Latest News - July 2010
- Sky Bet and mkodo launch new mobile marketing technique for apps
London, 11 June 2010: Sky Bet today announces the launch of an innovative new marketing technique for its Mobile Sportsbook. Live odds from the Mobile Sportsbook will appear in relevant editorial copy on third party mobile applications. The live odds will be context sensitive to the news on the mobile application page. The odds could also appear in banner ads. Interested customers select the odds in the third party application and are taken directly to the betting opportunity within the Mobile Sportsbook.
The technique is powered by mobile specialist mkodo’s new Ad2Bet product. Sky Bet’s Mobile Sportsbook is the first service to benefit from Ad2Bet. Simple, free upgrades will be made available to users of associated mobile Applications next month that give access to Ad2Bet. Upgraded customers will benefit from seeing the live odds on available markets and then faster access to the betting opportunities in which they are interested.
Sky Bet’s Helen Jacob comments: “Previously it has been possible to link to Sportsbook from mobile applications at a generic level. mkodo’s Ad2Bet functionality now enables us to provide more meaningful information to the customers within the context of the news they are reading. They can act on the information quickly and easily if they so wish. It augments the customer experience.”
mkodo’s Managing Director, Stuart Godfree, comments: “Ad2Bet illustrates how mobile applications and mobile web can be linked together to create more satisfying usability for these services. Sky Bet’s use of Ad2Bet is an excellent example of how the product increases convenience to the customer and improves their experience.”
- 180 in 160!
SignHealth promotes world record breaking charity darts attempt using SMS via mkodo
London, May 2010: SignHealth, the healthcare charity for deaf people, is organising a pioneering world record breaking attempt in order to raise awareness for their cause.
The event, to be held on 21 October 2010, will see world superstar Phil Taylor lead the way as the charity and its supporters attempt to secure the all time record for the largest number of people playing darts during one evening.
The event will be promoted via SMS messaging with interested participants invited to text DARTS into mkodo’s short code 83311 in order to get further information by response message. The SMS channel may also be used to prompt people to join in the event on the day and to register for future news and donation opportunities from the charity.
Mark Gibson, mkodo’s Business Development Manager said: ‘We have been working with SignHealth for a number of years in the day to day provision of their service for deaf people. We are now delighted to be able to assist them with this key event. The mobile channel is the best channel to engage a wide audience and to prompt event participation that is time critical.”
Full details of the event are at Deafinitely Darts. The event is backed by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), the sport’s leading professional body, which has generously adopted SignHealth as its official charity.
- Sky Bet launches General Election mobile micro-site with mkodo
What price a hung Parliament??
London, 22 April 2010: mkodo today announces the launch of a mobile micro-site for its client Sky Bet. The site covers betting opportunities for all key General Election activities such as bets on the marginal seat wins, hung parliament odds and, also, a whole series of specials on the televised debates. The site is launched today as the campaign enters its most critical phase with the 2nd of the televised debates this evening.
Just text ELECTION to 64221 to get the link direct to your phone (standard msg rate).
The mobile micro-site will be advertised through mobile banners predominantly. mkodo’s Portal Builder product enables the Sky Bet team to create and manage deep links from the banners in real-time.
Mark Gibson, mkodo’s Business Development Manager says: ‘Giving our clients the ability to provide a range of mobile betting opportunities on special events and draw customers to them via mobile advertising is key to maximising the success of such events. We are delighted that Sky Bet has taken the initiative to promote mobile interactivity in what promises to be the closest General Election in 30 years.’
- Ideal World Mobilises 10th Birthday Celebrations with mkodo
14 April 2010: Ideal Shopping Direct Plc’s flagship shopping channel Ideal World celebrates its 10th birthday this weekend. Mobile has been selected as a key audience communication channel for promotion and interaction during the event. Signed up customers will be reminded via mobile messaging that shopping during the weekend celebrations offers additional benefits such as free post & packaging. Customers will also have the opportunity to text in to the channel to enter competitions for celebration weekend prizes. The activity will be powered by Ideal Shopping Direct’s mobile partner, mkodo.
Charlotte Capper, marketing manager at Ideal World says, “The mobile channel via mkodo works well for us as a targeted communication route on a one-to-one basis with our audience. We have seen very successful results to date with recent ROI measuring 215% using this strategy and are confident that this will continue with the 10th birthday celebrations.”
