The History of the Ringtone Industry

admin    Canada, Cell Phones, mobile marketing     ringtones

Advanced Telecom Services has a storied history in the ringtone industry having developed two of the early ringtone sites in the United States market — MonsterTones and RingingPhone.  These sites and our ringtone businesses were sold to a Canadian company, Zim Corporation, in 2006.

Nevertheless, our early adoption of the ringtone business in 2002 helped lead Advanced Telecom Services to understanding mobile and becoming one of the premiere providers of mobile marketing services today.

A Review of World Telemedia 2011

admin    900 Numbers, Canada, Company News, mobile marketing, Telemedia, United Kingdom     2011, Amsterdam, show, Telemedia

by Bob Bentz

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – World Telemedia 2011 has just concluded in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and most delegates indicated that the show was a success for them.  There was a definite feeling that the industry has improved and this savvy group of pros continues to churn out new and innovative telemedia applications despite a tough economy, over-regulation, and ever-changing technology.

Renaissance Hotel and Koepelkerk

This year, World Telemedia had more focus than ever on mobile marketing.  In fact, the show had its own Custom QR Code that enabled participants to put a mobile web site on their smartphones.  The site included the show schedule and a handy Google map that showed the best restaurants and entertainment in the area.

This year, World Telemedia combined forces with World Intertainment for the Amsterdam show.  While looking around the conference center, however, it appeared as though there were mostly familiar faces there this year.  Most of those attending have been in the industry for many years and seem happy to spend time with each other, despite often being direct competitors.

Significant business was conducted on the trade show exhibit floor in the historic 17th century Koepelkerk building adjacent to the contemporary Renaissance Hotel in Amsterdam.  There was a significant amount of business cards being traded and it was interesting to note that the storied business card is still a staple, even with this high tech group.

While business was being transacted on the Koepelkerk floor, the upper three floors were hosting a wide range of seminars expertly hosted by industry veteran Paul Skeldon.  Although Skeldon does not directly work in the business, his knowledge of the business is obvious and his ability to ask pointed questions of the panelists is the mark of a top notch journalist.

One of the more comical moments in the seminars occurred when the panelists of a Wednesday conference discussed whether they could actually say the “A” word during the show.  Come on guys, what’s the big deal?

Another improvement in the show was the lunch food served both Thursday and Friday to the delegates.  Several comments were made about the quality of the grub and several people remembered just how poor the food was back at the Liverpool show two years ago.

The Renaissance Hotel in Amsterdam is deserving of its 4 star rating.  The rooms were very clean and attractive and the beds were comfortable.  Breakfast was a bit pricey at 26 euros, but an over-priced breakfast is common at top hotels.  The major complaint of many of the delegates was that the internet access was a whopping 19.95 euros for 24 hours and the quality of the internet was poor.  In fact, it was so poor that it didn’t reach across the narrow street into the Koepelkerk building so those who desired internet access both in their room and at the show need to pay twice!

The Platinum sponsor of the 2011 World Telemedia Show was International Premiums and Gold sponsors were Atlas Interactive and Advanced Telecom Services.

Clearly, one of the highlights of World Telemedia 2011 was Amsterdam itself. Amsterdam has been the most common venue for past World Telemedia shows and the delegates seemed to like the easier travel and the unique ambiance that Amsterdam offers. It will be interesting if the World Telemedia staff decides to go back to Amsterdam in 2012. If they do, there will be many telemedia experts who are happy to go once again.

Telemedia360 a Royal Success

admin    900 Numbers, Canada, Telemedia, United Kingdom     Advanced Telecom Services., Manchester, Telemedia360

Manchester, England — The second annual Telemedia360 event, held this year in Manchester, was another great success for organizers and attendees.

ATS's Bob Bentz with Telemedia360 organizer Jarvis Todd and Bob's autographed Blackburn Rovers jersey.

Over 250 delegates were represented at the event with the majority coming from the United Kingdom, although there was representation from telemedia experts representing Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Malta, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States.

