Does SMS count for Mobile LBS advertising

by: Bena Roberts Friday, May 2nd, 2008

I just saw an article that mobile operator Starhub had launched LBS advertising.

My heart started beating and a number of really sexy services and solutions sprung to mind. I envisioned geo-location based services where users are pinged in restaurants, supermarkets or when they click the find me button on their mobile device.

No such luck. The operator has launched LBS mobile advertising based on SMS and postcodes.

BOO Hoo. I don’t even know my mobile phone number, let alone my postcode. But what is scary about this is that when you opt in the advertisers can send you SMS advertising when you are in a “contextually relevant location”. How is this possible without a GPS device? I mean I am now a huge fan of livecontacts.com but recently in the UK T-Mobile phoned me and asked me if I knew how much my data roaming charges were going to be? I said, no. They said – turn off all your applications. The GPS locator one was going haywire trying to find me.

Hmm. I suppose this is where companies such as Roamware can help. But LBS advertising should not be confused with SMS push messages. There is a difference. On top of that this is SMS advertising based on where there are advertisers (not on your location).

Trackback: http://www.intomobile.com/2008/04/30/starhub-launches-first-nation-wide-lbs-mobile-advertising.html