Cool Mobile Apps: Chok, Chok, Chok

Bob Bentz    Mobile Apps     app, chok, Coca-Cola, mobile

You can do some pretty amazing things with apps and we’ve done some amazing things here at ATS Mobile.  Technologies like GPS and Near Field Communications offer some very interesting options and we are prepared to offer them to your business through our mobile marketing agency.

If you want to see something really cool, check out this mobile marketing promotion by Coca-Cola from Hong Kong.

iPads Key to Starting Up Luxury Auto Sales

Bob Bentz    Internet Marketing, Mobile Apps, Mobile Marketing, Mobile Websites, Text Message Marketing     autos, consumption, mobile

Think mobile marketing is all about pizzas and night clubs? Think again.

Autos are one of our biggest categories. In fact, the exclusive 2012 study by ATS Mobile interns showed that the automotive industry was the second largest user of our text message marketing solution at 84444.com and 84444.ca. That ranks autos just behind restaurants and ahead of night clubs!

This should come as no surprise as we’ve long known about affluent users and their love of iPads. Tablet ownership is more widespread among affluents than any other income group and those numbers continue to grow according to Ipsos MediaCT. In July 2012, 27% of affluents owned tablets.

VIDEO: Easy Mobile Marketing for Restaurants

Bob Bentz    Mobile Apps, Mobile Marketing, QR Codes, Text Message Marketing     custom QR codes, marketing, mobile, restaurants, Text Marketing

Restaurants To Go is a special vertical offering of ATS Mobile.  It is a suite of mobile marketing services designed exclusively for the restaurant industry.

To read more about why restaurants need mobile marketing, read Bob Bentz’s article here.  You can also visit our website page for restaurants.  You can also watch our webinar “Hungry for Profits” here.

Top 5 Tablets Under $500

Bob Bentz    Cool Stuff, Mobile Apps, Mobile Websites, Technology     tablets

With Christmas right around the corner, last minute shoppers can find the perfect tablet for $500 or less.  Here’s our list of the best, affordable tablets.

5. Amazon Kindle Fire    Price: $159 and up

Starting at just $159 for the 7″ LCD Display, Wi-Fi, and 8GB of memory, you can’t find a better deal.  Save both your money and time by ordering directly from Amazon.  Other models include features like 4G LTE and larger screens.

4. Google Nexus 10         Price: $399

The beautiful 10 inch display and a 2560-by-1600 high-resolution make the Nexus 10 very pretty to look at.  With Wi-Fi and 16 GB included,Google has created a beautiful competitor to the iPad.

3.  Microsoft Surface      Price: $499 and up

Microsoft’s entrance to the tablet world debut’s their newest Windows 8 operating system.  Although the base price only includes the tablet itself, it’s 32 GB memory and 10.8 inch screen, on top of its other unique features, make it valuable.

2. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1      Price: $499

Wow. The features associated with this tablet, like the S Pen, make this the most creative tablet on the list.  The possibilities are endless with the Galaxy Note and it rightly deserves its place on this list.  This is the biggest competitor to the number 1 tablet under $500.

1.  Apple iPad (&mini)    Price: $329 and up

Apple’s iPad, and new iPad mini, are the most reliable and well known tablets on the market.  They get the number 1 spot because although the other tablets are innovative, you cannot get better quality.  Despite the hype surrounding the Apple brand, these tablets live up to their name.

Social, Mobile, Local

Bob Bentz    Mobile Apps     apps, mobile, websites

Time spent on social media via an app or mobile website continue to increase and is on the verge of possibly overtaking time spent via a PC in the next two years. Time spent on social sites went from 27 minutes to 46 minutes between 2011 and 2012.

Mobile is encouraging more time spent on mobile.