Visitors to Manchester were greeted by two big news stories in England.  Of local Manchester interest was the protest by students against the proposed change in tuition fees from 3000 pounds per year to 9000 pounds per year, as the UK government attempts to generate savings in this time of austerity.  Coming from the USA, where students at private universities can pay more than $55,000 per year, I couldn’t find a lot of sympathy for the students.  On the second day of the event, the major announcement of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton was announced; this news dominated the telly all day.

The event opened on Monday night with a party at the RA!N pub just a few blocks from the unique Palace Hotel where the event itself was held.

Telemedia360 began early (by delegate standards) on Tuesday morning and there were a series of continuous speeches in the adjacent meeting room that were attended by most of the professionals.  The only complaint of the event that was heard was that it was difficult to hear between the two simultaneous discussions that were happening in the conference room, as the divider between the two was nothing more than a mere curtain, thus making the louder speaker the more audible one.

While the conferences were occurring, many executives were out in the lobby and bar area renewing relationships and friendships and making deals.  Given the activity in the restaurant and bar, it’s hard to believe those staying at the hotel that were not part of the show were too pleased with the constant activity.

On Tuesday night, a dinner was held and many delegates that were not British (including me) got their first taste of Yorkshire Pudding.  At the dinner, autographed football shirts were auctioned and several thousand dollars were raised for the charity Her Breast Friends.

With the business activities done, the group headed to Barca Bar for the rest of the evening.  Many delegates were seen returning to the hotel when some of the delegates were heading out Wednesday morning for early flights.

Fixed Lines in Canada

admin    900 Numbers, Canada     Canada, fixed line phones, landline phones

Fixed line phones no longer ringing true with Canadians.

The total number of fixed lines in Canada continues to decrease since 2003 with the rise in cell phone only households.  Therefore, it is vitally important that a Canadian premium rate program also allow for easy access from cell phones.  Advanced Telecom Services pound codes and premium SMS solutions for Canadian programs will do the trick.

Total Landline Fixed Line Phones in Canada

Cell Phone Only Households USA and Canada

admin    Canada, Cell Phones     Canada, cell phone only households, usa

Projections for cell phone only households in the USA and Canada as provided by CRTC.ca.

Figure 11. Forecast of wireless-only households in Canada and the U.S.⁶²

Canada 900 Market Heats Up

admin    900 Numbers, Canada     900 Numbers, Canada, regulations

Lobbying for more improvements for Canadian 900 numbers.

World Telemedia published an article about the red hot Canadian 900 number market and its opportunities for international customers.  Advanced Telecom Services’ efforts to further improve the market are discussed.

The Canadian 900 number market has shown significant growth over the past two years due in part to deregulation of the industry and the opportunities created from it.

Cell Phone Usage By Household In Canada

advanced34    Canada, Cell Phones     communication, mobile usage

Almost three quarters (74.3%) of Canadian households indicated they had a cell phone in 2008 up from 72.4% in 2007.

The proportion of households with cell phones was highest in Alberta (84.5%) , Saskatchewan (78.0%), British Columbia (77.8%) and Ontario (76.8%). Quebec had the lowest rate of cell phone use at 65.5% of households.

In 2008, 8.0% of households reported having cell phones only, up from 6.4% in 2007.

The trend is towards younger households being more likely to use only a cell phone, with 34% of households comprised solely of adults aged between 18 and 34 relying exclusively on cell phones.  Among all other households the rate was 4.5%.

In 2008, 67% of the households that used only cell phones were renters and not homeowners.

The proportion of households without any phone service remained unchanged from 2007 at 0.9%.

Telemedia 360 Review

advanced34    900 Numbers, Canada, Telemedia     Advanced Telecom Services., Albert Dock, Liverpool, Telemedia 360

By Bob Bentz

Liverpool's Albert Dock hosted Telemedia 360

Liverpool, England – There’s a brand new show on the European audiotext scene.

