Mobile phone can be considered one of the most in-demand gadgets that people use nowadays. It is now a basic necessity with various capabilities made available by the vendors (such as Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung, LG) and by the telecom operators manage to create and innovate just to keep their subscribers hooked in telecommunications industry. As handy as they may seem, the features and services that can be enjoyed are way beyond what people could normally notice. Voice and video calls, texts, gaming applications, camera and video features, FM radio tuner – these are the basic functions that one can do using a mobile phone. But ever heard of getting freebies and promo updates in your phone while staying outdoors? Yes, this is possible through Bluetooth Marketing.

Bluetooth technology enables wireless exchange of information over short range of distance; depending on the power class used but 10-meter range is the most common, between one master and one or many slave devices (7 simultaneous slaves maximum). Information transferred can be various media – photos, videos, documents, and surprisingly, advertisements! This has been effective due to these advantages:

a. Low cost equipment and services needed. Advertisers do not need to deal with telecom operators’ SMS (short message service) broadcasts to their respective subscribers. A Bluetooth transmitter to be installed in commonly crowded places like malls, trade fairs, supermarkets, public vehicles and airports, can broadcast to the specific consumers whom they need to inform, regardless of which operator that mobile user currently camps in. It allows effortless spreading of data like a virus, only with a positive purpose and message.

b. Widespread use of mobile phones in public area exposes themselves not just to radio frequencies of telecom providers but as well as Bluetooth system hotspots.

c. Acknowledgement from recipient or target market provided immediately. Unlike SMS broadcasts, mobile users can allow or discard messages sent via Bluetooth. To top that, the target buyer who is just a few meters away can readily check on the promoter’s shop and purchase as asked in the ad!

d. Transfer of data is secured and fast. Bluetooth technology which uses the unlicensed ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) 2.4GHz short-range RF band and frequency-hopping can achieve data rate from 1 -3 Mbps depending on the modulation used. Frequency-hopping technology ensures efficient use of radio spread spectrum by dividing the information into frames of data during transmission.

e. Calculating the fast speed of message transfer and the availability of target market in strategic locations, advertisers can be overwhelmed with the impact that Bluetooth marketing can benefit both the business owners and their consumers.

f. The flexibility of marketing is also possible, meaning, broadcasting of ads to Bluetooth-enabled phones can be turned on or off, as needed.

Word of mouth, print media, television and billboards are not the only options which advertisers explore. It is smart, indeed, to maximize the use of technology today to cope up with the demands of information dissemination amongst vast crowd with different profiles and interests. Bluetooth marketing is another milestone in converting the constructive use of technology in business and entertainment. So the next time you plan of going out in malls or anywhere public, try keeping the Bluetooth connectivity in your mobile phone on. The next best treat could be waiting around, only yet to be received.