Brookwood and Advanced Mobile team up for Mobile Learning partnership

Bob Bentz    Mobile Apps     apps, Brookwood, mobile

Brookwood’s award winning eLearning Solution Development Team has partnered with the Advanced Mobile’s software Development Group to create custom LMS integrated iPad learning applications.  These robust un-tethered solutions follow industry-standard design best practices and integrate with SCORM-compliant learning management systems to deliver a complete the loop of learning.  “This is the perfect marriage for Brookwood”, says Jacqueline Beck, SVP of eLearning. “We have decades of experience in creating custom content, and now we can implement this vast  knowledge base with one of the best top-quality mobile development groups in the country.  Advanced Mobile understands how to integrate complex data streams into custom mobile applications…together we can leverage our ideas with their programming expertise to bring any simulation or training scenario to life on an iPad.”
Brookwood specializes in the creation of custom learning content designed to work with any SCORM-compliant LMS. Brookwood will be demonstrating their iPad delivery technology at the upcoming Mobile Learning Conference in San Jose June 19 -21. “The tablet is the fastest ramping mobile device in history, said Jeff Kase, Advanced Mobile Chief Technology Officer.   A key feature of our application allows the program to operate offline. Traveling executives can now work in airplane mode offline and at their next connection; the iPad is immediately synchronized with the corporate LMS to update their training profile”.   “This completes the loop for mobile learning with high-end simulation training, soft skills training and procedure-based training. Companies can work with us to design one learning program and deploy it to multiple platforms”, says Beck.
Brookwood Media offers comprehensive and flexible learning and training solutions combined with industry leading best practices; focus on learning strategies, consistent content development, dedication to quality, and knack for innovation. As a well-established, nationally known, eLearning solution provider with a mission to provide green training solutions that provide organizational impact and the greatest Return On Investment (ROI), we have worked with leading organizations, where our solutions effectively trained individuals in skills and critical information for pennies on the dollar.  Our continued dedication to our client’s training needs creates a true long term, business beneficial partnership.
Brookwood’s capabilities include content development, instructional design, multimedia development, consulting, knowledge transfer – design, development, and support.  Platform independent, our solutions cross a diverse range of delivery methods.
Advanced Mobile, LLC designs, develops and supports custom mobile and iPad/tablet solutions and software for consumer and enterprise delivery.  Since 2006 we have brought to each engagement a shared partnership with our clients allowing them to completely outsource the mobilization of their business. Our strength lies in deploying solutions which seamlessly handle multiple, complex and real‐time data feeds. Advanced Mobile is proud of a customer list which includes CBS College Sports, AT&T, IBM, SAP America, American Express, Conde Nast, the United States Golf Association and Comcast.
About Brookwood
Incorporated in 1995, Brookwood Media Arts,  (http://www.brookwood.com provides cutting-edge eLearning, web, and training solutions to corporate America.  With over a decade of creating eLearning solutions for the most successful corporations in America, Brookwood Media Arts has earned its reputation as a leading, innovative eLearning Solutions Provider. Brookwood offers the most comprehensive and flexible learning and training solutions in the industry today combined with an unfaltering focus on learning strategies, consistent content development, dedication to quality, and knack for innovation.  Our capabilities include content development, instructional design, multimedia development, consulting, knowledge transfer, and support.  Platform independent, our solutions cross a diverse range of delivery methods.  Our blended approach of developing online training in combination with the client’s business objectives, provide a competitive edge for our clientele, and the greatest economic return on their investment.

Mobile Marketing Tactics for 2013

Bob Bentz    Mobile Apps, Mobile Marketing, Mobile Websites, Text Message Marketing     marketing, mobile, text message, web sites, websites

By the end of the year, 76% of all companies will have created a mobile optimized version of their desktop website, according to a June 2012 study by IBM.  Currently, 46% of companies worldwide are using a mobile website and only 10% of businesses have no intention of creating a mobile website.  Worldwide New Media Market Model predicts that access to websites via mobile phone will outpace that of desktop Internet by 2015.  Right now, mobile websites are about 85% cheaper to design than mobile apps.  Time flies, so don’t be left behind in this mobile savvy world.

