Yesterday Banking, Today Pizza

Applications abound in the Mobile sector and obviously that bodes well for the continued growth in mobile advertising. Yesterday AT&T announced the launch of a comprehensive, easy-to-use mobile banking platform that will enable consumers to view account balances and history, transfer funds and pay bills from their AT&T mobile handsets. Through an innovative relationship, AT&T, Wachovia Corp., SunTrust Banks Inc. and mobile banking and payment enabler CheckFree Corp. are providing a mobile banking solution that is accessible to millions of Wachovia and SunTrust customers. Appearently they agree with the forecasts from TowerGroup which estimates the number of US customers using mobile banking services will rise from 1.1 million in 2007 to more than 40 million by 2012.

Not to be left behind in the dining category is Papa John’s Pizza, which is offering its mobile savvy customers a new alternative: ordering via text message. It’s an innovative step that might help boost the company’s sales, and also will allow for more direct-to-consumer mobile marketing, including coupons and menu updates sent to users’ phones. Links: WSJ.com Nov , click Papa John's Pizza gets Finger Friendler, IntoMobile.com - AT&T launches nationwide mobile banking

Go Mobile - Get Food Faster

Mobile phone applications and internet access are improving consumers ability to seach out information and save time from daily routines today more than ever. Mobo, launched in May 2006, lets NYC (beta test) customers order from restaurants and pay for meals using sms.

How it works? Customers create an account, which includes their credit card details. After signing up for the service, they can order online via www.gomobo.com, or by text message/sms. The order appears on the restaurant's in-store Mobo system, and is automatically billed to the customer's credit card. The restaurant confirms the order, and the customer receives a text message stating when the order will be ready for pick up. Each affiliated restaurant has a separate Mobo Pick Up counter, so Mobo users can walk straight to the counter, state their name and last four digits of their phone number, and pick up their food.

According to Mobo, the benefits for partnering restaurants are increased profits from new Mobo customers, higher average order amounts, increased customer loyalty and improved operating efficiency. Customers save time (which IS the new currency), get a bit of that oh so coveted VIP treatment with their takeaways, and vendors increase profits. I see this as being a viable platform to add sponsorship elements to! UPDATE: September 20, 2006 I ran across this in the Wall Street Journal - Text Messaging Speeds Up Fast-Food Orders