Subscriber Services & Mobile Access for Smartphone Thoughts

[Mike Temporale]

So you have a fancy new Smartphone and you're itching to visit your favourite Thoughts Media (http://www.thoughtsmedia.com) site, but when Pocket IE loads Smartphone Thoughts, the only mobile friendly page you can find is the home page. :? Never fear. Just like our sister sites, mobile friendly forums is one of the many benefits of becoming a subcriber.

What does it take to become a subscriber, you ask? We're working on that, but we need your help. Besides Full Mobile Access, Email Blasts, Site Configuration, and other standard features, what would you like to see offered? Now is your chance to speak up and help build and form Subcriber Services into the most useful subscription you every had.

[brianchris]

ALL RIGHT!!!! I've been waiting for SPT to launch subscriber services for some time.......glad to hear it may actually be happening! Must be due to the flood of new users recently? Who cares....just give me mobile forums and email blasts from SPT 8)

Regarding new features, how possible would it be to make the mobile forums compatible with Smartphone screens?

[Jason Dunn]

Regarding new features, how possible would it be to make the mobile forums compatible with Smartphone screens?

Already done. 8)

[HailFire]

Do you think subscribers could get some discounts on games and software?

[Jason Dunn]

Do you think subscribers could get some discounts on games and software?

Sure, we'd try to negotiate something with Smartphone.net.

[Jerry Raia]

Just make it happen and tell me how much to pay :)

[Raven]

How about a "software of the week" link (shareware or freeware) right up front which we can install OTA. Quite a few users are signing up for unltd data plans nowadays.

Or is this already in place? Haven't browsed that much...

[Mike Temporale]

How about a "software of the week" link (shareware or freeware) right up front which we can install OTA. Quite a few users are signing up for unltd data plans nowadays.

Or is this already in place? Haven't browsed that much...

Our weekly newsletter has a "Featured Download", which is changed on a regular basis to reflect some of the top downloads and newest applications in the Smartphone world. This featured download is also displayed in our downloads section. (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/downloads.php)

so, we do offer that, it just isn't OTA, since that is based 100% on the software developers choice for distributing their application.

:D

[Jason Dunn]

How about a "software of the week" link (shareware or freeware) right up front which we can install OTA. Quite a few users are signing up for unltd data plans nowadays.

Are you thinking of something that would appear on the mobile version of our site - a link that would download a CAB file? I've pondered that several times in the past but I've never quite gotten around to implementing it. I'll keep that in mind, but I think we'd make this available to everyone who visits the mobile page.

[Raven]

Yup, thats exactly what I was talking about. The Featured Download forces us to go back to the desktop and install. This is for times when you are waiting in line and want to try out some new cool software. Not sure there are too many mobile sites which offer OTA trials, right?

And yeah, I don't think it should be a subscriber only feature. Bottom link on the homepage maybe...

If it changes more than once a week, its more incentive for people to logon and check it out. Kinda what ATTWS does with the Daily Sweepstakes on their mMode homepage. Its always a rush waiting to see if I'm the lucky winner. :lol:

btw, I really like the way you folks organized the software section. Very neat with helpful descriptions. Time to start buying some of 'em...trial's are starting to expire :wink:

[encece]

Two words.....

FREE STUFF! :D

[Raven]

oh yeah! those too... :lol:

[Jason Dunn]

btw, I really like the way you folks organized the software section. Very neat with helpful descriptions. Time to start buying some of 'em...trial's are starting to expire :wink:

Actually, that's Smartphone.net, not us (they just made our affiliate store look like this site), but I'll pass along the compliment to them. ;-)

[Mike Temporale]

How does everyone feel about SMS Blasts? Just a simple SMS sent to your device that is only sent out when a new front page post is made, and it only contains the subject line. -- Keeping it short and simple.

This is just a random thought I had this morning, but it would be a pretty cool feature. Thoughts?

[Mike Temporale]

How about a "software of the week" link (shareware or freeware) right up front which we can install OTA. Quite a few users are signing up for unltd data plans nowadays.

Are you thinking of something that would appear on the mobile version of our site - a link that would download a CAB file?

Ah... Sorry Raven. I misunderstood your suggestion. Sounds like a neat idea.

[marlof]

How does everyone feel about SMS Blasts? Just a simple SMS sent to your device that is only sent out when a new front page post is made, and it only contains the subject line. -- Keeping it short and simple.

Sure, that sounds like a very cool idea!

[Jerry Raia]

How does everyone feel about SMS Blasts? Just a simple SMS sent to your device that is only sent out when a new front page post is made, and it only contains the subject line. -- Keeping it short and simple.

This is just a random thought I had this morning, but it would be a pretty cool feature. Thoughts?

