It was brought to my attention this evening that a certain company wants to start using a texting service to draw more customers into restaurants. The idea is that you every time a restaurant has extra food, it sends out a text message its audience for a sale of that food to get rid of it for a discounted price as opposed to just have to throw it out.

Now, this is something that is already possible with Twitter for free. Twitter can be accessed by both computer and cell phone. So, if a restaurant can already do this for free, why set up a service to do it, charge $1,000 to set up the service and $200/month to maintain it?

Well, here's one problem? Suppose you do not want folks seeing your message online? With Twitter, all tweets are normally viewed online.

Here's another problem. How's the restaurant supposed to get news of a special offering to the company that is providing this service? Should a restaurant send an email? Should it pick up the phone and leave a voicemail message?

How should the restaurant message be sent to its opt-in audience voice-mail or text message?

I think the coolest way to do it would be via voicemail that is forwarded from the restaurant to the cell phone client. I think the voice of the restaurant chef or owner is important as a means of "branding" the announcement. I think Pamela Systems can do this. I am not sure that Jott can forward someone else's voicemail message. But, I intend to find out.

Due to the need for considerable bandwidth - you have hundreds of restaurants each with hundreds or more customers - is this something that will require "cloud computing?"

Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
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