by anton | May 23, 2014 | Mobile Products
HLR stands for Home Location Register, which is a central database that contains details of each mobile phone subscriber that is registered with a particular mobile network. When you do an HLR lookup, you can find out important info about a particular mobile number. The HLR or “Home Location Register” is at the core of every GSM mobile network worldwide. The HLR is a central database of all customers authorised to use the network. Every SIM card that is released has a unique number attached to it called an IMSI. This number is basically a primary key associated with the HLR record. You can use a lookup to see if a number is: Valid Currently active in a network. The original network a mobile number was assigned to Ported from another network and which network it was moved to Currently roaming If the mobile has been turned on recently and what country the mobile was last used Why would a business want to do an HLR lookup? It holds the most accurate, up-to-date information on a mobile subscriber. This could help you to eliminate numbers on your database that doesn’t exist or are invalid so you don’t waste time and money sending messages to these numbers. Is an HLR lookup difficult to perform? Nope. It is fast and inexpensive. A lookup can also be performed in real time during call setup or SMS delivery. You should be able to find network carrier information quickly and cheaply and even improve routing for VoIP and SMS traffic. What about privacy? These lookups are non-invasive and you perform it remotely. The mobile...
by anton | May 21, 2014 | Mobile Products
Most people are familiar with the term IVR (Interactive Voice Response) but not everybody knows that there is more than one type: Inbound and Outbound IVR. IVR (in a nutshell) is an automated telephony system. These system are used by companies to perform preprogramed functions and act almost like a real life consultant. Inbound systems are generally used to answer and direct telephone calls along the appropriate channels within the business. Outbound IVR allows a business to proactively engage with customers through multiple channels such as automated voice calls, SMS messages, email or social media posts with personalized communications. You can use it for things like: Surveys into customer behaviour Product orders Reminders for appointments, payment due Notifications of shipment arrivals etc. Account activations General enquiries Although the message are automated, the info can still be customized and personalized to fit the needs of your consumers. Providing info to customers proactively helps to create loyalty and a positive experience. The easier you can make a customer’s life, the better. Which is one of the reasons why companies have begun to use Interactive Voice Response for things like reminding a customer to refill their prescription or top up their airtime. You can take it even further by providing customers with direct assistance after your call to action. For example: remind the consumer that their airtime is low and then give them the option to top it up on the spot by directing the call to the sales department. This will, of course, help you to create more revenue while keeping your customers happy at the same time. Tip for using...
by anton | May 19, 2014 | Mobile Products
Number Scrubbing in general refers to the process of amending or removing data from a database that is incorrect, incomplete, improperly formatted, or duplicated. But what does this have to do with your business? You probably have accumulated a long list of telephone numbers over the years from your customers. However, people regularly change their phone numbers or switch from a landline to a cell phone. Also, you will always have a small percentage of numbers that were recorded incorrectly. Or you might even sit with a list of numbers that have opted out of your mobile marketing, but it still has to be removed. Without knowing it, your contact list, which you have worked so hard on, might not be so golden anymore. You could be thinking that it is not that big of a deal and you don’t need a program for Number Scrubbing, but did you know that you lose resources every time you send marketing messages to non-existing numbers? Sure you can hire extra help to painstakingly go through your contact list once a month. But it takes loads of time to accomplish this. Not to mention that you will have to pay someone (or even a team) to get it done. What can Number amount of time and can be less costly than fixing errors manually. If you don’t have your finger on the pulse of your business’s contact base, your marketing won’t be nearly as effective as you want it to be. Don’t let your weeks of toiling and planning campaigns go down the drain because you aren’t reaching your customers. And certainly...
by anton | May 16, 2014 | Mobile Products
Airtime vouchers will give you the opportunity to build relationships with your customers, provide insight it comes to your customers – no matter their age, gender or income. Airtime vouchers will add value to their lives in a way that is creative, fun or informative. You can actively keep track of the redemption of your vouchers. This won’t only provide insight into consumer behaviour, but also improve the quality of your efforts because you will be able to identify every marketing effort’s return on investment. Blockbuster UK has adopted the mobile voucher redemption solution across all its 630 stores. In the words Bryn Owen, Head of Marketing for Blockbuster UK, it makes better business sense to use mobile phones as the medium to issue promotional vouchers, rather than the paper alternative. “Since launching the customer loyalty scheme we have seen over 250,000 vouchers redeemed, providing us with a vast amount of data that is used effectively to target our customers with offers that will be specifically interesting and useful to the individual.” Airtime vouchers are clearly the next big...
