AdBroadcast Transmits Ads to Wireless Phone, Pagers

by Donna De Marco, The Washington Times
February 7, 2000

A Baltimore company is dishing out cash to users of wireless phones and pagers just for agreeing to receive advertisements over their electronic devices.

Last week Advertising.com Inc., formerly TeknoSurf.com, introduced AdBroadcast, which sends marketing messages from advertisers to wireless device users.

The messages will be delivered directly to a user's digital wireless phone or text messaging board. With each message received, users will get between five and 50 credits, each worth about one cent.

National companies can use AdBroadcast to advertise directly to specific targeted consumers with messages that can include a local phone number or store location. One such advertiser is Universal Pictures, which will send subscribers announcements about the arrival of new movies in their area.

"AdBroadcast utilizes cutting-edge Internet technology to allow advertisers to take advantage of the tremendous growth predicted in the usage of wireless communication devices," said John Ferber, co-founder and chief Internet officer of Advertising.com.

Advertising.com has signed up about 7,500 users to the service.

Founded in 1998, Advertising.com specializes in new media direct marketing. The company is planning its own advertising and marketing campaign starting in March, which will include print and on-line advertising.