Vintage ATT 900 Number Promotion

Bob Bentz    900 numbers, Cool Stuff, IVR    

For those of you who have been in the 900 number industry for a while, this is an interesting promotional video that we found.  It is from back in the day when AT&T was promoting 900 numbers for everything, including information on how to make your plants grow better.

If you are into the 900 number industry, this is interesting reading about the History of 900 Numbers. This video from AT&T 900 is just one part of that history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgHlvh5lMtk&hl=en_US&fs=1&

Text Message Voting Chooses British Olympic Ski Team Goggles

Bob Bentz    Company News, Cool Stuff, Media, Telemedia, Text Message Marketing, United Kingdom    

In just a month, the sports world will come together in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.  And, Advanced Telecom Services will be there. Well, in a way.

Text message voting will choose the ski goggles for British ski team.

Advanced Telecom Services has been chosen as the service bureau for the Adidas Olympic Ski Goggles Design contest.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for designers around the world.

Designers are able to customize a pair of Adidas iD2 goggles to be worn by a British athlete competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics.  The public will vote via premium SMS text message in the UK and the USA for the winning goggles.  Text message voting will identify the top 10 finalists.  The finalists will each receive several pairs of the iD2 Adidas ski goggles to implement the actual design onto the goggles and then return the sample to Adidas.

Adidas will choose the ultimate winner from the ten finalists.  The winning design will be implemented on the ski goggles worn by a 2010 Winter Olympian from the British ski team.

Advanced Telecom Services is proud to be associated with an internationally recognized brand like Adidas.  It is also an honor to be associated with the British ski team and the Vancouver Olympics.

At Advanced Telecom Services, we have the Olympic spirit.

Search in Real Time

Bob Bentz    Internet Marketing, Mobile Marketing    

Real time search is changing the way that people will find results in the search engines.

Advanced Telecom Services’ Bob Bentz is quoted in this article about real time search and its effect on mobile marketing product 84444.com.

Hulkamania Runs Wild Again

Bob Bentz    900 numbers, IVR, Telemedia    

Last week, the return of Hulk Hogan to pro wrestling gave TNA Impact its highest ratings everfor Monday Night.

Hulk Hogan led TNA to its highest ratings ever.

TNA Impact airs on Spike TV.

The special live three hour edition of TNA Impact recorded 2.2 million viewers.

Advanced Telecom Services owes a lot to Hulk Hogan.  ATS was fortunate enough to do the WWF wrestling hotline and the Hulk Hogan Hotline during Hogan’s time at WWF and later at WCW.  AT&T has confirmed that the Hulk Hogan Hotline was the biggest 900 number in the United States from 1991 through 1993.

President Bob Bentz remarked for years what a class guy Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan) is.  “He once called on Christmas Day to wish my son and me a Merry Christmas.  That small gesture meant a lot to me.”

It’s good to see Hulk Hogan back in the ring where he belongs.  Hopefully, he’ll think about bringing back that 900 number again.

Advanced Telecom Services Celebrates Strong Year

Bob Bentz    900 numbers, Company News, Mobile Marketing    

Advanced Telecom Services held its 21st annual holiday party at Fleming’s Steakhouse in Radnor on January 6, 2010.

President Bob Bentz and Director Bret Dunlap made speeches thanking the team for an outstanding year in 2009.  CFO Paul Hehn remarked that 2009 was Advanced Telecom Services most profitable year in many years.

The year was strong thanks to increased 900 number sales in ATS’s Canada office due in part to the recent deregulation of the Canadian 900 number market.  In addition, strong growth was produced by the company’s 84444.com mobile marketing product.  Finally, Advanced Mobile Solutions’ mobile classifieds business showed an over 500% growth over 2008 and its Cars To Go platform is showing signs of tremendous increases for 2010.

After a cocktail hour, the team enjoyed a delicious dinner and desert, accompanied by a significant amount of wine.  VP-Engineering Frank Butler provided his stand-up comedy routine, a company favorite, and employees were presented with 84444.com jackets.