Tamara Dobson, Ideal World’s account manager at mkodo adds, “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Ideal Shopping Direct on this important weekend for them. There are great benefits in employing a straightforward mobile tool such as SMS messaging for this activity – it reaches the mass audience, it is directly measurable and, most importantly, it works.”
- Sky Bet launches iPhone Sportsbook with mkodo
13 April 2010: Sky Bet are delighted to announce that their new mobile betting service optimised for iPhone customers was launched on Friday (9 April 2010) in time for the largest betting day in the UK calendar, the Grand National. The new service is provided by mobile specialist mkodo.
Sky Bet’s Sportsbook Director Ben Warn commented, “iPhone customers represent around a third of the skybet.mobi site user-base so it made sense to launch a Sportsbook version optimised for these customers. The new service was made available to our iPhone audience for their further enjoyment of the Aintree meeting. The iPhone optimised version recognised iPhone/iPod browsers as they hit the platform and rendered the appropriate site making it an easy, and seamless, adoption for our iPhone customers. The skybet.mobi site saw record traffic from our mobile clients over the Grand National weekend.”
mkodo’s Mark Gibson added, “We are delighted to be working on some exciting new developments coming out with the Sky Bet iPhone Sportsbook. The mkodo platform provides the ability to deep-link to optimised iPhone betting markets from banner ads on Sky Bet’s other mobile applications – this makes the proposition very exciting from a targeted promotion and user-acquisition perspective.”
Sky Bet Mobile is accessible via www.skybet.mobi. No downloads are required.
- Apple announces iPhone OS 4.0 release
8 April 2010: As part of Apple's OS 4.0 release Apple will be introducing their in-application iAd Mobile Ad network.
The iPhone OS 4 beta release also includes an updated Software Development Kit (SDK). Apple says that iAd “combines the emotion of TV ads with the interactivity of web ads”. Apple will sell and host the ads, and give 60% of the revenue to app developers.
iPhone OS 4.0 also introduces the concept of multitasking to the to the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, enabling users to run multiple applications at the same time. Users can switch between applications by double-tapping the ‘Home’ button, which brings up the icons of all the apps currently in use.
“iPhone OS 4 is the fourth major release of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system,” says Apple CEO Steve Jobs. “We’re delivering over 100 new features, including multitasking, folders, a unified inbox, deeper Enterprise support, and an iPhone version of our iBooks reader and online iBookstore.” The iPhone OS 4 software is scheduled to be available for iPhone/iPod users this summer and for iPad in the autumn.
- Mobile News - March Newsletter
25 March 2010: Read all about Blue Squares new iPhone web app, how apps to be bigger than CD by 2012 and our top tips for Mobile retail services in our March Newsletter. Just click here to get the skinny on the most important stories as we see them.
You can always use the quick links in the left hand nav or look at the stories below for lots of other mobile news.
To receive mkodo's monthly newsletter just click here or follow us on Twitter
- Mobile News - Feb Newsletter
18 Feb 2010: February has been a big month for Industry news with the 2010 launch of the GSMA Mobile Metrics program and the World Mobile Congress. Just click here to get the skinny on the most important stories as we see them.
- Apple increases limit on filesize for 3G downloads to 20MB
19 Feb 2010: Apple has doubled the download limit for files downloaded on the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS via 3G networks. The theory, presumably, being that they need to pave the way for 'bulkier' apps for the iPad?
Previously, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS owners could only download apps, songs and videos of up to 10MB through the iTunes and the App store via 3G. Files over that size forced you to switch to WiFi to complete the download.
Apple have now increased the iPhone 3G (& S) download cap on 3G to 20MB.
The iPad is due for release in late March - how bulky will these apps be?
- Voda Sells 100,000 iPhones in Eight Days
22 Jan 2010: Vodafone UK says it has sold its 100,000th iPhone today, just over a week after its launch in store.
"The demand from both consumer and business customers has been phenomenal,” says Vodafone UK CEO Guy Laurence. “They want an outstanding phone on an outstanding network and we're delivering that.”
The iPhone is now available through original network partner O2, as well as through Vodafone, Orange and Tesco Mobile. If this sort of demand for the device is sustained, those who scoff at the current obsession among brands with the iPhone and iPhone apps may have to think again.
- Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal - Haiti Earthquake
Jan 2010: Mobile donations and quick response to Disaster Appeals are now becoming part of the usual battery of fund-raising channels used by the DEC.
