Press Releases

Payforit – Past, Present and the Future?

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:38:00 +0000

Key Industry Leaders Discuss Payforit Evolution at Dialogue AIME Seminar

Representatives from mobile aggregators, operators, industry bodies and content and service providers, gathered at the Grand Fitzrovia Hotel in London last Thursday (May 21st), to thrash out the growth, evolution and pros and cons of mobile payment initiative, Payforit. Dialogue MD Guiom Peersman, was joined by Rory Maguire of 3, Del Dias of AEI Mobile and AIME representative Andrew Darling, where the hot topics of the night included the growth of web Payforit and its position in relation to more ingrained payment options such as credit cards. There was also analysis of how Payforit has performed over the last two years and what the industry can do to hasten its growth, as well as the question, does everyone actually want Payforit?

Since its inception in 2006, Payforit has seen two major developments as far as Dialogue MD Guiom Peersman is concerned. These include Web Payforit and Single Click, with Web Payforit being targeted as the major initiative for growth in conjunction with the major increase in mobile broadband use, whereas Single click is predominantly aimed at and will be most valuable to, repeat purchasers.

Guiom explained “At our last Payforit seminar in 2007, I predicted that Payforit would dominate m-payments for some time to come, but that it was by no means the finished product. This prediction has been realised with the introduction of Web Payforit and Single Click, however we still have a way to go in reaching our ultimate goal of making Payforit a consistent and recognisable brand for consumers across all WAP sites.”

As well as developments to the initiative itself, Guiom said: “We need to get away from Payforit being seen solely as a mobile content buying solution. The content market has levelled off and with the launch of web payforit new markets are being identified, such as e-vouchers, CD’s and books, thus widening it’s appeal and providing the consumer with another payment option using mobile billing, but more importantly reaching those buyers who don’t have bank accounts, credit or debit cards.”

Rory Maguire, head of payments services UK at 3, echoed Guiom’s statements: “Mobile services are stuck in a rut, consumers have lost interest and due to the current recession people have cut back on traditional mobile content purchases. This drop in spending then tempts providers towards scams, which invokes increased regulatory pressure.

“What is required is the pricing clarity of Payforit, helping to rebuild the consumers trust by providing them with a safe buying environment. Payforit helps define the good from the bad, but growth is limited on pure handset content. I believe Web Payforit will change the game and open up new opportunities as well as protect consumers, it is a mountain of gold that no one has as yet tapped into,” continued Rory.

Design issues were also discussed – there is potential for the Payforit page used during Web Payforit to be designed to fit the look and style of the merchants’ site, therefore making the experience more seamless.

The question of Payforit’s profile amongst consumers was also addressed with Guiom stressing that: “Success depends on promotion of the brand, it needs to be well marketed, and more supported by the industry. Usage growth will be hastened if consumers are aware what Payforit is and why it is a benefit to them”.

In contrast, Rory Maguire said that whilst Payforit promotion was an issue for operators, they do not want to take out billboards and adverts shouting about the initiative and instead would rather let awareness grow through consumer usage, word of mouth and information provided on operator portals and websites.

Del Dias Managing Director at AEI Mobile approached the subject of Payforit from the angle of the music industry discussing how the ring tone craze is now all but over, stressing that for AEI, mobile payments are very much part of the company mix rather than a channel in its own right.

AEI mobile cannot rely on mobile payments alone to sell music due to a number of factors including the sizable royalties that must be paid to record companies to license their music. However they are in fact selling tickets for AEI events via mobile using Payforit which is proving to be more favourable and seeing a high number of tickets purchased.

The question of whether it will be possible for Payforit to extend into other countries was put to the three speakers during the panel discussion. Rory Maguire explained that 3 had taken the solution to Australian operators and Payforit has also been met with much enthusiasm in Ireland by content providers, due to the large amount of mobile scams blighting their mobile industry, so much so that the regulatory bodies became unable to cope and unfortunately all content providers were tarred with the same brush in the eyes of the consumer.

Del Dias commented that “Mobile billing is currently in flux, I support Payforit but there are still issues to get over. There is not an immediate solution and time is needed to resolve these matters.

“I also feel that the development process of Payforit has been quite painful and perhaps that is the problem created when competing operators work together on the same project. I am optimistic for the future and for a growth in revenues, but I don’t think these will come solely from mobile, but a convergence of mobile and traditional internet”, said Del.

Guiom concluded the evening by saying that: “Payforit has moved along way in last two years and purchasing over the mobile internet is increasing however it will still take some time to establish the brand. We envisage great opportunities for web Payforit although we are not expecting users to suddenly stop using credit cards and start using Payforit, the process will be more gradual than that. But we believe it is providing a new billing solution for people who can’t use the payment options available to them today.

Ends.

For more information about Dialogue please visit www.dialogue.net

Find out more about Dialogue Payforit Solution by visting www.dialogue.net/what_we_do/mobile_billing/mobile_delivery_payforit.php

Where is Payforit Today?

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:17:00 +0000

PAYFORIT FUTURE TO BE ANALYSED AT AIME DIALOGUE SEMINAR
21st May 2009, Fitzrovia Hotel, London

The future of mobile payments initiative, Payforit, is set to be discussed at an AIME Knowledge and Networking seminar sponsored by Dialogue Communications, later this week. The seminar, taking place at the Grange Fitzrovia Hotel, London, on Thursday at 6.30pm, will be hosted by AIME’s Andrew Darling and see speakers from O2, Three, AEI Mobile and Dialogue discuss the evolution and growth of Payforit over the last two years.

Since its inception in 2006, there have been a number of new developments including Web Payforit and Single Click, and a growth in the scope of purchases made through the mobile internet for both mobile content and also services like mobile tickets and donations as well as online for vouchers and credits. This has allowed Payforit’s position in the WAP billing landscape to grow in importance. The seminar will address this progression along with the impact that it will have for operators, API’s and content/service providers, as well as looking at potential factors, which may have hindered Payforit’s growth, and what can be done to remedy this.

