Akoo International Inc. announced an m-Venue application – optimized for Apple’s iPhone Safari browser and Microsoft Windows Mobile devices such as the Motorola Q – that lets consumers use their mobile phones as wireless “remote controls” to activate in-store entertainment and marketing, on demand, at participating locations where they shop, eat, socialize, and play.

    Simultaneously, every m-Venue interaction unobtrusively captures valuable consumer usage and behavioral data. This allows retailers to deliver highly-targeted marketing messages, mobile coupons, or loyalty & rewards incentives immediately back to consumer mobile devices, not only while customers use the network at the point-of-sale, but after they leave participating locations, as well.

    Users can discover ID and “tag” music for subsequent purchase on leading online music services, such as iTunes; earn, bank, and redeem loyalty & rewards points from the convenience of their handset; and interact with digital signage networks and mobile marketing.

    Mobile users can search, select, and activate songs, music videos, memorable sports moments, pre-approved user-generated content, and additional programming for shared public performance over standard audio/video systems. m-Venue’s library features more than two million pieces of content directly licensed from major content providers, such as Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company. Because consumers can interact via mobile Internet, text messaging, or Wi-Fi enabled devices, m-Venue becomes the first and only in-store marketing and entertainment network fully interactive with more than 230 million wireless subscribers across every major carrier, including AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint/Nextel, and T-Mobile.

    m-Venue was successfully pilot tested by franchisees of a global quick-service restaurant chain in September 2006, as well as in sports bars and café/eateries, where owner/operators reported increased transaction counts, revenue lift, and margin contribution. Akoo begins deploying m-Venue with national restaurant chains, leading beverage brands, and major retailers by year-end 2007, with announcements forthcoming.

     “m-Venue supports Steve Jobs’ vision of extending the iPhone’s capabilities through innovative third-party applications, as expressed during WWDC 07, while addressing retailers and brand marketers’ need to engage consumers at the critical point-of-sale, or ‘moment of truth,’ in more targeted and measurable ways,” said Niko Drakoulis, Akoo’s CEO. He added, “Mobile devices such as the iPhone are a catalyst for the growth of social networking and real-time consumer-to-brand interactivity in public venues.”

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