Media Centre
30th October 2012
AIME’s “50 Shades of Revenue from Mobile Payments” Seminar ‘Excites’ Attendees
Commercial and regulatory developments creating huge opportunities for UK market growth
Last week AIME hosted a K&N Seminar on Mobile Operator Payments, with speakers representing MNOs, Charity, Gaming, Social Media and payment service provider sectors. The event, sponsored by Velti, ImpulsePay and SNR Denton, sought to demystify many of the issues surrounding MNO-enabled billing and provide insight on how to grow the addressable market and help create a commercial environment which is viable for a wide range of merchants.
Kicking off the presentation part of the event, Rory Maguire, Head of Payments at Three, argued that the market for charging low-value digital goods to consumers’ mobile bills, was “getting exciting”. Maguire highlighted recent announcements in the media that the power of Direct to Bill capabilities had been recognised by key platform owners, such as Facebook, Google, RIM and Microsoft, who were striking mobile operator payment deals with accredited intermediaries in the UK. He also tried to dispel one or two myths within the market, including the fact that Direct to Bill payments or cross-network payment services, like Payforit4, was not intended to be for high street shopping. “It is more likely to be used for parking on the high street, rather than shopping on the high street,” said Maguire.
7th June 2012
AIME launches Best Practice Guidelines for Participation TV using Social Media Promotions after cross-industry consultation and collaboration
London 07 June 2012: UK broadcasters and service partners have come together within AIME’s Interactive Broadcast Forum (IBF) to agree Best Practice Guidelines that will ensure a consistent approach to the use of social media for Premium Rate Service promotions.
The initiative is part of AIME’s drive to build confidence in Participation TV services.
Significant numbers of TV viewers are simultaneously online while watching television, using social networking services such as Twitter and Facebook, and this creates opportunities for people to become even more socially engaged with TV programming. This has enormous significance for broadcasters, not only as a platform for direct engagement but also because viewers can actively engage with each other and influence each other’s interactivity behaviour, particularly around live event programming.
30th April 2012
AIME initiative paves the way for Voice Short Codes in Participation TV
- successful trial by The Voice opens new, price transparent voting channel for broadcasters
London 30 April 2012: Interactive Media industry trade association, The Association of Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME) today announced that through its creation of an industry led working group and close cooperation with the regulator, Ofcom, a framework is now in place for the use of mobile Voice Short Codes in participation TV shows.
Provided by Harvest Media Group in partnership with BT Agilemedia, Voice Short Codes were successfully trialled as a new voting mechanic this weekend by the BBC flagship talent show, The Voice.
2nd April 2012
AIME elects new board to build on growth in micropayments
- renewed focus on opening up the full spectrum of payment platforms, data gathering and developing monetisation opportunities within the social media
02.04.12, London: Leading micropayment trade body, the Association for Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME), has today announced its new board following elections by its rapidly growing membership consisting of over 80 companies in the micropayment sector including content providers, service providers and payment enablers.
The new board includes two new representatives: Andrew Burnett, Head of Operations, ITV Interactive & ITL and Chris Newell, CEO, ImpulsePay.
Rob Ellis, Managing Director, Telecom Express; Jeremy Flynn, Director, Orca; Rory Maguire, Head of Payment Services, Three; Richard Mann, COO, Mobile Interactive Group; Phil Davies, Director, Commercial Development, OpenMarket; and Graham Pottie, COO, BT Agilemedia have been re-elected for a further 2 year term.
22nd December 2011
2011 - AIME continues to make progress driving key Industry initiatives, broadening its reach in to Micropayments
22 Dec 2011 2011 was a year of accelerated market convergence, with more consumers engaging with content and services through a growing number of devices – across different platforms – paid for by a variety of micro-payment mechanisms. Premium rate was firmly bundled in with the wider micropayments market and only separated as a defined ‘Industry’ by a regulatory definition. Although traditional premium rate revenues took a slide in 2011, with more investment in direct to bill products in 2012 providers will be looking to play an increasingly significant role in the broader interactive media and entertainment market place.
In 2011 AIME grew in membership numbers and repositioned to embrace the wider micropayment market, strengthening its relationships with key social media platforms and attracting alternate payment companies as new members. With the introduction of the PhonepayPlus 12th Code, it has been essential to provide members with strong representation, to ensure a technology neutral regulatory environment and we will continue to work cross industry in a wider payments market to ensure common principles of consumer protection and care are applied by members.
14th December 2011
Media and entertainment industry christmas party ends in prize for Impulsepay’s Newell
14 Dec 2011 More than 180 people gathered at the AIME Media & Entertainment Industry Christmas Party, sponsored by IMImobile, on Tuesday night at Mary Jane’s bar, London for a celebration of a good successful year and the completion of the rebranding of WIN Ltd to IMImobile following their acquisition.