Guiom Peersman, managing director at Dialogue said: “Dialogue has been an important force in the development of Payforit since 2006, and was the first to go live with a Payforit customer, as well as the first API to implement and lead the way with both Web Payforit and Single Click, opening up opportunities for new markets.

“However there is still plenty more we can do to increase the success of Payforit, as well as build on brand awareness. That is why this seminar is important, as it will allow us to look at how it works today, address the needs of Payforit and look at ways to perfect the buying experience for consumers further.”

For more information go to www.dialogue.net/news_and_media/ or to register for the seminar visit www.aimelink.org/KN/payForIt.aspx.

Dialogue Continues International Expansion with New Office & WAP Billing in South Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Leading provider of interactive mobile solutions, Dialogue Communications, has continued its international growth trend with the opening of a new office in South Africa. The new office, based in Cape Town, extends Dialogue’s reach into three continents, and will focus on bringing more comprehensive SMS and WAP billing solutions to the South African market.

Dialogue will now be able to offer the South African market a complete WAP billing package, enabling users to purchase items from the mobile internet on their mobile handset and have the item billed directly to their mobile account or debited from their pre-paid balance.

Guiom Peersman, Managing Director of Dialogue Communications explains: “We are thrilled to be able to introduce WAP billing in South Africa by offering our customers an easy to use complete billing and collection service that we will continue to focus on throughout 2009.

“This year has already seen some exciting developments for Dialogue, and the opening of the South African office enables us not only to access a new market, but to expand our international capabilities.” continued Guiom.

Dialogue already provides mobile payment solutions across the globe - it is a leading accredited payment intermediary for Payforit in the UK; and recently launched WAP billing solutions in Norway, Sweden and Australia where WAP billing solutions are rapidly developing.

Randwick Council Selects Dialogue to Provide Community Text Services

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:35:00 +0000

20 April 2009, Randwick Council has launched its community text service with the help of international mobile specialist, Dialogue Communications. This service provides local residents with information on Council services ranging from playing field status, local road works, clean up days and events, instantaneously via the Internet or mobile SMS.

Commenting on the launch, Cr Bruce Notely-Smith, Mayor of Randwick City said, “We wanted to provide information to the community that uses the one device we all rely on – our mobile. By opting in via our registration page or texting in a keyword to a mobile number, residents can receive up-to-date information on the availability of sporting fields and notifications on clean up days.

Residents can also report issues, such as potholes and illegally dumped rubbish, to the Council by sending a text.

Using Dialogue’s Mobile Applications Portal (M.A.P) authorities are able to create different mobile campaigns quickly and easily, such as database builder, SMS to email, broadcast facilities, text to screen, and mms messaging to text in images and videos or distribute information or brochures.

Hugh Spear, CEO of Dialogue said, “Our mobile applications allow authorities and institutions to quickly and easily communicate with their communities – whether it be residents or commuters.” He added, “The other advantage is that the portal can be set up quickly, so changes can be made by the authorities without a large investment of time or money.”

Dialogue is currently providing community text services to more than 40 Councils and Police Forces in the UK including the Hampshire Constabulary to provide means for the deaf and speech impaired to report emergencies using text messaging, East Riding of Yorkshire Council for the reporting of benefit fraud and East Dunbartonshire for their Youth Community to focus on services that affect them by utilising text messaging.

For further information on Randwick Council’s website visit www.randwick.nsw.gov.au or on Dialogue’s Community Text service please visit www.communitytext.com.au

Dialogue Talks Mobile at the TFM&A Show

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:20:00 +0000

Now is the time for marketing professionals to go mobile or risk being left behind by those forward looking companies who are already maximizing this medium to great effect - That is the message mobile solutions specialist Dialogue Communications will be sending out at the Technology for Marketing and Advertising Show, taking place at Earls Court 2, in London, on 24 - 25 February 2009.

In the current economic climate, reducing costs without affecting campaign success, customer service or efficiency is a priority for all organisations. At this year’s TFM&A Show, Dialogue will be showcasing its mobile marketing, mobile customer care and mobile internet solutions, outlining how companies can introduce these lower cost, but highly personalised strategies into their existing mix, creating opportunities for targeted interaction and to engage with new and existing customers, as well as generating new revenue streams and building on brand awareness.

For more information on the benefits of incorporating mobile into marketing and advertising strategies, visit Dialogue’s experts at STAND A11 in the mobile zone (near the CRM & Campaign management theatre), at the TFM&A Show.

Dialogue launches Payforit Single Click

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:36:00 +0000

Mobile payments specialist Dialogue Communications has today gone live with Payforit Single Click Payments, across all UK operators. Payforit Single Click is a significant step forward for mobile payments initiative Payforit, providing consumers with a more rapid payment method for making multiple purchases from the same merchant’s mobile shop.

All the customer is required to do is opt-in for the Single Click service. This can be done either by using the “my account” screen to change their Payforit Single Click status, or by making a purchase from the site and following the standard payments process, the buyer will then be presented with the option to opt-in. Once the consumer has done this, all purchases from that merchants shop will only require the true single click to complete a purchase. Single click is also the only operator approved payment mechanism for pay-per-view or pay-per-page content purchases.

Payforit Single Click offers significant benefits for making purchases on the mobile internet. Consumers receive a simple and swift single click payment method with the added security and trust of the recognised Payforit gateway, therefore improving the consumer buying experience and allowing more impulse purchases that should lead to more encouraged repeat purchasing and loyalty. Due to the quick and easy nature of Single Click it will prove to be an essential and valuable tool for those consumers who make frequent purchases from a merchant’s site for things like mobile content or pay-per page services.

Dialogue was the very first company to propose the concept of Single Click to the operators in March 2008 and is the first accredited payment intermediary to go live with the service.

