by anton | Oct 2, 2013 | Mobile Products
Are you thinking about making use of Bulk SMS services for your campaign but aren’t sure if it is a good idea? Throw those doubts away – you can’t go wrong with text message communication! Companies have realised the value of SMS in marketing, promotional and brand awareness campaigns and projects. It is slowly turning into the preferred method of getting important messages across to clientele. Why is that? Because Bulk SMS services are: Cheap: it costs less than most traditional forms of marketing such as advertisements in newspapers, magazines, pamphlets etc. Flexible: you can making use of our Bulk SMS services for your business...
by anton | Sep 30, 2013 | Services
Every client has a unique profile at Integrat. As part of our Account Management services, we assign a dedicated account manager to every account to make sure our clients get the best possible service in accordance with their specific needs. We offer a range of services and products related to mobile aggregation and wireless applications. Naturally, not all clients require the exact same “packages” to serve them. It all depends on what your business goals are and what you need to communicate, market and provide for your unique target market. For example: if you want to run a SMS campaign, you could make use of our Bulk SMS services. Or if you need a professional front end for your telephony system, our Interactive Voice Response product could be just the thing. Or maybe you have a great mobile application you wish to launch but need an expert company to host it for you. That is why every account is management differently, but is also equally important. Our account managers strive to provide client satisfaction by aligning and enhancing relationships, transferring values and data correctly, and collaborative planning. The centralized Account Management office is core to the operation, facilitating a centralized point of entry for any implementation of a client’s specific requirements. Their roles include: The rest of the team fully understand the client’s requirements and assist in developing a detailed up to date with the latest happenings, offerings and solutions at Integrat. Integrat’s Account Managers thus: Have an in depth understanding of the software development lifecycle Are able to expertly co-ordinate all resources Assist in delivering the project on...
by anton | Sep 27, 2013 | Services
When dealing with a wireless application service provider (WASP) a client has certain rights, and in turn, the provider should conduct their business in a way that is compliant with WASPA’s guidelines should they be a member of the organization – like Integrat. Let’s have a look at the compliance management of an ethical WASP. They don’t promise services they are unable to provide and their services must not be unreasonably prolonged or delayed. However, a WASP is not liable for failure to provide a service due to circumstances beyond its control. They respect the intellectual property rights of their clients and other parties and will not knowingly infringe such rights. That being said, a WASP should also not transmit or publish illegal content and if they are aware of such content, they should report it to the relevant authorities. The same can be said for services or promotional content that is not considered decent. This includes explicit violent or sexual presentations, promotion of racial disharmony, inducing an unacceptable sense of fear or anxiety, or any material that are meant to debase, degrade or demean. Mobile compliance management also refers to data protection in that a WASP will take all reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized or unlawful access to, interception of, or interference with any data. A WASP should provide their full contact details on their website, including the registered company name, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address the WASPA Code of Conduct. Procedures should be in place to allow clientele to lodge complaints regarding the services provided. Members must acknowledge receipt of complaints expeditiously, and must respond to...
by anton | Sep 25, 2013 | Services
At Integrat your OPS support needs are taken care of by our team of savvy experts. It is one of the many services you can obtain when you sign up with your favourite Wireless connected and have an overview of the operational processes. An example of this type of support happens when a when a client sends through a request for a specific connection type – e.g. SMPP/HTTP. The mentioned department will then set up the connections. This runs concurrently with the setup between the client, HiGate and the Network Operators. Do you, as the client, have a specific bearer in mind? No problem – we will setup whichever bearer you prefer. Other functions include: service level agreements, rate changes and rerates, and gate changes. We maintain service level agreements with clients as well as Network Operators and also manage client expectations in regards to how long bearers will take to activate the networks. Integrat is constantly trying to find the fastest and most efficient gates to channel our clients’ traffic through and often move clients over on their behalf to a quicker or more cost effective connection. We also handle any changes that the client requests on the rates of their bearers. Excellent communication, know-how and client satisfaction is what our OPS support team does best. As a business owner, you and your employees need to focus on making your business great – Integrat will jump the hoops behind the scenes so you don’t have to. Pick up your phone or type a mail and get in touch – you won’t look...
