Sunday, February 1, 2009

Relay Station launches Relayresolve

Edited by the Marketingservicestalk editorial team Dec 10, 2008


Relay Station has launched a web-based product to help enterprises communicate with customers, staff and suppliers during disasters, through voice, SMS, fax or e-mail.
Relayresolve, which aims to become a best-practice solution for disaster communications, will have its inaugural business showing at the Disaster Recovery and Availability Summit at the Cavendish Conference Centre, London, on 13-14 January 2009.


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Relayreact highlighted at retail business event

Edited by the Marketingservicestalk editorial team Jan 7, 2009


Relay Station has announced that it is to showcase Relayreact, its new text-to-voice messaging product, at the Retail Business Show, to be held on 28-29 January at the National Hall, Olympia.
Relayreact enables SMS replies from any marketing campaign to automatically trigger a follow-up voice message from a retailer's operations centre.
The message also gives consumers the option to be transferred to a sales agent at the end of the voice message.

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KATZ RADIO GROUP AND HIPCRICKET ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE SALES PARTNERSHIP

May 23, 2006
Katz Radio Group and HipCricket Inc. announce an agreement whereby HipCricket will provide wireless marketing expertise and solutions for the Katz Radio Group. This partnership will allow for Katz Radio Group to provide their client radio stations with wireless marketing opportunities including the ability to deliver electronic media to mobile phone audiences.
According to Katz Radio Group President, Steve Shaw, "This is an exciting opportunity for us to offer the very latest mobile marketing technology to our clients and customers. We can now enable our radio clients to become fully interactive with listeners while advertisers will benefit from a new media channel for marketing and cross channel promotion. HipCricket's expertise as a leading wireless marketing provider coupled with their knowledge of the radio industry made them the best choice for us."
Ivan Braiker, Managing Director, Broadcast for HipCricket, "We are pleased that Katz Radio has chosen HipCricket to be their wireless marketing partner. Wireless marketing is a dynamic new area for radio, one which offers interactive programming content and a source for incremental revenue. We will work hard to drive innovations in this new communications venture."
About Katz Radio Group:
In 2006, Katz Radio celebrates its 75th anniversary. The new Katz Radio Group is structured to most effectively represent the interests of its independent client stations through Eastman Radio, Christal Radio and Katz Radio firms. Katz Radio Group is a division of the Katz Media Group, the only full-service media representation firm in the US with leading market shares in the representation of radio and television stations. Info at www.katz-media.com http://bluespotmedia.ning.com/

HIPCRICKET CHOSEN AS PARTNER FOR NBC4 SHOW "THE CHALLENGE"

September 4, 2006 - ESSEX, CT
HipCricket, Inc. announced today that it has been chosen as the interactive partner for the new NBC4 Show called "The Challenge", a first of its kind in local television. This entertaining and interactive show allows the viewer to compete in real-time either by text message or online. "The Challenge" is specifically designed for the audience watching Sunday Night football, co-produced by popular host Fred Roggin, the show will air directly after the completion of NBC4's broadcast of Sunday Night Football and debuts September 10th. To learn more go to www.thechallenge.nbc4.tv or text MORE to 37337.
Pre-registered viewers will compete during the NFL season to see who can amass the most points by answering sports trivia. There will be multiple weekly winners, as well as cumulative multiple grand prize-winners. HipCricket is providing all the interactivity online and on cell phones.
Fred Roggin said "Together with HipCricket we developed this concept to make the viewer an integral part of the show and not just a spectator. Because people play as they watch, there will be a totally new sense of excitement and participation. Every question counts - every minute counts."
To view "The Challenge" TV promos go to http://www.thechallenge.nbc4.tv/Downloads.asp
Ivan Braiker, Managing Director, Broadcast for HipCricket said "We are very pleased to be selected by NBC4 for this exciting new show. The cell phone has proven to be a terrific interactive medium for Television and HipCricket's experience and technology is the perfect fit for "The Challenge".
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Text Messaging Firm HipCricket, Inc. Secures Series A Funding