Guiom Peersman, Dialogue’s MD, said: “Single click purchases are widely available on the web, on sites such as Amazon and iTunes, so it is natural that mobile internet services should develop in line with this. The single click option will not only improve the user’s experience of Payforit, but due to the reduced number of clicks required to make a purchase, higher conversion rates should be achieved, creating increased revenues, something which all content providers would welcome in the current market. Pricing clarity is also enforced, increasing consumer confidence and encouraging repeat purchases”

“Here at Dialogue we are very proud of our record in innovation, especially where Payforit is concerned. We were the first aggregator to go live with the Payforit service last year, the only accredited payment intermediary so far to take the solution onto the traditional web, and now the first to be approved for Payforit Single Click. This demonstrates that Dialogue is one of the most proactive companies in the market, a quality which is vital in an industry as fast moving as mobile,” concluded Guiom.

As well as being Payforit leaders in the UK, Dialogue is also continuing to expand its mobile payments solution around the globe, in particular in Australasia, Africa and Europe.

Dialogue expands with the launch of Mobile Payments in Norway and Sweden

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:54:00 +0000

International mobile payments specialist, Dialogue Communications, launches its mobile billing services in Norway and Sweden to allow consumers to buy products and services over the mobile internet. Norway and Sweden are two of the most highly saturated mobile markets in the world and represent a significant opportunity for Dialogue and mobile internet shops.

Dialogue is expanding its global reach and offering cross network mobile payment services to all vendors selling products and services over the mobile web in Norway and Sweden. This WAP billing solution is currently available for one-off purchases, and set to extend to subscription services in Quarter 1 2009.

To aid this growing market, streamlined mobile payment solutions are needed to allow mobile content sellers to successfully target this increasing customer base. Norway and Sweden have a combined population of 14m and mobile penetration is predicted to reach an estimated 122.5% by 2010.

Guiom Peersman, managing director at Dialogue Communications explains: “Sweden and Norway both have thriving mobile markets at present and many of our customers have expressed a desire to move into the Scandinavian region, where large numbers of mobile users are embracing the mobile internet, just as the UK market has. We are delighted to be able to provide our customers with an easy to use billing solution, to allow them to capitalise on this multi-million pound market.”

“We are always looking to expand our international capabilities and by launching our services in parts of Scandinavia, it will enable us to reach a new market and grow the business further.”

Dialogue has designed its mobile payment framework, which can be integrated into its Mobile Site Builder tool, in both Swedish and Norwegian. The framework allows customers to design their own mobile internet sites and charge customers directly to their mobile phone bill.

The company currently provides mobile payment services in the UK, where it is at the forefront of payment initiative Payforit developments, as well as in Spain, one of the largest mobile markets in Europe, and in Australia where mobile payment solutions are rapidly developing. Dialogue is also looking to launch its billing solutions in other regions around the globe in the coming months.

Dialogue Recruits Sales Experts for International Expansion

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:24:00 +0000

Mobile specialist continues global growth with new appointments at its UK and Australian offices

International mobile solutions specialist, Dialogue Communications, today announced the appointment of three new highly experienced recruits; Paul Garner, Gerard Taylor and Virginia Lindo, who will join Dialogue in business development and account management roles.

Paul Garner, originally from the UK will be joining Dialogue’s Sydney office (Australia), as New Business Development Manager. Paul will be responsible for continuing to build on Dialogue’s growing client base, utilising the knowledge and experience he has gained in the highly developed UK market to help facilitate the company’s growth as a leading mobile solutions provider within the Australian and New Zealand market.

Having previously worked at Arvato Mobile in London, where he was in charge of Business Development for the UK, Paul also spent several years as a Global Sales Executive at Bango.

Also joining Dialogue from Bango is Gerard Taylor, who will be undertaking the role of New Business Development in the UK, a position that he has a wealth of experience in. Gerard explained “Having worked in telecoms for many years, I was keen to work with a company that is competitive and has a wide breadth of solutions, allowing me to stay at the forefront of the industry. Dialogue’s work with Payforit, as well as many other innovative products makes me very excited to be joining their team and helping to develop and maximise new and existing relationships.”

Virginia Lindo will also be joining the UK office as Account Manager, she will be responsible for continuing to build and manage client relationships, bringing with her several years of experience in this field.

Speaking on the new appointments, Hugh Spear, Dialogue’s CEO said, “We are very pleased to have Paul, Gerard and Virginia joining our team, in both the UK and Australia. Dialogue is entering a very exciting period of growth and expansion, and these new recruits are really going to be invaluable in driving the business forward into 2009.”

Dialogue kick starts new season with local football team sponsorship

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:45:00 +0000

Sheffield-based mobile solutions specialist Dialogue Communications renews its support to local football team, Millhouses Junior FC by sponsoring the team for a further two years. Dialogue’s logo will appear on both the under 15’s home and away kits and also the kit worn by the under 13’s team.

Millhouses Junior FC, based at Abbeydale School on Carterknowle Road, play in division A in the Sheffield and District Junior Sunday league, and have worked their way up from division C in 2003/04 to division A in 2006/07.

Guiom Peersman, managing director of Dialogue said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring Millhouses Junior FC for another two years. The team has done remarkably well in the last few seasons and we look forward to supporting them in the future. They have got a tough season ahead of them in League A, but we are confident they will do well.”

Dialogue Receives Vodafone Innovation Award for Web Payforit

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:10:00 +0000

The “Griff Innovation Award”, presented at the Vodafone Aggregator Forum in London last week, has been won by mobile specialists Dialogue Communications. The award, which is named in recognition of Dialogue’s late managing director Paul Griffiths, recognised the company’s achievement in introducing the very first Payforit solution for the World Wide Web.

Dialogue has provided the Online Payforit service to a number of companies including AEI Mobile, allowing consumers to buy event tickets online, and to charities in conjunction with BT agilemedia to facilitate the payment of online donations. Both these solutions were demonstrated at the Vodafone Aggregator Forum, showing how Online Payforit can you be used for specific applications.

Guiom Peersman, Dialogue’s UK managing director commented, “Dialogue has been a leader in the development of Payforit from the very beginning and taking the initiative online is another significant step, which we are very happy Vodafone has recognised.
“We are also extremely honoured to be receiving the Griff Innovation Award in particular, recognising our continued work to build on Paul’s significant legacy and the work he began here at Dialogue,” concluded Guiom.

