http://www.360prblog.com/

What is Whrrl?  It’s similar to foursquare in that it’s a mobile locator-based app for smart phones which allows the user to ‘check-in’ at various locations and share their whereabouts with friends via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

The difference is that with Whrrl, you can upload photos to show where you are and what you’re doing.  If friends are with you, their photo and text uploads can be combined with yours to create what Whrrl refers to as a ’story.’  I recently came across this post by Ciaran Blumenfeld, the founder of momfluential.com, especially insightful, as I totally agree with her statement about scrapbooking.  I’ve never had the patience for it either, but I love looking back at photographs and events, and Whrrl might just be the perfect solution for a sentimental social media addict like myself.

From a PR perspective, we at 360 have found Whrrl to be a useful tool in monitoring and tracking activity at client events, in particular.

The issue, as with most social networking sites, is how much is too much?  Should you tweet, use foursquare and Whrrl while out on the town for a night with your friends?  Or just enjoy the company and live for the moment?

The verdict: RT.  Whrrl is a service to watch.

Do you whrrl?  Let us know!

Filed under: Internet, Mobile Industry, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - No Comments →

Simply stated, social media has changed the way we communicate during disasters. This is now abundantly clear with all of the online activity surrounding the recent earthquake in Haiti.

Over the past couple weeks, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the Haitian people. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy donations have exceeded $470 million!

Mobile giving raises the bar

A large portion of donations are coming from The Red Cross’ mobile phone texting campaign. With partners Mobile Accord and the mGive Foundation, Red Cross quickly enacted a mobile texting campaign shortly after the earthquake hit. And with the help of the NFL playoff game spots and other widespread promotions, mobile phone users have donated over $25 million thus far just by texting “90999!” According to this NY Times story, over $500,000 per hour was donated to the Red Cross during recent NFL games. And according to Pew and Twitter-tracking service Sysomos, 189,024 tweets included “90999″ between January 12^th and 14^th. 2.3 million included the word “Haiti” or “Red Cross” in this same time frame. Truly unbelievable!

Relying on social media and citizen journalists

Not only has social media been used to gather donations, but people on the ground in Haiti have used Facebook and Twitter to send updates/photos, while concerned onlookers tune in to the constant stream of updates. In addition, news outlets have relied on social media and “citizen journalists” in their reporting. For example, CNN started a “Haiti Boots On Ground” Twitter list, compiling updates from the CNN reporters on the ground.  CNN’s iReport has also played a key role in their coverage of the disaster.

And companies have rallied to develop mobile apps and websites dedicated to the cause, such as a Creole-to-English translator app .  An organization called “The Extraordinaries” which allows people to complete micro-tasks for organizations or causes, using a mobile phone or web browser in a few minutes, have set up a support page at http://www.beextra.org/haiti to leverage the “power of the crowd” to help locate and identify missing persons.

Our best wishes to the Haitian people and to all of the families affected by the earthquake. Stay strong.

Filed under: Cause-Related, Internet, Media and Press, Mobile Industry, Social Media by EliciaBasoli - 5 Comments →

As the nation gears up for Independence Day, drivers in California and Washington are beginning to declare independence from their hand-held cellphones (at least while they are behind the wheel, according to new legislation that goes into effect today). California and Washington join a growing list of states nationwide that are cracking down on drivers who take their hands off the wheel to hold a cell by enacting “hands-free” laws. With these new laws, drivers must weigh their options. They can a) continue using mobile phones at the risk of getting a ticket, b) stop talking on the phone altogether while driving, or c) purchase a Bluetooth headset that allows them to talk and have both hands on the wheel.

For our client, Jabra, which makes Bluetooth headsets, option C has presented a clear opportunity. In preparation for the new legislation, we have been diligently reaching out to media in these markets to inform them of the legal and safety issues at hand, and also to let them know what Bluetooth options are available to drivers. According to a study, discussed in this MSNBC Article, 300 lives will be saved in California alone with the hands-free driving laws, indicating the switch to headsets in the car may make driving safer. [Read more →]

Filed under: Cause-Related, Mobile Industry by JohnLeRoy - No Comments →

Yesterday marked the opening day of the first ever Digital Downtown event at the World Financial Center in New York City. I was in attendance on behalf of our client, Jabra - a primary sponsor - and was lucky enough to spend the day mingling with members of the press and fellow consumer electronics industry representatives (it truly was a pleasure to meet and speak with you!)

The Financial District location was central to Digital Downtown. The overall concept was to design an event that would “serve the one-on-one information needs of high-income consumers who need a convenient way to learn about the latest new products without leaving the Financial District.”

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Filed under: Events and Conferences, Mobile Industry by JohnLeRoy - No Comments →

When the taxi pulled up to the Las Vegas Convention Center, the first thing I noticed was a sign that said “International Pizza Pavilion” right out side of the convention center food court. Score! After a longer than usual flight to Vegas, I was so hungry I had nearly forgotten why I was back at this convention center only two short months since I was last there - oh right, CTIA, the annual wireless convention (and, proving that there is a convention for absolutely everything, apparently the annual pizza makers convention! READ: no actual “pizza pavilion” - apparently just booths upon booths of cheesy slices for those registered for the event. I had to settle for turkey on white).

Our newest client, GN US and its Jabra brand, was showing off their full product line in a great looking booth that really stood out. With their bright yellow Jabra logo raised high above all of the other signage, it popped against the sea of black, white and gray booths. I was schooled on the latest headsets and added some fun new acronyms to my PR toolbox ($5 to anyone reading this that knows what A2DP and DSP stand for). GN unveiled the new Jabra BT4010 Bluetooth Headset that has a “smart display” LCD screen that shows you the battery level, connection status and call status. Very cool!

[Read more →]

Filed under: Events and Conferences, Mobile Industry by StaceyClement - No Comments →