December 21, 2006- - SEATTLE, WA
HipCricket, Inc., a full-service text messaging marketing firm, has announced that the company has recently secured an undisclosed amount of Series A financing from a group of private investors. In conjunction with the new financing, HipCricket, a Delaware corporation, relocated its corporate headquarters to Bellevue, WA and named Ivan Braiker as CEO. Seattle-based Broadmark Capital, LLC served as the placement agent for this round of financing.
In recent months, the company has expanded its broadcast business and has established relationships with some of the largest radio and TV stations in the country's biggest broadcast markets. In addition, HipCricket continues to provide a variety of national brands and event marketers with state-of-the-art text marketing capabilities and service.
"As the mobile and interactive marketing industry expands at such a rapid pace, our investors' support has enabled us to keep up and continue expanding our presence in both the broadcast advertising and brand advertising space," commented Braiker. "HipCricket continues to provide robust, user-friendly technology combined with first-class service and support to our entire broadcast and brand client base."
The funds will be used to grow the company's sales team, as well as support new product development and expanded marketing and promotional efforts.
Braiker added, "The new funds have already enabled us to build out our sales and service staff in order to expand the HipCricket customer network and enhance our product experience for all subscribers. We look forward to 2007 and we are pleased to have the resources necessary to grow our business."

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HipCricket Secures $2 Million in Funding On Strong Investor Demand

March 21, 2007 - BELLEVUE, WA
HipCricket, a leading mobile marketing firm, today announced it closed a second and final tranche of Series A funding, driven by strong investor demand and the company's growing momentum with the broadcast community and major consumer brands.
In addition to its Series A round that closed in January, HipCricket has received $2 million from angel investors, Broadmark Capital, and a European investment group.
As a pioneer in mobile marketing, HipCricket's deep broadcast experience has helped build the nation's largest mobile marketing operation focused on the broadcast community, serving more than 100 clients across North America. Over the past 12 months, the company's unique product and approach drove 250 percent growth in its client base, while initial funding helped support the necessary increase in staffing.
HipCricket's founding members, Ivan Braiker, Graham Knowles, and Iain Simms, have refined the company's technology platform to address broadcasters' needs to better understand and communicate with its audiences, and to help measure the success of their mobile marketing efforts.
More than just technology, HipCricket stands out because their staff is made up of seasoned radio and television broadcast specialists who understand the business of keeping clients happy with measurable results and premium customer service.
"HipCricket is a partner, not a provider," said Ivan Braiker, CEO of HipCricket. "Broadcasters and brand marketers come to us because we know what works for them. They stay with us because we don't just hand them a technology. We deliver measureable results in revenue and ratings and 24/7support that others just don't offer."
The Series A funding will allow the company to offer clients even higher levels of its unique personal support program, expand its offices in Bellevue, Washington, and address new mobile marketing opportunities, one of the fastest growing segments of the wireless industry.
As of June 2006, HipCricket estimates 95 percent of all active cell phones in the US, representing more than 220 million users, can be reached using text messages, and that 62 percent of all mobile phone subscribers regularly send and receive text messages.
According to public research, response rates for mobile marketing campaigns are 40 percent compared to 3 percent for direct mail and 1 percent for Internet banner advertisements.
Powered by the company's M3 (Mobile Media Management) service, and supported by a partner network that reaches 95 percent of all U.S. cell phone users, HipCricket's end-to-end text message marketing solution allows broadcasters and brands to reach a huge, yet precise, addressable market, changing the way marketers can communicate with specific audiences and measure return on investment.
The power of this value proposition has drawn companies such as Disney, Staples and General Motors and broadcasters like Los Angeles' KNBC and Clear Channel radio's KIIS, KYSR, KBIG and KHHT stations to HipCricket, allowing companies to go beyond traditional measurement tools to detailed data about real listeners they want to reach. From helping radio stations to powering part of Hershey's ongoing "WrapperCash" campaign, HipCricket is defining mobile marketing.
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HIPCRICKET AND TOTAL TRAFFIC NETWORK OFFER REAL TIME TRAFFIC ALERTS VIA TEXT AND EMAIL

