June 2010 Round up

Knowledge & Networking News

Dear Members and Colleagues,

June was a busy month for member networking and raising AIME’s profile at different events, from speaker panels at World Telemedia Malta to the London event Open Mobile Summit.  Positively, both events proved useful grounds for recruiting new AIME members, with Tele2 and Stan James signing up, and others in the pipeline. In July AIME is partnering 3 member events for merchant promoters, to discuss the 12th Code and AIME strategy, and I hope we will continue  to grow membership ranks, increasing value for all members.
 
The power of sponsorship – thank you to the AIME K&N Footie event sponsors, Open Market, Cellcast and Oxygen8 for influencing England’s only win of the 2010 World Cup Finals. On a gorgeously hot summer’s day it was good to see so many members squeezed into a small London Pub, running up a healthy bar tab, and remaining to network long after the game petered out into the last 10 minutes as England desperately hugged the Slovenia corner flag.

Should any member wish to come along for further refreshments this Wednesday at the AIME Golf Day please let Bianca know. Silvermere golf club has an impressive terrace overlooking stunning lakes and most importantly the 18th green, where much hilarity is expected when watching the 52 AIME members trying to hit the target across 100 yards of water.
 
Once again, thank you to all those who turned up to our 12th Code meeting at Simmons & Simmons last month, your valuable input has been distilled to a 1st draft now in circulation and we expect to circulate final comments soon – more below. We hope that all members where possible send supporting statements to Pp+ referencing AIME’s final 12th Code submission, when appropriate to do so later this month. With all these consultations it is important to register your views even if it is a few lines of supporting comment.
 
Best wishes,

Toby Padgham
AIME General Secretary

Chairman's Brief

Dear Members,

Figures presented at this  week's AIME GM suggest the first signs of an upturn in industry  revenues and I was delighted to hear discussions around the table that  many members are starting to see this reality on the ground. This is great  news, though the question now turns to how we sustain and accelerate this  momentum as well as invest for the future.  It's also important to  stress that industry revenues are still well down on where they were 2  years ago.

At the beginning of June AIME joined  industry participants at World Telemedia in Malta. The trip was a great  opportunity to discuss informally the lay of the land with both members  and the wider industry. During participation in the Telemedia panel  debates I believe AIME summed up the prevailing views of industry that  regulatory uncertainty has been one of the barriers to innovation and  industry growth. It is therefore imperative that the 12th Code and its  implementation brings this needed clarity.

After countless years of AIME  lobbying the proposed 12th Code promises to pick up on many of the  industry’s key requests; an industry registration scheme, targeted  accountability throughout the value chain and a commitment to a  reinvigorated Informal Procedure. My thanks goes to the companies who  joined AIME’s full day of 12th Code discussions earlier this month to  hammer out industry’s remaining concerns over the Code proposals. A good  number of practical suggestions came forward, which have fed into AIME’s  response.

AIME has been keen to pick-up on the  overwhelming and not unexpected feedback that the success of the Code  relies on its proportionate implementation. I am delighted to announce  this month that AIME has set up a board focus group to work directly with  PhonepayPlus to address issues of trust, transparency and proportionality  in the agency’s process.  More details on this to follow in the  coming weeks.
  
The 12th Code will of course extend  responsibility down the value chain placing Merchant Promoters in the full  glare of the regulatory spotlight for the first time. In July AIME will be  running events with members, OpenMarket, WIN and MIG, to raise awareness  amongst their clients of the new responsibilities. AIME would be happy to  work with other members who would like to hold similar events and I would  encourage interested members to contact zoe@aimelink.org.
 
Finally, welcome to our new members  this quarter.  We have been very pleased with the increase in  membership this year.

Edward Boddington
AIME Chair

Showcase

AIME helps to give Interactive Technology in the Third Sector a Boost

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 and to see video interviews & photos from the day...