by anton | Sep 23, 2013 | Services
Mobile compliance and customer service are very important to us at Integrat. That is why we are fully compliant with WASPA – the South African Wireless Application Service Provider’s Association. As with any public communication medium, mobile users are also subject to potentially harmful or rules with penalties that range from hefty fines to suspension from the organisation. As part of Integrat’s compliance management and customer service, we offer support and advise in terms of handling and resolving...
by anton | Sep 20, 2013 | Services
Do you know exactly what it is a mobile application host does? Hosting a client’s content requires more than just a computer, an internet connection and the occasional click of a button. Typically, a host has a large number of servers containing their customers’ business logic and data. They employ hardware- or software-based load balancing components to provide quality of service guarantees to customers. The hosting environment asks for flexibility as different applications require different components and methods of hosting. Hosting isn’t limited to applications either. Integrat for instance also provides hosting for: content, Web or WAP sites, databases, application to person service, and complete mobile application architecture. Infrastructure usually consists of systems to manage the business data, application servers which encode the business logic and web servers which provide the web interface between end-users and the business applications. How does the relationship between the mobile application host and the customer work? Usually, the application owner approaches the host with their program. The host will provide assistance where needed and then put the app with all the relevant data on their servers. Integrat for example will help their clients with the planning and implementation of their mobile solutions from the start in such a way that: Architectural planning is made easier Clients can receive expert advice and guidance It is possible to plan in advance with regards to the hosting requirements. The application is now available to the owner and their clientele to use. This and constructs pre-programmed responses. The host charges the application owner based on the resources (such as bandwidth, CPU, or storage) required for the processing...
by anton | Sep 18, 2013 | Services
Mobile application hosting plays a very important role in mobile service provision. An application doesn’t just happen on the internet – it has to be made available by a provider for public use and in such a way that it enhances, and not hurt, the user’s experience. The internet has experienced a big boom these last few years with the production of better, of 2011 alone. It was predicted then that he number of tablet users in the U.S. could increase to nearly 90 million by 2014 and Smartphone users with 2 billion worldwide by 2015. With such an increase in popularity it was evident that the mobile community was ready to embrace the mobile internet. Providing content was the next natural step and the focus shifted to developing apps and monetizing and distributing it. This is where the importance of mobile application hosting became apparent. Without a host, none of these nifty applications will see the light of day. Wireless Application Service Providers like Integrat can be approached to do the hosting for you so you do not have to worry about it. They will give you a stable and secure environment to deploy your application and provide you with advice and technical support along the way. When choosing a host it is wise to do your research so you can select the one best suited to your needs. Insist on fast and reliable service – the success of your application depends on mobile application hosting as well. Don’t settle for second...
by anton | Sep 16, 2013 | Services
What happens to an application after it was developed and approved? Someone somewhere has to host it. Without mobile application hosting users won’t be able to gain access to your amazing products or services. Thousands of new mobile devices and technology are created every with it. Flexibility is thus an important part of mobile application hosting. This is one of the reasons why these so-called cloud servers have gained popularity in the mobile world because they are easily available, can provide a measure of security, perform well, have good configurability and can be adapted. Want a host for your mobile application? Drop us a line at Integrat and we will gladly help...
by anton | Sep 13, 2013 | Services
The challenges mobile application development face, are many. We are now taking a get the best out of a phone’s performance. Futuristic devices Although it might not be much of a concern yet, but the technology of “wearables” and “connectables” will also take big leap in the coming years. Things like biomedical instruments or connectable alarm system are bound to be operated via mobile phones. And yes, you have guessed correctly, mobile developers will need to pull out all the stops to make this happen. Focus on Cloud With the move to a public cloud, the traditional organizational model that separates development from IT operations will break down. Mobile development requires a rapid feedback cycle, and it’s hard to execute if developers have to wait for IT operations teams to respond to their change requests. Expect more developers to be on call for application support in the new model, using triage to handle defects and investigate degradation to production services. When it comes to mobile development in general, you rest assured that Integrat has your back. Drop us a mail and find out what we can do for...