Mobile applications are also a strategic mobile marketing investment.  76% of business will also have a mobile app created for their business by June 2013.  45% of companies are currently using them, but 88% are predicted to be participating in this marketing technique in the future.  The great thing about mobile apps is that once it is downloaded onto a smartphone, Internet connection is no longer necessary.  Plus, your company’s icon appears on the consumer’s cell phone screen so you’re always there – top of mind.  It’s like a walking billboard in their pocket.

Another marketing tactic that is a necessary investment for businesses is text message marketing.  55% plan to be involved with SMS campaigning by the end of 2013.  Currently, 32% of business use mobile marketing via text.  With 94% of all text messages being opened immediately upon receipt, you can’t ignore this one-on-one marketing medium.  The beauty of text message marketing is that it allows you to send your message at the right time to just the right people – those who want it!

E-mail marketing may seem old fashioned or outdated – and that may be the case – but that is why you need to mobile optimize your e-mails.  Currently 35% of companies are sending out mobile versions of e-mails and that number is expected to increase to 68% by the end of next year.  In today’s fast-paced world, your prospects are on the go – keeping their mobile phones close by at all times.  In fact, 91% of consumers have their mobile device within reach 24/7.  Can you afford not to be within their reach?

Location-based targeting is another successful marketing technique.  With small shops and businesses, this is a very affordable and effective way to market your products or services.  Currently, 27% of businesses are using this technique.  That number is projected to be at 49% by the end of 2013.

As the growth of mobile continues to explode, so does your opportunity to reach this vast audience.  The projection of mobile advertising over the next year is predicted to grow largely.  Currently only 25% of companies are running advertisements on cell phones.  Over the course of a year, that number is expected to reach 59%.

Savvy cell phone users are smart consumers – using mobile to shop, do price comparisons, make reservations and more.

Smart consumers require smarter marketing.  Get on the mobile marketing bandwagon and deliver information to your prospects the way they want it – fast and easy!

We’ve Got an App for That

Bob Bentz    Mobile Apps     apps, create, develop, mobile

When Apple Computer launched the iPhone 3G in 2008, a whole new world of mobile marketing emerged with the creation of the Apple App Store.

The Apple App Store is a collection of software programs or applications that can be downloaded to, and run on, a “smart” phone or other mobile devices. The range of apps is bewildering with over 100,000 iPhone apps in the App Store, all accessible only through the Apple iPhone.

But, although Apple created the “App” buzzword, iPhones represent only 5% of the overall mobile phone market share and 25% of the smart phone market. Blackberry, in contrast, has 43% of the smart phone market. Hence, to have a completely accessible product to reach your entire marketplace, your app needs to also reach Google’s Android operating systems, Palm’s webOS, Blackberry’s App World, and Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Unfortunately, each needs to be designed separately, as Apple’s Apps exist in a “walled garden” and will only work on iPhones.

Development of Mobile Apps

Advanced Telecom Services’ applications development group designs, develops, and hosts custom mobile apps solutions for businesses and brands. Our solutions are all designed to be carrier agnostic, thus resulting in complete access to the smart phone market and not just to iPhones.

Our development team has been developing mobile solutions and apps together since 2004. Our impressive client list includes: internationally known businesses such as AT&T, IBM, and American Express; media partners CBS, Turner Broadcasting, The Golf Channel, Versus; sports organizations including the PGA of America, NCAA, National Hockey League; the United States Golf Association.

Unlike some other organizations, all of our mobile apps are developed in-house in the United States to ensure they are user-friendly and compatible with all North American mobile phones. Remember, a mobile app needs to work on more than just iPhones to maximize its valuable in the marketplace.

The Mobile Apps Marketplace

In 2009, $6.2 billion was spent on mobile apps, according to the Gartner Group. That figure is up over $2 billion from just a year prior. Revenues for mobile apps are projected to exceed $29.5 billion in 2013.

Mobile apps represent a marketplace that your brand cannot afford to ignore.