Ocean Outdoor, one of the smaller, newer outdoor companies.

This investment in quality presentation has kept the medium fresh and attractive to advertisers - and has proved highly effective in justifying the premium rates that can be charged for access to the huge audiences that these sorts of high-traffic locations generate. Innovation in any advertising medium is essential to its continuing popularity with advertisers and agencies.

After calls for outdoor to get its act together, the medium has responded with vigour, creativity - and money - and has reaped the rewards.

I really enjoyed the story that Simon wrote! I am posting this along with a few others sometime after they were released-due to not blogging for a bit. I am going to complain this one time-my computer has been fried-from my own doing (I will take blame, until I know otherwise from the IT folks). Okay, a bit less than three weeks ago, I left my laptop in the car all weekend-the weekend I went to the zoo (for those of you who want to know)....after being warned that heat can damage the HD so that it has to be reformated or worse if things melt....anyways it is in the shop.....for 8 days now, and I am excited to be looking for a new laptop. The simple things in life create an atmosphere for my happiness. (Not that a computer is simple, it has just become part of my daily life. Leaving that perception of a laptop being simple, to me it is, but 10 years ago, the perception was not even including a calculator). All of this to say that the media world is changing, being part of Y and even X (as a witness of sorts) a rapid transformation is taking place-and I lead it all back to advertising-yes the "great" media shift is due to "great" (and I mean that) advertising and marketing ideas, campaigns, giants, thinkers and the like.

"The trusted desktop-which I rarely turn on-gets the job done-and I am enjoying not being pluged-in everywhere I go, although I need to be in some cases...I speak of those 2 days a week, even three or four some weeks" DE

Full Story and More

Very Worthy News in Raleigh-Durham

2007-09-16T23:49:00.000-05:00

Motricity raising $175M, angling for InfoSpace unit in prepping for IPO.

In the RTP we are blessed to have such wonderful thinkers, movers and shakers whom are not scared or perhaps very; thus causing the actual momentum.....I really like Motricity-I have heard nothing but great words, the articles I read on and off the blogs tend to be positive and thier business is exciting...similar to what I know...it is begining to blend-"New Technoplogy" is somehow going to always be linked to advertising or a brand......

Check out both of these companies....you may enjoy thier sites.

Take a Break.....

2007-09-16T22:55:00.000-05:00

I wish it were a break.....just wanted to let you'll know that I will be having time to blog again-yippie! I missed it.....so lets roll. I found this site when searching for my blog.....I have not read everything posted on the blog titled MediaShift, Your Guide to the Digital Media Revolution.....so far so good though.

Here's what the site/blog says:

Host: Mark Glaser: Journalist, Critic, Facilitator, New Media Expert
Continued...
MediaShift is a weblog that will track how new media—from weblogs to podcasts to citizen journalism—are changing society and culture. Continued...

MediaShift

DisplaySearch a NPD Group Company..

2007-08-20T22:34:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to give this company a short plug. DisplaySearch conducts market research for the digital signage hardware/technology/TV industry.....here they can tell you better.

Ross Young started DisplaySearch because the only reports available to the industry lacked sufficient depth and analysis, because those analysts lacked industry experience, global perspective and a complete food chain approach. Thus, Young assembled an elite team of analysts with extensive industry and market research experience, providing extensive contacts and innovative methodologies.

DisplaySearch's analysts have held key display-related positions at ABN AMRO Asset Management, Applied Komatsu Technology (AKT), AMD, Apple Computer, AUO, Booz Allen and Hamilton, Brooks Automation, Compaq/Hewlett Packard, DaiNippon Printing, Fuh Hwa Securities, Fusion Semiconductor, GCA, General Instrument, HannStar Display, Hitachi, Intevac, ITRI, Konka, LG Electronics, LG.Philips LCD, Maxtor, MIC, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Electronics America, NEC Corporation, NEC-Mitsubishi, Nikkei Market Access, Oak Technology, Optrex America, OWL Displays, Panasonic AVC Networks, Photon Dynamics, Photonics Systems, Rambus, Rendition, SAMCO International, Samsung Electronics, Samsung Semiconductor, Samsung Semiconductor, Seiko Epson, Sony, Techno Systems Research, Tokyo Electron Limited, Wintek Corporation, Yamaha, Zenith Data Systems, 3Dfx, 3Dlabs and others. All of DisplaySearch's analysts have at least five years of display industry experience.

DisplaySearch Homepage
DisplaySearch Blog

SpotXchange On Course, Booyah!!