To donate to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal, just Text “GIVE” to 70077. You will be charged £5 plus your standard network SMS rate and the whole £5 goes to the DEC.
In the UK, all operators and service providers are committed to deliver 100% of premium rate revenues from your texts to the DEC.
- Tesco to launch iPhone Sales on Dec 14
Dec 2009: From the 14th Dec, the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS will be available to Tesco customers from just £20 a month, the lowest monthly contract price in the UK market. Tesco Mobile will also offer the first ever 12 month iPhone contract in the UK. Tesco Mobile will be the first mobile network to offer iPhone 3GS 16GB for free with unlimited calls, texts, and browsing, on a 24 month contract, for £60 a month.
For the full tariff breakdown go to the Tesco Mobile site
Tesco will be stealing yet more of Vodafone's thunder - Voda being due to launch Jan 2010. With the reach, power and competitiveness of the Tesco Mobile offer - expect no slowdown in the avalanche of PR surrounding Apps and the iPhone.
- mkodo launches Txt2Mobi Direct
Nov 2009: Leading mobile services supplier, mkodo, has launched Txt2Mobi Direct an innovative mobile marketing tool for the Betting & Gaming sector. Txt2Mobi Direct allows clients to send customers marketing SMS containing embedded, deep-linking to mobile internet (wap) sites.
Txt2Mobi Direct is equally valuable in either a ‘push’ or a ‘pull’ environment.
Txt2Mobi Direct can be used by Clients in their SMS marketing campaigns to deliver messages to their customers with links straight into the relevant game or betting market on their .mobi site. This obviates the need for the customer to click multiple times through from the home page in order to reach the market of interest to him/her.
Key Features
- Personalised, embedded link within SMS to a market/event/game page or a campaign-specific splash wap-page
- Customer can view event and market pages and details without logging on
- Txt2Mobi Direct can identify the customer as s/he moves to ‘place bet’ and only require password entry as confirmation
- Full reporting available on click-throughs, customer journey and bets placed
For more info, please download the Txt2Mobi Direct pdf
- mkodo provides Mobile for Match Alert
Oct 2009: Match Alert, the pan-European real-time goal alert service, has appointed mkodo to provide the SMS mobile connectivity to support its launch in the UK.
Match Alert is a sports-based SMS news alert service. Match Alert is aimed at dedicated football fans who want to keep up with their team when they’re out and about but have so far been frustrated by SMS services that are inflexible, unmanageable or simply too expensive.
Match Alert’s advantage is that it combines the convenience of SMS alerts with the flexibility and sophistication of web-based subscription management. In a ‘first’ for football SMS alert services, users can customise their alerts via the matchalert website, as well as stopping the service altogether via the usual ‘stop’ text message.
- mkodo powers RNLI SMS Launch Alerts
Oct 2009: mkodo, the mobile engagement specialists, has developed in conjunction with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution a Launch Alerts service to interact with the RNLI’s supporters.
The service allows people to sign up to receive an SMS alerting them to when a lifeboat has been launched. The user has a great level of control – they select stations they want to follow, what time of day they want to receive the alerts within, the cost of the alerts and a maximum charge limit per week.
This is an imaginative way of directly linking a supporter with the lifeboat station that they want to support, helping to raise vital funds for the RNLI.
- Metro launches Mebet Mobile with mkodo
Oct 2009: mkodo, the mobile betting specialist, has launched a mobile Sportsbook site for Metro, the multi-platform brand and major UK daily newspaper publisher.
MEbet Mobile (mobile.mebet.co.uk) is a branded mobile site, in line with Metro’s MEbet online service, and is optimised for all mobile handsets offering customers an easy-to-use, fast and secure betting experience on mobile. Metro is promoting MEbet Mobile along with its other Metro Mobile interactivity using in-paper, online and SMS channels.
- VAT waived on charity text message donations
July 2009: The Mobile Data Association, the not-for-profit mobile trade association, has today announced a major breakthrough for the UK charity sector for donations via mobile. The move means charitable donations sent to a dedicated short code will have the VAT waived for registered charities.
The new framework means charities of all sizes will be able to receive an additional 15% (standard rate of VAT) for donations sent via text message. Mobile users can donate up to £10.00 by either sending a text message to a Short Code or by using Payforit, a recognised UK standard for mobile payments.
