I got this text in a few days ago from my insurance provider, Direct Line. Smart. Not only does it deliver some 'seasonal greetings', it also offers a top tip - don't switch the heating off completely if you are away, to avoid burst pipes. Now, I wonder how much cash this will save them? It's a very smart idea as I forgot about this - and I am going away for a few days. So assume that an average of 200 pounds per incident. Assume you have 500,000 customers, right? Assume 2 percent incident rate over the Seasonal period. That is 10,000 incidents at a cost of 2 million smackers. It will cost you 175k to send a text to every single customer - at 3.5p per text - but if you can reduce incidents to 0.5 percent, say 2,500 at 200 pounds cost each, you have saved yourself 1.3 million pounds. Just by sending a text message. That is no longer just mobile marketing, it's a business critical cost control and profit booster!
 - Taken at 7:15 AM on December 27, 2008 - cameraphone upload by ShoZu

------Original Message------
From: rob@mobileindustryreview.com
To: ewan@mobileindustryreview.com
ReplyTo: rob@mobileindustryreview.com
Subject: ShoZu - Christmas Picture
Sent: Dec 25, 2008 11:08 AM

 Merry Christmas Ewan, and to the rest of the MIR team .... Which I'm guessing means I've just wished myself a Merry Christmas too :)

 Right, from my calculations I've got 52.5 points

 3 x 1 for clothes
2.5 for decent chocolates 7 for easily ebayable (phone)
15 for rechargeable toothbrush
25 for sony ericsson quantum of solace c902 bond phone Can anyone beat that?

 Rob

I have been seeing there advertisements all around the place offering free SMS to anywhere. I suspect this is really appealing to those with friends and relatives abroad. The question is how many will sign up and then continue as paying users in the New Year. Are normobs that savvy? Come to think of it, are we?
 - Taken at 11:49 AM on December 19, 2008 - cameraphone upload by ShoZu

The platinum, chief, head, he who forks over the wonga for this years Orange Partner Camp is Access - the upcoming Linux OS based mobile platform. In previous years its been Microsoft, who have always had a presence here.

 This time around, 8 years in, they're notably absent. Whereas before they've always been here, in some form or another.

 Are we to read on to this latest development, with every other mobile OS provider here?

 Yes, and why not.

Just seen on the Orange hand set product line up table is the Bold.

 It appears the rumors of its demise have been greatly exaggerated.

 Orange has some great great troubles with the Bold, leading to the RIM phone being pulled from its network. This was despite them being the very first UK network to carry the mobile.

 After some updates to cure the woes behind the 2G and 3G switching, which it didn't handel to well, its proudly back on the network. Hurrah!

Another new Nokia hand set spotted at the event at the same table of their phone lineup.

 Does this also mean this musically inclined mobile will be on Orange soon?

 Yes .....

Nokia's new mobile spotted at the event on a table that shows their line up of hand sets.

 Are we to assume it's coming to orange?

 Yes

From a session this afternoon - widget distribution to multiple platforms.

 Looks interesting, will bring you more

Steve opens up the event looking like 'nam vet.

 Over the next 72 hours, 83 sessions with over 50 partners of theirs. Whoa!

 Expect more from those key sessions over the week.

That's the draw over! Did you make a donation? If so, thank you very much. Are you a winner? Standby for the video and editorial post with full details...
 - Taken at 7:35 PM on December 12, 2008 - cameraphone upload by ShoZu