Conversational Virtual Agents and Google+

July 1, 2011 By

We really like the look and feel of Google+ — It will take a good half year (at least) to gain traction, but once University students start tapping into it for both academic and social applications, it could be a winner.

So, the first thought was:  Can our virtual characters and brand agents flow through Google Plus?  Looks like it’s Gtalk, where we’ve been for nearly two years. . .

So, voila!  We’re there.  What we’ll test next is how using Picasa and YouTube Links within the chat will enhance the UX  — The indication is that the files will open within Google+ and not require leaving the page. . .

Is this the only branded marketing or ad unit that can flow through Google+?  Maybe?  For mLearning?  Great potential too…

Back to testing…

Filed Under: Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, mLearning, mobile marketing, Products Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Conversational Mobile Web…Reaching Everyone…

June 29, 2011 By

OK, not quite everyone…but, a lot closer than with native-apps. . .

We’re trying out new mobile web analytics this week; which include graphical representations of the devices which are accessing our mobile web applications – AND, our native-apps (Android, AppUP, etc.).

In a 24-hour period, this is the picture that’s painted:

 

Filed Under: Conversational AI, mobile marketing, Products Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kids…Early Adopters…Talking to Cereal Boxes…

June 24, 2011 By

This was a brilliant post over on @RWW with the outstanding line:

“The majority of kids (77%) imagined future technologies with human-level responsiveness…”

Full post here:  http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/to_understand_the_future_of_tech_listen_to_kids.php#more

This is one reason we often suggest applications for “talking to characters on cereal boxes,” or extending children’s film and television properties to include interactive conversations with the characters…

It’s what kids are waiting for.

The full .pdf of the study CHILDREN’S FUTURE REQUESTS FOR COMPUTERS & THE INTERNET is here:  http://latd.tv/kids/kidsTech.pdf

Filed Under: AI conversation, Brands and Mobile, Friendly machines Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Keep it Personal on Mobile – Keep it Conversational

June 20, 2011 By

The post from @gomonews caught our attention this morning:

http://www.gomonews.com/your-mobile-device-phone-web-browser%E2%80%A6-secret-lover/

This was perfect:

“People are experts at “humanizing” their devices, attributing human characteristics, moods and behaviors to their communications devices. Now, it’s nothing like the connection you have with an actual person. You can never feel as close to your phone as you can to a real person. But those feelings are there, even if they’re only faded reflections of the real thing. And I think that advertisers and marketers would be wise to pay heed to that…”

 

Filed Under: AI conversation, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, mobile marketing, Virtual Agents Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

More Thoughts on NFC and QR-2D: Defining a New Mobile Lifestyle Story

June 16, 2011 By

I’ve been mulling over how NFC could be a catalyst for cross-over, higher-budget and higher-profile, QR-2D applications in advertising and marketing, which in turn will drive greater user adoption as part of defining a new mobile “lifestyle.”

While “payments” may be the primary application with early NFC use, the range of it’s applications span a fair bit of territory where QR-2D currently resides.  From what I see, QR-2D is not delivering high-value campaigns that also serve to define QR-2D as being an essential part of  a User’s  mobile lifestyle – they seem stuck on delivering “information.”

There’s a big difference between saying “I’ll get you information when you need it,” and “I’m going to make your life more interesting.”

Looking at the video promotions for NFC here:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/10/nfc_videos/

NFC is being promoted as becoming part of everyone’s daily life — and, improving it –  OK, the Nokia clip is pretty cheesy, but the message is clear.  They’re selling a good story.

This Barclaycard NFC spot is extraordinary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWp3pxatDyU&feature=player_embedded

As more money goes into NFC-based campaigns, someone is going to recognize that in many cases they should be complemented by QR-2D access as well.

I’m certain that NFC is both complementary to QR-2D in many applications as well as being a facilitator of defining how these related technologies are part of a new mobile lifestyle “story.”

We all know that we can launch more QR-2D campaigns today than NFC, simply due to market penetration.  That will level out over the next year.  The issue is how, or whether, QR-2D will leverage itself  to be part of the larger mobile lifestyle story that’s being told?

As a “mobile content company,” we see that using both technologies together will make sense in many cases; but the public perception of QR-2D needs to become part of the same story that NFC campaigns’ are promoting in order to legitimate media buys that result in high scan rates.

/adapted from LinkedIN post

Filed Under: Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, Mobile, mobile marketing, NFC, QR TAgs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Mobile Conversational Marketing – Conversational Analytics

June 15, 2011 By

We don’t spend a lot of time featuring the value-add that goes on behind the scenes; and the conversational analytics that are available to marketers.

But, as we evolve from showing off our technology and platform to defining product, the value of the conversational analytics becomes more apparent.

What are people talking about in-store today?

What do they like and what do they want?

They’ll tell you, without feeling like it’s a survey, through the course of conversational engagement:

 

Filed Under: Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, Friendly machines, mobile marketing, Products Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

NFC and Conversational Mobile Marketing – The Future Gets Closer

June 8, 2011 By

We spend an extraordinary amount of time discussing “how” people quickly and intuitively access mobile web sites.

Much of that discussion is around QR, 2D and image recognition coding – combined with printed URLs (and type recognition options!) – and, even sending SMS messages with URLs.

In the wings, with a building momentum, is NFC.