Central to the new framework is an allocation of a dedicated range of numeric Short Codes to be used for charity donations only.
For more details follow this link to MDA
- mkodo supplies interactive SMS in Nigeria
Sep 2009: Capstone Sports, the complete sports representation, management and promotion agency, wished to use mobile and SMS to qualify entry to a mass market promotion in Nigeria
The competition was to draw together Capstone’s expertise and leverage in the English Premier League with the tremendous appetite for English football in Nigeria.
Mkodo's Intelligent Mobile Platform (IMP) was selected to provide the text route, handling and PIN access authorisation from and to Nigeria.
- Seal selects mkodo for SMS and Mobile Internet campaign
July 2009: Leading mobile services supplier, mkodo, have been appointed by Seal Communications to provide the mobile interactivity (SMS and mobile internet) elements of a multi-layered public awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of illegally imported cigarettes.
- Significant Growth in Mobile Internet Betting
June 2009: The year of mobile internet has been a long time coming, but 2009 looks like it’s here for mobile specialists, mkodo. Just within the mobile betting market mkodo are now seeing nearly 2 million interactions per month through the mobile internet betting sites mkodo provide for clients and this number is rising month on month.
Mark Gibson, mkodo’s Business Development Manager … “this is an excellent and exciting performance that shows the burgeoning appetite for mobile web amongst a committed set of customers. It shows the kind of traction that can be gained through having a mobile internet site built for, and optimised to, all mobile handsets and is all the more impressive when you consider that these are customers looking to participate using their hard-earned cash. Providing optimised mobile sites in conjunction with downloadable apps is essential in maximising mobile reach and retaining the growing number of mobile-led customers.
The growth and penetration of smartphone and 3G handsets is supporting this exponential growth but these are not the only customers playing in this field. Only 14% of our mobile internet impressions are from iPhones and 12% from smartphones. All-in-all the portents for mobile web usage are excellent for the coming year. We expect to see continued and significant improvement in our traffic profile throughout the year.”
- mkodo appoints new Business Development Manager
April 2009: mkodo has bolstered its client team with the appointment of Mark Gibson, formerly Commercial Manager at ATS, as Senior Business Development Manager. Mark's considerable experience in the mobile market, UK media and excellent client liaison skills made him an ideal choice for the mkodo team. Mark will be responsible for mkodo’s business development and is very much looking forward to working to continue mkodo's tradition of providing market-leading interactive mobile solutions for brands and consumers.
- BSkyB’s Sky Bet selects mkodo for mobile internet betting site
January 2009: mkodo announces it has been selected by BSkyB’s Sky Bet to implement its next generation mobile internet betting site. The site, scheduled for launch in January 2009, provides an extension of the online, interactive TV and telephone betting services currently available. It offers key functionality and information required by the Sky Bet customers anytime, anywhere they wish to place a bet.
Pritpal Bains, Senior Product Manager for Sky Bet said, “We are keen to allow our customers to interact with our services in the way which is most convenient and enjoyable for them. The mobile channel is an important part of this strategy; hence the strategic decision to upgrade our offering in this area. We selected mkodo because we wanted to work with the pre-eminent supplier in this market. The mkodo team has significant experience in provision of mobile content and commerce sites. This has been evident with the smooth running of the project and with their professionalism to date. "
- Mobile to Air SMS Tool for Non-Latin Character TV and Radio Stations Launched
mkodo announces the launch of its new Mobile To Air Tool for Non-Latin Character communication. This tool enables producers and presenters to receive User Generated Content and SMS messages in any language from the audience. mkodo is looking for media partners to participate in a launch scheme that gives them a non-obligation trial and advantageous commercials at sign-up. Limited places available Call Sue Yoxall on 020 7729 4545 to request a brochure and discuss potential participation in this programme.
- Juniper Research - Mobile Gambling Report
-Global total wagers on mobile phones are expected to more than double in 2009 to more than $3.6bn and expected to increase to more than $27.5bn by 2013
-Mobile betting will account for 75% of all gambling on mobile handsets in 2008, with casino-type gambling the second-largest sector
-The UK alone will account for more than 30% of bets placed in 2008
-Global gross win from mobile betting services is expected to exceed $1bn annually by 2012
-Global gross win from mobile gambling services will rise from just under $192m in 2008 to $3.4bn by 2013.
For more details follow this link to Juniper Research or select this link for more Mobile Market Insights