April 25, 2007 - SAN ANTONIO, TX and BELLEVUE, WA
HipCricket, the leading mobile and interactive solutions provider for broadcast and brand marketers, and Clear Channel Radio's Total Traffic Network announced today that Real Time Traffic Alerts via Text Messaging on mobile phones is now available in the top 100 markets.
Instant SMS traffic data will allow customizable alerts via both email and text messaging. Now commuters can get an early heads up on traffic issues from both their phones and computers. Sponsorship opportunities, including clickable and trackable lead generation options, will allow local radio stations opportunities to super-serve advertisers.
"The HipCricket, Clear Channel Total Traffic Network combination provides specialized, real-time information to users on a by-request basis. Having users request alerts extends the value of traffic sponsorships as advertisers will be reaching a willing audience," said Ivan Braiker, CEO of HipCricket. "More importantly, advertisers clearly know their number of impressions as well as real, not estimated, demographic data, which increases the overall value of the advertising."
"The opportunity to push Total Traffic Network data services to another platform extends our initiative further allowing us to promote the most relative, accurate, and timely traffic service to the end user consumer. The HipCricket solution, the business model, and the associated promotion, makes HipCricket a very strong solution for traffic alerts" said Lance Locher, Senior Vice President, Clear Channel Total Traffic Network.
About Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network
Clear Channel Radio is the first broadcaster to launch a ground-breaking programming and technology service delivering real-time traffic data directly to vehicles, using its own network of reporters, traffic cameras, helicopters and airplanes - Total Traffic Network. Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network now serves more than 130 metropolitan markets in three countries, including the United States, Mexico and New Zealand. Total Traffic Network delivers real-time traffic data via in-car or portable navigation systems, broadcast media, wireless and Internet-based services. For more information, please log on to www.realtimetraffic.net.
About Clear Channel Radio
Clear Channel Radio is a leading radio company focused on serving local communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listeners choosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week. The company's content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, on the Internet, via iPods and via mobile-navigation devices from Cobra, Garmin, Kenwood and others. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, syndication and independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE:CCU), a leading global media and entertainment company. More information on the company can be found at http://www.clearchannel.com/
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Mobile Marketing Company HipCricket Secures $6 Million in Series B Funding

June 5, 2007 - BELLEVUE, WA
HipCricket, a pioneering mobile marketing company, today announced it closed Series B funding of $6 million that will allow the company to support strategic expansion of its leading position with the broadcast community and top brands. Over the past two years, HipCricket has raised a total of more than $10 million from angel investors, Broadmark Capital, and a European investment group.
HipCricket's deep broadcast experience has helped build the nation's largest mobile marketing operation focused on generating revenue and increasing audiences for the broadcast community and building loyalty to brands. Over the past 12 months, the company's product and commitment to specialized customer service drove 250 percent growth in its client base by providing measurable, real-time one-to-one relationships between advertisers and their customers and prospects, with some clients experiencing as much as 24 percent revenue growth.
"According to public research, 136 million Americans are sending and receiving text messages," said Ivan Braiker, CEO of HipCricket. "More and more broadcast companies and brands are turning to us because we uniquely allow them to tap into the behaviors and interests of such a large and important group."
The Series B funding will allow the company to continue to expand its services to broadcasters across the country as well as increase the dedicated services available to brands. Additional staff growth supports HipCricket's commitment to offer clients experts who understand their needs and provide turnkey campaigns and technology that offer measurable, repeatable results for both broadcasters and brands.
The company's M3 (Mobile Media Management) technology provides industry-leading simplicity, flexibility and measurability for running multiple campaigns with detailed results. HipCricket's people conduct extensive training and typically turn creative briefs into executable programs in 48 hours or less.
"Mobile marketing shows great promise for the future, but what is exciting for us is that HipCricket is delivering on the promise today," said Adam Fountain, Principal at Broadmark Capital. "We're excited to support a company that has implemented thousands of successful campaigns that drive significant revenues for its clients."
Mobile marketing is a continually expanding market, with Jacobs Media reporting that in 2007 more than 44 percent of cell phone owners text message at least weekly, a 25 percent increase from 2006. Of the radio listeners who own cell phones, 35 percent are texting for promotional activities.
Public research is showing that this market can provide advertisers with an active and engaged consumer, which is game-changing from old methods of guessing numbers of impressions and ROI (Return on Investment). Response rates for HipCricket's mobile marketing campaigns can be as high as 40 percent compared to 3 percent for direct mail and 1 percent for Internet banner advertisements.

