Targeted, Location-Based Mobile Marketing Tool Debuts

A new mobile marketing solution can deliver location-sensitive messages to consumers' smartphones based on real-time conditions such as the time of day, the weather, store activity or inventory levels. Retailers can also use Ping4Deals to target marketing messages based on an individual's established profile or buying patterns.

A free download from the Apple Store/iTunes and available for a nominal fee to retailers, Ping4Deals pushes dynamic ads and "Deal Alerts" in real time, with targeting based on consumers' pre-selected filters and preferences. The solution uses WiFi and GPS technology and delivers multimedia messaging that can include text, pictures, audio and video files.

"Ping4Deals delivers not just a thousand new customers on a particular day, but thousands at every mall or store every day," said Jim Bender, Ping4Deals' CEO in a statement. "These real-time, dynamic communications bring retailers into the 'social marketing' realm that is critically important to keeping their customers engaged and their marketing message relevant."

The solution's map and compass features enable consumers to search for directions to stores within a 50-mile radius of their location, and access is also available via a Web browser. Ping4 plans to make the application available on the Android platform in the near future.