Rogers offers cellphone concert tickets
25.03.2008 21:07
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- Source: cbc.ca
Canadian cellphone giant Rogers Wireless has teamed with a U.S.-based ticket agency to enable consumers to buy concert tickets with their phones, and use the device as the ticket. Rogers said the service was a Canadian first, although other cell companies have launched similar systems for other kinds of entertainment. For example, moviegoers in Calgary can buy tickets and get into the show using their Bell Mobility phones. Rogers said Tuesday that it was launching the service with Live Nation, the Los Angeles-based company that claims to have the most live concerts, music venues and festivals in the world. The service will enable Rogers customers to buy tickets for Live Nation concerts across Canada, including first dibs on tickets for the Quebec group Simple Plan's upcoming Canadian tour. "This is pretty cutting edge," because similar systems have only been used on a small scale or in tests before, Live Nation spokesman John Vlautin said. But "the Rogers initiative shows us where technology can take us." Rogers' "Wireless Box Office" works on company handsets with a WAP 2.0 Browser and multimedia message technology. Using the phone's internet browser, buyers find the show they want, select tickets, and enter credit card information. They get a ticket on their phone as a text and multimedia message, including a barcode that is scanned to gain entry to the venue. Rogers said it sponsoring the Simple Plan tour, and will sponsor concerts in the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto and the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver as part of the deal with Live Nation. It's too early to tell how popular the service might be, said Reade Barber, Rogers' director of new services marketing, although the company thinks it's going to be widely used. The terms of the deal are confidential. But Rogers gets boasting rights as the first to launch cellphone concert-ticket sales in Canada, and Live Nation gets a convenient ticket distribution method that may appeal to young people, a big part of the concert audience. Live Nation doesn't have any data on how popular the service might be, but any new way to get a ticket easily is a positive thing for fans, Vlautin said. Rogers has more than 7.3 million customers for its Rogers and Fido brands. Live Nation reported revenue of $4.2 billion US in 2007. Post a commentPeople have commented on this storyRecommend this storyPeople have recommended this storyStory Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKStory comments (0)Sort:Most recent | First to lastPost your commentNote: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are pre-moderated/reviewed and published according to our submission guidelines. You must be logged in to leave a comment. Log in | Sign upComment:Characters allowed: 2500PostSubmission policyRelatedInternal LinksDialing for dollarsIn the BlogsMost Blogged about CBC.ca Articles CBC to BitTorrent Canada's Next Great Prime MinisterOttawa family flees home as snowy roof splits$24B spent on security in Canada since 9/11Full list of articles » Search TechnoratiNote: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window #technorati_holder { visibility:visible !important; }
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