Dialogue was the first company to take Payforit live in January 2007, when it was used predominantly by mobile content providers to sell content via the mobile internet. Now, 18 months later, the Payforit system has been further developed and with the recent increase of the maximum single transaction to £10, it looks set to become a popular payment mechanism both online and via mobile.

Dialogue Brings Single Click Payments to Payforit

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:22:00 +0000

Significant usability development for Payforit users

Mobile payments specialist Dialogue Communications is spearheading yet more Payforit developments this month with the launch of Payforit single click payments. Dialogue has been at the forefront of the mobile payment initiative’s growth over the past two years and this latest feature will significantly improve Payforit’s usability and revenue generating potential.

The Payforit payment mechanism allows consumers to pay for content, goods or services purchased on the mobile internet or web via their mobile phone, currently up to the value of £10. Although the Payforit system has been well received, mobile users have complained that going through the full payment cycle for every purchase is monotonous. As a result of this feedback, Dialogue looked to create Payforit single click and made a proposal to the operators in March 2008. The new single click feature is yet another evolution of the initiative, which will allow customers to buy from an internet page with one easy click, without having to additionally click-thru the standard Payforit pages on every occasion.

Guiom Peersman, Dialogue’s MD, introduced the idea of integrating single click purchases into the Payforit framework to mobile operators earlier this year, and he believes it will further enhance the payment mechanism: “Single click purchases are widely available on the web, on sites such as Amazon and iTunes, so there is no reason why mobile internet services should be any different and I think it is something mobile users are also starting to demand. The single click option will not only improve the user’s experience of Payforit but it will also encourage repeat purchases and give users the power to tailor their buying preferences.

“Dialogue is proud to be driving Payforit innovation forward and that its single click proposal has been approved to be included in the next version of the Payforit framework.”

The single click function works from the Payforit pages once the user has selected the item they wish to buy. Initially users will be required to go through the normal payment flow for their first purchase but once they are comfortable with Payforit, they will be given the opportunity to use the single click version of Payforit in the future.

Dialogue Communications is a leading force in Payforit developments. After being the first Accredited Payment Intermediary (API) to go live with the initiative on mobile, it was the first last month to take Payforit online with its content providers. Payforit online will be used by mobile content providers for sales on their online sites, but is also a perfect mechanism to pay for items such as CDs, DVDs, flowers and books, along with paying for services such as concert or cinema tickets or subscriptions.

Dialogue is also looking into opportunities to launch similar mobile billing initiatives around the globe, in particular in Australasia and Africa where a solution similar to Payforit has already sparked interest in the market.

Sony Selects Dialogue's Mobile Solutions for Rambo DVD Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:25:00 +0000

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has today launched its first mobile campaign in Australia with the help of international mobile specialist, Dialogue Communications. SMS campaigns and a mobile internet site designed by Dialogue have been added to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s existing marketing channels to support the Australian DVD launch of Rambo on July 9.

Dialogue created the mobile internet site using its new Mobile Site Builder (MSB) tool. At the same time, a mobile campaign response back was devised to drive traffic to the site, to promote the film further and engage fans.

The mobile shortcode 199 00 991 will be advertised across all traditional media in Australia and by texting a keyword to the number shown; consumers receive the Rambo mobile site link in reply where they can interact with the site, regardless of where they may be located.

Commenting on the launch of the site, Alexia Johnstone, Strategic Marketing Manager, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment said, “The mobile campaign is designed to integrate with our existing channels of marketing communication and deliver an immediate call to action response mechanism.”

Always at the forefront of new and innovative ways to create and raise product awareness, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment was keen to engage such a strategy from the outset. Alexia Johnstone added, “Integrating mobile with our current promotional channels gives us the perfect platform to communicate with our ever increasing tech savvy target market.”

The Rambo mobile internet site is one of the first to go live in Australia using Dialogue’s new MSB application, which allows brands to build and publish advanced sites and storefronts using a simple user interface and easy-to-use drag and drop features.

Hugh Spear, Dialogue Communication’s CEO explains the advantages that mobile solutions will bring to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s marketing campaign: “By including the mobile site across the entire campaign, Sony can capture the audience’s attention at their first point of interest and deliver relevant content back to them virtually immediately.

“The mobile element gives passive advertising a more dynamic and instant appeal, by removing the product from its location specific source of promotion. This not only prolongs campaign longevity but also broadens its appeal as the mobile campaign site encourages content sharing among consumers own social network.”

Dialogue and AEI Launch UK’s First Mobile Ticketing Solution Using PayforIT

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:21:00 +0000

The first mobile ticketing solution using UK mobile payment initiative payforIT has been launched today by interactive mobile specialists Dialogue Communications and AEI Mobile. Mobile ticketing will enable party-goers to purchase tickets to a London nightclub via their mobile phone using payforIT, and to receive the tickets via SMS.

PayforIT is the cross-operator payment initiative that allows consumers to purchase goods and services via their mobile phone up to the value of £10. Dialogue and AEI Mobile will be working together to provide a mobile ticketing solution for Drum & Bass Arena event taking place at Scala Club in London on 15th August and tickets are on sale today for £10.

Dialogue was the first company to take payforIT live in January 2007, when it was used predominantly by mobile content providers to sell content via the mobile internet. Now 18 months later, the payforIT system has been further developed and with the recent increase of the maximum single transaction to £10, it looks sets to become a popular payment mechanism for selling tickets via mobile.

Guiom Peersman, Dialogue’s UK managing director explains: “We believe this is the first time payforIT will be used to purchase event tickets. People wishing to buy a ticket can text “Scala” to short code 81330 and in return will receive a WAP link to Scala Club’s mobile internet site. From there tickets are available for purchase through the payforIT payment system and the ticket will be delivered directly to the buyer via SMS.

“Dialogue has been involved in the development of payforIT from the very beginning and this is yet another major step for the initiative. The mobile ticketing market has huge potential and is another key market growth area where payforIT can be a real value added solution.”