“We have seen the industry return to form this year, and with IMImobile’s platform, products and global international coverage, particularly India and Africa, we expect further growth in 2012 to be even better” says Emma Marlow, Commercial Director at IMImobile. Edward Boddington (Bod), AIME Chairman, highlighted a year of AIME achievement and growth in membership ranks, noting that in 2012 AIME’s challenge will be to continue providing focused value add benefits and broadening its representative reach across the new media market where appetite for micropayments is growing.
29th November 2011
Gemalto, Netsize Launch Brand New Netsize Guide by Gemalto: Truly Mobile - In partnership with AIME
29 Nov 2011 AIME member Netsize and Gemalto have today launched the 10th edition of the Netsize Guide titled 'Truly Mobile'; a comprehensive reference work on the state of mobile technology and its impact on business and society.
As one of the official partners, AIME is pleased to present you with the guide to download now - Netsize Guide 2011
Netsize Guide 2011, Truly Mobile, identifies three themes that characterize the state of mobile today and its future:
- Transaction - How we've come to rely on mobile devices for commerce from researching products to making purchases.
- Transformation - How mobile devices are increasingly driving content, communications and connectivity.
- Trust - How we require - and will soon demand - simple, transparent services and devices we can trust.
13th October 2011
New AIME Charity Sector Research highlights opportunities around technology led fundraising and engagement
13 Oct 2011 The Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment (AIME) has today released the results of its inaugural charity sector research, sponsored by the Charity Technology Trust. The results, analysed by analyst firm mobileSquared, drawn from the responses of 370 UK charities (including 20 with over £5m income) highlight key trends and opportunities in user engagement and fundraising through education, the appropriate use of technology and best practice.
In particular, the research identifies a knowledge gap on the side of charities with regard to what is available to them via technology service providers and how best to implement strategies that support critical objectives such as increased donor windows across multiple user touch-points.
Click here to read full story and key findings
6th October 2011
AIME’s Interactive Technology for the Charitable Sector Event Showcases Latest Innovations for Engaging Donors and Driving New Fundraising Campaigns
Developments in mobile, social media and online platform tools point way to fundraising success in an uncertain future
6th Oct 2011 The Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment’s (AIME) second annual conference and exhibition was held last month at LBi’s headquarters in Brick Lane, east London.
The event was designed to educate the charitable sector how interactive platforms can significantly increase the scope and value for donor engagement and fundraising campaigns, as well as draw attention to the various regulatory compliance and best practice issues which the industry has produced.
Drawing together world class experts from charities such as UNICEF, Comic Relief and DEC, non-profit trade associations like AIME, CTT, Small Charities Coalition and Race Online 2012, as well as leading interactive services companies such as OpenMarket, 3, Telecom Express and Incentivated, the event highlighted some of the latest developments and innovations in technology-driven campaigns available to small, medium and large charity organizations.
1st September 2011
AIME Welcomes PhonepayPlus New Code and Registration Scheme with cautious optimism
The PhonepayPlus (PP+) 12th Code of Practice and Industry Registration Scheme comes into force today, creating a new regulatory framework. The Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment (AIME) welcomes the new ‘slimmed down’ Code, which is supported by Guidelines and underpinned by a Registration Scheme for all Premium Rate providers operating in the UK.
AIME has lobbied for significant changes to the regulation of the UK market since early 2008, understanding that media convergence and advancing technology made it increasingly difficult for the old regulatory system to deliver its remit of fair and proportionate regulation. While the new framework is welcomed, AIME recognises that change to any regulatory system and culture takes time. With the new Registration Scheme particularly, there are key elements that will require continued representation and close co-operation of industry and the regulatory agency PP+. AIME is currently collating member feedback on early use of the Scheme and has recently written to PP+ to ensure there is:
- A clear statement of Scheme use for Due Diligence purposes
- Monitoring of usage to ensure the system is used in the correct manner
- A warning statement regarding misuse
- Clarity of PP+ action where abuse is found
- A process to ensure any early usability teething issues are addressed quickly
30th August 2011
Mobile Gambling: A Market Overview
For many industry commentators, 2011 will be seen as the year in which mobile gambling finally comes of age. Having been heralded as the ‘next big thing’ for more than 5 years now, results have fallen way short of the bold projections to date, and the real growth of this platform only began with the World Cup in 2010 where numbers suggested up to a 400% increase in platform usage across key operators.
The Past
The past failure of the mobile market to deliver anything close to projected revenues was not just limited to the reluctance of mobile operators to divert resource and effort away from the Internet product range. The underlying reasons were technology, behaviour and ancillary service related including
- Unsuitable devices with complex download processes
- Massive fragmentation of devices, screen sizes, operating systems which hindered development and imposed huge costs on developers
- Mobile internet was transaction not experience based and didn’t really take off on feature phones
- Mobile gambling services were “execution only” and operated solely as an ancilliary product to fixed internet account
- Mobile network infrastructures were simply not good enough to meet the requirements, and the MNOs were extremely reluctant to promote of show any involvement in gambling.