by anton | Sep 11, 2013 | Services
Mobile development faces many challenges, one of the focus areas being applications for mobile phones. In this two-part article we will take a look at four of the main problems every developer has to face. Context Context can be seen as everything you know about your customer and their experience. What preferences are they sharing and what feelings and emotions go with it? What places do they frequent, where are they located But heads-up displays will create a whole new slate of problems for developers. We’ll have to adapt to peripheral cues such as reminders and alerts that don’t block the user’s vision.” For all your mobile development needs, remember that Integrat is just a click...
by anton | Sep 9, 2013 | Mobile Products
If you render services that can operate with menu or session based interactions, you will find a use for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) in your business. Let’s have a look at some of the ways this service can be utilized. Mobile banking: Instead of visiting a branch or going to the ATM, you can do back? Sending people info about the symptoms and where they can get help could go a long way to save lives. Patients who suffer from chronic diseases can benefit by receiving reminders to take their medicine and education on how to live healthy. Updating mobile software: You might not have realised it, but when you put your sim card in a brand new phone and have to request new settings from your service provider (by dialling a number with an asterisk and hash character), you are using USSD. Updating all the software on a mobile phone will take this a step further, but with the power of USSD this should be easy as pie. Customer self-management and service: Instead of having a consultant or even an Interactive Voice response system on the other end, you could have Unstructured Supplementary Service Data menus. Customers can use these menus to order/ buy products, subscribe to your services, browse through a list of frequently asked questions etc. You can also use USSD to send once off communications like promotions, updates, voting, polling, news and much more. Talk to Integrat about about USSD and USSD Push services for your business. We can help you find the right solution to fit your needs or those of your company...
by anton | Sep 6, 2013 | Mobile Products
Often times a business is faced with the decision of choosing between USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) or SMS (Short Messages Services) as a communication tool. What is the difference? SMS uses a store-and-forward bearer. The customer receives a text message in the inbox of their phone. After the message is read, the user can delete, save or forward the SDCCH (stand-alone dedicated control channel) when the handset is not in a call. When the handset is busy with a call, USSD will use the FACCH (fast associated control channel) with a significant improvement in transfer speed (1000 bits/second). Depending on your communication needs, you use either SMS or Unstructured Supplementary Service Data or both to achieve different...
by anton | Sep 4, 2013 | Mobile Products
USSD is the abbreviation for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data. You can get two types of USSD options: Push and Pull. What is the difference? USSD is real-time messaging option similar to SMS where you don’t speak to a person but exchange data during a session based connection with a computer. Most handsets are capable of utilizing this service – all you need is a connection to a GSM network and you are all set. USSD Pull messages are seen as “pulling in” a client to make use of your service. In other words, the client has to come to you via their mobile phone. The mobile subscriber requests your services through a message towards the Gateway using USSD Short Codes e.g.*100. Examples include: Info on the latest news or sports Purchases (tickets, airtime) Some call centres use USSD instead of Interactive Voice Response Systems Unstructured Supplementary Service Data Push messages can be described as “pushing a message on the client.” Here you are bringing your service to your clients Supplementary Service protocols can offer...
by anton | Sep 2, 2013 | Mobile Products
People working in the field of mobile are very familiar with the term Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) but it often leaves clientele scratching their heads when a mobile aggregation service provider offers it as a product. What is it exactly? USSD is a GSM technology that allows for a two way exchange of data in real time. It is almost like a live telephone conversation without speaking or using words. The user has to dial a number sequence from his mobile phone in order to access certain mobile services or applications. We are all familiar with sending a “please call me” or buying airtime/ vouchers via your phone – this is done through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data. The number you dial usually starts with an asterisk or hash character followed by a sequence of numbers and ends with an asterisk or hash character again. The phone recognises the number and will use the USSD bearer instead of a voice call. In other words, you are directed to an infrastructure instead mobile service...