Mobile ticketing is growing in popularity in the music and entertainment industry in particular. Earlier this year, new research from Juniper Research estimated that over 2.6 billion mobile tickets will be delivered to just over 208 million mobile phone users by 2011. Therefore, new payment mechanisms such as payforIT will be a welcome addition to the market to aid this predicted growth.

"Mobile ticketing is a no-brainer for event organisers, a good proportion of which are already using SMS as the preferred marketing channel for events and functions," says Del Dias, managing director of AEI Mobile. "Promoters can now promote events using outbound SMS messaging, and allow their customers to complete the transaction on their mobile phones.”

PayforIT has a maximum purchase value of £10 so clubbers wishing to purchase more that one ticket for Scala’s Drum & Bass Arena event can still do so via their mobile and pay via credit or debit card.

About AEI Mobile

AEI Mobile is the mobile services division of Art Empire Industries Ltd, a digital media and entertainment company that was established in 1998. Originally based in Sheffield, UK the company relocated to London in 2005.

AEI Mobile is a leading provider of mobile content and marketing services to entertainment brands and media owners. Clients include: Warner Music, O2, Ministry of Sound, and Shazam.

AEI Mobile’s products and services include: Mobile Ticketing, Mobile Site Design & Build, Content Delivery & Billing Platform, Mobile marketing and advertising campaign management.

Dialogue First to Take PayforIT Initiative Online

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:30:00 +0000

New Micro-Payment Mechanism Available to Online Vendors

The UK mobile payment initiative payforIT is expanding onto the World Wide Web with the help of leading mobile interactive specialist Dialogue Communications. The payforIT payment mechanism will offer shoppers an online payment alternative and enable internet merchants to reach new customers.

PayforIT allows consumers to pay for content, goods or services up to the value of £10 via their mobile phone, with the cost of the online purchases being deducted from their mobile bill. PayforIT has been successfully in operation on mobile for over a year, paving the way for use on the World Wide Web. The initiative was finally launched on the internet yesterday.

Dialogue Communications is a leading force in payforIT developments. After being the first Accredited Payment Intermediary (API) to go live with the initiative on mobile, it is again the first to take payforIT online with its content providers. Initially, payforIT online will be used by mobile content providers for sales on their online sites, but payforIT is also a perfect mechanism to pay for items such as CDs, DVDs, flowers and books, along with paying for services such as cinema tickets or subscriptions.

Guiom Peersman, managing director of Dialogue explains: “payforIT on the internet will work very much in the same way as it does on mobile, with consumers seeing standard payforIT payment pages across all purchases regardless of merchant. payforIT was launched over a year ago by all UK operators on mobile, with the aim of building consumer confidence when buying mobile content and this is also the driving force behind its launch on the internet.

“We are confident that the initiative will grow very rapidly beyond just being used for selling digital content, and online stores will see the value of offering an alternative payment mechanism that draws in new customers, who had previously been unable to make online purchases if they didn’t have a bank account or a credit or debit card”

The payment pages are payforIT branded and once a user has clicked to purchase an item, they are presented with the web payment pages and asked to enter their mobile number. The user then receives a text message with a unique payment code which they enter into the web payment pages to complete the transaction. The cost of the purchase is charged to the user’s mobile account.

Since Dialogue went live with payforIT on mobile in January 2007, the feedback has generally been positive, with statistics from content providers and API’s demonstrating a clear increase in conversation rates for most services.

The payforIT framework still needs to evolve but the recent increase of the maximum single transaction value to £10 and the upcoming support for single click purchases should see adoption increase dramatically.

Dialogue is also looking into opportunities to launch similar mobile billing initiatives around the globe, in particular in Australasia where a solution similar to payforIT has already sparked interest in the market.

Dialogue Runs SMS Service for Record Breaking Fundraiser

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:47:00 +0000

Dialogue Communications will be going the distance during this year’s Flora London Marathon, by providing a text messaging service to veteran runner Ian Capon, who will be attempting to set a new world record for the most money raised during the race alone.

The five digit short code, 84010, supplied by Dialogue will be emblazoned across the costume of marathon runner Ian Capon, 54, who is a company director from London, as he attempts to set a brand new world record when he competes in his eleventh full marathon in April.

Ian will run dressed in a pyramid shaped costume carrying text and telephone numbers - so that spectators and television viewers can donate money during the race. Ian aims to set a new world record for the highest amount of money raised during only the race itself, he hopes to raise £26,200 for the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA).

Ian is a great supporter of Rebuilding Lives Through Sport (RLTS), which will see half of the money raised by SIA’s London Marathon team being allocated, as grants, to encourage participation in wheelchair sport. ‘I have a passion for rugby and know that, sadly, a relatively high number of injuries occur through accidents on the field so SIA seemed the most appropriate charity I could run for, especially when I heard about RLTS,’ said Ian.

‘Sport can play a crucial role in rebuilding confidence and relieving isolation following spinal chord injury (SCI) but only a tiny percentage of people actively participate with any regularity. RLTS is a fantastic way of promoting the benefits of wheelchair sport both to people living with SCI and to the wider disabled community.’

“We are very happy to be involved in such an unusual world record attempt, said Guillaume Peersman, Dialogue’s UK managing director.

“As well as providing the short code for pledges, we will be tallying the final donations after the run and we really hope that Ian reaches his target of £26,200.”

Ian Capon explains why he has set himself this challenge: “I have been running marathons for nearly 12 years now and thought that this idea was a great way to make the race more challenging and exciting.

“I felt that using text as a means for people to pledge money would prove to be the most successful, as the majority of people now own a mobile phone and a text message is a quick and very easy method to communicate. The fact that Dialogue has provided its technology expertise which has given the audience another means of donating and will hopefully help make my attempt possible - I am just hoping that I will be able to reach my target.”

Dialogue is one of the UK’s leading mobile service providers for interactive mobile solutions and has provided SMS services for events such as Sports Relief and Fame Academy.

