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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
ipsh! Represents Mobile Sector at Future-M in Berkeley to Discuss the Future of Mobile Technology
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA Industry leaders in music, media, marketing, and merchandising, gathered at UC Berkeley last week for the 2nd Annual Future-M panel hosted by VSC Consulting with the support of student group the Future Business Leaders of America. The annual event, which brings together senior level executives and established entrepreneurs, was attended by a roomful of students where they had the chance to interact, network, and learn from successful industry pundits.
This year’s line-up for Future-M presented insights and opinions from the following Bay Area companies: VSC Consulting, a marketing and public relations firm; ipsh!, the U.S leader in mobile marketing; DVD Station, a leading technology developer of digital entertainment retailing; Swipe USA, a Bay Area-based ATM management firm; SONY Metreon, San Francisco’s premier entertainment and retail destination; and Project Ahimsa, an emerging music education charity were all in attendance
"College kids get it. Their insight and understanding of new technology is on par with any panel I have attended at trade events," says Nihal Mehta, president of ipsh!, on his thoughts for this year's Future-M panel. As a true pioneer in the field of mobile marketing, ipsh! has implemented more than 300 total campaigns since inception in June 2001. Ranging in brands from Madonna to Budweiser, the firm has transformed lifestyle marketing through offline/online youth events into a multi-million dollar, mobile lifestyle marketing operation.
FutureM was highlighted by other charismatic speakers that offered fresh insights into the modern day realities of the business world.
Bill Fischer, VP of Development for DVDStation, explained how innovation and design is helping his company compete with corporate behemoths like Blockbuster and Netflix, and how the company’s relationship with retailers like Barnes and Noble is driving a nationwide expansion of their products. Many students expressed their interest in seeing DVD Station come to college campuses, a sentiment he addressed through recent programs at Ohio State University and Florida International.
SWIPE USA co-founder Ron Christensen explained how the future of “M”oney would come in the form of advanced function kiosks that deliver complete banking solutions without the need of a traditional bank. “Swipe is revolutionizing the banking experience, and looks to bring the dignity of banking to urban areas across the U.S.” stated Mr. Christensen.
Archana "Archie" Elwell who oversees all marketing and business development for Sony Corp. Metreon unit in Northern California, capped off the event by detailing the success of female corporate leaders and how the future will bring increased demand of “well rounded individuals” noting that “programming and web design skills are always in need.” Throughout her tenure with Sony, Elwell has reinvented traditional concepts of retail brand, adoption of new media in located-based settings, and synergistic marketing.
Along with the exciting set of corporate professionals, this year Future-M welcomed the addition of Project Ahimsa, a new social venture dedicated to international development through music education programs. "Future-M was a great opportunity to showcase that the non-profit sector needs revolutionary tactics and technologies to spread its message, demonstrate credibility, and create forums for discussion,” said Project Ahimsa International Grants Director, Robin Sukhadia. Project Ahimsa recently launched its new website and has a web log, which shows global progress updated on a regular basis.
As moderator, host and organizer of the event, VSC consulting director Vijay Chattha asked the speakers what class they most regret not taking. “When the speakers responded with accounting, finance, and website design, we asked students by show of hands, to tell us which of any of these classes they had taken. Over 70% of students had done so, which was a pleasant surprise to many of us panelists,” said Chattha.
VSC Consulting, Chattha’s San Francisco based marketing and public relations firm, focuses on clients in the specialized areas of entertainment technology. To date, VSC has enabled its clients to generate over 500 media placements since 2002 generating estimated 4.5 billion media impressions. VSC has also recently been signed by Sennari to handle national public relations management.
Sennari is the industry's first Mobile Loyalty and Community Service (MLCS) that provides mobile carriers, game publishers, music and video publishers as well as content based entertainment companies with solutions for maintaining customer loyalty, reducing churn and creating new revenue streams.
“Future-M presents an opportunity for companies to develop hiring channels at top universities while presenting a forum for students to learn about emerging markets,” Chattha concluded in a semi-serious tone. “Berkeley’s Future Business Leaders of America are more professionally prepared than any student group we have interacted with. After today’s panel our panelists would rather work with these kids than see them join our competitors one day!”
For parties interested in bringing Future-M conferences to their school or trade organization, feel free to email futurem@vscconsulting.com
About VSC Consulting:
VSC Consulting is a San Francisco based marketing and public relations firm focused in the entertainment and technology realm. VSC has enabled its clients to generate over 500 media placements since 2002 generating estimated 4.5 billion media impressions.
About ipsh!:
ipsh! is the North American leader in innovating, developing and deploying effective, turnkey mobile marketing strategies for clients and major brands such as ABC, American Express, AOL/Time Warner, Bertelsmann, Disney, EMI, FOX, HBO, Musicland, Nokia, Reebok, Universal, Warner Bros, and many more.
Spanning technologies that encompass 1 and 2 way SMS, alerts, promotions, ringtones (mono/poly/ master), logos, pictures, wallpapers, screensavers, games (J2ME/BREW/SMS), real-time voting/polling, chat, interactive TV, premium SMS, (premium) MMS, and mobile video; ipsh! has dominated the media, entertainment and brand verticals with its proprietary PRISM platform. http://www.ipsh.com/
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