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When the show opened 10:00 am Tuesday, a herd of people gathered around
the stage (located in the back of the booth) to see how they all could
get free service. It turns out that DSI had formed Totally Free Paging,
Inc. to change the image of the paging industry and make the wireless
world even more attractive to consumers. Changing paging from a service
supported by customers to one supported by advertisers allows everyone
to have it for free. With totally free paging, whenever you receive a
page an advertisement precedes your actual message. So what’s the catch?
With paging, advertisers can target us a little better because we have
to provide a little bit of demographic information when we sign up.
Executives from some
of the large players* in the Wireless Industry were seen chatting excitedly
with DSI. Without a doubt, the show in New Orleans caused an earthquake
in the wireless industry. For the first time, a traditional useful business
tool is being given away for free. “We just want everyone to be in touch
with his or her family, friend and work,” stated Vice President Russ Colby.
“Bringing service to the pager is only part of the whole picture. We also
have additional Internet-related services that come with TFP such voice
mail retrieval on-line and instant messaging. This is just the beginning.”
In truth, the TFP
concept is sound. Grocery stores across the nation are using this same
advertising method with their “club” cards in exchange for “lower” prices
on certain “club” items. In addition, who can deny the power of radio
and television advertising? Society has had great benefits from free music
and movies, why not pagers? As consumers, we have come to accept many
things as “free” because advertisers have paid for them and with Totally
Free Paging we’re going to get something more.
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