Marketers are taking advantage of the unusual access text messaging provides them to the consumer. Anyone who owns a cell phone carries it almost anywhere there is a signal available.
Television shows and consumer-goods companies are quickly finding benefit with text messaging -- the feature that lets users type and send short phrases to others -- companies can interact with customers as never before. They lure them with contests and polls and keep in touch to entice more viewing or shopping.
Small, medium and large retail are also hopping on the bandwagon and are finding that sponsorship opportunities are the rave. A recent giveaway promoted on boxes of Corn Pops, and other Kellogg cereals let people use text messages to try to win a Mazda minivan decked out to look like the "Scooby-Doo" Mystery Machine, among other prizes
Mobile phone companies such as Sprint and Verizon Wireless are introducing picture and video messaging, providing new opportunities for brands so expect in the coming years to see text-messaging campaigns take on a multimedia flair.
