New Media Age articles from March 2005

New Media Age archives from March 2005

Online ad industry bodies plan joint committee on standards.
March 3, 2005... The online advertising industry is close to setting up an independent body dedicated to audience research that could be funded and structured similarly to TV's BARB service. The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), Institute of...

ITV brings interactive ads to Freeview.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... ITV looks set to become the first commercial broadcaster to launch interactive TV ads on Freeview. It's understood to be in talks with iTV services firm Press Red to allow advertisers to add interactive functionality to linear spots...

Coke and Fanta make biggest mobile push.
March 3, 2005... Coca-Cola has kicked off its largest mobile marketing activity in the UK to date, launching separate campaigns for its Coke and Fanta brands. The Coke 'Win a player' campaign, which launches next Tuesday, is a football promotion forming...

Virgin Radio launches as world's first 3G radio station.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Virgin Radio has launched as the world's first 3G radio station. The broadcaster launched the first radio player enabling 3G users to receive the flagship Virgin Radio station this week, alongside digital DAB stations Virgin Radio...

Fiat builds on success of Punto ads by targeting female drivers.(Arc London, Fiat Auto UK Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Car manufacturer Fiat is building on its recent above-the-line Spirito di Punto campaign with the launch of an online push aimed largely at women aged between 20 and 45. Created by digital marketing agency Arc London, the campaign...

BMW widens used-car service to include daily MMS alerts.(Inbox Digital)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... BMW has extended its Used Car service to mobile and is offering users the ability to receive picture message mobile alerts for the first time. The new service was developed by agency Inbox Digital, which also manages BMW's Used Car email...

Industry shocked as Channel 4 puts up price of iTV ads by 20%.(Channel Four Television Company Ltd., interactive television)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Channel 4 is ramping up the price of interactive TV ad campaigns by 20% in a move that has taken media buying agencies by surprise. The broadcaster has increased the rate card cost of a single red button ad from #15,000 to #18,000, as it...

Broadreach and Skype confirm deal to offer free voice calls over Wi-Fi.(Skype Technologies S.A., Broadreach Networks Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Internet telephony firm Skype Technologies has signed a deal with Wi-Fi operator Broadreach Networks to offer free voice-over-Wi-Fi calls. The deal to link their services, which is due to be announced today (Thursday), means Skype users...

Vauxhall launches largest ever promotion of test drives online.
March 3, 2005... General Motors is expected to launch one of its biggest European online marketing campaigns this week, to coincide with its largest ever promotion of test drives for its Vauxhall and Opel marques. The company has launched its Million Mile...

Mirror appoints new head of interactive.(Julia Smith, Trinity Mirror Digital Media Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Mirror Group Newspapers has created a new senior-level position dedicated to driving commercial opportunities across its Web sites. The publisher has appointed Julia Smith to head of interactive, with a brief to increase revenue from...

UIP streams first five minutes of new film.(United International Pictures)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... United International Pictures (UIP) UK is claiming a first in film marketing by streaming, uninterrupted, the first five minutes of its new horror movie Boogeyman, which opens in cinemas nationwide this week. The streaming video has been...

Cheapestflights to use 'Dirty Dancing' Viral.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Online travel company Cheapestflights is using a Dirty Dancing-themed viral to increase subscriber numbers. The viral will be sent to an existing database of 130,000 people, who'll be invited to take part in a dance-off on screen. The better...

Yahoo! rebrands Overture as Yahoo! Search in US.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Yahoo! is culling another brand in its portfolio and has announced it will be replacing Overture Services in the US with Yahoo! Search Marketing Solutions. This business will bring together sponsored search offerings and listings-submit...

ELSPA to step up fight against games piracy.(Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... The computer games industry is to step up its efforts to tackle the growing problem of online piracy in the coming year. The industry's main trade body ELSPA (the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) carried out 538 raids...

Channel 4 home-selling site will cut out agents.(Channel Four Television Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Channel 4 is launching a new Web site that will allow homeowners to advertise their properties online. Heavily supported on-air after Channel 4 property programmes, the site is intended to allow homeowners to cut costs by avoiding the need for...

Reminder site viral wins FHM Greatest Games list.(thedoghouse.co.uk )(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... A viral game for birthday and gift reminder service thedoghouse.co.uk has taken the number-one slot in men's magazine FHM's 100 Greatest Games. The game promotes Doghouse's new online reminder service and challenges users to remember...