by anton | Aug 30, 2013 | Mobile Products
Before subscribing to any kind of service or product, cons first. Interactive Voice Response systems are one of those things that people either love or hate. Let’s have a look at both the advantages and disadvantages of these kinds of systems. Pros It saves time and money – less living, expensive employees. It doesn’t go on lunch breaks, vacations or have sick days. It is available 24/7/365 to assist clients with their queries. It can make a small company seem bigger. The notion that only large companies can afford Interactive Voice Response systems still exists, even though the cost of owning one have lowered significantly. You can also intentionally use it to give a more professional feeling to your home based business by adding several menu options for different departments that lead to separate voice mail boxes. It makes customers feel like someone is attending to their needs. Even though it isn’t a human on the other end, it is still better than holding the line for hours just to speak to a consultant. It eliminates human errors like transferring a call to the wrong department. Cons A lot of people don’t like talking to machines. But the cons of IVR systems mostly come into play in situations where a business constructed and implemented the system poorly. Areas where companies sometimes go wrong are: Menus that is too long or difficult to understand Messages containing too much info to remember or irrelevant content. Voice prompts that are hard to understand because the voice talent doesn’t produce the words clearly or correctly. Interactive Voice Systems used for the wrong in...
by anton | Aug 28, 2013 | Mobile Products
Customers don’t always like communicating with an Interactive Voice Response System (IVR). How can you make their telephony experience a positive one? Your system doesn’t have to be a dry, boring one. Be creative and have a little fun with it. After all, it is not a science project. However, this doesn’t mean that “anything goes” so don’t go overboard – always maintain a level of professionalism. Before you construct your messages and source a voice talent – do a little research first. Your customers are the ones that have to deal with your IVR system every time they phone you – you are creating it for them, not for you. Just like your brand has a persona (whether you marketed it that way or not) your a few questions concerning the content and language of your IVR system. Your customers will find it very refreshing if they have the option to choose from more than one type message. For example: a young crowd might like a message with informal wording and a hip tone, or customers with a strong accent will respond better to a voice with the same accent that they have. Also, keep all the principals of good client communication/ client service in mind. Whatever is happening at the back end of your system, customers still want their calls to be answered promptly. Holding the line forever or searching through a maze of options to get to a consultant will leave a sour taste in any customer’s mouth. Your IVR system is the first point of contact your customers have your business. If they find it...
by anton | Aug 26, 2013 | Mobile Products
Location Based Services (LBS) as a marketing tool requires several factors to be successful. Do you know how to make the most of your business’s geographical location? Before you can get to the “good stuff” you should start with the basics – what do you want to achieve? Set clear goals and create a strategy so you can easily measure if you have been successful or not. Your goals could be anything from selling an X amount of your product to attracting attention from brand new customers/ increase loyalty. Next you should claim your profile page. Some Location Based Services add your business info automatically, but it is usually the bare minimum. For others you might have to register your profile first. Usually it is free to claim your page and you should do it for a number of sites – the more the merrier so to speak. Provide as much info as you can on your business. Make sure the info (especially your contact details and location) is correct and update it regularly if the final push a customer is looking for. Reward customers for checking in – otherwise what would be the point? Encourage customers to write reviews. Keep in mind that you will receive negative feedback at some point, but it is how you handle it that matters. Don’t delete bad reviews – it is your chance to show that you care about your customers. People won’t turn your business down because a handful of customers don’t like you, but if you react negatively on bad reviews they won’t look at your business twice. Location Based...
by anton | Aug 23, 2013 | Mobile Products
Location Based Services (LBS) might not sound like a nifty marketing tool, but you will be surprised how this can benefit your business. First of all, it is a free (or low cost) form of advertising. Every time you register your business on a LBS application/ programme/ site people take notice of you. The beauty (and popularity) of social media comes to play as Location Based Services also serve as word-of-mouth advertising. If customers check in regularly, their friends and connections will start to get curious and be a lot more willing to pay you a visit. Talk about attracting groups of people and not just a few here and there! It is highly targeted. You can reach the people who are actually able to make use of your services because they Services can provide measurable results makes this a useful and highly beneficial marketing tool for your...
by anton | Aug 21, 2013 | Mobile Products
Location Based Services (LBS) can be used for many things and by any company/ organisation who wishes to improve the lives of people or establish themselves as a strong unique brand. Let us have a look at seven of these uses. 1. Shopping: shoppers can receive a notification as soon as they are in the vicinity of a certain business. The business can then send the for games. For example organise an eater egg hunt/ treasure hunt in a physical location. 7. Gathering of info: in general you can gather info relevant to your geographical location like weather updates and news. Or search for nearby tourist attractions, shopping malls, emergency services etc. Integrat offers LBS as one of our products. Get in contact with us if you would like to make use of our services. Who knows, you might just find lots more creative and innovative uses for Location based Services in your...
