Verizon Bringing Targeted Ads to Your Mobile Device via Opt-in 'Verizon Selects'

[dgstorm]

Increasingly, many of the different new marketing "features" that companies throw our way tend to be "opt-out." What can be frustrating about this, is that you sometimes miss the time to opt-out and then suddenly you are inundated with marketing crap you didn't want. Verizon is normally one to follow this trend, but sometimes they surprise us and buck the system.

In this instance, Verizon intends to start sending targeted third party ads to your mobile device which is based upon a host of personal information about you. Luckily, this time, they are taking the "opt-in" approach instead of tricking it down our throats like a choo-choo train. I guess we should be grateful for small favors...

Here's a quote from VZW with the full scoop,

In the increasingly internet and mobile data driven society we live in today, there are times we all share personal information with others in exchange for something that benefits us; perhaps it is a coupon, or access to a website that contains details about a product or service in which we are interested.

Beginning this week, Verizon Wireless plans to reach out to some of its consumer customers asking them to opt-in to participate in a new initiative called Verizon Selects, which is part of the company’s Precision Marketing portfolio. Verizon Wireless will offer customers who opt-in to Verizon Selects a coupon or some other form of reward, most likely from a popular retailer, in exchange for their participation. If a customer chooses not to opt-in, absolutely nothing about their relationship with us changes. Customers are not part of Verizon Selects unless and until they opt-in.

Simply put, Verizon Selects will use location, web browsing and mobile application usage data, as well as other information including customer demographic and interest data, to create specific insights. Verizon Selects analyzes this information about customers to see whether they fit into certain audiences Verizon or third party marketers are trying to reach. Depending on the results, participating customers will receive marketing messages or offers that may be of more interest to them than what they see or receive today. These messages could be delivered in various ways such as email, text, postal mail or online or mobile advertising.

We are asking customers to opt-in to Verizon Selects because of the types of information being used and because the capabilities provided to third-party marketers gives them the ability to reach customers directly. It’s important to remember that Verizon DOES NOT share information that identifies customers personally outside of Verizon.

We have also made it simple for customers to set and change their privacy choices. Customers can opt-in or change their choices at any time at the Verizon Selects site. Separate from Verizon Selects, there are several other Precision Market Insights solutions that provide customers with an opt-out choice. We notified consumer customers about these programs and their choices beginning last year.

Source: Verizon Wireless News

 

[swc2001]

I don't want commercials on my phone!!

 

[acousticshade]

Automated ads; that would be one sure fire way to tick people off, especially business users.

But hey, if that happens, someone will just make an app that automatically forwards those ads to all your local Verizon reps. Let's see there are probably at least 1000 customers per each rep. Things could escalate quickly!

 

[dgstorm]

^^. LMAO! I love the way you think!