Abstract:

With the propagation of mobile services all over the world, it is obvious that the mobile screen is becoming a key channel for interactivity with consumers. Beyond the traditional voice services, the mobile screen/device is becoming a key channel for delivering multimedia services, providing Internet access, enabling ecommerce, and delivering advertisements to consumers.
In this project, we will capitalize on the above mentioned trends of mobile advertisement, and mobile search to develop a mapping application that leverages a mobile ad engine. This will be demonstrated through development and delivery of a mapping application in combination with mobile directory assistance (DA) services. DA is one of the most popular mobile voice-centric value added services offered by cellular operators. For example, to get the phone number for a business in Qatar, mobile users can dial 180 and ask an agent for the phone number of a specific business. The phone number is then delivered to the user through an SMS. Many customers would be interested in receiving richer info about the requested business listing. This info may include: a map of the business, directions on how to get to it, alternative listings within the same category or nearby listings in related categories.
The application will work as follows: The Mapping application will be offered when customers dial directory assistance (i.e. 180) for listing information. The 180 application will offer customers the option to receive SMS or WAP Push notification on their device. This notification will contain the phone number for the listing as well as a link to a map and related information about the directory listing they just looked up. A customer will need to select the link in the notification message to start a data session where the information can be retrieved and explored in an interactive WAP session.
The elements of the project solution consist of:
- Directory service application needs to interface and send a request to a mapping application
- Ad server: will formulate ads or/and provide additional ad-sponsored listing info to the mapping application
- Mapping application: to render the map for display on mobile screens and create a WAP link
- SMS or WAP push: formulate the message which contains the WAP link and send it to user
- Location info can be used to provide a listing of nearby businesses related to the customer’s requested listing.