FT.com adds RSS feeds.(really simple syndication)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... FT.com is the latest online publisher to launch a news-tracking service via Really Simple Syndication (RSS). Users can choose to have specific FT.com news categories delivered via the RSS feed, which shows the headline and article summary...

Lawton hires creative director from Hollywood.(Tim John, Lawton eMarketing)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Marketing group Lawton has hired a former Hollywood screenwriter as creative director. Tim John joins Lawton after seven years in Hollywood. He also previously worked for J Walter Thompson and co-wrote the Max Headroom TV series. John will be...

Easynet to add digital TV and Web phone services this year.
March 3, 2005... Broadband ISP Easynet is to take on NTL, Telewest and Home Choice with a new digital TV service to be launched this year. In a significant expansion for the company, it's aiming to turn itself into a 'triple-play' operator in 2005, with...

Two Way TV extends Winner Channel to Internet and mobile.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Two Way TV is rolling out The Winner Channel online and on mobile phones following the recent launch of the fixed-odds gaming service on digital TV. With The Winner Channel available across all three platforms, users will be able to...

Trivial Pursuit celebrates with viral ad.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Hasbro's Trivial Pursuit board game is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the launch of its first viral campaign. The campaign will run throughout March featuring questions about current news, which will be updated each week to keep...

Minick brings more mobile services to Download Festival.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Events promoter Clear Channel Entertainment is launching a range of interactive services around the Download rock festival in June. The company has partnered with mobile services company Minick for the second year running to provide mobile...

Espotting offers search toolbar under client's own branding.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Paid-search specialist Espotting is to offer white-label toolbars allowing publishers to offer search and other functionality under their own brands. Although Google and Yahoo! both offer their toolbars to publishers, Espotting's version...

Cisco rolls out Flash Webcast to Europe.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Networking company Cisco Systems is rolling out its Flash-ad Webcast technology to a pan-European audience, following a successful debut on the FT's Web site earlier this year. Cisco held a live Q&A video broadcast through a Flash ad in...

Ex-Reading Room directors hire colleagues for new agency.(Codegent)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Several senior staff from London-based agency Reading Room have left to set up a new full service agency. Codegent formally launches this week and has already signed up a number of major brands and companies as clients, including the BBC,...

Weapon7 and Flytxt unite iTV and mobile.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Interactive TV ad agency Weapon7 has formed a partnership with mobile marketing agency Flytxt to enable a joint mobile and red-button campaign offering to clients. The partnership - which will see mobile interactivity integrated with...

Domino's Pizza sees rise in Web turnover to #8m.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Domino's Pizza saw turnover at its ecommerce business rise to #8.2m last year, helped by a revamped Web site and an improved interactive TV ordering platform on Sky Active. The turnover marked a 41% increase on the year before, and compares...

Eurostar updates site to include e-vouchers.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... High-speed passenger train service Eurostar this week introduced e- vouchers for rail travel, among other enhancements to its Web site. The electronic gift vouchers, which are available in denominations of up to #100, are sent by email and...

Glue hires for anticipated rise in online ads.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Digital agency Glue has recruited eight people across the board to prepare for what it believes will be the year when some of its big-name client brands invest heavily in online advertising. The agency now employs 53 staff. Among the new...

PlusNet offers customers free wireless access.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... PlusNet has begun a promotional campaign offering free wireless broadband via Wi-Fi operator BT Openzone. Existing PlusNet customers who register for the free trial will be given unlimited wireless access until the end of March. Openzone has...

Musicians begin to adopt editable music format.(Digimpro)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Roots Manuva and Moby are the latest artists to release singles using the 'di' music format from UK digital music company Digimpro. The di music player gives fans the ability to edit and personalise an almost infinite variety of tracks,...

Liberty uses joke viral to push Eurovision winner.(Ruslana, EMI Music UK)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... EMI Music UK label Liberty has launched a tongue-in-cheek viral campaign to promote the release of the first album from Ruslana, the Ukrainian winner of last year's Eurovision Song Contest. The album's microsite features an on-screen keyboard...

Profitable Play to extend online bingo service.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Profitable Play, the operator of Jackpotjoy.com, has signed deals to provide its bingo service to five online brands. Lycos, The Daily Draw, Lotto.co.uk and Loquax have all signed up for white-label versions of the Jackpotjoy.com bingo...