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HERSHEY, eBay AND HipCricket TEAM UP IN THE WORLD'S SWEETEST INTERACTIVE PROMOTION

May 12, 2006 - HERSHEY, PA
The Hershey Company is teaming up with online ecommerce provider eBay and wireless services provider HipCricket to launch Get It with WrapperCash, the world's sweetest interactive consumer promotion. WrapperCash is Hershey's first major continuity promotional effort. With more than one billion unique redemption codes, the online-driven rewards program offers millions of opportunities for consumers to accumulate points needed to bid on today's hottest items available in Hershey's online auction format, powered exclusively by eBay. WrapperCash codes will appear on specially marked wrappers from Hershey's most popular single serve candy bars, cookies and snack bars. Hershey invites consumers to use the code found printed inside each wrapper and turn them into online currency or "spend" them at the Hershey's online Redeem Now store. The first Get It with WrapperCash online auction launches on Hersheys.com on May 15.
Consumers can bid on new items daily in three levels ranging from t-shirts to televisions to big-ticket items, such as today's hottest cars and experiential items that money can't buy. Winners will be determined by the highest number of WrapperCash points bid on each particular item. Wrappers also can be used to secure Hershey merchandise in the online Redeem Now store for those who simply want to "collect and redeem" their wrappers. The daily WrapperCash online auctions will continue through Oct. 31, 2006.
To participate, consumers can bank wrapper points by opening their personal WrapperCash account located at Hersheys.com. WrapperCash codes can be logged into a consumer's account each day via the Internet or, for consumers on the go, codes can be text messaged into accounts from a cell phone.
Offering the text messaging option makes participating in Hershey's daily online auctions convenient and faster than ever for mobile phone users. WrapperCash wireless text messaging services will be provided by HipCricket, Inc.
"We are thrilled to partner with eBay for a promotion that puts our consumers in charge," said Ernie Savo, Director Consumer Promotions & Licensing, The Hershey Company. "This WrapperCash promotion taps into one of the top online activities today - online auctions. Hershey's consumers can have fun bidding for items every day or redeeming points for prizes via a medium they love to use."
With millions of registered users in the United States, Hershey is tapping in to the power of eBay as the place to Get It with WrapperCash.
"By leveraging the power and excitement of eBay, Hershey is taking consumer loyalty programs to a whole new level," said Gary Briggs, Chief Marketing Officer, eBay North America. "With eBay, Hershey's WrapperCash makes it easy for consumers to bid on a whole range of exciting items."
To find out more about WrapperCash powered by eBay, log on to Hersheys.com.

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HipCricket Inc. Continues To Build Out Its Executive Team

