AT&T to begin sending text ads

[Phynaz]

NEW YORK – In a first for a wireless carrier, AT&T says it will its phones' location-sensing ability to target text ads with coupons and other offers to participating subscribers in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.

Kmart, part of Sears Holdings Corp., is one of the chains that has signed up for "ShopAlerts by AT&T." That means AT&T could send discount offers to subscribers who are close to a Kmart store.

Other participants are Hewlett-Packard Co., SC Johnson, Kibbles 'n Bits, Nature's Recipe and the "Got Milk?" campaign.

Yeah, this will make their customers happy.

 

[gorcorps]

If this takes off and I get one of these I will send a VERY nasty letter to them. Unlike others, I DON'T send a bucketload of texts so I choose a plan with a finite amount instead of unlimited. If they pulled this garbage and wasted my texts without my consent I'd be furious. However this sounds like something that may be optional, but you didn't provide a link so who knows the whole story.

 

[purbeast0]

eh it says "to participating subscribers" ... if you don't want ads, simply don't subscribe.

on 2nd note whoever wrote this 3 line article should be fired ... it is written so poorly. i've read t like 3x and still can't make out exactly wtf they are talking about.

 

[Sheep]

I have to think these ads wouldn't count against the number of texts you have each month if you have a limited plan. If they do count against any monthly limits, AT&T have their heads further up their asses than I thought possible.

 

[RandomFool]

I'm assuming these would act like all the other AT&T texts and not count toward your texting plan.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Maybe the Captivates weak gps was a feature after all, good luck pinpointing anyone's location with it.

 

[foghorn67]

Journalism modern it welcome.

 

[Bateluer]

Maybe the Captivates weak gps was a feature after all, good luck pinpointing anyone's location with it.

QFT.

Would irritate me, and I would log a nasty phone call or letter with AT&T as well as unsubscribe.

 

[MotionMan]

NEW YORK – In a first for a wireless carrier, AT&T says it will its phones' location-sensing ability to target text ads with coupons and other offers to participating subscribers in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.

This sentence no verb.


The idea is very user unfriendly, but will make AT&T money, so, they will do it.

Also, I assume these texts will not count against your plan (or lack thereof).

MotionMan

 

[MagickMan]

eh it says "to participating subscribers" ... if you don't want ads, simply don't subscribe.

Yeah, if you don't sign up then they won't bother you. How is this even an issue?

 

[shortylickens]

Up next:
3rd party apps to filter text messages.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Hmmm, if they were to cut my bill if I accepted texts, I'd be interested.

Although my hobby of killing hookers could be threatened if I'm tracked all the time

 

[simonizor]

Us cellular already does this but they dont charge for incoming messages so its no big deal.