Sounds good, make it happen :)

[Kris Kumar]

1.
I would want "My Favorite Threads".

Anytime I find a thread I want to monitor for new posts. I add it to My Favorite Threads. And on my mobile phone under My Favorite Threads I will see only those 5-10 threads that I am currently participating in or monitoring.

Saves time. Faster loads Don's have to go into Discuss, then the Forum, Thread and scroll through etc.

I don't mind if it is limited and has an automatic 5-10 day expiry.

2.
Be able to reorder the Forum listing or select the Forums that I want to access from the Mobile phone. I want to monitor only Hardware, News, Software, T-Mobile and Motorola Smartphones. Don't want to see other Carrier/Manufacturer forums, Developer etc.

SMS idea is cool. :-) Should send the link also. Smartphones let you click on the link and launch the web page. But the size may exceed 160 or whatever is the SMS size.

[Mike Temporale]

After re-reading this thread, I think Kris and I are venturing down the wrong path. Although these may be nice features to have, they really don't fit in the scope of what we're trying to do at this time.

So, currently we have: Mobile Forums Smartphone compatible - Done
discounts on games and software - we'll look into this
Free Stuff - Erm... Like?So what about things like: Vaja discounts - like PPCT has
hardware discounts - Sync & Charge cables, Headsets, Chargers, Batteries?
Exclusive subscriber homescreen
Exclusive subscriber Ringtones
personal Media Folder - like PPCT & DMT hasWe want to make Subscriber services something that everyone will find value in. So now is the time to speak up and share your thoughts.

[encece]

Free Stuff - Erm... Like?

I dunno. Whatta ya got??? I just like free stuff! ;D

Seriously and Respectfully....

I'm ALL for supporting websites that I visit everyday to help pay for server/hosting costs, expenses, etc. I visit this site everyday and would donate on that basis. I already subscribe/donate to a few.

But it also has advertisments, hardware and software stores, etc...in other words...it already generates money for someone. (how much/little is a different story!) Discounts are great but require me to spend additional money to benefit from them, which is generating additional money for someone. The ThoughtsMedia sites are a business, and if I am going to contribute to that income...I'd like to see some additional value for my money.

Giveaways and Contests are great...but you actually have to follow through and give the stuff away eventually. ;)

Double entries to subscribers is a nice idea. When a valuable item is won (like a phone possibly, or SD Media, etc) the subscription then seems well worth the price. Even when someone else wins (which is always the case for me! :) ) it's still fun and I still see value in that. Especially when you see a familiar, contributing member win...not the one post member. It shows the site is giving back.

Most items can probably be obtained as promotional advertisment from the manufacturer. That fact that someone behind the scenes is working to obtain these items shows the site is working for it's members as well as for it's own promotional interests.

Don't get me wrong. It's not all about "what's in it for me". The site is great and provides a great source of information and entertainment for me. I am thankful for everyone's hard work. I enjoy contributing in the forums and reading the front page news.

You have waited for Smartphones is the US to really break before beginning subscription services on SPT. Waited for it to be worth it, I guess. But if the site is going to start accepting money...respectfully...let's see some harder work here.

- More original and breaking news & reviews. Not just copies of news/reviews from other sites.
- More forum participation from the Mods and Founder helping out users, especially the newbies. (I hate ZERO reply posts.)
- Some incentives/promotion to pump up US development of software, plugins, homescreens, etc for the Smartphone platform. Everything is coming out of the UK & EU. This is the site that could spark the creative juices of our many US developers (hobbyists and professionals).

I mostly troll around Modaco where I help moderate. 2500+ posts there and thousands of page hits which equates to god-only-knows how many hours of mis-spent time. It's great as there are a ton of members, many of whom actually write software, tweaks, plugins, homescreens, etc. Most of the tweaks and tips originate from there. (Grant it, they've had smartphones longer than us). Their forums definitely hold a greater knowledgebase than here. But it is definitely geared toward UK and Europe in some areas when it comes to Carrier/Network support, Location specific software, contests limited to UK eligibility, etc.

I'd really like this site to be the premier US Smartphone website. That's the value for me.

PS. I also think things like homescreens, ringtomes and especially the mobile version of the forums...should all be free.

[Jerry Raia]

I'm willing to pay for a feature that just lets me view this on my phone. I'm not too concerned about getting $1 off of $10 software. I want the information in my hand...no pun intended :)

[iclark]

Given that I have dumped my ppc for a smartphone device can I switch my subscription from ppcthoguths to spthoughts ?

No biggie. I will just not renew the ppc one when it comes around. I think that you might find a few people in a similar position to me. My smartphone does everything i used to use my ppc for.

Thanks.