by anton | Aug 19, 2013 | Mobile Products
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is an automated system used by companies to and call center Automatic Call Distributors (ACDs). IVR experts: you can’t have equipment without people at the helm to develop, implement and run it. Your company will need employees to keep an eye on the configuration and monitor the reliability of the Interactive Voice Response system as well as man the telephone lines. IVR can save you cost and time and help your business to operate smoothly. Your business will have a recognisable and professional voice front, and your telephone operators will be able to produce a better quality service without the frustration of dealing with wrongly dialled numbers, prank calls, or calls routed to the wrong departments. Integrat offers IVR as one of our mobile-based products. Why not give us a...
by anton | Aug 16, 2013 | Mobile Products
Most companies have yet to embrace MMS as a marketing tool. However, it is estimated that 90% of the time a mobile user other tools in your arsenal to create a truly effective strategy. Be innovative and creative with your mobile content. Think quality graphics, unique audio etc. Always keep etiquette in mind – just because you can create anything you want, it doesn’t always mean you should. Don’t spam your customers by mindlessly sending messages every few seconds and don’t send the same message more than once. Be mindful of the type of content you create and steer clear from anything that could be seen as offensive. Some mobile phones can’t receive MMS messages, so be sure to ask about the multimedia capabilities of the client’s cell phone when he/ she signs up for your services. This brings us to another important point – what reason does a client have to give you their phone number? The best approach will be to offer an incentive like a discount – this way customers will feel as if they are getting something in return and not that you are simply trying to sell your...
by anton | Aug 14, 2013 | Mobile Products
Apart from the more obvious uses of MMS in a business (sending adverts/ billing info) there are five surprising ways you can use multimedia messaging to your advantage. Managing your work force If your employees have limited computer access, you can make use of mobile to keep in touch with them. For instance: speed up approval processes like leave applications or stock purchases Manage work schedules or shifts Send important news – a snippet of the company’s newsletter or congratulations to the branch that reached their sales target. Emergency info or alerts/ notifications – for example send an MMS during an emergency to make sure everyone follows the correct evacuation procedure. Staff can send pictures of their promotional work for placement on the company’s Facebook page. Mange your client service center Using Multimedia Messages to communicate with clients (along with your traditional phone/ fax/ email solutions) opens up a whole new channel of communication. It might not be suitable for all types of complaints or queries, but it can solve some of the problems experienced during a phone call (dropping the line, waiting for hours to speak to a consultant, noise pollution affecting the caller’s hearing). Appointment management When a business work on an appointment basis, it often happens that clients forget about their scheduled visit. This can causes a back log, loss of revenue and frustration on both the part of the business and client. By sending a MMS to your client a few hours before the scheduled appointment, you can minimize the number of late- or no-shows. Why not include a map to your location so your...
by anton | Aug 12, 2013 | Mobile Products
If you are a new company just starting out, you know how tough it is to get your foot in the door with your intended consumers. Bulk SMS services can help you in a number of ways to make your entrance into the business world a memorable one. At Integrat we understand that the world of marketing is rife with competition – they don’t call it cutthroat for nothing. It is very difficult for a business to establish itself amongst competitors who have been there for years and have loads of loyal customers. Why would any of their clientele make use of your services? How can you let awareness of your products and services through Bulk SMS services offered by...
by anton | Aug 8, 2013 | Mobile Products
Most people know that you can send a MMS from one mobile phone to another, but did you know you can also send it from a computer? If you have ever been short of airtime, chances are you have logged on to your network provider’s website and sent a text message from your computer. Vodacom for instance allows their customer’s 20 free computer-to-phone text messages per day. But computer messaging isn’t limited network and downloads the MMS message from the MMSC. If you don’t have your cell phone with you, sending and receiving multimedia messages via a computer is a convenient way to stay in touch with your loved...
