Moviegoers and Cell Phones

Moviegoers and Cell Phones

July 18, 2005

As a trial launch, three Loews theatres will offer movie promotional items via your cell phone, powered by BlueTooth technologies. Last month, 20th Century Fox signed a deal with Loews Cineplex Entertainment to distribute ring tones, movie trailers, and pictures to your cell phone via a kiosk as part of a promotional opportunity.

Moviegoers with BlueTooth powered wireless phones, will get a message sent to them when they walk into the theatre notifying them of this new service. The Loews theatres testing this new idea are located in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Grant Wakelin, chief executive of the WideRay, the San Francisco company that developed the wireless technology behind the service stated, "Everyone in the entertainment space is looking for creative new ways to access consumers. This is a cool new approach."

There is no fee from the cell phone's service provider and it takes about 30 seconds to download a full movie trailer. Users can also download ringtones, like one from "Kingdom of Heaven" that says, "Protect the stones!" Wallpaper can also be downloaded, featuring images the popular movies.

Currently the Fox promotion is only available to those phones equipped with BlueTooth technologies. This is a new and entertaining way to promote the new movies of the season.

Click here to find out more about cell phone service.