Cellular South Enhances 'Discover Centers'

By Niladri Sekhar Nath

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Cellular South, a developer of wireless solutions, is kicking its in-store and online Discover Center wireless and mobile Web education initiative into high gear in response to overwhelmingly positive customer interest.

 

Launched online and in all of the Mississippi-based wireless carrier’s retail locations in July, the Discover Center helps customers navigate the world of wireless so they can choose the mobile tools and specially designed packages that best fit their needs and learn how to use them.

 

Cellular South customers who visit the Discover Center online or in person at retail outlets learn how to do everything from accessing the mobile web, taking pictures and video and text messaging to checking weather, sports, news and travel and even accessing social networking sites like Facebook (News - Alert) from their mobile device.

 

“Since we introduced this initiative in our retail stores two months ago, customers and visitors have been very impressed that we have specially trained and knowledgeable staff to help them unlock the true potential of their wireless devices,” said Suzy Hays, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for Cellular South. “Our online site is leading the industry with simple, easy and understandable tips, tools and instructions to help customers learn how to access sports, weather, news, travel and entertainment information and other valuable content while on the go.”

 

Unlike programs offered by other carriers, Cellular South’s Discover Center initiative is focused on sustained wireless and mobile web education and helping customers find and learn how to use the tools, applications and services they need to better manage their busy lives on virtually any wireless device.

 

Along with the Discover Centers, Cellular South is introducing personalized, bundled mobile web content geared towards customers with specific needs and interests like sports, weather, shopping and politics.

 

So far, Cellular South has rolled out a Smart Mom package to help on-the-go family managers through e-mail, calendar coordination, maps, recipes and driving directions; an Olympics package that provided fans with news, photos, schedules, scores and updates during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China; an Election 2008 package that provides breaking news on the upcoming presidential election and highlights of the recently concluded major political party conventions and a Gridiron package that focuses on content, information, teams, players and scores for college and professional football.

 

The company’s Discover Center initiative is being fueled by statistics that show most consumers aren’t fully benefiting from the mobile web, despite the fact that there are 197 million users nationwide who have access to the Internet on their devices. According to a July 2008 research report by Nielsen Mobile (News - Alert), only 15.6 percent of wireless consumers with access actively use the mobile Internet.

 

“Through this initiative, we are making customers aware of all of the useful things they can be doing with their wireless phone, while helping those who might be intimidated by technology learn how to expand their use outside of traditional voice and text services,” Hays said. “Based on our research, we are the only wireless carrier that has launched this type of comprehensive initiative designed to help customers become more familiar and comfortable accessing and using wireless devices to their full potential.”

 

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