- Lack of customer confidence and trust in transacting on mobile
28th July 2011
How Google+ will radicalise the way brands target their audiences
Since the announcement of Google’s new social network Google+, tech geeks and industry experts have been speculating a lot about its future and that of its biggest competitor, Facebook.
Google+ reached 20 million users in 24 days which is exactly 1011 fewer days than Facebook took to achieve the same volume of users. With the vast success of Facebook fan pages, it is definitely worth considering the potential of Google+ for brands.
While there is currently no option for official brand profiles on Google+, there is a big appetite for them within the industry. In fact, some brands initiated a presence on Google+ almost straight away, using a personal profile. Google however states that this goes against its regulations and is forcing brands to personalise profiles in order to maintain their followers or threatening to remove them completely. Among these early adopters was BBC Sport who gained a presence on Google+ in this way. Although it is uncertain whether this profile will remain for much longer, it is using the platform in much the same way as its Twitter presence by posting regular updates and news links.
12th July 2011
AIME call for Government to review the micropayments sector
On 30th June, AIME issued a press release to highlight publication of a joint letter with premium rate services regulator PhonepayPlus (PpP) and trade organisations MEF and UKCTA, calling for Government to carry out a full review of the UK’s micropayments sector. The letter was in response to a request by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), for input to the formation of a Comms Act 2015 Green Paper in September 2011.
At AIME’s recent General Meeting a member rightly asked for clarity regarding AIME’s support for the joint PpP Industry Liaison Panel (ILP) letter and this generated debate about whether we are aligned with what some are interpreting as a PpP call for greater responsibility in the regulation of a wider micropayments market. Our view is that this is not what the debate should be about, although it is certainly appreciated that the co-signatories may attach differing values to the need for a wholesale review.
30th June 2011
AIME and Premium Rate Service Regulator PhonepayPlus call for Government to review the micropayments sector
London 30th June, 2011 - AIME, the leading trade association for the fixed-line and mobile micropayment industry, today threw its weight behind the publication of a joint letter with premium rate services regulator PhonepayPlus, calling for Government to carry out a full review of the rapidly growing UK’s micropayments sector.
Culture Secretary (DCMS) Jeremy Hunt recently called for industry input in consideration of the Communications Act 2015, which will do much to shape the future UK digital economy, and AIME is stressing the importance of an appropriate regulatory framework, which encourages business growth and provides necessary levels of consumer protection.
Under the 2003 Act, the only micropayment platform recognised is Premium Rate, which is used to pay for numerous digital services including virtual gifts, gaming, TV voting and competitions. However a whole raft of regulation under multiple regulators now sits across the industry, while other forms of micropayment are out-of-scope, leaving consumers potentially vulnerable. The premium rate industry generates almost £1bn in revenues from fixed-line and mobile. However, it envisages that there will be a rapid growth of IP based services in the future, especially as social media has become so prevalent.
9th June 2011
AIME & LBi Joint Initiative - Opportunity for Charities
An Opportunity to have your vision for growth and the challenges you face as a charity brainstormed and supported by the creative solutions and planning talent of the leading global marketing & technology agency LBi.
- great minds from LBi’s global team will workshop innovative ideas to solve your unique business problems
- LBi is asking charitable organisations to describe their vision of where they want to be in five years’ time and the challenges they face to get there
- 3 charities answers will be chosen to use as the basis of a series of workshops with the aim of delivering implementable ideas and tools that could help you get a step closer to realising your ambition.
- this opportunity is run in partnership with AIME (a not for profit) trade orgaisation for the interactive media industry & the forthcoming event ‘Empowering Charities with Interactive Technoloies II’
Click here for full brief and how to enter
2nd June 2011
AIME Call for Member Views – Comms Act 2015
NEWS
The government has asked for feedback on ideas for new laws to govern the telecommunications, online-media and digital-content industries, as a prelude to introducing a new Communications Act in 2015.
In an open letter to people working in those industries, culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said the government is embarking on a wide-ranging review of UK communications rules "to ensure the regulatory framework in place is fit for the digital age".
The current Communications Act became law in 2003, and the informal consultation initiated recently is the first stage in coming up with a new regime.
"We want to ensure we have the framework in place to enable further success and promote healthy competition and growth in this innovative sector," Hunt wrote with regards to the broadband and radio spectrum aspects of the policy review. "We need to adopt a flexible solution to this challenge. A deregulatory approach that deals with these developments to the benefit of both consumers and citizens, and also industry, is the aim."
While the government is focused on growth in the relevant industries, "the wider public interest will always underpin our approach to how any issues are addressed", Hunt noted. He stressed the government remains "committed to the principle of independent regulation and will ensure that Ofcom has the right powers and duties to work in a way that gives businesses confidence in the regulatory system".