June 12, 2007 - BELLEVUE, WA
HipCricket Inc., a pioneering mobile marketing company that creates measurable, real-time, one-to-one relationships between advertisers and their customers and prospects, has continued to build out its executive team with the naming of Jeff Hasen as Chief Marketing Officer and Tom Virgin as Chief Financial Officer.
The senior hires come a week after HipCricket announced it closed Series B funding of $6 million that will allow the company to support strategic expansion of its leading position with the broadcast community and top brands. Over the past two years, HipCricket has raised a total of more than $10 million from angel investors, Broadmark Capital and a European investment group.
Hasen will oversee marketing, advertising and public relations. Virgin's seasoned executive level and CFO experience in fast-growing, technology-based businesses will be leveraged as HipCricket builds on its 250 percent year-over-year client growth.
"Delivering a product with the best technology and the best people is how HipCricket has been able to design and implement thousands of successful campaigns for radio stations, television station and brands," said Ivan Braiker, CEO of HipCricket. "Adding the talents of Jeff and Tom will take us to the next level."
Hasen joins HipCricket from InfoSpace, where he headed global strategic communications. In that role, he drove a repositioning of InfoSpace from one percent share player in online search to a leadership position in mobile media and to number 20 on the prestigious Wired 40 list of most innovative companies on Earth. Prior, he led results-driven programs for Nestle, the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and Symantec.
Virgin brings 28 years of financial expertise to HipCricket. He has served as senior vice president and controller for Seafirst Bank (now Bank of America), senior vice president and CFO for T&W Financial Corp, interim CFO for two software companies, and vice president of finance and administration and CFO of WizKids, Inc. Most recently, Virgin was executive vice president and CFO for Talyst Inc., a software and equipment solutions company.
The readers of Fast Company magazine named Talyst to the magazine's "Fast 50 Reader Favorites" list, recognizing 50 of the most innovative, progressive "profit-driven solutions for what ails the planet." In addition, the Puget Sound Business Journal named Virgin the 2007 "CFO of the Year" in the small private company category.
"In a time of tremendous hype around mobile marketing - with a big emphasis on the future - I've joined a thriving company that creates revenue for clients today," Hasen said. "I'm excited to tell HipCricket's story of driving increased listenership, viewership and loyalty with technology that taps into the behaviors and interests of the more than 136 million Americans who use text messaging on a regular basis."
"HipCricket's focus on generating revenue for broadcasters and brands is working - our client list is growing to include big wins like Clear Channel, Staples and NBC," said Virgin. "I'm looking forward to being a part of HipCricket's continued expansion and helping to drive growth for us and our clients."
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Radio Groups Hop on HipCricket's Interactive Marketing Strategies

July 10, 2007 - BELLEVUE, WA
HipCricket Inc., a pioneering mobile marketing company that creates measurable, real-time, one-to-one relationships between advertisers and their customers and prospects, officially announced today new partnerships with several top tier broadcast radio groups including: Hubbard Radio; Triad Broadcasting Company; Perry Broadcasting Inc.; Press Communications; Sandusky Radio Seattle; and South Central Radio Group. The broadcast companies, representing 43 radio stations in the top 50 U.S. radio markets, will exclusively use HipCricket's interactive marketing solutions to boost revenue by offering advertisers a higher level of connectivity with their audience through opt-in mobile text-message promotions.
"The customers we're announcing today signed on with HipCricket for three main reasons: support, results, and revenue," said Ivan Braiker, CEO of HipCricket. "We help clients create winning campaigns and use the technology to help them deliver target-specific results for advertisers and consequently increased revenue for broadcasters."
In the face of steadily declining advertising revenue in the radio industry, key stations in more than half of the top 50 U.S. markets are betting on HipCricket to boost their revenue stream. One HipCricket radio client recently reported its average monthly revenue from text add-ons is $50,000 in new Non Traditional Revenue (NTR). Another station reported a 24 percent increase in revenue in the first quarter of 2007.
"What we're seeing in the broadcast market today is that advertisers want to build tangible relationships with their target audience, not just throw information at them," said Marc Kaye, Vice President General Manager for Sandusky in Seattle. "With HipCricket, interactivity is easy to facilitate, supported by broadcast marketing experts and carried out on the most personal device we have, the mobile phone."
With an average 40 percent response rate across campaigns and an addressable market of 136 million texting Americans, HipCricket expects to see demand for interactive mobile marketing grow as broadcasters and brands look for proven methods to reach an ever more connected audience. Today's new partnership announcement is another milestone for HipCricket and a clear prediction of continued success for them - building on their current 200 percent client growth year-over-year - and for the mobile marketing industry.
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HipCricket, McVay Media Announce Mobile Marketing Alliance

