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HSBC delivers mobile ads to passers-by via Bluetooth

04 April 2007 [09:04] - TODAY.AZ
The UK HSBC Bank is planning to target Bluetooth phone-owners outside bank offices to encourage them to get more information about the services.

Since the start of the year, the bank has been testing technology that sends ads to the mobile phones of people who pass by two of its London branches, APA reports.

HSBC is trialing Bluetooth technology to send advertising and promotional messages to the mobile phones of people passing two of its London branches.

The trial, which has been running since the start of the year and ends this week, uses a small box installed in the branch that scans for passing mobile phones that have the Bluetooth capability switched on.

When it finds a Bluetooth mobile phone in range the box sends a message asking if the person would like to receive a promotional message from the bank. If the person answers 'yes' the ad is sent to their mobile. Mobile users who do not switch their phones to 'discovery' mode or who reply 'no' to the initial text will not receive anything further.

The current promotion is for Individual Savings Accounts.
The system has been set up so that regular passers-by do not receive repeat messages. The technology recognizes which devices have already received a text and will not send to them again till the marketing campaign changes, usually on a monthly basis.

The trial has been running at two HSBC branches in Regent Street and Canary Wharf and the promotional message encourages the person to go inside the branch for more info.

The results will be evaluated once the trial finishes this week, with a possible view to extending the technology to other branches in the future but she said the initial reaction from people has been positive with no negative comments from those receiving the messages.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/38791.html

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