 

Representation

Meetings

  • Regulatory Best Practice working group meeting - 2nd June
  • Stakeholder meeting with IAB & IMRG re M-Commerce Research - 8th June
  • AIME speaking on panels at World Telemedia  - 10th June
  • 12th Code working group meeting - 16th June
  • Regulatory Best Practice working group meeting - 18th June
  • Ofcom Quarterly Meeting - 17th June
  • PhonepayPlus 12th Code workshop - 24th June
  • AIME General Meeting - 30th June

 

AIME Initiative: Regulatory Best Practice

  • AIME has formally submitted its Regulatory Process Strategy Paper to PhonepayPlus which sets out areas to address to ensure a regulatory framework that supports industry innovation, investment and growth; this has been broken into 4 areas for development:
    • Structure & Legality
    • Industry Confidence
    • Converged Media Services (Future Technology)
    • SLAs (Including KPIs)
  • PhonepayPlus has responded positively to work with AIME & members on this strategy
  • Next steps:
    • Working Group conference call 8th July   
    • Working group to meet with PhonepayPlus 13th July
    • Members can obtain further information from zoe@aimelink.org 

AIME Initiative: Interactive Broadcast Forum

  • AIME working with MNOs to determine network capabilities for Voice Short Codes
  • PTV Regulation change proposal:
    • Provisional view received from Ofcom, final decision from Senior Management expected in July

AIME Initiative: PTV Psychic / Tarot

  • Ofcom Statement published 3rd June - positively received by Members. 
  • AIME influential in:  
    • achieving more flexibility for live psychic TV promotion
    • highlighting that the majority of Psychic Services contain no threat or evidence of consumer harm
       
  • AIME Best Practice Guide for Live Psychic Services now finalised ready for Service Providers to sign up to - launched at World Telemedia in Malta 

AIME Initiative: Payforit Research

  • Payforit Research working group agreed stage 1 is for Industry to generate statistics on user journeys through various service types to determine drop-off ratios - APIs currently setting up with clients

AIME NEW Working Groups:

  • AIME to set up 2 new working groups:
    • Interactive Technology for the Charity Sector
    • Fixed Line Forum

Industry Research Project

12th Code of Practice & Registration

  • AIME members' working group meeting 16th June - thanks to members who attended and provided comments to be included in the AIME consultation response
  • AIME first draft response circulate to members for comment - feedback welcome to zoe@aimelink.org
  • AIME attended PhonepayPlus 12th Code workshop 24th June to provide initial member feedback
  • Consultation response deadline extended until 15th July - AIME final draft to be circulated to members shortly
  • AIME also organising 12th code awareness events in July with Terminating Provider members for their Merchant Promoter clients - any interested members to contact zoe@aimelink.org

Regulatory Meetings

  • AIME quarterly meeting with Ofcom - informal discussions on:
    • NTS Review – AIME offered to hold Industry round table to gather information
    • AIME re-emphasised disadvantage of fixed £1.50 cap
    • Outlined uncertainty for Industry re PRS Bad Debt
    • Informal consultation with AIME/ILP on Controlled PRS Definition in July
    • AIME thanked Ofcom on the positive engagement and pragmatic regulatory approach re Psychic PTV

Regulatory Update

Industry Consultations

Regulator Statements

Ofcom - Participation TV - Rules on the promotion of PRS

  • Ofcom Statement issued 3rd June
  • Reclassification of PTV content and changes to Advertising Code effective 1st September
  • Broadcasters must make change to annex of Broadcast license from ‘editorial’ to ‘teleshopping’ before Sept change
  • Amended Advertising rule in BCAP code for Live Psychic & Adult Teleshopping Services will be enforced by Ofcom
  • Key changes to original Ofcom proposals:
    • Psychic services no longer need to be under specialist sections of EPG and can appear in teleshopping windows on open channels
    • Psychic services can simulcast to all teleshopping windows
    • No time restriction on broadcast of psychic services on open channels providing within teleshopping slot
    • Teleshopping windows on public service broadcasters restricted to 12-6 and may contain psychic services
    • Adult content will be allowed on open channels subject to new 12am watershed  

Ofcom/ADVOD - Regulatory fees for video on demand services for the period up to 31st March 2011

