Flash your phones to redeem discounts

Send them the privileges by phone. And make those goodies more than just about SMS coupons for spa or food offers.

A team of Mass Communication student from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) hopes to go one up on other mobile discount strategies. They have come up with a phone based privileges programme that allows users to receive store discounts by simply flashing a wallpaper on their mobile phones.

Hot on the heels of similar services provided by telcos M1 and Singtel, the students took the wraps off their UWtimate Download mobile Service at Home Club, a flea market in Clarke Quay, last Friday.

To get on the service, simply snap a picture of the UWtimate Download icon from online magazine the urbanwire.com, and store the image in your cellphone. Users will then be able to flash the icon at participating shops to receive a discount when making their purchase.

Already, more than 50 retailers are part of this service. They range from food and beverage outlets like Miss Clarity Cafe and Chocz to fashion and lifestyle joints like Polished Divas and Kai.

Tan Shuyun, a final year Mass Communication student in NP welcomes the convenience of being able to "simply flash it at any store I walk into."

She added: "Even better, I don't need to frantically rummage through my belongings to whip out any cards. I will definitely be using this service."

Users who download the wallpaper and register on theurbanwire.com from now till late April will stand to win a Nokia N82 mobile phone.

UWtimate Download was conceived to celebrate the urbanwire.com's sixth birthday and to reward its readers who give the entertainment and lifestyle e-zine an average of 2 million hits a month.

Source: Digital Life, February 26, 2008, The Straits Times
Article by Stephanie Gwee