Almost 300, mostly British, members of the telemedia industry converged on Liverpool’s Albert Dock for the first annual Telemedia 360 on October 20-21, 2009. And, if the business done at this first ever Telemedia 360 is any indication, the show will be around for a long time.

The show was sponsored by the same folks who put on the annual show, World Telemedia, which has been held in fun places such as Malta, Budapest, Prague, Amsterdam, and London in recent years. Industry veterans Jarvis Todd and Annika Micheli were on hand to make sure that everything ran smoothly and that everybody had a good time and that the sponsors were pleased with their investments.

It was hard not to have a good time at Telemedia 360. The event got off to a quick start with a sponsored party at Alma de Cuba—a converted church that now makes a fun bar and restaurant. Lots of telemedia veterans were there early and did their part to show that the British are some of the hardiest drinkers in the world. The party didn’t close until after 2 am at which time some energetic, unnamed souls continued partying while watching native Liverpudlians dance in g-strings.

The crowd was mostly male and certainly showed an aging business population than was present at past Telemedia shows; 45 seemed to be the median age of attendees. Telemedia veterans continue to show that there is significant money to be made in pay per call and the vast breadth of billing mechanisms and exciting new mobile applications that were displayed. Nevertheless, it is clear that the industry could use some new and younger blood and some greater female participation.

The crowd arrived early the next morning and the trade show and presentations got under way at 9:30. Those who stayed out late the night before were there and ready to do business, as any professional would, although some ended up telling the same stories that they did the night before, thankfully at a lower volume.

Mark Challinor, European director of INMA, made the opening welcome address to the attendees. The presentations had two tracks representing moving the media to a cross-platform pay for content model and generating traffic for premium rate content across multiple platform. A total of 16 presentations were made with 64 industry leaders speaking.

The lone negative of the show was the complimentary lunch that was served which my British colleagues described as “rubbish.” Nevertheless, lunch time was a good way to meet others in the industry given the small second floor venue that hosted it. Certainly, nobody had to worry about the bad manners of talking with their mouths full.

Advanced Telecom Services’ president Bob Bentz was there along with the operating partners of the ATS-London service bureau, Ian Scott and Cindy Aspland.

Advanced Telecom Services presented the Canadian 900 number market as: “the best premium rate market in the world.” Advanced Telecom Services’ theme for the show was “Mount Your Next Program in Canada” with a sexy female Canadian Mountie as the mascot. Signage and the Telemedia 360 power point touted some of the features of the newly de-regulated Canadian premium rate market including lower fees, less content restrictions and an improved ability to control chargebacks that had previously plagued the Canadian 900 number industry.

In the afternoon, Toby Padgham of AIME spoke to us about the possibility that British Telecom will be raising its claw back on uncollectible billing. Currently, BT takes 3.04% for chargebacks from all service bureaus. This in itself seems unfair as some companies in the more liberal IVR categories are probably under-assessed based on this process. Padgham indicated that BT has talked about increasing its claw back to 9% and stressed the importance of the industry banding together to fight this unwarranted increase.

The conclusion of the show was highlighted by an auction of several autographed football items, including autographed jerseys of the Chelsea and Arsenal teams, donated by O-bit Telecom. Proceeds from the auction were donated to an organization that fights breast cancer, Her Breast Friends.

But, activity was not completed from Telemedia 360. An evening dinner at Pan Am on Albert Dock had outstanding food that redeemed the rubbish served at lunch. The final evening of musical entertainment from The Cheatles highlighted the Liverpool event. It was easy to find the few 20-somethings in the audience as they were the only ones not mouthing the words to the songs made famous by Liverpool’s and the world’s most famous band ever.

As the delegates began to say good-bye, many wondered where we’d see each other next as the location for World Telemedia 2010 has yet to be confirmed. A reliable source said that Copenhagen, Denmark had the inside track to hosting the April event.

Regardless of where World Telemedia is held, however, this group knows how to do business, yet also knows how to have a good time simultaneously.