Premium SMS In the UK

admin    premium sms, United Kingdom     premium sms, UK

Phone Pay Plus offers a clever video about premium SMS services in the United Kingdom.

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.

Premium Rate Complaints Down in UK

admin    900 Numbers, United Kingdom     London, premium rate services, UK

ATS offers easy expansion of your 900 number program to the UK.

Advanced Telecom Services offers easy expansion of your premium rate 900 number programs to the UK through its London office.  ATS has been active in the United Kingdom premium rate services market since 1992.

Complaints about premium rate telephone services (PRS) have declined by 77% over two years, according to recent figures issued by the UK PRS regulator, PhonepayPlus, in its Annual Report. Other good news statistics for consumers and industry were a 74% decrease in fines to industry for serious breaches of PhonepayPlus’ Code of Practice in the last financial year, while the market grew from £810 million to £816 million in 2010.

As the UK PRS industry gears up for changes to regulation that come into force on 1 September, the news of growing consumer confidence in PRS was welcomed by the regulator, consumers and industry. PhonepayPlus’ Annual Report 2010/11 highlights the effectiveness of the collaborative regulatory model where the regulator works with the PRS industry to pre-empt consumer harm before it happens, allowing innovation that benefits both consumers and the market while acting swiftly and effectively to clamp down on services and providers that cause problems.

Use of Premium Rate Services by Sex

admin    United Kingdom     by sex, premium rate, UK

According to a UK study, there is a difference in the use of premium rate services by sex. Listed below are the percentage of British public that has used such a service.  The first figure is for adult males and the second for females.

Women are more likely to call reality TV shows.

NEWS AND SPORTS ALERTS — 32%men & 23% women

GAMBLING — 13% & 8%

GAMES ON MOBILES — 23% & 19%

ADULT CHAT — 6% & 2%

ADULT CONTENT — 7% & 2%

VOTING REALITY TV SHOWS — 29% & 36%

(Source — Phone Pay Plus; November, 2010)

Visions of Manchester

admin    United Kingdom     manchester pictures, Telemedia360

Pictures from the Manchester Telemedia 360 Show held this past week in England are shown below.

Clearly, British people have embraced text messaging to a greater degree than Americans with 91% of all UK citizens having sent a text message.  Banking by mobile is a common occurrence and is promoted on this advertisement in Heathrow Airport in London.

Text message banking is common in the UK.

The site of the Telemedia360 Show was The Palace Hotel in Manchester.  Delegates were amazed by the old building with some rooms having ceilings that were 40 feet high!

The Palace Hotel, Manchester

The oldest building in Manchester is (what else) a pub.  We all know how the Brits like their pints.  The Wellington Pub survived a terrorist attack in 1997 and was picked up and moved to make way for a sparkling new mall.

Oldest building in Manchester - 1550

Not sure Don Draper would have approved of this advertising for the Lucky Strike account.  England’s new efforts to curb smoking are seen everywhere.  It is so refreshing to be able to walk into a pub and not be blasted with cigarette smoke any more.

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.

Study: Why People Don’t Call Premium Rate Numbers

admin    900 Numbers, United Kingdom     900 Numbers, premium rate numbers, research, study

PhonePayPlus, in its 2010 research, polled 5001 people about why or why they don’t use premium rate numbers.  The numbers are interesting and give 900 number entrepreneurs some insight on what they should be doing to get more consumers involved in calling premium rate numbers.

LACK OF INTEREST: Why most don't call 900 numbers.

The single biggest reason cited as to why consumers don’t call premium rate 900 number is that they don’t find the services interesting enough to call.  In fact, 76.6% of all consumers that don’t use premium rate numbers said this was the reason.  Among those aged 11 – 19, however, only 47.7% said the services were not interesting so perhaps this is a good single for the premium rate industry of the future.  No doubt that innovation would be a great boon to the 900 number industry and entice some of those previously not interested in the services to give them a try.

Interestingly, trust of services was not a major reason why people don’t use premium rate numbers.  14.4% of non-users say the don’t trust paying in this way.

One other major reason for not using such services is a perceived lack of clarity of pricing for services billed by premium rate numbers.  45.1% said they typically were not certain as to the eventual cost of such services.  71.1% said that this uncertainty had stopped them from using such services.  This further enforces the reason to put the price in the advertisement and not try to hide it.  Perhaps another way to promote 900 numbers is to say how long an average call will last if it is billed on a per minute basis.

UK Premium Rate Service Revenues 2009

admin    900 Numbers, United Kingdom     premium rate services, revenues, UK

UK premium rate phone regulator PhonepayPlus has published research that shows the amount of revenue that is allocated per category in the UK market in 2009.

Horoscopes remain a mainstay in the UK PRS industry.

According to the study, the oldest category for premium rate services, directory assistance, is still the largest share of the industry, although it continues to show drops annually as more options remain for directory inquiries.

The study places the value of the UK premium rate services market at 810 million pounds annually.  Categorically, it breaks down as follows:

1. Directory assistance - 220.5 million pounds
2. Adult entertainment – 131.1 m
3. 087 business information – 72.3 m
4. Mobile games – 55.3 m
5. Information services – 55.2 m
6. Competitions and quizzes – 53.6 m
7. Mobile phone entertainment – 53.2 m
8. Gambling and lotteries – 36.3 m
9. Participation TV Shows – 31.7 m
10. Mobile personalization (ringtones) – 27.2 m
11. Dating – 19.6 m
12. Tarot & Astrology – 17.4 m
13. Payment for non-adult content -  11.6 m
14. Charity donations – 10.8 m
15. Call services – 6.9 m
16. 087 flirt and chat lines – 5.9 m
17. Virtual gifts – 1.5 m

Advanced Telecom Services operates a service bureau with offices in London.  It is primarily a service bureau for newspaper dating services and charitable donations.