Small and Medium Businesses Reaching Customers One Multi-Media Message at a Time with Mobile Marketing Solution from AT&T

DALLAS, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For small and medium businesses, getting special offers, product updates and promotions in front of their customers in real-time offers the potential to take their business to the next level.  With AT&T's* new Messaging Toolkit, they can now achieve this level of "marketing nirvana" with a simple, do-it-yourself portfolio of mobile marketing solutions that can be accessed from an easy-to-use cloud-based web portal.

Multi-Faceted Solution

AT&T Messaging Toolkit is a complete mobile marketing solution enabling campaigns, promotions and information blasts.  It offers an integrated marketing approach by rolling several platforms into one comprehensive solution. The Messaging Toolkit allows customers to develop, execute and, most important, customize marketing campaigns using a combination of interactive messaging platforms, including:

• Text and picture mail
• E-mail
• Voice broadcasting
• Facebook widget and online sign-up page
• Twitter feed compatibility
• Mobile coupons, keywords
• Mobile voting

In short, it's a one-stop-shop, providing a custom, cost-effective marketing program for small to medium-sized businesses of all types.

While AT&T Messaging Toolkit is relevant for small and medium businesses in general, it offers special value for restaurants, retailers, healthcare offices, real estate agencies, places of worship, automotive care and financial services firms.

Market research firm IDC(1) reports that more than 2.7 trillion text and multi-mode messages will be sent this year – or about 800 messages per month, per U.S. consumer. As customers become more comfortable with and more receptive to these platforms for marketing, AT&T is able to help businesses effectively target broader audiences all at once. In fact, IDC forecasts that the number of text and multi-mode messages will eclipse the 3 trillion mark next year.

"Small businesses are increasingly implementing mobile marketing solutions into their marketing portfolios. These solutions help drive demand for products and services among consumers," said Suzanne Hopkins, Research Analyst, Mobile Consumer Services at IDC. "IDC expects small businesses will consider web-based and mobile marketing solutions from outside companies, such as AT&T's Messaging Toolkit. These solutions allow small businesses, who may not otherwise have the bandwidth, to deliver a fully integrated mobile marketing portfolio."

AT&T Messaging Toolkit also includes templates and aids to assist in campaign message design and development, as well as contact list management. The toolkit is designed to help small businesses:

• Drive foot traffic
• Build a customer base
• Offer discounts and coupons
• Analyze marketing program effectiveness
• Gather customer feedback
• Distribute community alerts and emergency notifications

"We wanted the AT&T Messaging Toolkit to be all-inclusive to help small business owners get the most for their money," said Chris Hill, AT&T Vice President of Advanced Mobility Solutions. "Many small businesses rely on grassroots marketing to survive, especially in a tough economy. We recognize that text messaging and multi-mode messaging are widely used, and we wanted our customers to have access to that broader audience, in addition to active social media channels."

For more information, please visit AT&T's Messaging Toolkit. To watch a video highlighting the solution, please visit the AT&T Business YouTube channel.

Small businesses looking to find information about other AT&T products and services can visit AT&T Small Business. For free business resources such as webinars, white papers, case studies and best practices, they can visit AT&T Small Business InSite.

Additionally, real-time information can be found on the AT&T Small Business Facebook page and Twitter channel.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

(1) IDC, U.S. Mobile Messaging 2011-2015 Forecast: The Evolving Role of SMS and MMS, Doc # 227421, March 2011

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. 

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.