Dialogue Provides Text Messaging Service for Northumbria Police Hard of Hearing

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:13:00 +0000

Mobile solutions specialist Dialogue Communications has provided a unique messaging service for Northumbria Police, to allow local deaf, hearing impaired and speech impaired residents to contact the police via text messaging. In the UK alone, there are almost 9 million deaf people and Northumbria Police is amongst the first to adopt this service.

Using Dialogue’s web-based portal, Northumbria Police has set up this mobile facility, which will allow the hard of hearing to contact the police easily. Deaf people will no longer have to rely on someone else to report non-emergencies for them and can now text a predefined mobile number 0778 6200 815, which will be directly sent to the police control room and regularly checked.

Superintendent Derek Scott, of Northumbria Police explains: “We hope the service will prove to be an effective means of reporting non-emergency incidents in our local area. The mobile technology which is available to emergency services these days is rapidly expanding and we wanted to make the most of this. This demonstrates our commitment to providing the best service possible to all sections of the community.

”However, we would want to remind users that in an emergency situation they need to be able to contact the police via 999 if an immediate response is required."

The two-way SMS is a simple to use service whereby a text message is sent, it is then converted into an email and delivered to the police communications centre. The caller then receives a return SMS within seconds to say their text has been passed to the police, who will reply to this enquiry within 24 hours, with a reminder if this is an emergency you must dial 999. Any further communication can be made via email, which is automatically converted to a text message and sent to the caller.

This latest service is yet another way of utilising Dialogue’s community text offering. Guillaume Peersman, managing director of Dialogue UK said: “It is services like two-way messaging which can really prove beneficial to local communities. Our mobile applications offer local services a new dimension, which perhaps they hadn’t considered, and because of the constantly increasing number of mobile users, it only makes sense to utilise the available technology in a positive way.”

With offices in London and Sheffield, Dialogue Communications is one of the UK’s fastest growing mobile service providers for interactive mobile solutions and SMS aggregation.

Dialogue Recruits Former CEO to its Board

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:14:00 +0000

Mobile expert continues growth with new non-executive appointment

Dialogue Communications, a leading international mobile specialist, has appointed Peter Button, a former telecoms industry CEO as non-executive director. Peter will provide strategic assistance and expertise to the board, and help to further facilitate the growth of the company following a record year in 2007.

Peter, 51, from Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, UK, joins Dialogue following a year long career break. Prior to this, he spent five years as CEO of mobile and data service provider WIN plc during which the company’s turnover grew tenfold. Peter is no stranger to the role of non executive director, as it was a position he held for five years at Corporate Services Group plc from 1999 to 2004.

Peter is also a qualified chartered accountant and has 27 years of business experience, which includes 17 years in investment banking. In his 27 years of business, Peter has worked as head of corporate finance for NW Brown Group Limited and as a director in the corporate finance department of Kleinwort Benson Limited.

“Following a short career break, I am very pleased to be returning to the telecoms industry especially with a company as forward thinking as Dialogue,” said Peter.

“I am looking forward to contributing to an industry that is ever evolving and I hope to use my experience in high level management, product development and finance to advise the board on its strategy and structure going forward.

“I feel that my experience as a CEO will put me in a perfect position to be a genuine source of advice and guidance to Dialogue as we move forward through 2008 and beyond.”

Hugh Spear, Dialogue’s CEO is excited to have Peter on board: “We are very pleased to be welcoming Peter to the Dialogue team. 2007 was an exceptional year for the company and the most successful financial year to date, with year end turnover and profit the highest in the company’s 13 year history. We feel that with Peter’s strategic assistance and phenomenal expertise in the telecoms and financial industries, he will be a valuable source to the Dialogue board and will help us take the company into a new phase of growth in 2008, both in terms of products and services and expansion into new vertical and horizontal market sectors.”

Dialogue Appoints General Manager in Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:15:00 +0000

International mobile specialist, Dialogue Communications, today announced the appointment of Pete Neal as General Manager Australia. This newly created role is focussed on taking the business through to its next level of growth and to cement Dialogue as a 360 degree mobile internet solutions provider in Australia.

Pete, 26, will be based out of the company’s Sydney office and has been an integral part of Dialogue’s development and commercial teams over the past few years.

Speaking on the appointment, Hugh Spear, Dialogue’s CEO said, “The company locally is rapidly expanding and Pete’s background in both technical and business development will be invaluable in terms of market growth.”

Originally from the UK, Pete holds a 1st class honours degree in Electronics and Software Engineering from Loughborough University (UK) and was previously with Dialogue UK where he engineered the core infrastructure for Dialogue’s high capacity SS7 messaging platform. Following his relocation to Dialogue’s Australian office in 2006, Pete made a successful transition into to a business development role and has since built strong working relationships with Dialogue’s Australian client base.

Commenting on his appointment Pete said, “One of my main objectives is to drive revenue growth via the innovative application of Dialogue’s existing technologies to new applications. For example, there are tremendous opportunities for the company’s recently launched Mobile Site Builder application that enables brands to effectively market their products and services via the mobile.” He added, “I believe the widespread adoption of highly engaging technologies such as mobile web and MMS will be what drives Dialogue’s growth to the next level, in terms of both our messaging and applications solutions.”

Dialogue Develops Industry’s Most Advanced Mobile Site Builder

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:15:00 +0000

Dialogue Communications has today announced the launch of its new product - Mobile Site Builder - an application that enables global brands to build mobile internet sites and storefronts quickly and easily, which stand out in the competitive off portal market.

Mobile Site Builder (MSB) is the most advanced application for companies looking to enter the mobile market. It is a toolkit that allows companies to create their own professional mobile websites and storefronts, implement marketing subscription campaigns, run votes and competitions. It also comes with other impressive features such as refer a friend, click to call, an in-built payment mechanism for storefronts, bookmark capabilities and RSS feed options, along with many other marketing features.

MSB has a simple user interface and has been designed so that the user can just drag and drop text, images and other components onto the mobile screen so that you can easily design and view your mobile site and publish it within minutes. The MSB toolkit can be accessed through any internet web browser and the beauty of this application is that no technical knowledge or programming skills are required.