2007-08-20T21:33:00.000-05:00

Quick Overview and Opinion, If You Will.....

The rash of adaptation from the demanding clients and press to reach the consumer in a "new" manner, or fashion...while they are working or on the go, are two good choices I suppose. The new websites, ideas, terms, players, money, talent, sales tactics, PR; and it all relates back to marketing, advertising and PR; or does it? Sure does, that one piece of information could be what makes or breaks a start-up digital signage network, or a start-up interactive mobile billboard provider... Technology is the key to the kingdom, as some would say. I beg to differ and beleive that technology is a large part of the key to the "new consumer" and "future consumers", but lets not go 100% tech and forget to hire advertising talent, wisdom, reps-whatever their title maybe.....the part that understands and can lead the horse to water and with a big enough ego carefully groomed, can even make some of them drink the water.....you better beleive it..plus PR and marketing, remember 80% of executives buy what they have seen or read about in print (print is still and always will be a player-at least in my lifetime)....I have witnesseds networks using prime talent and their sales staff for marketing, PR, hiring, scouting talent, partner relations, and selling....yes a company must run lean, and some reps always go the extra mile and shall take on some of these extra duties to hit above and beyond the desired income....but the organization shall run clean and pay attention to it's signals and fires. Not all sales reps are going to produce PR for a company-it is not their style....I see in some of the start-up digital signage networks that often the tech side (staff) over-power or out number the advertising wisdom (or talent) by a long shot, leading the network to a crash course in advertising sales-of a new media-tricky, maybe?....I have seen this happen with two networks that are only two hours from each other. This is not an everyday event, just a reminder.

I love reading and learning about what is working, what's new, what's hot, who's buying, what brand has the latest and greatest creative, etc...Booyah Networks the parent I assume of SpotXchange are providing new mediums or better put....ways to use current media channels in which the advertiser and consumer are both better served......SpotXchange appears to have made the correct hires from day one (Booyah) and it appears that they leaned on experts from online advertising, spent some money and now the litmus test, shows that they will make it; just fine, according to my quick but alert introduction to all of the companies of Booyah Networks.

SpotXchange Appoints Larry Goodman to Advisory Board
From NewswireToday - Westminster, CO, United States, 08/20/2007

SpotXchange, the Internet’s first online video advertising exchange, announced today that former CNN President of Sales and Marketing Larry Goodman has been appointed to SpotXchange's advisory board as a director.

Goodman will apply his more than 30 years of media and advertising industry experience to help SpotXchange expand its online video advertising marketplace.

Media buyers, advertisers and agencies use SpotXchange’s self-service tools to distribute online video ads across SpotXchange’s network of online publishers, targeting audiences by region, time of day, publisher and content category. Clients and partners include ClipSyndicate, blip.tv, Gaiam, NeoEdge and Visible World.

Full Story SpotXchange

Google’s nine points of innovation

2007-08-20T13:14:00.000-05:00

Google’s nine points of innovation

In May Google's Jim Lecinski, managing director spoke of Google's nine points of innovation. Short and sweet this seems like something the digital signage industry can benefit and learn from, so here they are:

Innovation, not instant perfection. Google believes in launching new products and ideas early and often, rather than trying to perfect those ideas behind closed doors before releasing them to the public. Then, customer feedback and popularity prove which projects are most successful.

Share everything you can. Small teams that communicate openly have proved the best results for Google. They believe in transparency in the workplace so that everyone knows what everyone else is working on. (Scary, right?) They have a computer program where employees can look up names and see what others are working on, so if they have an idea to contribute they know who to talk to.

You’re brilliant, we’re hiring. When Google interviews employees, Lecinski said they set the bar very high. They focus more on hiring generalists rather than specialists, as they have found generalists are more valuable and can contribute ideas to different parts of the company.

Allow employees to pursue their dreams. Lecinski said Google allows its employees’ time in a 70/20/10 model. Seventy percent of the time they work on Google’s search and ad flagships; they develop new programs like Images, Desktop and Finance 20 percent of the time; and 10 percent of the time employees are allowed to pursue their own high risk/high reward projects. Lecinski said Google Earth is a result of one of those projects.

Ideas come from everywhere. Sometimes Google turns to the public for new ideas. The Google mastheads, which are customized for holidays and events, are taken from non-employee submissions. One of the mastheads was designed by a 12-year-old girl.

Don’t politic – use data. With all the ideas floating around Google, the best way to determine which may work is to use supportive data. As Lecinski said, “Data beats opinion.”