It may seem fairly early in the regulatory process to be considering what shape the future regulatory environment should take. However, AIME has been at the forefront of representing industry to government and the regulator Ofcom since 2000 and in our experience, having chewed through 28 regulatory consultations, each major consultation takes about 2-3 years from start to finish. The enormity of this task set out by Jeremy Hunt is not underestimated and to squeeze the process into 4 years will be some achievement. To this end AIME has already met with Jeremy Hunt’s policy advisor last year to highlight several issues around the current regulatory environment. There’s currently a blank canvass and by representing industry views early we have an opportunity to influence the foundations of a future regulatory framework that is appropriate to industry and consumer needs.
Click here to read the full story
3rd May 2011
AIME focuses on mobile transactions with new Mobile Gaming Forum
mkodo’s Mark Gibson appointed Chair
London, 3rd May 2011: AIME, the Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment, today announces the launch of a new initiative recognising the rising importance of the mobile device in transactions and gaming.
With the advent of smartphones, and the increase in consumer confidence with the mobile channel, transactions are becoming increasingly commonplace via mobile. Premium rate micropayments provide gaming companies with an important customer acquisition tool, enabling new customers to sign-up and spend money using their mobile devices on impulse.
AIME is focused on delivering an environment of self-regulation and best practice within the premium rate industry, which both protects consumers whilst fostering a positive climate of opportunity for businesses that serve this sector.
Click here to read the full story
31st March 2011
AIME unveils good quarter for premium rate revenues
- mobile and fixed line channels show increase buoyed by the adoption of new payment channels and forms of distribution such as social media
- complaints to premium rate regulator, PhonepayPlus are down
Industry trade association, The Association for Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME) today unveiled strong revenue figures for the premium rate sector Q3 2010.
Driven by an increase in growth across mobile (7%) and fixed line payment channels (9%) out payments generated by premium rate services are up with an overall increase of 4.8 % to £145m for the quarter.
Cross mobile operator micro-payment service, Payforit, has also grown by 7% for the quarter, indicating ongoing consumer acceptance and trust in buying content and services via the mobile device.
Click here to read the full story
17th Dec 2010
In-App Billing 2.0: Taking the Application Billing Core out of Apple:
How can the industry profit from application billing innovation outside the Apple eco-system?
As the mobile internet becomes more like the online environment, established digital payment providers like PayPal etc are edging more and more into mobile too. Operators still have clout, however, due to their ability to cost-efficiently manage micropayments in a way that works well for consumers. That was the theme running through OpenMarket’s seminar on in-app billing, which was organised by AIME in London earlier this month.
In-App Billing 2.0: Taking the Application Billing Core out of Apple was a Knowledge & Networking Seminar designed to review the developments made over the past year in direct-to-operator billing for in-app payments and shine a light on where the market was likely to be headed in 2011 and beyond.
Featuring speakers from OpenMarket partners like Virgin Media, Three and TigerSpike, as well as contributions from app developer ScreenReach, around 60 attendees from mobile content and application companies gathered to learn, share ideas and discuss how to drive direct billing for app and in-app purchasing forward.
Click here to read the full story
16th Dec 2010
Digital Monetisation Conference Europe interview AIME Chair
DCM Europe Partner Interview - Edward Boddington, Chairman, AIME
DCM Europe is proud to partner with AIME to bring networking and knowledge sharing to their members through joint activities. AIME members can benefit from a discount of up to 10% off DCM Europe registration – email info@dcm-eu.com to find out more.
DCM: What do you think is the top priority for digital content owners right now?
EB: Organisations need to align themselves to be able to deliver. So within a lot of traditional media companies currently, you’ve got the more traditional business models making far more money than digital content. The reason for that is that TV advertising still represents very good value. TV spot ads are still relatively the same price they were 10 years ago. So there’s a fear of change in organisations, there’s a lack of orientation, lack of priority, lack of integration. And the traditional ad sales teams feel threatened by new media departments. So you have to have strong management in these organisations working on this opportunity. I think there’s also a lot of hype talked about this, everyone talked about the demise of Royal Mail 20 years ago – it now delivers more volume of mail than it’s ever done. It’s not to say that it’s not inefficient and needs reforming, but it doesn’t mean that this is now going to take over the whole world. On the other hand there’s an ability to over-estimate consumers, that they’ll adopt this. Of course they will do, but it’ll take time, so it’s keeping propositions simple. The third thing is ‘can you charge for payment?’. We’re moving from a period of economic boom to a period where everyone’s looking for value and organisations like The Times are trying to monetise, but there’s a big question mark over whether it will work and organisations should not under-estimate the increasing trend of the more discerning consumer, or customer better put…..
