Claiming a first, Universal has announced a mobile commerce campaign partnership with Adgregate Markets, meaning consumers can buy the Blu-ray or DVD of the blockbuster Inglourious Basterds via their mobile phones.
Using Adgregate’s “ShopAds, consumers can view ads of the film, pre-order the film, or shop for the best price online.
“This innovative partnership with Adgregate Markets fits perfectly with Universal’s strategy of providing home entertainment consumers maximum flexibility and convenience when it comes to purchasing and viewing their favorite films,” says Universal Studios Home Entertainment president Craig Kornblau.
Result for: flexibility
Verizon has announced it will begin offering “Quadruple-play” services to Northeast and Mid-Atlantic customers, packaging broadband, TV, home phone and wireless services.
The offering will include Verizon Wireless phone service, DirecTV, FiOS DSL and Verizon’s fiber-to-the-home phone service. The FiOS speed maxes out at 15 Mbps.
The service will cost about $130 USD per month (with 450 minutes for wireless users) and will require a 1-year contract.
“We’re offering the freedom and flexibility for customers to choose the Verizon voice service or combination of services that meets their individual or family needs, together with our complete line of industry-leading home-entertainment options,” added Verizon chief marketing officer Mike Ritter.
Many ISPs including Time Warner and Cablevision already offer “triple-play” packages for TV, cable Internet and home phone service.
Result for: flexibility
Motorola has announced that it will be splitting off its mobile phone business into a seperate company by 2009.
The move is seen as a way to acquiesce to the demands of major investor Carl Icahn and the split will leave Motorola as a company that makes TV set-top boxes, wireless equipment, public-safety radios and bar-code scanners.
Motorola CEO Greg Brown has this to say about the latest move. “The decision will provide improved flexibility, more tailored capital structures, and increased management focus - as well as more targeted investment opportunities for our shareholders.”
“Clearly there’s a lot more work to be done,” Brown added. “It will be a product-led recovery. We’re taking steps now to ensure and solidify that direction.”
