Glenn Gutmacher, Vice President for Arbita’s Consulting & Education Services (ACES) division, recently pinged me regarding a great article posted by Liz  Myers at Adobe.  In her post, Liz cites a recent Gartner report in which they predicted that “mobile web use will outpace desktop browsing by 2013″.   If you are an avid mobile enthusiast and follow the trends then you will agree that Gartner’s prediction is not far off from becoming a reality.  Although Liz’s article was written primarily for mobile developers, she presents some fantastic information that I believe is equally relevant for any organization considering a mobile recruiting strategy.

Here is a recap of the six important characteristics offered through mobile:

1.  Mobile devices are deeply personal. The phone is something that belongs to just one individual. It’s private, personal, and likely to be carried with you everywhere you go. We like to customize our phones and they have become a symbol of social status. The phone I carry, and the content I have, become part of my personal brand.

2.  Mobile devices are hyper-social. The phone holds all of your contacts and allows you to do much more with them. Basic communications include voice calling, text messaging (sending a message of 140 characters or less. SMS or Short Message Service was the first Twitter), multimedia messaging (sending video or photos along with text messages), and e-mail. Beyond the basics, you may want to consider online presence, physical proximity, or relationship strength, to allow for more “contextual communications.”

3.  Mobile devices are location-aware. Even if you don’t know exactly where you are, your phone does! It can also help you discover what is located nearby, get directions, or even interpret what is right in front of you. If your friends opt-in, you can display their present location. This is one of the most powerful features of mobile devices and one that, until recently, was reserved for native applications. However, the most recent versions of Fireworks, Chrome, and the Android browser, now have location APIs as well.

4.  Mobile devices promote quick focused usage. Assuming that one is on the move, I will stop to navigate my phone when I need a vital bit of information like my shopping list, current traffic, flight arrival times, stock prices, or recent messages. The exception to this is entertainment. More and more, mobiles fill those empty spaces when we’re standing in line, waiting, or sitting for long idle periods — we reach for our phones to watch our favorite podcasts, scan tweets, listen to music, or immerse ourselves in a good film.

5.  Mobile devices are sometimes connected. When planning your mobile offering, it’s important to develop for both the online and offline scenarios. Sometimes your users will be riding the subway, on a plane, traveling abroad or otherwise unable to connect to the Internet, their home network, or both. Although unlimited data plans do exist, they’re not as prevalent as you may think. So if you want to avoid costly phone bills you need to consider how users will engage with your content when they’re offline.

6.  Mobile devices support a spontaneous lifestyle. Carrying all of your PIM (personal information management) data means you can respond to events as they unfold and share new data in real time. For example, if traffic is blocked, I can meet my party at a different restaurant. If I’m standing in line at the cinema and tickets sell out, I can quickly locate an alternative and have my friends meet me there.

[Source: Liz Myers , Adobe: "Getting Started with Mobile"]

Liz presents some pretty compelling points about mobile. You don’t have to be a mobile app developer to realize that mobile media and communication offers a huge advantage. Today’s technology now enables each of us to easily tap the mobile channel for engaging our target audience, anytime and anywhere. Integrating a mobile solution into recruitment doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s within reach. The key is to start by understanding the basics of building a mobile campaign and keep it simple.

Developing a mobile strategy is fast becoming a necessity. If you’re still trying to determine whether mobile is a fad or the future, consider this:

“Mobile is in fact, the fastest-growing Trillion-dollar industry in the economic history of mankind. That is why Google, Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Dell etc are all interested to get in. The fastest-growing Trillion-dollar industry ever.”

[Source: Tomi Ahonen, Mobile Consultant & Best Selling Author]

Are you or your organization positioned to take advantage of the mobile recruitment channel? There are a lot of options today. Mobile app, mobile web, mobile messaging, mobile barcode, mobile social, and the list goes on. Interested in building a mobile recruiting solution but still not sure how or where to start? Contact me and let’s talk…

Live Text-Message Demo…

With the help of my friends over at mResource, I was able to provide a live text-message demo. Webinar attendees participating from the U.S. were prompted to send a text-message with the keyword “SHOWME” to 90206. This simple demo helped to illustrate how easily text-messaging could be used to segment and pre-screen a target audience. The example included some simple questions, a call-to-action, and a redirect to a mobile-optimized landing page. If you are curious on how to piece this type of campaign together, make sure to read my post entitled:  “Mobile Recruiting: The Basics of Building a Campaign”…»

If you missed the ERE-sponsored webinar, you may now easily view the slides below, or download the presentation here.

