Interactive Advertising

AAFES Expands Mobile Marketing Efforts to 120 Retail Stores Nationwide

2010-06-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

Partnership with CrossLink Media extended 5 years

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, May 26, 2010 — The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), a joint military activity providing quality merchandise and services to the military and their families, has expanded its mobile marketing efforts to 120 primary retail stores nationwide. Since 2008, AAFES has been sending money saving offers to military shoppers’ mobile phones at seven installations through an exclusive partnership with CrossLink Media, provider of interactive mobile solutions. The AAFES Mobile Marketing program has been a great success with 2009 revenues yielding more than $600,000, which is directly linked to the mobile marketing efforts. Redemption rates for the AAFES mobile offerings have even reached as high as 30% (Typically, printed coupons average less than one percent redemption).

“Serving a diverse customer base like America’s military requires AAFES to seek opportunities to engage military shoppers through a variety of mediums,” says David Haning, Chief of Customer Relationship Marketing. “Enhancing the exchange’s value proposition through “smart” and “mobile” devices is consistent with our mission to deliver competitively priced goods and services to the military communities AAFES serves,”

After a mandatory open call for proposals from other major mobile companies, AAFES once again selected CrossLink Media as their exclusive mobile marketing partner for the next five years. CrossLink Media offers a robust, user-friendly mobile messaging platform, MessageLink, as well as superior customer service which makes them a strong partner for AAFES.

“AAFES was an early adopter of mobile messaging,” says Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media. “We are proud to continue our partnership by offering them an easy to use and effective way to connect with their shoppers.”

In recent years mobile subscribers have embraced mobile messaging at an astonishing rate. With more than five billion text messages being sent daily in the US[i], it is no surprise that the average mobile subscriber sends more text messages than phone calls.[ii] Coupling that with a down economy, there has never been a better time to utilize mobile coupons.

About CrossLink Media
CrossLink Media, a leading interactive mobile company, provides mobile solutions that connect brands with consumers, anytime, anywhere via their most personal device – the wireless phone. Its proprietary software platform, MessageLink, allows organizations, brands and media companies to effectively communicate with consumers in real-time and with measurable results. CrossLink Media also services brands with its proprietary Bluetooth ad-serving software, BlueLink, which enables brands to further develop their customer relationships within close proximity to the BlueLink device.

CrossLink Media creates, manages and delivers mobile campaigns via relationships with all major wireless carriers throughout the United States. Whether it’s broadcast, print, outdoor, or online, CrossLink Media cuts through the advertising clutter and creates a one-on-one relationship with the mobile consumer. For more information, visit www.CrossLinkMedia.com.

About Army and Air Force Exchange Service
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. AAFES has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. To find out more about AAFES' history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.aafes.com/pa/default.asp.

2010-03-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

Cinema Solutions and CrossLink Media Partner to Provide Interactive Mobile Marketing to Movie Theatres Nationwide

Introducing a SMS text marketing program tailored to the cinema industry.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA and SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, (March 17, 2010) — Cinema Solutions announces a strategic partnership with CrossLink Media, provider of interactive mobile solutions, to offer mobile marketing plans tailored specifically to the cinema industry. Cinema Solutions is well established in offering e-Procurement solutions and this partnership has inspired them to bring a technology solution to the marketing side of the business.

With more than 275 million mobile subscribers[i] in the US and more than 25% of Americans participating in at least one, and as many as ten, SMS marketing programs every month[ii], Cinema Solutions felt the time was right for a mobile offering. “Mobile marketing is proving to be a cost-effective and personal way to engage patrons,” said Anthony Kylitis, VP Marketing & Account Services. “Cinema Solutions found the right mobile partner in CrossLink Media with an offering of easy to use and measurable products that can be extended to our clients.”

Cinema Solutions’ mobile marketing program utilizes features like mobile alerts and mobile coupons to help theaters drive traffic into their locations and increase concession revenues. They can further enhance the experience to opt-in subscribers by using tools like mobile trivia, mobile barcodes, mobile voting and sweepstakes.