Creativity loves restraint. Again, Google has to have some way to keep all of the employee-generated ideas streamlined towards the company’s goals. “Let people explore, but set clear boundaries for that exploration,” Lecinski said.

Get users and usage – the money will follow. This goes back to one of Lecinski’s larger points, “respect for end users,” but is a principle to follow in any form of business. He says to focus on creating things that are innovative and useful for people, not something you can sell.

Don’t kill projects, morph them. Google doesn’t waste ideas. Instead, they try to change and transform them into something the company finds useful.

Just thought some may enjoy this and the full article can be found at
Self Service & Kiosk Association

Pivot, Not a Waste!

2007-08-14T12:27:00.000-05:00

So far-I have seen some great tradional advertising of this product-this appears (only my young prediction) to be an offering simply put in place in order to capture a few very loyal or very new customers; but mainly to compete with all the different sub markets under communications. AT & T is hoping to be known as the one stop for any and communication needs...this is going to be bumpy, fun and daring for many!

ITECH Unveils LCD Marine Monitors-Sunlight Readable

2007-08-13T06:45:00.000-05:00

Good story and interesting company-to me....I am interested by the wide range of reach, they have product wise......ITECH is one to research...more soon.

ITECH UNVEILS SUNLIGHT READABLE, HIGH BRIGHTNESS RUGGED MARINE LCD MONITORS
ITECH STORY

Pivot, From Time Warner and Sprint, a Waste of Time?

2007-08-13T06:22:00.000-05:00

I am not so sure what demographic group, would be willing to purchase such a display of struggle shown by Time Warner Cable, in developing an appealing wireless addition to a solid buddle of communication services. Sure AT & T will be gaining massive market share-at least in the eyes of an industry, in which the mobility arm has had ZERO share.....the iPhone, even if they have paid to sell it, brings marketing power to an already powerful advertising force. The consumer will recieve benefits as found in the ads; such as mobile TV, mobile email, mobile everything a normal Blackberry offers-except TWC and Sprint are using phones with normal size screens that are not really built for constant use for services other than voice or SMS....I could be wrong; I see this as a waste of money for both TWC and Sprint (Sprint already has a new sketchy ad campaign-still based on creative and not media consumption!). Pivot is not competition to any new services from the wireless community-perhaps other cable operators, yes!

Pulled From Time Warner Website 8-13-2007

"Wouldn't it be great if you could take the Time Warner Cable services you use at home - like Digital Cable programming, Road Runner High Speed Online, and Digital Phone - with you on your wireless phone? Now you can. Pivot is a new service that combines the best of Sprint wireless with the Time Warner Cable services you enjoy at home.........Wherever you go, Pivot lets you take Mobile TV, Mobile Email, Mobile Web, and even unlimited wireless-to-home calling with you - all on your Sprint wireless phone. Watch ABC News Now®, E! News Update®, Fox News®, Comedy Time® and additional entertainment, news and music channels with Mobile TV. Enjoy unlimited calling between your home Digital Phone and Sprint wireless phone. Access the Web and check your Road Runner email on the go."

(Some More Copy From Time Warners Website) "Take advantage of all this and more - like unlimited night and weekend calling that starts at 7pm, and unlimited mobile to mobile calling.
And, enjoy it all on one bill, from one company - Time Warner Cable."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
News Release On Sprint Website from several months ago....

Innovative Wireless Service Gives Customers The Power To Feel At Home Anywhere
Available in 40 metropolitan areas this year, "Pivot" delivers value, convenience and access to comforts of home everywhere customers turn

Media Contact:
Melinda Tiemeyer, Sprint, 913-794-1089
melinda.g.tiemeyer@sprint.com

ORLANDO, Fla. — 03/26/2007

Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE:S), Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse Communications today launched the branding of "Pivot," the integrated service that gives consumers the ability to link their mobile phone service with their home digital phone, and certain high-speed internet services and digital cable services. Pivot combines powerful wireline and wireless networks to bring more useful capabilities to customers, such as one-button access to the Internet, home and wireless email and mobile TV.

"Pivot was designed to help customers connect to home with an easier, more convenient and more affordable way to keep in touch, stay informed and be entertained. We want to make technology work better and faster for the customer—and with our unique partnership, we can do things our competitors can't," said John Garcia, president Sprint/MSO Joint Venture. "Pivot links your wireless phone with the comforts of home. Our common vision is to give customers anywhere easy access to the entertainment, communications and information services that are already important to them."

