The breathless news release from OutdoorPartner Media describes a nameless client that is spending $1 million on an outdoor campaign using "payphone kiosks," which I assume is a synonm for phone booths.
That's not news. Nor is the fact that "OutdoorPartner is particularly well-positioned to capitalize on the migration of media dollars to out-of-home media properties due to a combination of the Company's: vast network of advertising displays; micro-targeting capabilities; and ability to deliver branded, multimedia content to consumers using Prime Point's Bluetooth product."
Here's the real news item: There are hundreds of thousands of phone booths still in use in North America! I don't know if anyone make phone calls in them, but they're certainly useful as "alternative out-of-home media solutions for advertisers."
Disclosure: God, now I have to write disclaimers about advertisers. The timing of this piece is awkward, since it's based on a news release handled by CNW Group, who just started advertising on this blog yesterday. But I don't believe in penalizing advertisers any more than I believe in fawning all over them, so instead of spiking this item, I'll just note the potential conflict of interest and run it anyway. I've been subscribed to CNW's news release distribution service on and off for three years.
Well, people are certainly still using pay phones as phones where I live. The habit hasn't completely died off, nor do I expect it to anytime soon, cell phones or no cell phones.
Posted by: Dwight Williams | November 28, 2006 at 06:25 AM