The mobile marketing program uses SMS technology to send short text messages to and from mobile devices. Theaters will use in-store advertising, along with all other forms of media, to promote the new mobile marketing program. In addition, they can run mobile promotions and continue to build a subscriber base through additional opt-in campaigns. Pricing has been designed to be affordable for any size theater chain and can be scaled according to the theater’s needs and budget.

“CrossLink Media is excited to be able to offer highly targeted campaigns to the cinema industry.” said Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media. “Cinema Solutions is an ideal partner with a commitment to offering well-developed technical solutions to their clients.”

About CrossLink Media

CrossLink Media, a leading interactive mobile company, provides mobile solutions that connect brands with consumers, anytime, anywhere via their most personal device – the wireless phone. Its proprietary software platform, MessageLink, allows organizations, brands and media companies to effectively communicate with consumers in real-time and with measurable results. CrossLink Media also services brands with its proprietary Bluetooth ad-serving software, BlueLink, which enables brands to further develop their customer relationships within close proximity to the BlueLink device.

CrossLink Media creates, manages and delivers mobile campaigns via relationships with all major wireless carriers throughout the United States. Whether it’s broadcast, print, outdoor, or online, CrossLink Media cuts through the advertising clutter and creates a one-on-one relationship with the mobile consumer. For more information, visit www.CrossLinkMedia.com.

About Cinema Solutions

Cinema Solutions, Inc. is a software company dedicated to providing advanced electronic purchasing management (e-Procurement) solutions to small-to-medium size businesses as well as large companies. All of our solutions are built on the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) deployment model. In fact, we are proud to say we were providing SaaS solutions even before the term "SaaS" was coined. SaaS is taking the software world by storm and is quickly becoming the preferred deployment model for B2B software. For more information, visit http://www.CinemaSolutions.com.

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CrossLink Media Announces Solution Partnership with Rackspace Hosting

2009-04-08T12:12:00.000-07:00

CrossLink Media Teams With Rackspace to Provide Customers with a Reliable and Scalable Managed Infrastructure

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - (April 8, 2009) - CrossLink Media today announced they have become a Select Partner in the Solution Partner Network with Rackspace® Hosting, (NYSE: RAX), the world’s leader and specialist in hosted IT services. This agreement is designed to add mutual value for their current clients and to increase targeted exposure and reputation for both companies.

CrossLink Media delivers interactive mobile solutions that create one-on-one relationships and engages mobile consumers. Its core product, MessageLink, provides an enterprise-level solution that is used by leading brands, government entities, advertising/marketing agencies and entertainment companies. CrossLink Media connects technologies in order to create a truly interactive consumer experience.

“Rackspace can provide our customers with a solid and reliable infrastructure on which to grow their business. This is increasingly important to us given our expanding roster of mobile marketing clients,” said Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media. “Rackspace is the perfect solution partner for us as we both share the same passion for excellence and customer support.”

“CrossLink Media is an innovative company in the mobile space and these types of relationships help us provide our customers with more value-added services,” said Scott White, director of channel sales, Rackspace Hosting.

About CrossLink Media: CrossLink Media, a leading interactive mobile software company, provides mobile solutions that create a truly interactive consumer experience. Its proprietary software platform, MessageLink, allows organizations, brands and media companies to effectively communicate with consumers in real-time and with measurable results. CrossLink Media also services brands with its proprietary Bluetooth ad-serving software, BlueLink, which enables brands to further develop their customer relationships within close proximity to the BlueLink device.

CrossLink Media creates, manages and delivers mobile campaigns via relationships with all major wireless carriers throughout the United States. CrossLink Media’s mobile network provides access to over 200 million wireless phone subscribers in the U.S. and can extend this network to reach over 2 billion consumers worldwide. Whether it’s broadcast, print, outdoor, or online, CrossLink Media cuts through the advertising clutter and creates a one-on-one relationship with the mobile consumer. For more information, visit www.CrossLinkMedia.com.

Phones now: info in, info out

2009-03-16T03:59:00.000-07:00

Source: San Antonio Express-News

When Jo Michele Pierson leaves the house to run errands, the first thing on her list is to pull out her phone and send a message to a group of 157 friends — here and around the world — about what she's doing.