  • Ofcom/ADVOD statement issued 17th June

AIME Responses

Ofcom - Review of Non Geographic Call Services - Call for Input

  • Ofcom to carryout complete groud-up review of what regualtion is necessary
  • Ofcom published call for input paper, AIME submitted response suggesting the following to be included in the review
    • Pricing Transparency
    • Number Plan
    • Regulation of Revenue Share
    • Higher Rate PRS
    • PRS Bad Debt
    • 0871 Classification
  • AIME offered to host Industry roundtable to discuss the content of the review before publication
  • Formal consultation expected in September

PhonepayPlus - Multi-party Chat

  • AIME Response submitted, PhonepayPlus statement expected in July
  • Proposal to bring Multi-party chat regulation in line with live 1-2-1 chat
  • AIME raised concerns over PhonepayPlus delay allowing reintroduction
  • AIME calls for review of continued need for spend reminders & forced release

Open Consultations

PhonepayPlus - New PhonepayPlus Code of Practice 

  • AIME member working group  held 16th June to co-ordinate Industry response
  • AIME currently finalising response
  • Response deadline extended until 15th July

Ofcom - Approval of PhonepayPlus Code of Practice (12th edition)

  • Ofcom consultation published 29th April seeking approval of PhonepayPlus 12th Code
  • Response deadline extended until 15th July

Industry consultations & AIME responses can be found on the AIME website
AIME encourages members to also respond individually to consultations 
For further information please contact Zoe@aimelink.org

Information & Networking

  • New members: Telecom 2, Stan James
  • AIME attended World Telemedia in Malta with 2 speaking slots on panel debates:
    • Telemedia Essentials 1: Adult, Chat & Dating - David Ashman, AIME
    • Telemedia Essentials 2: Psychic & Horoscope - Adam Maxted, AIME Psychic PTV Chair - launched AIME Best Practice guide for Live Psychic Services
  • Hosted successful World Cup networking event for members - 23rd June
  • Member Email alerts sent out including:
    • PhonepayPlus Consultations: 12th Code AIME Draft Response, Multi-Party Chat AIME Draft Response,
    • Invitation to complete AIME - M-Commerce Survey
    • Invitation to AIME's  12th Code Working Group 
    • Update on PTV Regulation change proposal - provisional view from Ofcom
    • AIME VIP Golf Day

Member News

Mobile Interactive Group ( MIG ) a global integrated mobile and digital communications business today announces the acquisition of mobile marketing and CRM software provider Piri Limited for an undisclosed sum.

Mobile Interactive Technology ( MIT ) has been appointed by Britain’s largest multi channel television provider BSkyB, to power a range of Interactive Services through MIT’s Messaging Platform MIDAS including BSkyB’s SMS Alerts Services and a range of micropayment mechanics. 

London, Thursday 24th June 2010: Premium mobile advertising agency 4th Screen Advertising has secured the exclusive mobile advertising contract with Global Radio, the UK’s largest commercial radio group. 

- Interactive SMS delivers improved communication and fraud prevention to Bank of America’s European card holders-

5th July 2010: Bank of America, Europe’s largest credit card provider under its MBNA subsidiary ( www.mbna.co.uk ), is offering a new mobile banking text service to customers through its partnership with Oxygen8 Communications, ( www.oxygen8.com ) the micro-billing, communications and mobile enablement specialist. The partnership allows customers of Bank of America to request account information by SMS as well as a text message based fraud prevention service.

 

Dates for your diary!

7th July - AIME VIP Golf Day - please contact bianca@aimelink.org for details of team sponsorship packages 
8th September - AIME GM - members only
21-22nd September - ad:tech - AIME Supporting Association, member discount
29th September - Mobile Squared Roadshow Europe - AIME Supporting Association
17-19th November - The Media Festival - AIME Supporting Association, member discount
30th Nov-1st Dec - appsworld - AIME Supporting Association, member discount

If you would like further information on any of AIME's activities, initiatives or benefits of membership, please contact me at zoe@aimelink.org

Kind Regards,

Zoe Patterson
General Manager

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AIME - Success in Interactive Media


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