BLINK | bmobile has embarked on a multi-million dollar WiFi expansion program that will create over 30 new HOTSPOTS (fixed locations with continuous WiFi access) in areas traversed by hundreds of thousands of the company’s smartphone and smart device users. The initiative is designed to complement what the telecoms giant sees as a growing use of smart devices as well as an increase in businesses using Social Networking and customized apps to connect with customers.
bmobile's Lisa Agard & SAMSUNG's Weverson Correira exploring features of the SAMSUNG NOTE
The smartphone and tablet are the new market places of choice that have seen buyers and sellers meeting one-on-one but concluding hundreds of millions of dollars in trade. In the USA, according to research by Comscore in ‘U.S. Digital Future in Focus 2012′ it is reported that in December 2011, 28.5 million mobile users in America accessed online retail content on their mobile devices. This figure is a whopping 87 percent increase over figures for December 2010.
On March 5, 2012, APPLE announced that its App Store delivered its 25 billionth app download to the users of the more than 315 million iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices worldwide. The 25 billionth app was downloaded by Chunli Fu of Qingdao, China.
Without a doubt, smart devices worldwide have been fuelling public demand for connectivity. This is a trend that is being replicated locally as bmobile has recorded exponential growth in the sale of smartphones running on the three major platforms, BlackBerry, iOS and Android. “We have recognised that more and more our customers are using their smartphones on-the-go to always be in the know with Social Networking, news or retail sales information and when they have a choice they prefer the faster WiFi technology, ” said Lisa Agard Executive Vice President Bmobile Services & Company Retail Distribution. Agard noted that local businesses were also recognising that consumers were more attached than ever to their smartphones,. “More local businesses and entrepreneurs in the financial, entertainment, hospitality and retail sectors are increasingly using Social Media, customised smartphone apps and SMS to speak directly to consumers.”
Smartphones and Tablets have become the devices of choice for mobile users
The BLINK | bmobile WiFi project is geared at addressing this market dynamic in the best interest of local businesses, bmobile customers and Blink broadband users who will have access in the WiFi Hotspots planned for major shopping centres and public hubs. The new WiFi network will be using the latest WiFi 802.11n technology which gives WiFi systems more speed and range. This technology supports bandwidth-hungry multimedia content making smart phones and Tablets their own entertainment hubs and personal billboards. Local businesses and the services sector can speak to customers in a more direct way and this can have a positive ripple effect on operating costs, as digital messaging has a much higher rate of return and is much more cost effective than conventional advertising.