Full Story

Pivot Product/Service Info

New Sprint Advertising Campaign

Apple and the "i" Generation of Marketing

2007-08-12T06:48:00.000-05:00

With the iPod, iPhone, and now the "new look" and updates to the iMac; I could place a strong to very strong winning bet on Apple having a record year, in more than one category. Just think the iPod and iPhone have at the least, drawn out a valuable group of consumers whom are now looking and visiting the Apple stores, lurking on the (Apple) websites, reading the press, buying these "i" products and in general helping Apple gain market share in a disguse....it is perfect timing as several have said for the new school year and the holidays...in addition the new iMac cost less than the first one did.....how about that! Still a great company-however I feel something in the future (5-10 years) will have to change in the most unexpected manner...perhaps a market shift into a new technology or product line for Apple, a major purchase or sell....or thats it right now.....

Apple Unveils New iMac

CUPERTINO, California-Apple® has recently unveiled an all new all-in-one iMac® line featuring gorgeous 20- and 24-inch widescreen displays encased in elegant and professional aluminum and glass enclosures. The entire new iMac line features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors and a new, ultra-thin aluminum Apple Keyboard, built-in iSight® video camera for video conferencing and iLife® ’08, making it the ultimate digital lifestyle desktop computer for both consumers and professionals. The 20-inch iMac now starts at just $1,199, $300 less than the previous 20-inch model, and the 24-inch iMac starts at just $1,799, $200 less than the previous 24-inch model.

Man, I really like this brand and would like to speak with the entire team of maketing and advertising personalities-sharp folks over there, if I could ever get the chance, even just one would be an educate. I agree, that yes Apple has the technology to make this market jump or push take place; however someone still has to package and market to the consumer; carefully.

“This new iMac is the most incredible desktop computer we’ve ever made,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Our new design features the innovative use of materials, including professional-grade aluminum and glass, that are highly recyclable."

Jobs, is no joke!

Press Contacts: (please contact for questions about Apple)

Teresa Brewer
Apple

(408) 974-6851

Lynn Fox
Apple
lfox@apple.com
(408) 974-4300

Full iMac Story

Apple Hot News

I Like Gannett's Style....

2007-07-24T16:37:00.000-05:00

I like their style, go big or go home. Every digital signage network I see has Verizon (Wireless) as a client-easy pickin's?....nah, they just want to keep their market share and take over one day, thats all. Captivate is ready to launch and battle with the Wall Street Journal Office Network I suppose...or one of these other groups that has signage in office complexes...there is plently of real estate and logically Captivate or Gannett I should say will win this battle. That is my guess, 1/2 way educated, although Wall made the first move with the move from offices to elevators, or at least public move; perhaps they will merge or sell out to the other.....at least it will be interesting to watch and at this point these networks can really help the industry as a whole, if they choose too. Enjoy the articles, and Miller got to this first, I just checked....at least I know I am picking good headliners....

Captivate to Launch Suburban Network
Katy Bachman
JULY 24, 2007 -

Captivate Network, the company that pioneered a network of digital screens in office elevators, announced Tuesday it will create a second network. The Captivate Suburban Network will complement Captivate’s current Office Tower Network, yet allow advertisers to target a more suburban marketplace.

The Suburban Network will include a pedestal display for office lobbies in a 40 inch size and wall mount screens available in 26- and 40-inch displays.

“A few years ago, we began to experiment with lobby displays in the suburban office market,” said Mike DiFranza, president and general manager of Captivate, which is owned by Gannett. “This opens up a whole new space for us.”

Founded a decade ago, Captivate’s Office Tower Network now reaches more than 2.3 million viewers daily in 21 markets. It’s also doing a brisk advertising business, up 12.3 percent in second quarter, Gannett reported. Advertisers that have used Captivate to reach its upscale, business consumer, include some of the nation’s largest including Lexus, AT&T, Toyota, BMW, FedEX, Discovery Channel, Verizon, Blackberry and American Airlines.
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Nike News

2007-07-12T07:32:00.000-05:00

Nike would not give small networks the time of day....correct me if I'm wrong but they do not advertise at a regional and local level-it is all national (for the most part). I imagine that stores like Foot Locker or Dick's Sporting Goods spends a lot of co-op dollars, thus Nike can stay away from all this regional advertising which is critical from other industries and organizations....it is always fun to watch and monitor a company when staffing changes have been made.