Click here to view more presentations from Michael Marlatt…».

Watch the recorded version of the Mobile Recruiting webinar:

* Interested in leveraging text-messaging and the mobile web as part of your recruitment marketing strategy? Visit mResource to learn more…»

Please note, I have not used all of the services listed below but share this as a reference for you to further evaluate.  This list is still a work in progress.

Mobile SMS Solutions & Service Providers:

3jam – group messaging servic e via the web.  Message groups of up to 100. 3Jam offers free and premium service.

4INFO – 4INFO is the largest provider of free text message alerts and information in the United States. 4INFO is about bringing you the information you want, when you want it.

811 – Free SMS site for USA and Canada – unlimited messages.

88444 – 84444.com launches do-it-yourself mobile marketing campaigns from the convenience of your desktop computer.

Africa SMS – Allows to send instant alerts, text and deffered messages to mobile phones around the world from your desktop.

airPoop.com – Offers a free short text messaging and blogging service optimized for mobile phones.

Amethon Mobile Data Solutions – Mobile data solutions provider based in Sydney, Australia. Specialising in WAP and SMS based technologies. Offer outsourced WAP hosting and SMS gateway.

AspSMS – Features text, bulk and binary SMS, also includes delivery notification, operator logos, and ringtones.

Bond Wireless – Provider of global two-way SMS connectivity and applications.

Brand2Hand – Fully automated intelligent web based SMS communication tool. Live two way text campaign manager, Surveys, Competitions, Operator Logos, Ringtones and many other facilities. (online demo)

123bulksms – Bulk SMS messaging services and SMS Gateway connectivity provider.

Bulletin Online – Web tools and programs, broadcast text messaging worldwide, plus subscription based email to SMS.

Channelmobile – offers turnkey solutions for SMS, Bulk SMS, MMS, WAP Push Messaging, WAP Billing Solutions, Mobile Payment Gateways, Mobile Websites (Mobisites), Premium Rate SMS.

Cherple - Free text messages to US cell phones for anyone with an internet connection anywhere in the world. With Cherple you have to download their software and install it on your computer (Windows and Mac version available).

Clickatell (Pty) Ltd. – Provides bulk SMS messaging services and gateway connectivity. Headquarters in Cape Town, South Africa.

ClickSMS – Text messaging service and bulk SMS provider. based in the UK.

ClubTexting – allows your business to build text message marketing campaigns with our easy to use, affordable SMS text messaging software.

Connection Software – Send SMS text messages from a web page, PC or APIs.

Directtexting.com – SMS service for small to mid-size companies. Get a shared short code.

E-Call – SMS service giving an address book, history logbook, group lists, ringtones and screen graphics. Free and Premium versions of the service exist.

Egypt SMS – Corporate SMS solutions, supporting SMPP, EMI/UCP and HTTP with global coverage.

End2End – Mobile data services – Provides solution for M2M, telemetry, telematics, interactive SMS, number portability and mobile internet.

EzTexting – Ez Texting is a Group SMS Text Messaging solution for businesses large and small, groups, and individuals.

Everywhereigo - A self-service mobile solutions provider for individuals and companies seeking to build their own mobile website.

FunMail – MMS consumer and enterprise services for wireless carriers including comics, and greetings.

General Wireless – Provider of mobile messaging solutions based on the SMS, EMS, and MMS standards.

Google SMS – Offers United States local business listings, driving directions, movie showtimes, weather conditions, stock quotes and dictionary definitions on mobile phone.

Her.ph – Intercarrier text messaging gateway between North American wireless phone networks.

HeyWire – HeyWire allows users to text and chat on multiple screens. Start a conversation on your MAC, pick it up where you left off on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Currently in beta for PC & MAC.

iLoop -  iLoop Mobile is the leader in mobile technology and services that make mobile marketing and mobile content delivery fast, easy and compelling.

iMezz – iMezz.com offers global sms text message delivery to consumers and businesses worldwide.

Information Gateway – A wireless applications service provider offering a wide array of innovative products for mobile entertainment and messaging.

Inspirus – Provides SMS solution to Australian businesses.

InvolveMobile – Mobile marketing that is powerful and easy to use, with short code & bulk SMS.

iZigg – iZigg is building the largest worldwide mobile media community where businesses and people can now stay connected through the world’s most recognizable mobile media shortcode- 90210.

Joopz – SMS message from the web. Set up groups of up to 10 and mass-broadcast updates.  Free and premium service offerings available.