Most of the discussion is around “payments,” but, already the applications for mobile marketing are emerging:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/new-x-men-film-uses-nfc-advertising

http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/%E2%80%9Cnfc%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-not-always-synonymous-with-mobile-payments-15638/

http://www.nearfieldcommunicationsworld.com/2011/04/28/37158/hotels-com-and-new-york-times-back-nfc-advertising-venture/

While NFC can’t work in the print publications space, it does work when there is near physical proximity and that’s one of it’s pluses — It’s nearly tactile and is a physical gesture that’s simple and could become habitual.  Particularly, if the same physical habit and motion is used for payments, dare we project, this could become a “standard.”

The other theory that’s kicking around is how NFC will improve QR/2D campaigns.

What?

No, really.  NFC mobile marketing campaigns will bring in a whole different creative group and money to this space; and, many hybrid NFC/QR campaigns should emerge from this.  QR (or 2D) campaigns should improve and generate more traffic and awareness.

How does “conversational mobile marketing and entertainment” fit into the picture?

For us, it’s about being a part of intuitive mobile experiences.  2-way conversations (messaging) on phones remains User’s primary, habitual engagement.  If NFC fulfills the role of being the most intuitive format to reach our applications, that’s a good thing all around.

Filed Under: AI conversational network, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, Mobile, mobile marketing, NFC, QR TAgs, Virtual Agents Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How NFC will Save QR

May 25, 2011 By

Here’s a theory that’s been brewing in the office. . .

First, we’re “mobile content folks,” so we’re technology agnostic when it comes to device, carrier, OS or “how” someone reaches the content.  We just want to encourage traffic and make it as intuitive and genuinely pleasant as possible.

Broadly, QR/2D Barcodes are now seen everywhere.  The only thing missing seems to be any evidence that anyone is scanning them. It’s been nearly a year since any hard and fast scan numbers were released.

Now, before it’s even viable (not enough devices in the market), the new kid on the block is NFC.  NFC test campaigns are already rolling out, stepping directly on the turf that QR hoped to exclusively own (or, were pleased to battle over with MS Tag and some image recognition technologies).

Here’s why NFC will save QR:

QR campaigns, to date, appear to have been run by print departments and in many cases they resolve to recycled  video footage to access from mobile; or, someone set up a really dull mobile landing page that is about as exciting as a piece of cold toast.

NFC is attracting “interactive” and “mobile” Creatives — and, bigger budgets.  Is it possible that NFC campaigns will succeed, but, that success will then spill over to QR-based campaigns?

That seems likely.  QR needs to get interactive Creatives and dollars behind it with a focus on the End User’s mobile experience; some of that attention may emerge from a new breed of mobile marketing team who start with NFC, but, will consider QR as well?

We see QR and NFC as being complementary and increasing the size of the pie, allowing plenty of slices for everyone.

Some recent NFC posts that set this whole theory brewing. . .

http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/new-x-men-film-uses-nfc-advertising

http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/%E2%80%9Cnfc%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-not-always-synonymous-with-mobile-payments-15638/

http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/01/25/so-why-should-you-care-about-nfc/

http://blog.kimtag.com/2011/05/nfc-and-qr-code-combined.html

 

Filed Under: Brands and Mobile, mCoupons, mobile marketing, NFC, QR TAgs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Conversational Apps on Mobile — Expanding Channels and Reach

May 16, 2011 By

Mobile web is our core and base delivery.

But, we understand that people are using app stores for Search at a level nearly equal to mobile web search.

So, about two months ago, we added Android delivery to the mix.

In the past week, we’ve now tested and are pleased to add Windows/Mobile and MeeGo — and, Barnes and Noble’s NOOK, to our mix of delivery channels; for both Tablets as well as phones. And, we’ve undertaken a fascinating test to delivery our mobile web pages through a mobile chat Client — Not merely the chat, but, the full page experience, including animation and graphics; providing a wide reach to low-level data plan users.

So, where’s iOS in all this? Well, iOS users can always reach us via mobile web. But, we’re also working on a solution specifically for iOS that doesn’t require a full rebuild simply to reach a couple of devices.

More to follow…

Filed Under: AI conversational network, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, mLearning, Mobile, mobile marketing, Products, WAP Chat Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Conversational Mobile Apps – Defining Products

April 30, 2011 By

Having been down this path before with developing emerging media technologies, it’s always a terrific moment when the business makes the transition from “defining technology” to “defining applications” to then “defining products.”

contentAI studios have been developing it’s technology for over a year while testing in various applications and seeing market response and adoption — Over the past month, the “product definitions” have become far more clear (at least, the initial product offerings, as there are others which will follow).

- Conversational Mobile Campaigns — Motivated, directed conversational engagement with a purpose:  enter a contest, acquire a contextual mCoupon, engage in an entertaining interactive story. . .i.e. drive the User to take a specific action in an enjoyable exchange.

- Mobile FAQs — This is the economical version of the platform that allows a Brands mobile web site to deliver deep information and graphics without a complex user navigation or dense, unreadable text.

-  Conversational mLearning with emphasis on ESL — Our http://ESLai.com initiative is roaring along; the consumer-facing Beta apps are now accessed in over 100 Countries from both mobile web and Android app stores.  We’re keen to engage in partnership opportunities with ESL curriculum providers, schools and regional mobile content portals.

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What are the future products?

Interactive eBooks with a focus on children’s entertainment and mLearning is high on our list.  And, beyond campaign/marketing apps, we see the platform serving as a complementary story-platform for motion pictures and television — widgetized TV is a space that is fascinating to consider.

Stay tuned.

Filed Under: AI conversation, AI conversational network, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, ESL, mLearning, Mobile, mobile marketing, Products, Virtual Agents Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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