Click here to read the full interview
18th Nov 2010
Industry Bodies, Operator and Retailers Join Forces to Launch Cross-Industry M-Commerce Initiative
The Mobile-Commerce Joint Industry Committee (MCJIC) will support and drive the growth of m-commerce through research, market intelligence and development of best practice
- Set up to ensure retailers take advantage of the mobile opportunity
- Research, best practice and regulation to be included in Initiative’s remit
- Founding members bring wealth of experience from across the industry
18 November 2010: The Association of Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME), The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) and Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) have come together to form the Mobile Commerce Joint Industry Committee (MCJIC). This Initiative has been established to ensure that businesses are prepared for the changes, opportunities and challenges that accompany the explosive growth in m-commerce.
MCJIC has been specifically set up to assist retailers, technology providers, consumers and regulators through education, research and the promotion of best practice to help drive the growth of m-commerce. It will cover all aspects of m-commerce, from mobile marketing and payments to site optimisation and services such as app creation, coupons and age verification.
This move follows a recent research collaboration between the three associations which found that more than half (59%) of UK retail brands expect their mobile revenues to increase over the next 12 months, with 94% regarding it as a real opportunity for their business.
Click here to read the full story
1st Nov 2010
Telemedia360 Manchester Preview: Monetising Media through new channels
Monetising media content through new channels is crucial to all media businesses, yet there are plenty of hurdles and challenges to making it work – not least regulation, device fragmentation and gaining the trust of social network users. This is the message coming from the media industry and what the Telemedia360 event in Manchester on 16 November will be tackling.
Telemedia360 Manchester is a boutique event designed to bring together the media, brands and retailers with the mobile networks, aggregators, service providers and billers of the telemedia community to develop new revenue channels for media content and to look at how microbilling services can be used to monetise new interactive and social media channels between brands and their consumers.
The issues-driven conference will be looking at all the factors that are driving the change in how viewers and readers are becoming consumers of media content across a range of devices and channels, not least mobile, tablets, iTunes, red-button and even games consoles – not to mention the role of social networks in how consumer spread content and virally market content for brands.
AIME’s Chairman, Edward Boddington, will be leading a keynote industry panel to kick the event off as the telemedia and media industries come together ahead of the Manchester Media Festival to look for answers and solutions to help media companies make profitable use of the evolving comms technology world.
Click here to read the full story
2nd Sept 2010
AIME, IAB, IMRG survey finds consumers are ahead of retailers when it comes to M-Commerce. More training and awareness needed
Until now the credibility of mobile commerce has been largely built on the success of selling ringtones, games, screensavers and other bits and pieces of digital content. Thanks to a few unscrupulous content promoters that credibility was stretched to breaking point after some high profile subscription-billing scandals rocked the industry and led to a regulatory crackdown in 2007. Since then revenues have dropped as consumers lost trust. However, over the past few months growing interest from major high street retailers in the mobile channel looks set to pave the way for the real arrival of m-commerce.
Last month AIME, along with trade bodies IAB and IMRG released findings of some combined research into this sector which found that over half of UK retail brands expect revenues from mobile channels to rise over the next 12 months and 65 percent plan to launch a transactional mobile site within two years. Although 94 percent of those retailers surveyed sited mobile as a real opportunity for future growth, the research worryingly found that only 20 percent of the 20 most popular UK retailer websites were actually optimised for mobile browsing.
Click here to read the full story
20th Aug 2010
PhonepayPlus Clarifies Rules on Participation TV Following Successful Lobbying from AIME
Steps taken toward the re-introduction of SMS voting for interactive TV shows
The Association of Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME) today announced that following a successful period of lobbying and co-operation with PhonepayPlus, the industry regulator is to ease restrictions on interactive TV voting. Details have been released as a supplementary notice to industry and outline three significant changes:
1. Votes or entries which are received outside the voting window – e.g. when lines are open – do not have to be counted or refunded provided that this risk is clearly communicated to consumers, that consumers are informed their entry is invalid but they will still be charged, and that there are no technical difficulties (either from the network or provider) which might have caused votes or entries to be delivered late.
2. Phone lines may remain open when programmes are repeated, provided that the voting/entry window for PRS is still open during the repeat.
3. Where multiple methods of voting/entry exist for the same Broadcast event, then if some of those methods will have shorter voting/entry windows than others this must be clear to consumers in each call to action.
Click here to read the full story
18th Aug 2010
New Research Shows that Consumers are Moving Faster than Retailers Towards Mobile Internet
Survey commissioned by AIME, IAB and IMRG shows that 41% of UK retail brands expect to have a transactional mobile site or application within the next year
Too few retailers have a solid mobile presence today, however, 41% plan to have a transactional mobile site or application in place within the next year, according to the results from a new research partnership between the Association for Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME), the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG). The study found that while mobile commerce is still very much at the consideration stage, the majority of retailers surveyed expect mobile commerce to be part of their main strategy within the next 12 months.
eDigital Research, commissioned by AIME, the IAB and the IMRG surveyed 140 marketing professionals from the retail, advertising and mobile service provider sectors in the UK to understand attitudes, behaviours and perceived challenges to mobile commerce. Over half (59%) of the senior-level representatives from UK retail brands that took part expected their mobile revenues to increase over the next 12 months, and 94% saw it as a real opportunity for their business.
