Canada's Broadplay powers mobile price check

January 3, 2008

Shoppers can get instant prices comparisons on more than 300,000 products

Canadian digital marketing company Broadplay has launched the country's first SMS mobile price check tool to let shoppers conduct instant price checks on their handset for the price of a dollar.

PriceByText takes a user's query, grabs pricing information from the Internet and filters the results based on the user's selection. The solution provides up-to-date price information directly to a shopper's handset but does not require the use of a mobile browser, thus eliminating data-access charges.

"It's useful for a consumer who needs quick access to the information they are looking for, that may not have access to a full Internet experience," said Marcus Anderson, president/CEO of Broadplay, Toronto, Ontario.

"There are times when you need quick hits of information and somebody may want to avoid data browsing fees," he said.

Canadian shoppers can get instant price comparisons and ratings on more than 300,000 products available through Canadian retailers of computers, electronics, software and books via text message with the PriceByText solution.

"We think that our tool will empower the consumer much in the same vein as online engines allow users to price products and get the best deals," Mr. Anderson said.

To use the service, a shopper sends a text message with a product description, name or code to the short code 123411 to receive a text list of different models and products. He or she then selects the specific model that is being searched. Once a shopper is satisfied with the results, he or she can reply with the item number and is charged $1 to receive the pricing information.

There is no charge if the product is not found.

The company will soon let users subscribe to receive automatic price-drop alerts via its Web site.

"Using our tool you can register online free of charge and if the price drops you can receive an alert on your mobile device," Mr. Anderson said.

PriceByText is available through all Canadian mobile carriers.

Mr. Anderson said that Broadplay's proprietary Mobile Marketing Intelligence platform powers PriceByText.

The company is using the Canadian market to test the features and functionalities of its PriceByText offering. It plans to launch in the United States within the next three months to four months, Mr. Anderson said.

"As additional modules of the tool get applied we may look into an ad-supported model," Mr. Anderson said.

"We know that users' cell phones are personal devices, so there's always need for sensitivity," he said. "But if the tool is subsidized with relevant information then the ads will be more welcome."

Comments on "Canada's Broadplay powers mobile price check"

1. Kevin Theriault says:

   January 8, 2008 at 2:10pm

   What an amazing idea! I used it to get the best deal on my recently purchased 42 " LG Flat screen. It saved me from doing all the leg work. Thanks Broadplay!!