The Newest Marketing Platform: Smartphones

Over the past few years there have been a surge of new applications for smart phones such as Blackberry, iphone and android products. This is because an increasing number of people are using smartphones instead of traditional cell phone because of its ability to use 3G networking and its connection to the internet on the go. With the introduction of online applications for smartphones comes a new platform for marketers to promote their product as an application or as ads connected to an application. As I have a smartphone myself, I have noticed that many ads that come along with the games I download for my phone which at times is very irritating.

Some have taken advantage of the growing popularity of apps and have developed apps that help promote their products. One such app is the Canucks App for Blackberry, iphones and more recently android phones allowing fans to keep updates with the newest Canucks information on games or otherwise.

Not only does this app promote the main product, the Vancouver Canucks hockey club, but it also provides a service to fan pertaining to the organization with information and if the user paid a fee, live streamed games. I think that the introduction of this app is a great way to reach out to their fans and shows how much they appreciate them. Other teams have also supported the use of mobile apps to reach out to their fan base. This kind of application has also resonated well with soccer, football, basketball, and other major sports leagues. This just goes to show the breadth that marketing has and how it adapts to new technology. With the success of these applications it makes one wonder how intrusive marketing will get to in the near future as it is already with us in our pockets.