Many of the headlines we read would have us believe that consumers are running rampant, begging for opportunities to browse, shop and even transact retail purchases on their mobile devices. While there’s no question that mobile commerce and payment are coming fast, it’s often difficult to gauge precisely how fast. The answer is critically important for marketers as they wade into mobile marketing initiatives and tactics.
In part 1 of Mobile Reality Check, I’m joined by Gary Schwartz, Founder and CEO of Impact Mobile.
Over the past nine years, Gary has played a leadership role in the mobile industry. He founded Impact Mobile in 2002 running the first cross-carrier short code campaign in North America.
In 2006, Gary founded the mobile committee for the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and sits as Chair of the Mobile Entertainment Foundation (MEF).
Gary has been involved in mobile marketing from virtually every conceivable angle and is the recipient of the Asia and Japan Foundation Fellowship as well as the Macromedia Peoples’ Choice Award and Dodge Foundation award for innovation. He is also the author of the upcoming book, Click2K’Ching: The Mobile Shopper & The Impulse Economy.
I had an excellent chat with Gary from his offices in Toronto in which he shed light on some of the truths and tall-tales with respect to mobile consumerism.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ee1DqPLCPQ[/youtube]