We would like to introduce you to Telecom2, one of our Fixed Line providers, and also a long standing member of our Board.
We interviewed Rob Johnson the Chairman for Telecom2 and he told us they are a technical development operation specialising in telecoms and billing, and their clients include TV companies and Premiership Football Club!
You can read the full interview here: Telecom2 Spotlight Member Feature
By Nick Millward, Vice President Europe at mGage and Board member of aimm
In recent years, smartphones have become the standard and with 95% of smartphones being used daily, coupled with the innovative capabilities and growing impact on our lives, it is a trend that businesses across all sectors need to pay attention to. In turn, Over-the-Top (OTT) applications, or ‘social messaging apps’ such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and SMS text messaging have enabled brands to start conversations with consumers more directly and personally than ever before. However, the format and content that brands share with consumers is crucial to the success of the customer engagement.
As technology advances, smartphones continue to evolve and customer attitudes shift, brands need to consider methods that provide not only rich and engaging content via messaging but conversational commerce as a way to interact with consumers. With more than half of 25-34 year olds and 18-24 year olds favouring a messaging service or chatbot over picking up the phone to contact a business, it is evident that brands are facing a growing demand amongst the younger generation for rich conversational messaging that is not set to subside.
Despite the new technologies entering the market, text-based SMS is a communication channel that is highly unlikely to ever be replaced. This is because text messaging is still widely used and remains the preferred platform for brands to communicate with their consumers for critical applications like one-time passwords, reminders and balance updates. However,for brands to get the most out of their communication tactics they need to listen to what their consumers want. Sadly, more than half of consumers say they find marketing messages boring and would much prefer messages that are well targeted and well designed, using images and video content to bring the messages to life. This is where Rich Communications Services (RCS), the latest development in the evolution of mobile messaging, can really hold its own.
With the capability to provide a richer experience for users and the ability to encompass multimedia that incorporate offers and coupons, brands are able to open up their communication channels to consumers and offer alternatives that are personal to them. Consumers today, particularly among the younger generation, are more willing to engage via messaging that is interactive and delivers a much rich media experience. This is good news for brands wishing to expand their consumer experience.
Our latest whitepaper unearthed some interesting statistics with perhaps the most telling being that consumers of all ages wants brands to do better – to bring engaging and exciting offers and content to them in an easily-accessible format that makes them confident to buy more. The best way to do this is to utilise rich content messaging and multimedia for marketing communications to attract the attention of consumers. RCS also brings a more conversational and interactive messaging experience in line with the demand by the younger generation to text a brand rather than pick up the phone. Utilising chatbot elements and the functionality of suggested actions and responses, brands are able to direct their consumers to the information they require more quickly and easily than trying to navigate through a clunky Interactive Voice Response (IVR).
With technology continually advancing and customer attitudes shifting towards more message-focused platforms, brands worldwide have access to innovative solutions that have the capability to transform the way that they communicate with consumers. Driven by the demands of millennials and next-gen, brands need to consider solutions that are in line with the expectations of future generations and adjust their communication strategies to meet these, if not they could see a huge impact on the success of the business.
As the adoption of more interactive and rich media messaging platforms become more prevalent, brands will be able to communicate directly with their consumers, target likely prospects more effectively, gain better campaign analytics and offer unparalleled customer service through instant responses and notifications to ensure that they give the consumers of the future the communications that they not only want but come to expect.
We are on a mission to help our members and their businesses. One the ways we are doing this is to give them an opportunity to tell us more about their business and the services they offer, and promote them however we can. Supporting our members is supporting business, and future growth across the industry.
Our first spotlight interview is with Fonix, who is a mobile payments and messaging services provider. Please feel free to reach out to them if you are interested in what they do and want to learn more.
Read the full interview: Fonix Spotlight Member Feature April 2020
On the 27th March, the PSA provided an update on their site for their Business Plan and Budget that they initially announced to industry in December.
You can find the updates on both their consultation statement and the final document on their consultations page. They have also included all the responses received from across industry for this, which includes aimm’s response on behalf of our members.
Nick Millward, Vice President Europe at global mobile engagement provider mGage,has been appointed Board member for the Association for Interactive Media and Micropayments (AIMM).
Nick Millward will serve as a board member alongside others from ITV, BBC and Global Radio beginning 1st April 2020.
“I am delighted to be appointed as a Board member for the AIMM,” said Nick Millward, VP Europe at mGage. “I believe it is hugely beneficial for mGage to be part of the conversation, to be involved in regular discussions around the media and payments market and to have the opportunity to put forward new ideas to continue to grow this industry.”
Drawing on his extensive expertise across the industry, which spans over 23 years, Millward will bring a dynamic and insightful outlook into the current state of the sector and the new technologies that are upcoming, to open doors for like-minded businesses and the huge potential for growth worldwide.
“With the emergence of new technologies such as Rich Communications Services (RCS), Apple Business Chat (ABC) and WhatsApp, alongside upcoming billing solutions, there is a growing opportunity in the market to build something together for the greater good of all businesses,” added Millward. “I am looking forward to working with the other AIMM board members to drive forward opportunities, agree standards to help regulate the market and really open up the industry for growth and success.”
The Association for Interactive Media and Micropayments promotes success in the Interactive Media and Micropayments industry by driving commercial growth and protecting the regulatory environment under which members operate.
Incorporating four main channels of activity, AIMM seeks to bring together members under working groups and forums, educate members through knowledge seminars and training courses and interface with regulators to ensure the robustness of members’ operational environments. The AIMM Board exists to ensure that the association’s members interests are being upheld.