Click here to read the full story
3rd Aug 2010
AIME Board signals “cautious optimism” in response to PhonepayPlus 12th Code Consultation
As PhonepayPlus’ (PP+) 12th Code consultation period drew to a close at the end of July, the PRS and Telemedia industry is now braced for the proposed changes under the new Code to become implemented – probably around springtime 2011. According to PP+, the new approach to regulation will be more ‘fair and open’ and the 12th Code has been designed to work on the principles of shared responsibility, adoption of a service provider registration scheme and offer a more proportionate response to problems arising in the marketplace for consumers.
Chief amongst AIME’s concerns in its response to the 12th Code consultation is how the new changes will be managed by PP+ and how the changeover between the 11th and 12th Codes will be handled, however, as AIME Vice-Chairman, Jeremy Flynn says, there is a lot in the Code to be welcomed.
“There is an inherent recognition in the 12th Code that it has been designed with mobile in mind and it formally distributes responsibility for compliance throughout the value chain. Overall it represents a move away from prescriptive regulation towards proportionate responsibility. And PP+ should be congratulated for accepting this positive evolution,” says Flynn.
Click here to read the full story
6th July 2010
AIME helps to give interactive technology in the third sector a boost
Interactive Technology for the Third Sector – event overview
The AIME K&N seminar event on Empowering the Charitable Sector with Interactive Technology succeeded in generating quite a bit of interest in how to drive initiatives further forward to improve the value derived by the third sector from using technology in its fundraising and communications campaigns.
It was clear from the discussions taking part throughout the day that the benefits of using interactive platforms remain relative to the size of the charity involved. As Knowledge Peers’ Jessica Figueras notes in this helpful write up of the event, many charities, already operating on tight budgets, worry over duplication of purpose and their financial stability. Nevertheless, innovation is important to the third sector and interactive tech is an area where smaller charities can punch above their weight.
From the presentations made during the seminar (available here), it was clear that there is an enormous range of new tools on offer for charities to implement campaigns with. Many of these are free to use, most of them are cheap and easily accessible – from social media applications to email marketing – the new wave of cloud-based technologies offer the promise of efficient administration combined with scalable reach to new donors in compelling ways.
Click here to read the full story, watch videos & see the photos from the day
3rd June 2010
Ofcom revises regulations on advertising of premium rate numbers for adult and psychic PTV services
Following two years of lobbying the Association of Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME) welcomes yesterday's ‘Participation TV Part 3 (PTV3)’ statement by communications regulator, Ofcom. The statement outlines the revised regulations on the advertising of premium rate phone participation on TV, specifically around adult and psychic content.
Such PTV services were recently classified by Ofcom as teleshopping and governed by a more stringent set of rules proposed by the ASA’s Broadcast Committee for Advertising Practice (BCAP), which would have over-restricted the psychic and adult PTV industries around how their services are advertised.
AIME research into other European markets demonstrated that less intrusive regulation in markets such as Germany, where there is also a low level of complaint, has grown the interactive psychic market to around £200m per annum. The UK market for psychic PTV services has been limited to £3m per annum.
In response to the proposed rules, AIME set up an industry group to explore the impact and present its concerns and findings to Ofcom.
Click here to read the full story
3rd June 2010
Mobility Meets Compassion; New AIME Event Empowers Charities & Non-Profits to Leverage Mobile
We all have our excuses for not donating to disaster relief funds or to our favourite charities: We're broke, the donation process is too complicated or we lack the time to write and send a cheque or dial a call centre. Mobile donating--giving money to an organization via text message--makes giving a lot easier and has a significant impact on the charity’s bottom line.
These issues and more were discussed and explored during the AIME K&N full day seminar last week in London: Empowering the Charitable Sector with Interactive Technology. The event’s success has led to the formation of a Charity and Interactive Tech Special Interest Group, spearheaded by AIME, to help drive further improvements in the value chain and encourage more charitable organisations to tap into this rich seam of revenue and communications.
Click here to read the full story
25th May 2010
AIME takes charity initiative and launches Knowledge & Networking series to bring together charities and the interactive industries
- series to explore how interactivity can increase awareness, donations and engagement for charitable organisations
25th May 2010: Leading trade association for interactive industries, The Association of Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME) today announced the first event in its series of AIME K&N seminars for the charity sector: Empowering the Charitable Sector with Interactive Technology (May 27, London).
The full day event is aimed at educating and creating awareness about what interactive platforms (web, fixed telephony and mobile, email, social media and Red Button TV) can do to help engage consumers and drive higher charitable donations.
Click here to read the full story
5th May 2010
AIME Knowledge & Networking Seminar: Bringing together all Value Chain Participants involved in creating Dynamic + Effective Interactive Campaigns for Charities
In just over three week’s time, the most innovative organisations and individuals developing interactive tech solutions for charities will gather in London for the first full-day AIME Knowledge & Networking Seminar event entitled: Empowering the Charitable Sector with Interactive Technology.
