A new study from the World Bank recently found that about 75% of the world has access to mobile phones. That’s three-quarters of the world’s population that have cell phones now—almost six billion mobile subscriptions, compared to less than a billion in 2000.
This means brands need to be taking their mobile presence into consideration now more than ever. With so many people worldwide connected via their mobile phones wherever they go and at any time of day or night, marketers need to be ready with always-on platforms. Pongr’s photo marketing system works 24/7 from anywhere in the world. International marketing has never been easier.
It’s important to consider, though, that our experience with mobile technology in the U.S. doesn’t necessarily match that of people in other parts of the world. Of the six billion active mobile subscriptions, five billion of those are in developing countries. For most of the world, the reality is that smartphones are out of the question right now.
Truly international mobile marketing can’t be focused entirely on apps. While technology like SMS and MMS may seem outdated to people with easy access to smartphones, it is still very viable in many parts of the world. Pongr’s platform works on any mobile device and any carrier and requires no app. Users can snap a photo with their cell phone’s camera and picture-text the photo to get content. Even in the U.S., where just over 50% of mobile users own smartphones, picture-text capability evens the odds and allows anyone to participate, regardless of their mobile OS.
The increased availability of technology means the world is rapidly shrinking. Brands need to be able to adapt to the changing, increasingly international playing field. The best way to do that is with tools that have no concept of borders or time zones, and Pongr’s always-on photo marketing platform can take any brand’s message to every corner of the globe.