by anton | May 14, 2014 | Mobile Products
You don’t have to choose between doing SMS marketing and having a website. In fact, you should combine the two to create a powerful presence for your brand. Mobile websites are cost-effective to build and maintain. They work on most phones so you don’t have to build a different version for iPhones, Smartphones, Blackberry etc. Text message marketing is great for the same reasons as well – plus everyone knows how to send and receive texts and it is a form of direct marketing. But combine the two and you can have the best of both worlds. Use a mobile web site to gather more info from your SMS marketing database. Thus, instead of the customer only sending you a shortcode and their phone number, direct them to an online application form they can fill out to provide you with quality data for your marketing purposes. Use your mobile website to enhance your mobile marketing. A text might be limited to 160 characters, but you can provide a link in your text to your mobile webpage. This way you can provide your customers with info on your mobile website that would otherwise be too much or too big to send. For example images, registration pages, schedules etc. Your SMS marketing can lure and introduce customers to your mobile website. Because a mobile site is often a skinnier version of your company’s site, it might not generate as much traffic as the latter. Text campaigns can be handy to create awareness. Remember that the way to a customer’s heart is through incentives, so don’t forget to make the visit to...
by anton | May 13, 2014 | Mobile Billing
EBB is an acronym for Event Based Billing. In a nutshell, it implies that the subscriber only gets billed per event instead of per minute or for line usage. A simple example would be paying R20 to download the song of your choice. Thus, instead of paying R200 per month to be a member an application, regardless if you download anything or not, you only pay every time you download a song. This offers flexibility to users who only want to use a service or product once, but doesn’t want to commit to the seller in the long term. You might think that businesses in general would say no to short term clients. After all, loyal customers are give them quality service or unique products. By providing a customer with the option of EBB billing, you get a foot in the door for a potential future relationship. Consumers crave flexibility, especially when it comes to finance. One of the most successful ways of getting a competitive advantage in any market is to offer an array of choices that will suit individuals’ needs. And no, traditional billing systems don’t necessarily offer consumers enough options. Give your customers more than they bargained for. Event Based Billing solutions from Integrat can help you to lure sceptic or potential clients and turn them into loyal believers. Get in touch with us right now – we are here to fulfil all your mobile...
by anton | May 12, 2014 | Mobile Products
Have you ever requested a service or entered into a competition by sending a text to a special shortened number? Then you have made use of a SMS shortcode. But what exactly is originally gained popularity due to television shows that allowed viewers to vote for their favourite singer/ contestant or to make a donation. It quickly caught on in other industries as companies realised that it is a cheap, speedy, reactive and productive way to target consumers. Generally, businesses can get access to dedicated or shared short codes. Every code can also have a specific set of keywords assigned to it. Dedicated codes imply that the particular business has ownership over all keywords associated with the short code number. With a shared short code all people/businesses using the same short code are given their own keyword. The keyword is what differentiates each user of the short code and determines who will receive messages sent to the short number. According to smsshortcode.com, very few businesses own their own dedicated short code due to the requirements, time, and expense it takes to provision one. “In most cases a mobile marketing provider will own the dedicated short code and sell packages that include use of the short code, a keyword, and a specified number of messages.” Once a company obtains one of these codes, they can invite consumers to send SMS as well as MMS messages to the specified number. The message could look something like this: “Text the word ‘hamper’ to 12345 and you could win one of our Easter Hamper giveaways.” The company receives the messages along with the...
by anton | May 8, 2014 | Mobile Aggregation
Operating within the mobile Value Added Service sector, Integrat is a VAS Aggregator leading the way not only in South Africa, but in the bigger Africa as well. Our gateway solution is designed to provide connectivity to all of our supported mobile operators. It is through this gateway that the company supports a wide variety of value-added products. Integrat supports a full range of Application Programming Interfaces (API) that enable customers to obtain access to the gateway and even allows them to integrate their own applications. We understand the importance of a strong base aggregation platform – that is why we have spent for businesses to interact with new and existing clients. Plus, 62% of people access the internet from their phone. Build your brand and increase sales through mobile communication. Let us show you...
