ShopAlert is a mobile service that sends you messages when you’re close to a retailer that you have signed up for. It’s done by using what they call a “geo-fence” that can detect where you are up to a radius of several miles. Is this something that we really need? I can’t imagine myself driving around aimlessly looking at my cell phone (which the picture so inappropriately displays) waiting for amazing coupons to pop up on my phone. Or say if I was driving for a purpose, chances are I’m not going to be late for my date because I had to get that 30% off on Mini-Wheats.
Another thought I’d like to bring up is will this be the snowflake that brings us a snowball effect of endless promotions? A few weeks ago in class we touched upon the idea that maybe one day we’ll be getting ads right on our phone. I can’t remember the whole discussion, but I do recall it not having a positive reaction. Currently the AT&T ShopAlert is only in a small selection of cities in the US and you have to sign up to receive these messages. But what if in a couple years this grows so big it’ll be seen as common and they can eliminate the signing-up stage altogether?
Be this good, bad or just inevitable, all I ask is that they don’t use any urgency tactics. Imagine the rise in U-turn caused car accidents because “There’s only 3 left! Hurry and get your savings now!”
I completley agree with you Linda!
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was that it was kind of a cool idea. However, I also related this app to clothing specifically,(the shop-a-holic that I am). For example, I would love to receive a message on my phone saying that Holt Renfrew is having a sale. But like you mentioned in your example, I would not be as excited about special coupons in other product areas.
I also agree with your concern that this could get to a point where the "sign-up" factor is gone, and we all have ads on our phone. This would be horribly annoying, and I really don't like the idea.
Another idea that you touched on was car accidents. I wonder how this will have an effect on the rising trend of cell phone restriction laws while driving?
I agree too !
ReplyDeleteWe are attack by advertising everywhere, everytime... So I don't want to have this in my phone too.
But the concept is quite different because you have alert only for the stores you signed for.. So, why not.. For a shopper addict, not for me !
This is an interesting idea, I think it just adds on the all of the other new applications that are out there now. I can see myself being interested in hearing about particular sales but probably not at all times of the day, from all product categories being sent directly to my phone.
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