July 17, 2007 - BELLEVUE, WA
HipCricket, a pioneering mobile marketing company, and McVay Media, one of the foremost broadcast and advertising agency consulting firms, today announced an alliance to help their clients extend and translate marketing campaigns to the mobile phone screen.
Together, the partners serve a network of more than 200 broadcast outlets, including radio groups such as Clear Channel, Cox, CBS, ESPN, and Fox Sports, TV networks such as NBC, ABC and brands such as General Motors, Disney, and I-Cruise.
HipCricket's deep broadcast experience has helped build the nation's largest mobile marketing operation focused on generating revenue and increasing audience loyalty for broadcasters and brands. Over the past 12 months, the company's industry-leading product and dedicated customer care drove 250 percent growth in its client base by creating measurable, one-to-one relationships between station's advertisers and their customers and prospects, with some stations experiencing as much as 24 percent revenue growth.
"Mike McVay is a visionary in this industry, and a partner we trust to help HipCricket offer its full service, turn-key solution to an even broader audience," said Ivan Braiker, CEO of HipCricket. "Given the glacial pace of revenue growth in the broadcast market, station managers are looking for ways to jump start both their top and bottom line. With thousands of successful campaigns under our belt, clients can quickly generate real dollars using a simple tool that offers repeatable results without having to add headcount to manage the technology or new infrastructure.
McVay Media brings more than 20 years of consulting experience to the partnership, having helped a wide variety of broadcast clients around the world find their unique voice and grow their business.
"With cell phone penetration now reaching more than 238 million Americans, broadcast and agency clients are crying out to us for ways to capture the hearts, minds, and wallets of mobile consumers," said Mike McVay, President of McVay Media. "HipCricket's employees are broadcast, advertising, and mobile insiders, so they understand better than anyone how to serve our clients. They're the right partner with the right stuff."

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HipCricket Continues To Expand Executive Team

July 31, 2007 - BELLEVUE, WA
HipCricket, a pioneering mobile marketing company that creates measurable, real-time, one-to-one relationships between advertisers and their customers and prospects, has continued to build out its executive team with the naming of Eric Harber as President and Chief Operating Officer.
The senior hire comes after a series of major milestones for HipCricket including closing of Series B funding, an exclusive mobile messaging traffic alert agreement with Clear Channel, the signing of over 40 exclusive radio station contracts and the announcement of an alliance with McVay Media, one of the foremost broadcast and advertising agency consulting firms.
Harber joins HipCricket to lead operations and develop and direct the company's growth strategy. His seasoned executive level experience in fast growing, technology based businesses will be leveraged as HipCricket builds on its 250 percent year-over-year growth.
"HipCricket is on a fast growth trajectory and we're excited to bring Eric on board to help drive our continued development," said Ivan Braiker, CEO of HipCricket. "Eric is well known for his expertise in strategy, business development and growth management and his addition to our team will further strengthen our ability to design and implement successful campaigns for radio, television and brands."
Most recently, Harber was at AmdocsQpass, where he held the position of Vice President of Business Development in the Amdocs Advertising, Commerce, and Entertainment Division. In his Qpass role, he helped grow employee headcount from under 100 to over 300, increase revenue 10 times, take the U.S. company global and eventually sell it to Amdocs. In addition to business development, Harber has rich experience in the mobile space. As Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President at Motricity, he was instrumental in closing deals with some of the largest wireless carriers in the US, Canada and the UK. Prior, Harber held senior management positions at Citigroup (formerly Citicorp), Accenture, Nortel Networks and Channel Advisor Corporation.
"HipCricket has experienced tremendous success and the company's stellar talent is a key driver behind that," said Harber. "We're on the cusp of further growth and I'm thrilled to be part of a company focused on generating new revenue for broadcasters and brands."