by anton | May 6, 2014 | General
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by anton | May 5, 2014 | General
If you are searching for a Mobile Wasp in South Africa, you have come to the right place. Integrat is a leading mobile aggregator in Africa that provides Mobile Integration, Premium SMS, Mobile Billing, and Wholesale Bulk SMS Gateway Services. On our website and blog you will find many informative articles surrounding the world of mobile. We share anything from trendy tips and tricks as well as practical “how to” info. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin for the latest news on mobile products and services. If you are searching for a Wasp in South Africa, the easiest way to find one is through an internet search. Simply search by typing a phrase like “Mobile Wasp South Africa” and you will find a variety of providers to choose from. (You can use any search engine of your choosing.) From here on out and what they do. Compare their services, products and prices until you find a company that is suited to your specific needs. It is always a good idea to have a detailed discussion with your chosen provider – you should make a list of questions to ask beforehand. Start with the FAQ section on their website to guide you through some of the frequently asked questions. After assessing your needs and requirements, the provider could offer you a special deal or simply help you choose the package suited to your business. Integrat offers a variety of mobile products and services that will aid any company’s communication with their clientele, staff and any relevant parties. Make your marketing a hassle-free experience by signing up...
by anton | May 4, 2014 | General
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by anton | Apr 30, 2014 | Services
You have worked hard on your mobile marketing campaigns only to find that a great number of your customers replied “Stop” to your SMS messages. Argh! How frustrating! Where did you go wrong? It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or you have been running a business for a long time – rejection is never a good feeling. Neither is presenting the number of opt-outs to your boss if you are the marketing manager. Evaluate your messages and take note of the following. 1. Nobody likes Spam Bombarding people with messages is a fool proof way to lose customers fast. Consumers don’t want to hear from you three times a day or at 02:00 am in the morning. It is best to do your research beforehand and to determine things like: • Is mobile a suitable medium for my particular target market? • How many times a week do my customers want to hear from me? Usually once will suffice. • When is a convenient time for them to receive my messages? 2. Irrelevant messages leads to “Stop” SMS responses Only send mobile marketing material your customers’ way when you actually have something to say – don’t send messages “just because.” If your content is inappropriate, incorrect, unrelated or too lengthy your customers will get irritated and quickly unsubscribe. 3. Your customers didn’t knowingly subscribe to marketing messages Nothing gets a consumer’s blood boiling like receiving unsolicited mobile marketing. Remember, a cell phone is still part of your customer’s personal space and no one likes it when their privacy gets invaded. If you have tricked your customers into...
by anton | Apr 29, 2014 | Mobile Billing
Mobile Billing (in the form of Direct Operator Billing) was first used for buying ringtones and wallpapers, but have since evolved into much more. Thanks to the rise of smartphones, it has become a convenient way for developers to monetize their apps, and a powerful tool for mobile operators to grab a piece of the “app economy” that’s estimated to be worth 25 billion dollars. Here is some interesting information gathered and presented by mobilepaymentstoday.com in association with Amdocs. 1. Direct Operator Billing (DOB) is also referred the most popular mobile payment in use today, even though all the hype is centred around cloud-based wallets. 3. More people in the U.S have mobile phones (6.8 billion) than bank accounts (3.5 billion) and credit cards (2.15 billion). 4. Credit card conversions are five times less than that of DOB with regards to mobile applications. It is estimated that users will spend around 11 billion dollars in 2016 on apps via DOB alone. 2012 will see it rise to 13 billion dollars. 5. Direct Operator Billing is most commonly used for digital goods, but holds the potential to support a diverse range of uses. 6. Despite its popularity, iTunes doesn’t offer DOB options in their market yet. Blackberry, Nokia and Google Play have all grabbed the opportunity to present this option to their customers. How can operators/ carriers take Mobile Billing to the next level? • Leverage existing billing relationships with consumers. • Work with leading app stores. • Leverage big data • Increase caps on available purchase price points • Move from premium SMS to Direct Operator Billing • Work...
