Coupons Go Mobile

Remember when you're mother would cut coupons out of the newspaper?

Now, hand her a Jitterbug cell phone(just kidding) and let her sign up for some free advertisements - ranging from CDs and DVDs to fast food. According to this Wall Street Journal article, several small mobile-marketing firms are looking to the mobile internet to broadcast coupons. "Hungry cellphone talkers can, for instance, use coupons for buy-one-get-one free chili dogs at hog-dog chain Wienerschnitzel's stores."

Over a million users have signed up for this service, offered by the mobile marketing firm Cellfire.

The cell screenshot says it all - the cellphone itself acts as a digital coupon that can be scanned at the register. A more wireless/cellphone-friendly way (for instance, an email between the phone to the register) to save is not yet available. The firm has linked up about 200 marketers, including Virgin Megastores, Hollywood Video, Domino's Pizza and Quiznos Subs. You've got a lot of food and entertainment in those categories.

Personally, I think this is a great idea - people would use this far more than they would use the hard copy coupons, mostly because you have your cell phone on you at all times.

The emerging mobile marketing business has been looking for a pleasant, not-so-offensive way of advertising on cell phones. This seems to be one of the better ways to do that - giving the user a choice and a service, while promising some savings.

It sort of makes you wonder how Google's cell phone service is going to work, which is rumored to be completely free.