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Radio Groups Sign with HipCricket to Boost Revenue

September 26, 2007 - BELLEVUE, WA
HipCricket Inc., an innovative mobile marketing company that creates measurable, real-time, one-to-one relationships between advertisers and their customers and prospects, announced today continued momentum through new partnerships with top tier broadcast radio groups including: Apex Broadcasting, Clear Channel San Diego, Double O Radio, Northeast Broadcasting, and Simmons Media. The broadcast companies, representing over 70 radio stations, will use HipCricket’s mobile marketing solutions to drive new revenue and offer advertisers a higher level of interactivity with their audience through mobile marketing campaigns. “The customers we’re announcing today sought out HipCricket to raise the bar on customer satisfaction and get immediate revenue,” said HipCricket CEO Ivan Braiker. “We partner with our clients to create winning campaigns, help them deliver measurable results for advertisers, boost revenue and engage audiences in a much more targeted way.” Given the continued decline in advertising revenue in the radio industry, key stations in over half of the top 50 U.S. markets are looking to HipCricket to boost their revenue stream. U92 in Salt Lake City, a HipCricket radio station client, recently reported that one promotional mobile marketing campaign generated over 99,800 text messages in 3 weeks, far exceeding all expectations for the campaign. “We have deliberately waited and watched the players in this space and for Simmons Media, HipCricket was the best choice and the clear leader in the field,” said Craig Hanson, Chief Operating Officer of Simmons Media. With campaigns driving up to a 40 percent response rate and an addressable market of over 136 million Americans actively using text messaging, HipCricket will experience continued demand for interactive mobile marketing solutions as broadcasters and brands look for proven methods to increase listenership, viewership and build loyalty. The new partnerships announced today represent another milestone for HipCricket and a clear demonstration of continued success for the company, building on their current over 250 percent client growth year-over-year. Last month the company announced similar partnerships with six major broadcast groups in the top 50 U.S. markets.
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NeuStar and CTIA – The Wireless Association® Present Second Annual Mobile Marketing Award to HipCricket

STERLING, Va., October 23, 2007 – NeuStar, Inc. (NYSE: NSR) and CTIA
The Wireless Association® announced today that they will present the second annual "CSC Pioneer" award to HipCricket in recognition of HipCricket's fast growth in Common Short Code (CSC)-based mobile marketing campaigns. The award will be presented today in San Francisco during the "Marketing the Mobile Channel" session at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2007.
CSCs are short five- and six-digit numbers with which mobile phone users can send and receive text and multimedia messages using the messaging capabilities that come standard with virtually every handset made today. CSCs are accessible to over 95 percent of mobile users, and provide marketers the greatest reach when compared to other methods of accessing today’s consumers. This is because CSCs are "common" and transcend service providers – meaning brands can reach mobile subscribers regardless of what carrier is providing mobile services or what type of mobile device these subscribers have.
With its leasing of CSCs up 300% this year, HipCricket has achieved the fastest growth in the uptake of CSCs of any mobile application provider nationwide. Today, HipCricket is one of the largest customers of CSCs, and the majority of its growth has taken place over the last six months.
"Because there has been such wide-scale interest in - and increased adoption of - mobile marketing among brand managers and advertisers, it follows that CSCs are experiencing significant gains in popularity," said Steve Largent, president and CEO of CTIA. "From September 2006 to September 2007, the already sizable base of registered CSCs saw impressive growth of over 30 percent. Not only are CSCs becoming more mainstream, but our industry is now witnessing continuous innovation in the use of CSC-based mobile campaigns as exemplified by HipCricket's impressive results."
"HipCricket realized the power and potential ubiquity of CSCs early on, and they’ve made believers of broadcasters and brands alike," said Diane Strahan, vice president of mobile at NeuStar. "HipCricket has significantly advanced the popularity and exposure of this fantastic mobile marketing vehicle, and they are richly deserving of recognition."
"We have built our business on true interactivity - and every HipCricket promotion is designed with an immediate call to action," commented Ivan Braiker, CEO of HipCricket. "We believe that broad adoption of CSCs ensures that our clients have the most direct and relevant access to mobile consumers, and that our clients are never limited in the mobile marketing strategies that will work best for them. Through CSCs, HipCricket is pushing mobile communications forward by creating a mobile marketing experience that consistently drives client revenue, listenership, viewership and brand loyalty through interactive one-to-one relationships with consumers."
Working with the CTIA – The Wireless Association® and participating mobile operators across America, NeuStar operates the authoritative directory for U.S. Common Short Codes (CSCs).

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HOT Mobile Marketing (Innovation 604 Inc. & BlueSPOTmedia)