by anton | Apr 25, 2014 | Mobile Aggregation
“Being different” is something that every company strives for, yet it is very hard to achieve. Mobile Aggregation Services can help your company stand out from the rest. Want to know how? Easily keep in constant touch with your customers or elicit a two-way conversation with them. Your customers don’t always have the time to constantly keep watch when you post a new article or advert, so why not send snippets of info to their mobile with the option possession of a variety of creative ways to run your campaigns. Grab consumers’ attention and give them something to talk about (and forward) to their family and friends. Even though the mobile space is rife with marketing opportunities, a lot of companies haven’t realised the benefit of mobile marketing yet. By estimation, about 80% of South Africans own a phone. Thus, you can reach consumers faster than some of your competitors who are only relying on traditional mediums like television, newspaper, radio etc. It is much easier for people to quickly read a text and it is hard to miss an advertisement that is directed to you personally. Think outside the box in terms of Mobile Aggregation Services. Don’t just focus on your customers. You can send useful info to employees, suppliers, distributors and stakeholders as well. Don’t always depend on traditional communication channels alone to get your message across. Integrat is a WASP who provides Mobile Aggregation Services in Africa. We will gladly tell you more about our products and services – simply give us a call or drop a...
by anton | Apr 23, 2014 | Mobile Billing
Wholesale SMS holds a variety of different benefits for the small business owner as well as the corporate giant. It compliments traditional media and marketing nicely, but in some instances, it can overshadow them. How many times has this happened to you? You are sitting in a waiting room leaving through a magazine when you see an advert you really like. You can’t take the magazine with you because it’s not your property. While driving in your car you a lively advert on the radio catches your ear. You aren’t going to pull to over to take the details down, so you have to wait until you hear the advert again. At home, you are distracted by the kids or busy cooking. You spot an interesting ad on TV, but by the time you grab a pen and paper, the advert is long gone. Wholesale SMS can solve these problems! How? Easier conversions Sending marketing material to consumers’ phones, can help your message to torpedo through the clutter of everyday traditional marketing methods. It is so much easier for a mobile user to reply on a text message than to phone or email you after they heard/ saw your advert somewhere else. Remember that people are lazy beings, so the easier you make it for them, the more conversions you will get. Better tracking and measurements Text message marketing allows you to use different keywords to track keep track of your advertisements. You can effectively measure which ads worked for your target market, and which ads they found unappealing. You don’t even have to ask “how did you hear...
by anton | Apr 21, 2014 | Mobile Products
Want to make it easy for your customers to pay you? Then you will be pleasantly surprised by the option of providing easy-to-use SMS billing as a service to your clientele. What is SMS billing? It is basically the use of text messages to pay for low value products and services. Before you think it sounds too good to be true, here is how it works. You supply your customers with a unique short code and they send a text to the number. The charge of making money. You now don’t have to run SMS competitions for free and watch your mobile service provider get all the cash. If done correctly, you could easily make up the cost of the service with the money you make from your campaigns – thus you could almost say that the service will pay for itself. What are you waiting for? Contact Integrat today and we will get you started on the road to effective SMS...
by anton | Apr 17, 2014 | Mobile Products
Just like any marketing tool in you send too many messages, they will consider it as spam. If you send too little, you might not get enough bang for your buck. The first few Bulk SMS campaigns will take a bit of trial and error – unfortunately some marketers find this discouraging and they simply give up. Integrat offer Bulk SMS products for your business – give us a call right now!...
by anton | Apr 14, 2014 | Mobile Products
If you want to Stop MMS messages from a company that you didn’t subscribe to or no longer wish to follow, you have two options available. One: opt out of the service. Two: report the sender to WASPA. The Opt out/ Stop option When sending mobile marketing material to consumers, companies are supposed to include an option in the message that the recipient can use to put a stop to the receipt thereof. Usually, the text will look something like this: If you no longer wish to unsolicited text messages, and the sender did not supply you with such an option, you can also report them to WASPA. What are my rights? According to WASPA’s Code of Conduct (WCoC), businesses need your explicit consent to send you marketing messages via SMS if you have not directly given them your number. The association takes consumers’ rights to privacy very seriously and forbids its members from sending unsolicited messages to consumers whose numbers they have acquired through third-party databases. A company may only send SMSs if they have a direct and recent business relationship with the recipient. Integrat is a proud member of...