Kannel: Open Source WAP and SMS Gateway – Open Source for WAP and SMS Gateway. Sites provides downloads of the software and related documentation.

Loadntxt – Offers two-way text messaging service between the United States and the Philippines.

mBlox – SMS – Two-way services worldwide for entertainment, messaging and media applications; includes revenue collection services.

Mobile Alerts – Allows to send individualized SMS messages globally.

Mobile-Sender SMS – Mobile Sender provide free SMS services to the USA and around the world. Members can send unlimited amount of free messages.

Mobile Storm – Mobile Storm is proven mobile solutions provider with almost a decade of experience. They have delivered 2+ billion messages and executed a million email and mobile marketing campaigns on behalf of thousands of customers.

Mobivity – SMS solutions for users who wish to build their own mobile marketing campaigns.

Mtn Sms – Send SMS messages to MTN’s partner networks throughout the world.

Msg2Send – Msg2Send is a self-service SMS service that offers several tools to help you deliver an effective and efficient marketing campaign. Some of the features available are campaign builder, quick send, auto response, unique contact list management and unsubscribe options.

mResource – mResource provides a robust messaging platform designed to help employers deliver mobile recruitment campaigns. Not only can they help speed up the screening process with through their smart text messaging platform, but they can also provide mobile career site development.  Employers can easily view live results and integrate with existing ATS technology.

MX Telecom – Provider of SMS and MMS solutions, with direct connections to all the major UK carriers.

PhindMe.net (Recently acquired by Movitas) – A private labeled, easy to use technology that provides service organizations everything they need to mobile-enable their clients.

Pinger – Textfree lets iPhone and iPod touch owners send free text messages to any US mobile phone. Replies come free too!

Powered SMS – Allowing bulk sms via web to mobile, https covering worldwide network.
Promo2cell – Allows bulk SMS messages.

PSWin – SMS Gateway provider with global coverage. Advanced web-based service for setting up two-way SMS services and group messaging.

Qittle – Qittle helps businesses create, customize and manage a mobile marketing initiative.

Quios – Text messaging and news delivery to mobile devices.

Recruit2Mobile – Mobile Marketing/SMS Solution Provider for small to large companies.

Red Fish Media – Red Fish Media is a top tier provider of Mobile Marketing services and SMS applications.

Red Oxygen – Tools to send and receive SMS messages from Outlook, Lotus Notes and Microsoft Windows, or to integrate messaging capability into other applications.

Roam Secure – Offers an emergency communications service over SMS networks to handheld devices. Also offer email to SMS service.

SendaFreeSMS – Send Free SMS to any UK mobile using free TXTs services found online.

SendsmsNow – Send free sms to many countries including USA, Canada, India, Pakistan, Europe (not the UK), Figi, Kazakhstan, Kenya and other African countries.

Simplewire – Simplewire is a wireless messaging infrastructure and software provider.

2sms – Provides business text messaging service, allowing to communicate with people via mobile phone, direct from computer.

SmartReply – SmartReply is North America’s largest mobile marketing and mobile advertising provider, with the most comprehensive multi-channel solutions in the industry.

SMS-24 SMS Gateway – Offering fast and reliable worldwide SMS delivery at low cost, including pictures, logos and ringtones.

SMS Storm – Provides software for desktop sms service with no internet connection, just need mobile and pc.

SMS.ac – Global community system offering SMS and multimedia messaging services. Service includes an initial free message quota but does levy charges for sending messages to your phone introducing you to other users.

SMSalias – Send and receive short messages to mobile phones around the world from desktop.

SMSFax – Provide worldwide SMS bulk messaging tools and connectivity.

smsGeezer – Send SMS text messages from the web, email, a downloadable program, or Excel.

SMSWhiz – South African – bulk SMS aggregator. Multiple gateways. Delivery advertised globally.

sms2world – Provides you with a cost-free newsticker in the Internet, whose content you can easily update by means of SMS from your own cell-phone.

SumoText – mobile solutions provider for both individual users, as well as enterprise customers.

Tatango - connects all groups, organizations and businesses with their communities through text messaging.

Telsis Limited – Supplier of products and solutions for enhanced voice and video telecommunications services. England

Text2Land – Offers users the ability to send sms to landline phones.

Text For Free – Offers anonymous text messaging with no usage limits.

TextingForward – TextingForward provides clients with mobile marketing solutions using SMS technology.

TextMarks – TextMarks is an early stage company focused on making text messaging more powerful and more accessible. We empower individuals and organizations to “text message enable” their information and their web pages — and to do so in a matter of minutes.

