Charity launches SMS campaign to promote public health

By Giselle Abramovich

May 20, 2008

Mobile is good for health

FM World Charities has teamed up with BnetTV.com to raise awareness for skin cancer.

The companies together worked on an SMS campaign for the effort. Users just need to text GO and a selection of keywords to 22646. In return, participants receive a text back with a link to ringtones and wallpapers.

All the proceeds from purchased ringtones and wallpapers are donated to FM World Charities.

With approximately 255 million wireless subscribers in the United States and nearly 2.5 billion worldwide, using mobile to promote public health gives both bnetTV and the FM World Charity a large reach.

The companies claim that making a charitable donation this way ensures that donations reach FM Charities in a timely fashion.

According to mobile entertainment community Limbo, more than 50 percent of mobile phone users use SMS services.

The Limbo report also said that marketers should take into consideration age-targeting when running campaigns since more than 80 percent of SMS distribution occurs between ages 18-49.

FM World Charities is comprised of physicians, celebrities and health care professionals who joined together two years ago to help address the needs of a changing world and founded the charity.

This nonprofit organization is devoted to promoting public health and improving the quality of life in under privileged communities throughout the world.

BnetTV.com is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Winmax Trading Group Inc.

The company produces both in-house and client-commissioned videos and features weekly programs  such as Urban Beat, Wireless Planet, Maraschino MisAdventures and bnetTV.com, which cover a range of issues with interviews, special reports and events.

The sbnetTV site offers users virtual communities where members can meet new business associates, connect with colleagues and friends in order to share photos, videos and files directly from a PC or mobile device.