The agenda is cross-industry and cross-platform, combining strategic views, executive insights and case studies from network operators, mobile aggregators, broadcasters, marketing agencies and major charitable organisations, that have run successful interactive fundraising and awareness raising campaigns in the UK and US.
The purpose of this exciting one day event is to help charities learn how to cost-effectively harness the power of interactive technology and social media platforms to boost revenue generation and awareness campaigns. The event, to be held at the Hilton London Paddington Hotel on May 27th, will also serve as a valuable networking opportunity for technology solution providers to meet key executives from charitable organisations who are keen to implement interactive strategies and strike the right partnerships.
Click here to read the full story.
29th April 2010
PhonepayPlus announces consultation for ‘stripped down’ regulatory code of practice
PhonepayPlus (Pp+) the premium rate industry regulatory body today issued details of its next consultation process that, if ratified will see it introduce a simplified Code of Practice for the premium rate industry.
The consultation is welcomed by the leading premium rate industry trade body, The Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment (AIME), and should provide a more forward looking regulatory environment that will support business growth in the sector, currently worth £850m per annum.
Click here to read the full story.
13th April 2010
AIME: new Board and launch of three year strategy to fuel support for growth in the UK Premium Rate Industry
London 13th April 2010: Industry trade association, The Association of Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME) today announced the appointment of its newly elected Board which will oversee the micropay premium industry.
The newly elected board is a mixture of movers and shakers from all sections of the interactive media industry value-chain with representatives from broadcaster ITV, network operator BT agilemedia, mobile operator ‘3’, publisher Sport Media, terminating providers Mobile Interactive Group and OpenMarket (part of US venture AmDocs), promoters Venista, Million-2-1 and D2See and finally global voting company Harvest Media Group.
Click here to read the full story.
8th March 2010
PhonepayPlus announces reduction in industry levy: AIME responds
London 8th March, 2010 - PhonepayPlus has announced that it is reducing the levy that it applies to all outpayments from companies that generate revenue from premium rate services. The levy is used to fund the regulator and its activity in overseeing the premium rate industry.
The Association of Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME) welcomes the announcement of a small reduction in the 2010/11 budget for PhonepayPlus of 3% and an associated reduction in the levy applied to the premium rate services (PRS) industry for the year to 0.21% of applicable revenues by utilising surplus fines funds.Click here to read the full story.
2nd March 2010
Premium rate complaints to industry regulator PhonepayPlus show sharp decline
- AIME led initiatives and collaboration with regulator contribute to positive quarter
London 2nd March, 2010 – Premium rate industry regulator PhonepayPlus has released its quarterly report on how well the interactive industry fared during the last three months of 2009. The report highlights a sharp decline in the amount of complaints that the regulator processed during this time period:
- Complaints to PhonepayPlus dropped by 60% for Q3 2009/10 compared to Q3 2008/9 (2,132 vs 5,442)
- This gives a complaint ratio of one complaint per 100,000 premium rate transactions; down from three complaints per 100,000 in 2007
Click here to read the full story.
3rd November 2009
Ofcom PTV3 - Rules on the promotion of premium rate services: AIME responds
Ofcom today issued a statement to strengthen the rules surrounding use of premium rate phone lines in TV and radio programmes. This follows a lengthy consultation process that started in 2007, with PTV1: ‘Protecting consumers and viewers participating in programmes’; continued with PTV2: ‘Keeping Advertising Separate from Editorial’ and now concludes with a third consultation PTV3: ‘Rules on the promotion of premium rate services’.
AIME has been representing member interests during this consultation process since 2007 and we are pleased to see light at the end of the tunnel after 3 years of consultation in the participation TV industry. The rapid growth of this industry by its very nature presented challenges for a regulatory framework not designed to encompass such services. This process has resulted in several necessary consumer safeguards being put in place by industry and regulator, and has demonstrated an ongoing need for engagement and co-operation between regulators and industry.
Click here to read the full story.
28th October 2009
Ofcom Scope Review: AIME responds
Ofcom today issued a statement following its recent consultation on the premium rate services industry. Specifically the scope review focuses on four key areas:
- Defining what is a premium rate service
- Pricing transparency for premium rate services
- A registration scheme for service promoters
- Complaint handling
AIME has, for many years now, stressed the need for engagement and co-operation between regulators and industry and has been instrumental in highlighting and driving these four issues forward by bringing together regulators, service promoters and operators. In particular AIME has been most vocal around the need for a registration scheme for operators of these services.
Click here to read the full story.
21st October 2009
Global Mobile Organizations Support Mobile Advertising Ecosystem Ebook
London, UK – October 21st, 2009 – MSearchGroove, the source of analysis and commentary on mobile advertising, mobile search and social media, today announced the launch of MobileAd World Focus, a global roundup of the trends, technologies and campaigns impacting the emerging mobile advertising business ecosystem at all levels created in partnership with Convergence World.