TreasureMyText is an online SMS storage system.

TrueSenses – Swiss provider of SMS and MMS covering Europe, USA and Australia. Various interfaces supported.

Trumpia – Text messaging that fully integrates with your various social networks, IM, and email.

txt4biz – Professional text message solutions and bespoke software solutions for customised SMS.

TxtHire – Based out of South Africa, TxtHire specializes in providing “mobile recruitment” solutions for employers around the globe.

TxtImpact – TxtImpact offers SMS Gateway services such text message delivery using SMS gateway APIs. They offer both HTTP and SMPP interface for sending and receiving messages to and from US and worldwide carriers.

Wiana SMS mesh gateway – Send text messages for free to any bluetooth mobile connected to the meshAP network.

Wire2Air – makes it easy to stay connected with your customers, clientele or mobile organization.

Have a mobile site or service you would like added?

Feel free to provide your suggested site and I will be happy to add to this reference guide.  Start by visiting the “contact page” and make sure to leave a comment…»

Thanks for stopping by and come again soon!

Mobile adoption in the U.S. has experienced phenomenal growth. According to CTIA‘s President and CEO Steve Largent, the U.S. wireless industry reached 270 million total subscribers at the end of 2008. While that number alone is already quite impressive, what I find even more amazing is the fact that U.S. subscribers have sent 1 trillion text messages (yes, that’s TRILLION with a “T”) in 2008, which triples the previous year’s SMS traffic. Worldwide, SMS is being used by 3 billion wireless subscribers and is now the most widely used data application on the planet. So, is it really any surprise that SMS (A.K.A. “text-messaging”) has become such a widely used tool within the U.S.?

Mobile Marketing & SMS

If you have followed my blog in the past, then you have likely seen my posts on why I believe mobile-marketing matters, as well as why SMS in recruiting can be key to engaging a target audience. Suffice to say, I’m a big fan of SMS but I also realize that there are still many within our industry that still don’t quite “get” mobile. It is often a confusing topic, which is why I wrote my earlier post on Mobile Recruiting 101.

In general, mobile marketing is a broad term that simply refers to the use marketing over a mobile device. Mobile campaigns may include contests, coupon-give away, info-alerts, job-alerts, mCommerce, movie promos, ringtone give-away, etc. We frequently see mobile and SMS linked because it’s medium by which many of the promos above are offered. SMS services run off a short code, which is typically a 5 or 6 digit number (either shared or dedicated). For example, last year BMW kicked-off a mobile campaign using a keyword and short code to encourage consumers to learn more about the BMW X6. Consumers were prompted to text the keyword “BMW” to 67463 (short code). The result? BMW fans were provided a link that (once clicked) redirected them to BMW’s mobile-optimized site showcasing the X6. Leveraging a mobile through SMS is becoming a common practice for many forward-thinking companies (e.g., Nike, Coke-Cola, Microsoft, etc.) all carry their own version of a short code. That said, SMS is not the only channel for connecting with a target audience. We see Multimedia Message Service (MMS) as another channel for engaging consumers. However, compared to the 3 billion global SMS users, there are only 1.35 billion global MMS users so we will table the MMS discussion for a later post.

Mobile Marketing Success Stories

Two key events have contributed to the popularity of mobile-SMS in the U.S.:

1. American Idol Voting for your favorite singer was made simple (and interactive) by simply placing your vote via text message. American Idol set an SMS record in 2008 when over 78 million viewers responded by “texting” in their votes.

2. Presidential Race in 2008 Most notably, President Obama set a world SMS record when he alerted approximately 2.9 million opt-in subscribers during the announcement of Joe Biden as his VP selection. Followers joined by texting “OBAMA” to 62262 and they were immediately provided real-time status updates. Obama was even named Mobile Marketer of the Year for running one of the most successful mobile campaigns in history.

With 270+ million U.S. subscribers, and 1 trillion text messages sent last year, SMS is clearly a communication channel that we cannot and should not overlook. Kim Dushinski, author of The Mobile Marketing Handbook, cited that companies should think about allocating 5-10% of their digital marketing budget towards mobile marketing efforts. Bottom-line, it’s time to get creative in how we engage prospective talent through this unique channel.

Upcoming Mobile Recruiting Webinar: April 23rd

If you are interested in learning more about how mobile integrates with recruiting, I will be delivering a webinar on Thursday, April 23rd. The event is being hosted by Shally Steckerl from Arbita ACES. You can get more details by visiting the registration link here.