Tag archives: bluetooth marketing

Testing Bluetooth marketing in supermarkets

In The Netherlands, Asian food brand “Go-Tan” is running an interesting experiment of Bluetooth marketing in an Albert Heijn supermarket located in Den Bosch. As explained on Emerce (in Dutch) custumers shopping in the supermarket (and anyone walking within a 100m distance) who has an open Bluetooth connection, are reached by a contact request from the Go-Tan device. The messages delivered through Bluetooth aim at making people aware of the discounted Go-Tan products available in the stores.

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Bluetooth marketing for Nike

In Barcelona, in Plaza Cataluña, Nike has installed a huge outdoor ad featuring tennis player Rafael Nadal, and powered with Bluetooth technology. By turning their Bluetooth connection on, users can download the new Nike Pro Tv spot and an exclusive Nadal screensaver. The campaign was planned by Media Planning Barcelona.

An alternative to “bluespamming”

Bluetooth marketing is raising concerns since it is basically based on an opt-out, rather than an opt-in principle. Since the technology offers interesting opportunities, but consumers are sensitive and brands don’t want to spoil their relationship with them, NTT DoCoMo, the biggest Japanese carrier, has come up with an alternative. It’s called “ToruCa” and it will enable users to obtain information by simply waving their phones in front of dedicated reader/writers installed at restaurants, theaters, music stores, arcades and other establishments. Digital Media Asia reports the news, and TechDirt adds some interesting comments on the value advertising content should bring to consumers, especially when it comes to mobile phones.

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Coldplay’s mobile promotion proves successful

Revolution Magazine reports the results of the Bluetooth marketing campaign carried out last June by Parlophone to promote Coldplay’s new album. The promotion allowed music fans in London to get free mobile content such as song excerpts, video clips and video interviews, just by turning on the Bluetooth connection on their mobile phones. In two weeks, over 13,000 users opted in to receive. Filter provided the technology. Tags: mobile marketing, bluetooth marketing, coldplay

Bluetooth marketing and privacy concerns

Bluetooth marketing is a risky business, with the spam menace just around the corner. New Media Age has a good article on the privacy issues connected to the use of Bluetooth technology to deliver promotional messages. Big brands like Nokia and Volvo have started exploring this kind of communication which requires an initial (unsolicited) message from the advertiser to start the conversation. The problem is most of the people with Bluetooth enabled phones don’t know they can modify the status of their device to accept or refuse by default external communication with other mobiles located within 10 meters. Marketers are taking advantage of this lack of knowledge considering that anyone with the “fully discoverable” option turned on is open (and willing) to receive commercial messages. With the mobile marketing industry still in its infancy, the risk of spoiling with spam a promising business is very high. Regulations and industry standards are required ASAP.