Guillaume Peersman, Dialogue’s CTO and UK managing director explains: “We have developed the features for our Mobile Site Builder product based on feedback from our clients on what they would like to see from a mobile site builder application. MSB now incorporates all the elements needed to build a mobile website that will succeed in the ever evolving and competitive mobile market.”

Hugh Spear, Dialogue’s CEO adds: “Today’s brands are looking at new ways of marketing their products and services and the mobile medium is becoming a popular and key marketing tool. We have created this application to help promote mobile as well as provide a more advanced, easy-to-use tool for our mobile content customers. The advantage of our MSB is not only can it create a site to sell mobile content but it can be used to develop information sites for promotional purposes.”

As the mobile market continues to grow year-on-year, it is proving ever more difficult to create a mobile internet site that stands out in the off portal content market. Dialogue’s new Mobile Site Builder product is available right now and is giving companies an extra tool with which to design their sites, in order to beat off the competition.

Dialogue Expands its Australian Operation

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:16:00 +0000

Mobile Specialist Appoints Head of New Media Sales

International mobile specialist, Dialogue Communications, today announced the appointment of Chris Elson as Head of New Media Sales. Chris’ role will support the company and help facilitate its growth as a complete mobile solutions provider within the Australian market.

Chris, 30, will be based out of the company’s Sydney office and has extensive experience within the advertising industry and brings with him a skills set that enhances that of the local team in web design and online marketing.

Speaking on the appointment, Hugh Spear, Dialogue’s CEO said, “We are very pleased to have Chris as part of our team. We see that there are some very exciting opportunities in the market and Chris’ experience in new media will allow us to work with both existing and new clients to broaden their understanding and use of mobile technology as a marketing tool.”

Originally from the UK, Chris holds a BA Hons in Business and Marketing from Sheffield Hallam University and was previously Head of Sales with Wiliam, a leading web development and online marketing firm. “I am really looking forward to working with a team of people that already have an excellent reputation in the mobile arena,” said Chris. “One of my main objectives is to grow our business and have customers use mobile technology as a complimentary channel of communication with their target audience.”

This latest announcement comes just one month after Dialogue strengthened its UK team with the appointment of Michaela Hamm and Gary Van Til. Michaela has joined Dialogue as an account director and will be responsible for customer management. Gary has joined also as an account director bringing with him several years of sales experience in the mobile industry and will be responsible for Dialogue’s business development.

Dialogue helps Vodafone Bring First “Made for Mobile” TV to Australians

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:17:00 +0000

17 October 2007, International mobile specialist, Dialogue Communications, today announces a major deal with Vodafone Australia for its MMS solution. Dialogue’s technology is being deployed by the leading global operator to bring the first interactive “made for mobile” show, Street TV, to the company’s 3G customers in Australia.

Street TV is a 3G “made for mobile” 30 minute weekly TV show available 24/7 on Vodafone live! The service involves compressing and sending out Mobile TV video clips of up to 30 seconds in length to customers that have opted in to receive mobile advertising messages. Dialogue’s technical solution allows Vodafone to deliver a media rich MMS, including a call to action to download that week’s free “full track music download” (FTMD), as well as a click through to the Street TV WAP Portal.

The technique which has been pioneered by the Australian arm of the business based in Sydney, in conjunction with Vodafone Australia - recently won the MMA Award for Consumer Content Offering.

"This is an innovative use of MMS which has really paid off,” commented David Green, head of Vodafone’s mobile advertising. "We have seen Mobile TV usage surge following the broadcast of these messages. As well as showing 'catch-up' or preview footage, these video clips can also include messages from advertisers and sponsors, making this an important revenue stream.” He added, "Having seen the success of this service on Street TV, we are now getting calls from other suppliers of Mobile TV shows that are keen to increase their viewer numbers.”

Hugh Spear, CEO of Dialogue said of the service, "We know that all the opted-in Vodafone customers are using 3G phones which support mobile video, so we can give them a much richer experience than just sending out plain SMS reminders.”

Dialogue, which is a specialist mobile messaging service provider, has also received interest from a range of other parties including Real Estate agents that want to send out multi-media broadcasts of property details, as well as political parties that are keen to send out short speeches.

Commenting on the service, Hugh Spear said, "One of the benefits of MMS is that there is no confusion about data charges. Consumers can incur quite high charges for downloading images and music from the mobile internet, but with MMS everything is delivered to the phone without any cost to the end user.”

PayforIT - An Unbeatable Mechanism for Mobile Purchases?

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:17:00 +0000

Key Industry Leaders Predict PayforIT Future at Dialogue Seminar

Mobile payment initiative, Payforit came into force across all mobile internet services and UK networks officially on September 1, 2007. The payment system was welcomed by the mobile industry; and now key operators, content providers and API’s (Accredited Payment Intermediaries) believe the future success of the initiative will rely on the developments made over the coming months.

Dialogue Communications hosted a NOC – The Future of Payforit seminar in London last night to look at what the future holds for this payment mechanism. Dialogue’s MD, Guillaume Peersman was joined by Iain McCallum of O2, Jeremy Flynn of D2See, and formally of Vodafone, and Phil Cooke of I-Play, to discuss where Payforit is heading.

Since Dialogue went live with Payforit in January 2007,the feedback has been positive, with statistics from content providers and API’s demonstrating a clear increase in conversation rates. Dialogue has seen a rise of up to 27 per cent on conversion compared to premium SMS solutions for its connected customers and I-Play is now approaching a 15 per cent conversion rate for customers visiting its mobile site.

“Payforit was in development for nearly two years and I think that now we have created a clear user interface and single click payment method that will be a success and consumers will trust. I believe Payforit will dominate m-payments for some time to come, but it is by no means the finished product and further developments need to be made, which is something all operators and API’s are working to achieve over the coming months,” explains Guillaume Peersman.

Price points have been one area of debate amongst the operators, with the consensus being that a £5 maximum purchase value is not enough to offer a broad range of content, and this rate should be increased to £10. Operators are already working on solutions to tackle this problem and in only a matter of months some may well raise the limits.