Sky Interactive produces site to showcase iTV to advertisers.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Sky Interactive is launching a new online resource dedicated to driving the continued growth of interactive TV on the digital satellite platform. A standalone Web site has been created to encourage advertisers, brand owners and...

Help The Aged uses viral push to raise awareness of HUG day.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Help The Aged is pushing its Helping Unite Generations (HUG) fundraising initiative with a viral marketing campaign, due to go live this week. The charity's HUG day on 22 April aims to highlight loneliness suffered by older people and to...

Brand advertising to account for half of online ad spend.(European Interactive Advertising Association )(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Brand advertising on the Internet is expected to account for almost half of all online ad spend in Europe by the end of next year, according to figures published by the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA). The growth in ad...

Streaming movie ad gives choice of clips.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Buena Vista International (BVI) is combining two separate film clips in one video overlay in the online promotional toolkit it's commissioned for new Bill Murray comedy The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. The toolkit, created by Profero,...

Sun Microsystems uses chess game to promote Solaris 10 OS.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Sun Microsystems is continuing with its marketing efforts for Solaris 10, its Unix operating system, by introducing an online game to the campaign. Media agency Starcom Digital has created an interactive chess game as the next stage of...

Keeping existing and new customers happy.
March 3, 2005... Broadband growth continues to be strong throughout Europe but the market is still maturing. ISPs are becoming more focused on customer retention, spurred by increased competition in traditional cable markets, falling prices for local loop...

Mobile vendors missing airport opportunities.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Mobile solution vendors are failing to appreciate business opportunities in the airport industry, according to a new report from business information analyst Datamonitor. The report, 'The Airport Environment as Manufacturing Campus', examines...

Eyeblaster reports 500% rise in rich-media ads.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Eyeblaster saw a 500% growth in the number of rich-media ad impressions served in the UK and Europe last year. More than 20% of impressions served by the company in 2004 included video, while floating ads represented 25% of total impressions....

20m use search engines and portals in January.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Over 19.9m unique users in the UK used search engines, portals and community sites in January, according to Nielsen//NetRatings' Internet Update. Visitors browsed for an average of 1 hour 31 minutes. The report says that overall, UK Web users...

Slow take-up won't hold back MMS revenues, says Juniper.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Global MMS revenues will rise more than seven-fold by 2009, forecasts analyst Juniper Research, despite the fact that teething problems in rolling the technology out to the mass market have yet to be overcome. 'MMS Evolution', an...

UK users prefer natural search results to sponsored links.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Most British consumers prefer to view natural rather than sponsored search engine results, according to online marketing specialist Agence Virtuelle. Its '2005 Online Marketing Attitudes' report revealed that almost two- thirds (61%) of...

Ensequence gives a2a iTV capability.(Access to Audiences )(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Independent systems house Access to Audiences (a2a) has selected Ensequence's on-Q Create authoring software to develop interactive TV ads and red-button applications. The tool will allow a2a to develop and test a range of enhanced...

Tangozebra allows advertisers to tie research into campaigns.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Rich-media vendor Tangozebra is moving into the online advertising research and analytics space with the launch of a new offering that will see it compete with research specialists like Dynamic Logic. Media agencies New Media Maze and...

Mobile ticketing goes on trial for North West travel.(Tyne and Wear Development Corp., Nexus Comunications)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Nexus, Tyne & Wear's public transport executive, has become the UK's first major user of TicketMobility, a mobile ticketing initiative co- funded by the EC. Nexus began a 30-day pilot of TicketMobility to 200 users this week in...

Tiscali offers guaranteed DSL service quality to businesses.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Tiscali is to take advantage of its use of BT's Datastream product, launching an upgraded service for business users around the UK. It claims its QoDSL service is the first to offer guaranteed quality of service over DSL lines. It...

BT anti-virus system stops new infections.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... BT has developed a new anti-virus technology to catch infected emails that have got through other anti-virus systems. Most anti-virus software only looks for the effects of known viruses, so can still let new viruses through. The new BT tool,...

Video Networks launches e-ads on HomeChoice.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Video Networks has launched a range of enhanced advertising opportunities across its HomeChoice on-demand TV platform, as predicted by NMA (03.02.05). The broadband entertainment provider is rolling out opt-in ads around on-demand programmes,...

Lloyds TSB picks VeriSIM to encourage e-bankers.(VeriSIM)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Lloyds TSB has signed a two-year deal to use VeriSIM software to increase use of its online banking service. VeriSIM simulation software allows potential customers to practice transactions and learn how to use the Web banking service before...