Endorsed by leading global mobile organisations including the Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment (AIME), the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF), the Mobile Data Association (MDA) and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), this publication will educate the marketplace, highlight growth opportunities and expertly document the best practices that make business sense..
Click here to read the full story.
30th July 2009
AIME launches Affiliate Scheme to support companies providing 087 numbers
London 30th July, 2009 - On 1st August 087 numbers will be reclassified as ‘Controlled Premium Rate Services’ (PRS) and this means that regulation will fall under the remit of PhonepayPlus (PP+).
Any company that is reselling 087 services (excluding 0870) will need to follow the PP+ Code of Practice and as such comply with a new set of regulatory practices and responsibilities. This includes things like registration as a service provider with the Information Commissioners Office, undergoing due diligence processes with your customers, and contributing to the PP+ levy.
Click here to read the full story.
16th July 2009
AIME Best Practice Guidelines for managing mobile Premium Rate Services launched with commitments from first five Terminating Providers
London 24th June, 2009 – The Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment (AIME) has brought together the UK’s leading mobile SMS aggregators (Terminating Providers) to fuse Best Practices, Standards and Guidelines which relate to the planning, deployment and management of premium rate mobile services.
AIME members, who are mobile Terminating Providers, and typically also Application Providers, have agreed a series of measures to reduce the incidence of Merchant Promoters (MP) who cause consumer harm by breaching the PhonepayPlus Code of Conduct and other regulations. The AIME members that commit to follow the Best Practice Guidelines have agreed to implement all steps and procedures contained in these guidelines.
Click here to read the full story.
24th Jun 2009
AIME to co-ordinate industry response to PhonepayPlus 12th Code of Practice
London 24th June, 2009 – AIME, the industry association for interactive media and entertainment, welcomes today’s announcement by PhonepayPlus that it intends to undertake a significant review of its Code of Practice.
Today’s announcement launched a wide-ranging discussion paper on the development of the 12th Code and takes into account Ofcom’s current Scope Review Consultation as a foundation for four main changes to the current regulatory regime.
Click here to read the full story.
30 Mar 2009
AIME elects Ed Boddington of Harvest Media as new Chairman
The Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment (AIME) – the leading trade body in the interactive media sector – is pleased to announce that Ed Boddginton, CEO and Founder of Harvest Media Group, has been elected as Chairman of the AIME Board.
In his role as chairman Ed will oversee and steer AIME through its various core functions including representing AIME members’ interests to industry regulatory bodies such as Ofcom, PhonePayPlus and the ASA, and also help members to connect with each other through various initiatives to advance all forms of Interactive Media business.
Click here to read the full story.
30th April 2008
Ofcom to announce that ITV faces a record £4m fine for phone line fiasco
According to news reports Ofcom is set to hand down a £4m fine to ITV as the media watchdog publishes conclusions of its six month investigation in to the UK commercial broadcaster. The investigation follows the premium rate phone-in fiascos of last year which involved many high-profile flagship ITV shows such as Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and Soap Star Super Star.
Click here to read the full story.
8 April 2008
AIME launches Interactive Broadcast Services Guide
- cross platform guide outlines best practice for broadcasters and service providers
AIME, (formerly the NOC) the trade association for the interactive media and entertainment industry, today launched its free Interactive Broadcast Services Guide. The guide provides practical advice on the processes involved in executing interactive and premium rate services such as programme voting, reverse auctions, competitions, text to screen and chat, from mobile phones, interactive voice response (IVR) and red button on digital TV.
Click here to read the full story.
18 March 2008
NOC rebrands as AIME and elects new board to reflect changing value chain for interactive media
Network for Online Commerce (NOC), the trade association for the Interactive Media and Entertainment industry, today announced that it has re-branded as the Association for Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME) to reflect the changing industry landscape and evolving technololgy and service provider value-chain around interactive media.
Click here to read the full story.
09 January 2008
NOC commissions survey into the effectiveness or not of Payforit – have your say
The introduction of the Payforit WAP-like billing mechanism in the UK last year has been mired in controversy, with service providers and content and media companies questioning whether it offers the necessary flexibility and usability to open up the mobile content market. In response to these concerns, the Network for Online Commerce ( NOC ), the leading trade body for the interactive media and entertainment industry, has commissioned the Fathom Consultancy Group to undertake a survey of the Payforit billing system employed by the Mobile Network Operators.
Click here to read the full story.
18th October 2007
News Reaction: Today Deloitte report for ITV will reveal extent of premium rate phone fiascos
ITV has just revealed the results of a self imposed investigation by accountancy firm Deloitte, which details the extent of the premium rate phone fiascos that have rocked the premium rate, interactive and broadcast industries since ‘Richard and Judy day’ back in February 07.
Click here to read the full story…
©
