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What do you call a mobile phone combined with a television, PDA and music player?

This week saw mobile phone operators, manufactures and commentators alike converge on Barcelona for the 3GSM World Congress, all to get excited about the latest innovations in the mobile phone industry. The latest 'buzz word' being banded about is 'convergance'.

What is convergance?

Convergance quite simply means the combining of several technologies within your mobile phone; notably television, PDAs (personal digital assistant) or personal organizers to most of us, and music players. Having cracked the internet; mobile phone operators and manufacturers are keen to offer television and personal computer functionality on the go!

But does it work, and what does it mean for mobile phone users and our businesses?

Slingbox over your mobile phone

With the use of yet another 'clever little box' called 'Slingbox' placed upon the mountain of hardware that you probably already have accompanying your television, you will be able to access channels straight from your television using the Internet. Slingbox technology itself isn't new, however the software that enables us to utilize it through our mobile phones is. You will be able to watch your favourite TV programmes anywhere you want to; whilst driving to and from work, operating heavy machinery or perhaps skydiving.

Other developments in convergance

Convergance will also enable us to access our home or office PCs via software called 'Orb'. We will be able to browse through documents and pictures, listen to our favourite music, check our e-mail and access files on our PC's hard drives. It will put the office firmly at our fingertips whereever we are, with no compromise.

Instant messenger applications such as MSN and Yahoo will also be made available straight through your mobile phone. Skype, the software that enables cheap international calls to traditional phones and free calls using the internet to other Skype users can also be taken advantage of.

For businesses, convergance in mobile phone technologies is a very exciting prospect; it opens up additional advertising opportunities. Businesses will be able to advertise their products and services, perhaps with special offers direct to the customers pounding the streets right outside. GPS software built into most new mobile phones will be utilized to target customers more effectively than ever before.

Targeted 'Pay Per Call' advertising

These advancements go hand in hand with the progression of Pay Per Call advertising on the internet where traditional Pay Per Click advertising is altered so that customers can contact advertisers by phone. This advertising can be utilized by those with or without websites and can be tracked as normal Pay Per Click advertising to determine its effectiveness. The process as a mobile phone user would be very simple:

1. I would search for a business, perhaps a restaurant on my mobile phone

2. Local restaurants would be displayed to me, the closest geographically to me at the top

3. I would click on an advert and it would ring the restaurant directly for me to make a reservation

This kind of advertising is about as targeted as it gets and as such potentially very cost effective. There are of course many other possibilities. Television advertising could work similarly where advertising breaks would only include TV adverts of local businesses and these adverts would change as you moved about the country. A possibility for low cost TV advertising for small businesses?

At Sitemakers we keep up to date and track of current trends and habits to identify possible opportunities where we can further promote your businesses. For more information phone us on 01458 253290 or contact us