Brands turn on to the power of podcasting.
March 3, 2005... Podcasting is the latest way for brands to distribute audio content. But to persuade consumers to download it, such content needs to be original and worthwhile No-one had heard of 'podcasting' this time last year. In fact, it was only...

HOW DOES PODCASTING WORK?(Adam Curry, David Winer, MTV Networks Europe)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Podcasting was invented by former MTV presenter Adam Curry and blogger David Winer in August last year, but already the number of podcasts is heading rapidly towards the 10,000 mark. Like time-shifting TV programmes on a Sky+ box, podcasting...

COMMENT: Marketers need to constantly adapt to new channels.
March 3, 2005... Eleven years on from its first commercial use, it's becoming commonplace to hear people talking about the Internet as just another channel. This view derives from the belief that interactive media have matured enough to sit alongside...

Valentine's reveals a growing willingness to shop online.
March 3, 2005... RAFEE FROM THE US If your Valentine's Day is now nothing but a wilted, browning rose, spare a thought for the online retailers to whom it meant so much more. I was warmed last week to read on Reuters.com that romantics were...

Letter: Direct marketers should benefit from IDM strategy.(Letter to the Editor)
March 3, 2005... Last week's profile on Derek Holder at the IDM should have been warmly received by direct and digital marketers alike. The industry can only benefit from the IDM's recent repositioning to clearly embrace digital, direct and data as three...

Letter: Yahoo! celebrates its tenth birthday.(Letter to the Editor)
March 3, 2005... On 2 March Yahoo! will be emailing millions of people around the world to remind anyone who might have forgotten that it's celebrating its tenth birthday. How time flies. There have been quite a few tenth birthdays in the last six months...

Letter: Brands must grab the broadband gauntlet.(Letter to the Editor)
March 3, 2005... The gauntlet has been thrown down by Philip Graf calling for more commercial content to be developed for the Web to help boost broadband take-up (NMA 24.02.05). I say it's brands that should take advantage of this challenge. The call for...

OPINION: Customer publishing finds the Web a valuable extra channel.
March 3, 2005... The news that the customer publishing industry is going from strength to strength may not have sent shockwaves through the readership of NMA, but it certainly does have online implications. The Association of Publishing Agencies (APA)...

AD WATCH: A good ad must match the needs of user and advertiser.
March 3, 2005... Digital marketing agencies are continually struggling to resolve two opposing needs: those of the Web user - undisrupted access to information, entertainment and services - versus those of the advertiser - to grab attention, explain the...

PROFILE - ALAN TOMLIN: On the right track.(TrainLine.com Ltd.)(Biography)
March 3, 2005... Alan Tomlin of the Trainline tells Jane Wakefield about his plans to modernise rail with ticketless travel. And now his company is in profit, the chances are looking good The Internet has transformed the travel industry. Booking flights...

STRATEGIC PLAY - ABBEY: Slow and steady.(Abbey National PLC markets its services on internet)
March 3, 2005... Abbey admits it has been a slow starter in new media, preferring to take it one development at a time, all for the benefit of its customers, finds Sean Hargrave Abbey's realisation last year that the Internet was central to its business...

RSS FEEDS: Feed me.(use of really simple syndication technology)
March 3, 2005... RSS is allowing users to bring up-to-the-minute content to them, rather than having to go hunting for it. Clare Goff examines how online publishers are adapting to the idea You may think that the upcoming General Election is a foregone...

Moves: Enpocket.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Global mobile media company Enpocket has appointed David Barker as VP of sales for Europe, with responsibility for managing revenue streams. He joins from mobile marketing company Flytxt, where he held the post of commercial director. Prior...

Moves: Flytxt.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Flytxt has recruited Annabel Shorter as business development director. She has over ten years' experience, having previously worked at Virgin Mobile as partnership development manager. Prior to this, she was head of business development at...

Moves: Moonfish.(Promotions)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Chris Wade has been promoted to head of technical services at digital marketing agency Moonfish. He'll oversee technical projects and digital marketing solutions the agency has developed. He was previously senior technical consultant. ...

Moves: The Poulter Group.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Leeds-based brand communications agency The Poulter Group has taken on Adam Kassell as CTO of PoulterNet, its IT services division. He'll be responsible for the delivery of all development projects. Formerly at IS Solutions, Kassell will...

