Mobile Marketing and Email Marketing by mobileStorm

We have made several updates to our set of APIs to help clients take even more advantage of using their own applications and processes outside of the mobileStorm platform.  These include the following:

1. Removed requirement to pass carrier ID along with cell number as part of the DataIn API.  Please note though that if you use this option, the carrier query process will start and your credit balance will be automatically deducted from your remaining balance.
2. You can now create premium SMS lists via the Messaging API.  The process is basically the same as the existing non-premium SMS list creation except now you can set messages to trigger a charge to the subscriber via our premium short code – 99158.
3. Create keywords (both additional and common keywords) via a new Keyword API.  You no longer have to log into the mobileStorm 4.0 application to create/purchase keywords.  Simply use the Keyword API to select and add keywords directly to your account.
4. Birthdate field updates.  As noted in a recent Product Update, we have made the birthdate field flexible in terms of key entry – such as using dashes, slashes or even spaces.  This feature is now part of the DataIn API.

Importance of upgrade: Medium
Release Date: 09/22/08
Section Located: DataIn API, Messaging API
Other Areas Affected by Upgrade: My Lists, My Forms
Development Time: 10 days

We have launched an exciting new SMS feature that allows you to take your mobile marketing efforts to the next level with text to screen campaigns. The process is simple. Using either existing keywords or creating new keywords, you select Inbound Campaign from the SMS Campaign options and then Text to Screen as the campaign type. You can then choose as many keywords as you want to include in the campaign, each of which will have a separate tally calculated as people text in their favorites – whether it be an attendance total, favorite artist or trivia answer. The results are displayed on a Web page that is updated in real-time and can be broadcast on any size screen at the event or placed on a Web site. You even have the ability to customize the page or embed it into another frame. Finally, you can use the Text to Screen campaign as a subscriber acquisition tool by asking respondents if they want to join your SMS mailing list.

Importance of upgrade: Medium
Release Date: 09/15/08
Section Located: SMS Campaigns/Inbound SMS Campaigns
Other Areas Affected by Upgrade: Reports, Create New List (SMS)
Development Time: 15 days

UPGRADE: Subscriber form upgrades

We’ve made some modifications to the subscriber form process. These include the following:

1. When you create a new SMS list, you will notice that the feature that used to ask if you would like to make the SMS list “double opt in” has been removed. However, please note, all SMS lists are double opt in for the carriers T-mobile, AT&T and Verizon, due to their regulations. When you text a keyword to a short code (example: STUN To 38714) you will receive a message back asking you to reply YES to confirm your subscription. However note that tier 2 and tier 3 carriers like Alltel and US Cellular do not require this.

2. We now give you the option to not ask for carrier information when creating your subscriber forms. If YES is selected, the carrier drop down list will appear on subscriber forms. The form cannot be completed unless a carrier is pulled down from the drop down menu. If NO is selected, then the drop down will not appear on forms. However, you must then purchase carrier query credits in order for the subscriber to be added properly since we still require the carrier information be added to the record before an SMS campaign can be sent to them.

3. We have changed the format of birthdays being entered into the database from a day, month, year format to a Month, Day, Year format. Example: 08-20-1977. We also allow different formats such as 8-20-77 and 2-2-1977.

Importance of upgrade: Medium
Release Date: 09/08/08
Section Located: My Lists, My Forms
Other Areas Affected by Upgrade: Email Campaigns, SMS Campaigns, Adding Multiple Subscribers
Development Time: 5 days