Nike Picks New Marketing Chief
July 11, 2007
By Joan Voight and Andew McMains

SAN FRANCISCO Nike has hired Ken Dice as U.S. vp of marketing, a post that has been vacant for six months, according to sources.

A Nike representative confirmed that Dice was joining the company but declined to disclose his title. Dice will oversee advertising, retail marketing, public relations and overall brand positioning, sources said. He had been evp of marketing at Discovery Networks since 2003, and before that he served as svp of consumer marketing at Sony Electronics. Dice will move from Maryland to take the new position in Nike's Portland, Ore., headquarters, per sources.

Full Story from Adweek

Nokia, DIY mobile TV startup...

2007-07-11T09:24:00.000-05:00

Nokia invests in DIY mobile TV startup kyte.tv
Jul 3, 2007 8:00 AM

Nokia Growth Partners, Nokia’s private equity and venture capital management arm, recently invested in kyte.tv, a startup company that enables users to create and broadcast interactive TV channels on their mobile phones, as well as the Internet.

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Ripple: Rolling Strong!

2007-07-11T07:51:00.000-05:00

Ripple has got the right idea and I like the hyper local aspect that can be applied to selling spots on their network.

Ripple TV Gets Funding, Jack-in-the-Box Venues
by Erik Sass
Ripple TV, A NEW PLACE-BASED video advertising network targeting local advertisers, is rapidly expanding its footprint. Today, the company announced a new round of funding as well as a major new retail partnership with Jack-in-the-Box, the popular fast-food chain. The company is also planning to provide free Wi-Fi access to all venues that install its video displays.

The second round of funding, to the tune of $10 million, was led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson and included first-round investor Trinity Ventures. Concurrent with the new funding, John Fisher--co-founder of DFJ--is also joining the Ripple board.

The Jack-in-the-Box deal stands to increase Ripple's distribution network with up to 2,000 new retail locations around the country. Ripple plans to install its video displays in the majority of JIB locations over the next few months. The company has already established video displays at 500 locations throughout Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii; company reps say the number is growing by double digits every week.

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Are Cable Operators a Fair Match for Verizon's FiOS TV?

2007-07-10T22:50:00.000-05:00

Verizon is becoming more and more aggressive from every angle. Just today I spoke with a bluetooth marketing firm and my IT Director mentions Verizon, Bluetooth and Spam all in 1/2 of a sentence. Okay-so adding or attempting to add 77k TV households is legal and for heavens sake they are providing a service that will soon either be adapted to or become the next wave of TV....here's the article...

Verizon Files Application to Add 77,000 TV Households In Competition with Local Cable
New State Franchise Law's Five-Day Provision Simplifies Expansion of Service to Hundreds of Thousands of Households in 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -Verizon today applied to offer a real choice for TV services soon to 77,000 more households in the Tampa area. The application was filed under Florida's new cable TV franchise law and strengthens Verizon's coverage for its FiOS services to nearly 2 million households in the Tampa Bay region.

This initial application will add the cities of Tarpon Springs and Sarasota as well as portions of Pinellas County to Verizon's franchised municipalities and counties in Florida, which now numbers 16 communities. The law also features a unique provision for expanding into other calling areas, referred to as wire centers, in the future. As Verizon expands its fiber network and begins to provide service to customers, it can add these new areas to its franchise application simply by filing an amendment within five days of providing initial service in the area.

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Brandless Ads from Suncom

2007-07-04T22:05:00.000-05:00

A follow up on my last few post about carriers.....Suncom managed to get press from the billboards mentioned in this article from last year. Not the best PR though...

SunCom pitches new call plan

Mystery ads after loss of customers

John Murawski, Staff Writer

March 6th, 2006

The wireless company that lost 60,000 customers in North Carolina last year introduced the new plan Tuesday with advertising that deliberately omitted the company's name. SunCom has been running 14 billboards in Raleigh and Durham since last week that pose the question: "Who will your 10 be?" Six area television stations have run similar ads.

"The rationale behind the brandless ads is to build curiosity and suspense. It's form of interactive advertising, to get the public engaged in a guessing game. But it's anyone's guess whether such ads succeed or get tuned out, said Bob Lauterborn, a professor of advertising at UNC-Chapel Hill. Lauterborn hasn't seen the SunCom ads, but he says their effectiveness is dubious.

"There's this dopey assumption that people are watching your campaign and eagerly awaiting your next ad in the series," Lauterborn said. "C'mon, people are too busy. In today's world, people are not breathlessly waiting for your bloody ad."

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