Many people assume that modern mobile phones make life easier
for everyone, but they have actually been causing problems for
TextBlue, a local Bluetooth advertising company.
Nowadays, most people have iPhones, Blackberry's and android
phones, but these do not keep Bluetooth permanently active and some
do not even have it.
Instead of facing defeat, the company - based at Lymedale
Business Centre - are now selling a Wi-Fi add-on for two of their
existing products, the TextBlue Mini and the TextBlue Networker,
with the added advantage that this also works on laptops.
Company owner Quinton Watton-Smith said, "We knew that there was
a problem with our Bluetooth marketing, because lots of modern
phones either don't have the technology or don't allow people to
keep it on all the time. Yet we can now offer our customers
Wi-Fi marketing and are one of the first companies to do so. The
technology has only been available for just over a week."
In fact, it is Quinton's awareness of where his business should
be going that has landed the company some major clients, including
McDonalds and The Metropolitan Police.
Many businesses, including McDonalds, have free Wi-Fi or ask
customers to pay a certain amount of money to get access. Yet
the user, when they choose to connect, is always faced with a
screen containing a confirmation box.
It is this screen that TextBlue are allowing businesses to
alter, by adding small advertisements or messages alerting users to
any special offers that the company may be providing.
TextBlue will even customise the screens on behalf of their
clients and create them a new website specifically for mobile
phones.
The complete Bluetooth and Wi-Fi system can be hired in a rental
package, which costs £150 per month on a minimum 3 month
contract.
The TextBlue Mini is a standalone unit which does not need to be
connected to a computer or laptop. Uploading advertisements,
messages or checking statistics can be done by connecting the
TextBlue Mini to a PC using the supplied Ethernet cable. The
TextBlue Mini can broadcast to 14 mobiles simultaneously, with the
supplied USB Bluetooth adapter, to a range of up to 100 meters.