How awesome would it be if your phone alerted you when you were near a store running a sale or special offer? This is exactly what AT&T has launched Monday.
The service, called ShopAlert, is launching with the backing of Hewlett-Packard, Kmart, JetBlue, SC Johnson, Kibbles ‘n Bits and others. AT&T claims this is the first time a major operator in the U.S. is introducing such a program on a large scale.
Now available in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, the service was developed with Placecast and is implemented using what they call a “geo-fence.” This puts “a virtual-perimeter” around any geographic area. Once inside the fence, consumers receive location-specific marketing messages, which are “enhanced with information such as weather, traffic, and local shopping area details to more effectively engage consumers.”
“We are proud to take mobile marketing into the future with this unique offering that is being embraced by consumers and brands alike,” said Greg McCastle, senior vice president of AT&T Advanced Ad Solutions. “ShopAlerts by AT&T enables brands/advertisers to help link consumer engagement with activation and ultimately to the point of sale.”
Customers in participating markets can sign up for ShopAlerts online. Deals aren’t new. Location-based services aren’t new. The combination of the two, however, hasn’t really been done yet. It’s interesting to see AT&T moving into this space and I wonder effect it will have on existing players like Groupon, Foursquare, and Facebook.