Blue Jamb Media has launched the White Rock Bluezone, a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth network enabling visitors to the city’s promenade to surf the net on their laptops, receive video content about local events and happenings on their Bluetooth-enabled cell phones for free. The innovative advertising concept provide visitors with the information they want, when they want it, along with access to the internet.
BlueZones, the brainchild of the Vancouver-based interactive multi-media advertising company, combine Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, sending a variety of content to mobile devices.
The White Rock Bluezone features 14 Access Points in businesses along the 2.5 kilometre oceanfront promenade.
Each “hotspot” has a Bluetooth component that sends a permission based text message to all Bluetooth-enabled phones within a 30-metre radius. If accepted, the user receives a 40-second video promoting local tourism events and schedules.
A Wi-Fi function of the Access Point enables smart phones and laptops to pull the video content as well as surf the Internet. The Wi-Fi splash page links to a Tourism White Rock phone application to access the city’s tourism mobile website for information on things to do and places to go. The businesses provide the Internet connection in exchange for the opportunity to market themselves within the mobile space.
Perhaps sun-powered access points might be incorporated into bus shelters and sponsored by newspapers. Tablets display live news and local ads. Ancillary income might be derived using RFID tags for joggers.
Alert-driven, clickable maps, or GPS-triggered tours will become increasingly compelling. Analysts predict 50% of U.S. cellular users will have smart phones next year.
Public Alerts could be displayed on a scrolling reader board. Signage PCs with Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi can be managed centrally. Public service as a commercial venture.
In other hotspot news, Boingo Wireless today announced it is operating the Wi-Fi services at Krispy Kreme donut shops in Southern California.
It’s not a free service, however. After connecting to the “Boingo Hotspot” SSID, users will be redirected to a Boingo landing page with Wi-Fi access options, including hourly passes and monthly subscriptions.