Moves: GB Group.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... GB Group, the provider of identity authentication and fraud prevention solutions for the gaming industry, has appointed Michael Smeaton as business development consultant for URU, the Web-based identity and age- verification service. Smeaton...

Moves: Code Computer Love.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Manchester-based digital communications agency Code Computer Love has recruited two new developers. Jools Chesters has been appointed as Internet developer and will work across all accounts. Previously a senior developer at With, he has worked...

Moves: Associated New Media.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Associated New Media, the digital publishing division of Associated Newspapers, has promoted Amanda Parish and Rebecca Summerfield from agency sales managers to senior agency sales managers. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

Moves: The Usability Company.(appointment)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... The Usability Company has taken on Sven Krause as a usability consultant. He joins from IBM, where he was a usability engineer. He specialises in intercultural specifics in usability between Germany, the US, Italy, Australia and the UK. ...

Moves: Seekport.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... European search engine company Seekport has appointed two industry specialists to join its technical management team. Benhui Chen was previously principal developer at Lycos Europe, where he focused on developing its Fireball search technology,...

SITE INSPECTION: iPodWorld.(ipodworld.co.uk)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... iPodWorld ipodworld.co.uk Owner: Venturematch Agency: Screen Pages Content 20/25 Usability 22/25 Branding 21/25 Monetisation 22/25 Total 85/100 A wealth of accessories have sprung up to cater...

SITE INSPECTION: Feed Me Better.(feedmebetter.com)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Feed Me Better feedmebetter.com Owner: Jamie Oliver Agency: Poke Content 20/25 Usability 23/25 Branding 21/25 Monetisation 16/25 Total 80/100 This is very much a campaigning site rather than...

SITE INSPECTION: Oliver Goldsmith.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Oliver Goldsmith olivergoldsmith.com Owner: Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses Agency: Meme Digital Content 20/25 Usability 20/25 Branding 23/25 Monetisation 12/25 Total 75/100 This new site for...

FULFILMENT: hiwayhifi.co.uk.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... hiwayhifi.co.uk Site founded: 2000 Selection Large range of consumer electronics and white goods. Technical problems: None. Navigation The home page is ferociously busy, but the site does allow searches by product...

EC's reversal of e-money rules to kick-start mobile commerce.(European Union. European Commission)
March 10, 2005... Mobile phone payments for both physical goods and digital content are set to become a mass-market reality as the threat of legislation banning e-money has finally ended. NMA has learned that a new Guidance Note issued by the EC will allow...

BBC defines future new media role.(British Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 10, 2005... The BBC is to publish a wide-ranging manifesto detailing exactly how it will use emerging new media platforms to provide public service content. The Corporation is finalising a long-term strategy for the development of its Internet,...

Zip TV makes plans for Sky Digital channel.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC. Sky Digital)
March 10, 2005... Interactive TV advertising consortium Zip TV is drawing up plans for a permanent channel on the Sky Digital platform after securing a broadcast licence from Ofcom. The licence represents a major step forward for the company, providing it...

BMW gears up for 3 Series with Web push.(online branding and search marketing for the new cars )(Brief Article)
March 10, 2005... BMW is aiming for maximum impact with an online branding and search marketing drive for its most important car launch of the year, the 3 Series. The car manufacturer wants to create as much impact online as possible around the time of...

Virgin Radio breaks new ground with UK's daily advertiser-funded podcast.(Brief Article)
March 10, 2005... Virgin Radio has become the first UK station to launch an advertiser- funded podcast of a daily radio show. The broadcaster has signed up the COI and Expedia as the first sponsors for its podcast of the Pete and Geoff Breakfast Show. The...

Survey finds marketers starting to credit online for creativity.
March 10, 2005... More than half of advertising executives believe the online medium offers real opportunity for creativity, putting it on a par with radio and outdoor, according to research from Yahoo!. The research is evidence that attitudes towards online...

A2A application gives viewers chance to buy from iTV adverts.(Access to Audiences )
March 10, 2005... Digital satellite and cable TV viewers will soon be able to use the red button to help them buy the products they see advertised on screen. Independent systems house Access to Audiences (A2A) has developed an iTV ad application that will...

Ugogo uses spoof 'Brits abroad' site to lure customers.(Brief Article)
March 10, 2005... Online holiday operator Ugogo is embarking on a guerrilla marketing campaign to raise awareness of the brand and entice new customers. Ugogo.co.uk, part of travel group Holidaybreak, launched in January. It searches for low-budget flight...