by anton | Apr 11, 2014 | Mobile Billing
Last year saw the U.S shifting their focus away from Premium SMS (PSMS) and towards to Direct Operator Mobile Billing (DOB) as an easy form of mobile payment. What spark the change, and what is the difference between the two? According to reports, some U.S operators have entered into an agreement to stop billing customers for Premium SMS messages that they send and receive. The move was forced by the persistent problem of “cramming”: unauthorized billing for third-party services that were forced onto customers’ bills. Bango has lead the charge by starting an awareness campaign about the bad practices (from some operators) that have turned Premium SMS billing into a nightmare. They found that this form of billing relies on SMS delivery reports, but that the messages are often delayed. Sometimes these responses can take minutes or hours. This frequently leads to consumers being told that there’s a failure and that no charge has been taken — only to find that they were charged after the “waiting window.” Direct Operator their needs best. What can Integrat offer you? Why not get in contact with us and we will tell you all about our state of the art mobile products and...
by anton | Apr 9, 2014 | SMS Gateway
When it comes to choosing a good SMS Gateway Provider today, you will be spoilt for choice. But not all of these providers have the knowledge and experience to make your campaigns successful. SMS marketing is no longer a rarity. All over the world companies, both big and small, are making use of texting and MMS messages to reach consumers. Naturally, this provides an amazing opportunity for providers to start their own companies that offer these services to business owners. Basically, these guys are shooting up like mushrooms to fill the gap in the industry. This makes it difficult for a business to choose a good SMS Gateway Provider, because let’s face it, it is easy to get tricked if you don’t have any knowledge about the subject yourself. It makes companies vulnerable to providers who are trying to out-promise one another with excellent service and very cheap prices. That is why it is very important for business owners to do a little research and shop around before they commit to a provider. What should you look for in a SMS Gateway Provider? Reasonable prices: always available and willing to help you at a moment’s notice. Easy to use: you want it to be easy for your staff to access and use the programmes/ software provided by the SMS Gateway Provider. Want to know more? Then give Integrat a shout; we are standing by to take your...
by anton | Apr 7, 2014 | Mobile Products
Do you own a small to medium sized business and are looking for a cheap marketing tool? Then Wholesale SMS from Integrat will fit perfectly into your company’s budget. Owners of smaller businesses always have to think twice about their spending; unlike larger corporations that have the means to splurge loads of money on elaborate marketing campaigns. For most mid-sized companies, advertisements on television (or having their own billboard) is just a dream. Luckily there are several low cost ways to advertise. The tool with the most reach and effectiveness is definitely Wholesale SMS. Did you know that mobile marketing is increasing in popularity? So much so that mobilemarketingwatch.com reckons that more U.K users are opting in for retail text messages. “More than 7 million people in the United Kingdom may opt-in to retail messaging on their mobile devices by 2015, marking growth of 38% over today.” Don’t type your marketing texts on your phone and then send it out one-by-one to every customer on your contact list. Not only does it take forever, but you run the risk of skipping a few numbers and not reaching all of your clients in the end. Wholesale SMS allows all to receive your message at the same time – and at a fraction of the price of an ordinary SMS. What is not to like about saving money and effort? Also, sending text in bulk has many other advantages as well. It is direct: consumers will read their text message long before they read their emails. It is trackable: you can see if the intended recipient received it or not. It...
by anton | Apr 4, 2014 | Mobile Products
Premium SMS billing is a relatively new and popular form of charging consumers for products and services. But what exactly is it and how does it work? Let’s start with an explanation about short codes. Generally you send consumers a short code via text that they can use to participate in marketing campaigns or to pay for goods. These short codes get in touch with Integrat right now – we are just an email or phone call...
by anton | Apr 2, 2014 | Mobile Products
Nothing is more important in a Bulk SMS marketing campaign than the content of your messages. If your content isn’t appealing, your customers will delete your text right away. How can you get recipients to stop, read and take action? Don’t rush it Never write a last minute text, send it to your customers and hold thumbs for the best. Think carefully about what you want to say and take your time with it. Your message needs to have meaning and value and create an impact. Nothing screams “unprofessional” like a sloppy text filled with spelling and grammar mistakes. Say what you mean and mean what you say Don’t send vague Bulk SMS messages. Provide a clear call to action and tell customers exactly what you have to offer/ want them to do with the info. Don’t use text messages do business with you at all. But if you keep harassing them with irrelevant Bulk SMS messages, you will surely lose their support forever. Don’t leave the “stop” option out because you are afraid to lose your SMS base – you will only end up damaging your brand if you...
by anton | Mar 31, 2014 | Mobile Products
Did you know It won’t only serve as a reminder to customers, but also save them the time and money to phone you to place their...