Iain McCallum, Head of Interactive Messaging Products at O2, echoes Guillaume’s statements: “"Improvements need to be made to the customer experience and that is the key issue that Payforit is trying to address. A lot of work and expense, by Accredited Payment Intermediaries and MNO's working together, has gone into optimising the PFI scheme rules to ensure that they are both robust enough to deliver the best possible subscriber experience and can be implemented by our partners with the minimum hassle and complexity. The next few months will, no doubt, throw up issues of concern and the MNO group will study these and fine-tune the scheme rules accordingly."

Consumer awareness is one of the key issues facing the brand. Simply, consumers are not being told what Payforit is and what its purpose is. Operators need to increase the promotion of the system before it can achieve its objectives.

Data charges involved in buying the content is another major concern for Payforit. Consumers don’t know the final amount they will end up paying for a game or music download, as the purchase price does not include the data charges that come with downloading the content. Two solutions were discussed at last night’s seminar including, listing the size of the download at the point of purchase, so the customer can work out how much extra it will cost to download. Secondly, some operators have introduced “all- you-can-eat” data tariffs that remove the worry of not knowing how much you are paying for a download, as all data downloads are included in the monthly line rental cost. This seems to be the way the industry is heading and would remove the barrier of unknown data charges.

“The next stage in the Payforit development process is to ensure that the standard is used not only in the off portal market but also on operator portals. For it to truly achieve its goal, the customer needs to see the standard payment screen wherever they buy content, be that on or off portal,” said Jeremy Flynn, MD of D2See.

Currently, on portal content purchases still make up around 25% of the market, therefore it is very much an active area in purchasing content and needs to incorporate the Payforit standard to ensure the user’s buying experience is always the same.

Subscription services have been available on mobile for many years but the trust in them has diminished over time as customers are unclear as to what they will be charged, when and how. Phil Cooke, CTO at I-Play explains how Payforit could lead to the revival of mobile subscriptions: “With Payforit taking over off portal buying, subscriptions are set for a rebirth as API’s now ensure consumers receive all the payment terms, including details of how to unsubscribe and helpline information at the time of purchase. This will hopefully demonstrate to the customer that a streamlined system is behind the subscriptions and all previous problems have been resolved.”

In terms of marketing, opt in boxes are currently left ticked on certain networks and unticked on others and there is a feeling amongst some operators that this is an issue that needs to be standardised across the whole industry. In addition to this, there is the matter of a merchant’s memory of consumer choices. Put simply, should consumers have to re-tick a box every time they revisit the same merchant?

Payforit will come up against some tough competition over the coming year from systems such as Google Checkout and Paypal Mobile. However, by making some minor developments, this registration free payment tool, which is quick and easy to use, looks set to become the market leading initiative it has always looked likely to be.

Dialogue's Technology Drives New Mobile Phone Shopping Service

noreply@blogger.com (Dialogue Admin) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:18:00 +0000

2shop4™ Set to Change UK Shopping Methods Forever

Technology from Dialogue Communications is behind the UK’s first mobile shopping mall, 2shop4, which launched its trial service today and is set to revolutionise the way mobile users shop. 2shop4’s unique software has been developed by the Microsoft Certified Team, Evevoy Developments, Microsoft ID: 1587875 and Hero-Solutions, Microsoft ID: 1570818. Evevoy Developments are Mobile Tier One Partner whom are exclusively operated by Dialogue Communications.

2shop4 will allow users to buy products instantly through the mobile internet and text codes. Shopping adverts for global brands, high street shops, supermarkets, travel agencies, sports and film tickets to name a few, will appear across multiple media outlets including bill boards, magazines, TV and online, advertising a 2shop4 Buy-Now code or keyword which shoppers can text to purchase goods.

The shopper texts the 2shop4 code or keyword; such as ‘Flowers’ to 84777 and receives a 2shop4 Buy-Now WAP advert direct to their mobile phone. The user then selects the advertised product and buys it via a secure payment system and the goods are delivered to their home.

SMS technology behind 2shop4, has been supplied by Dialogue Communications, an interactive mobile specialist, the UK Managing Director, Guillaume Peersman, is excited to be involved in this unique mobile shopping service:

“2shop4 is pushing mobile shopping into a whole new area. Before this service launched, buying on mobile was very limited and this service will bring a whole new dimension to mobile shopping. Dialogue is very excited about being involved in such a forward thinking project, as we pride ourselves on our innovative attitude in the mobile market and 2shop4 most certainly is that. Working with Evevoy, we believe 2shop4 will provide shoppers with a truly unique shopping experience.”

Following an initial trial phase, 2shop4 will be launched in the UK in October, expectations of global services available within 2008. Evevoy is in talks with leading Global Advertising Network for exclusive rights to 2shop4. 2shop4’s mobile Buy Now shopping service will enhance the marketing and advertising campaigns of its clients.

Andrew Curry, Chairman of Evevoy is looking towards the Brand’s future: “2share4 is currently being developed for Buy-Now Stocks and Shares, which will include a brand charity loyalty programme. Evevoy team’s will continue to be the architect and developer of innovational, commercial and technological products by working with trusted brands as global strategic partners or VARs.”

2shop4 works on all UK mobile network operators and the system allows payments to be made with MasterCard, Maestro, Paypal, Visa, Delta and Switch. 2shop4 shopper lifestyle and gift profiling, keywords and codes can match clothing sizes, brands, products and services to the 2shop4 shopper needs.

About Evevoy Developments Limited:

Evevoy Developments Limited, is a Microsoft Credited Partner ID: 1587875, Tier One Mobile Network Partner & Global Commercial VAR company. Working via Return on Investment as Consultants-Consultants; we employ ‘Kizena’ business techniques & ‘Macedonian’ methods of communications.

Evevoy Developments, commercially develops: Innovation, Patents, Technologies, Products, Brands, Brand Extensions, Commercial Property & Medias via creative strategic senior partnerships. Our principle team offer ROI’s & portfolios close to 150 years of senior & commercial expertise. We mentor & coach developments & our team’s.

2shop4.com