Wireless Watch for September 30, 2004

MMA Forms Anti-Spam Committee

The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) recently formed an anti-spam committee.

Among the committee’s mandates is to research the merits and drawbacks of creating a national preference and privacy database for mobile consumers. Such a system would let people opt in and out of various campaign types, the trade group said.

The committee is chaired by Bill Erickson, CEO of M7 Networks; Gerry Christensen, Verisign’s director of wireless services; and Neil Kuruppu, CEO of Ecessor Corporation. Last year, the MMA released a code of conduct for mobile marketers. It will hold its first in-person meeting on October 15 in Boston.

“The industry needs this committee to help ensure the consumer’s right of non-participation, as well as to continue to build the foundation for the industry’s long-term success,” said Jim Manis, MMA global chair.

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AOL Pushes Mail and AIM to Phones

America Online struck a deal with Verizon Wireless to include its AOL Mail on the carrier’s Get It Now wireless service. AOL members using supported phones on Verizon’s service can now pay .99 per month to access their email from the device.

AOL this week also launched a mobile developer program geared toward facilitating the growth of its instant messenger client on mobile devices. Several wireless tech players have signed on, including Motorola, Samsung and Siemens.

“Working closely with the industry’s leading manufacturers, we are able to bring the familiar AOL and AIM Buddy List feature to today’s mobile users, helping them to stay in touch with friends, family and associates everywhere they go,” said Doug Gardner, executive director of AOL Mobile.

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Enpocket Names President and COO

Mobile marketing firm Enpocket hired Mike Baker as president and chief operating officer. Baker joins Enpocket from GrandBanks Capital, an Enpocket investor. Earlier, he was executive VP at Engage Technologies. Baker will also serve on Enpocket’s board.

“After being supportive as a board advisor and friend since the company’s inception, it is the right time to have Mike join the Enpocket team full time,” said CEO Jonathan Linner.

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Lotto Results on the Phone

Lottery.com rolled out sponsored SMS lottery alerts to North American mobile subscribers.

Games Inc., which owns Lottery.com, is using SMS Media Group’s SMSdelivery.net text messaging platform and its Ads2Cell ad management technology to support the effort. The service is free, not counting messaging fees charged by carriers.

“Lottery results are perfect content for the mobile phone,” said SMS Media Group President Gary Brooks. “Games Inc. is a wonderful addition to our text messaging network.”