Most moments of her life are chronicled like this. She's been doing it so long, via a free service called Bright Kite, that it's second nature to the 34-year-old college student.

Whether she's stuck in a line at a store, having a coughing fit at home, buying a cane-sugar Dr Pepper at Buc-ees or earning her beads at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, they'll know minutes after she does it. And they'll react, offering up their thoughts and their location.

“It's nice to get a real-time point of view of what's going on,” says Pierson. “It's interesting to know who's doing what. You have a certain level of interaction with these people even if you're not with them. It becomes a multidimensional relationship.”

These dimensions include photos, video, text messages and GPS location. And every once in a while, Pierson makes phone calls.

Welcome to the new world of geo-location, where information is the way people communicate and the wireless phone has evolved into a beacon. Combining social media, GPS mapping, Internet search engines and the multimedia capabilities of modern wireless devices, phones are now an always-on, two-way street of data that people use to navigate the world and stay connected around the clock.

With a phone, you can find your way, find a restaurant, find your friends, find a movie and find (and avoid) a speed trap.

David Lee, a software developer whose company created the iPhone app Car Spotter, says the phone's GPS function creates a new layer of information that wasn't there before — constant knowledge of location.

Car Spotter lets users leave their car in a large parking area, make a note of it on the phone, wander afar and then have a digital bread-crumb trail to follow back to their vehicle.
“People want to know where they are and what's around them,” Lee said in an e-mail interview. “It gives them bearings.”

Geo-aware applications, Lee said, save people time and money and allow “convergence” with their surroundings.

That's possible, says Dan Costa, PC Magazine's executive editor, because of the evolution of wireless phones from voice devices to computers.

“They have the computing power of a PC from 10 years ago,” Costa says. “Your phone is more powerful than your first PC was. A cellular phone connection is a cellular data connection. You can do anything with your phone that you can do with your PC.”

And it does even more — a phone is portable and most new ones have GPS capabilities.

“The thing that a phone brings that a PC can't is portability,” he said. “And they're location-specific. They travel with you. There are a host of applications that aren't just about what you're doing, but where you are. They fix you at a time and place, as well as being able to reach you. It's not about sending you a discount movie theater ticket while you're at work or home, but sending you a discount coupon as you enter the mall.”

But it's not just wireless users seeking info. Marketers are realizing the value of the phone as a pipeline to your pocket or purse.

The first wave was text messaging contests, such as the voting for “American Idol” or television news polls. Then came interactive advertising, where viewers could opt in to get text messages of trivia and promos from television shows and bands.

Now merchants are designing ways to make it worth your while to give them access to your cell phone.

A local auto dealer sends out a list of car deals for drivers who text in a special number. And an apartment ownership group has rolled a system to notify tenants of special events and send them reminders when rent is due.

Santikos Theatres has taken the lead among local companies using the technology. The Santikos Mobile VIP club takes seconds to join and puts users on a list that receives weekly text messages about showtimes, coupons and special offers.

“It makes so much sense,” says Meghan Vincent, Santikos' director of communications. “Stand in a lobby in any theater. Whenever a movie lets out, every kid that comes out of that auditorium turns on their cell phone and starts texting.

“That's our demographic.”

Right now, the system is limited in what it can do. In the future, patrons will be able to buy tickets via text message.

Vincent imagines that text-messaging will come into play in the auditoriums, too. There might be Friday night interactive trivia contests. Audience members could vote, via text, on what trailers will be shown before a movie. Or maybe there will be contests to see which high school is most heavily represented in the crowd, like a digital “spirit stick.”

And it goes further. Brad Beasley, whose CrossLink Media developed and manages Santikos' system, sees the day when theaters have designated “Bluetooth Zones.” Those would be areas where customers would have to opt in and allow Bluetooth connectivity with the theater's computer system. Once the systems are in sync, customers could receive streaming media — such as movie trailers, entertainment news, locally produced content — on their phones.
“This opens up a whole new area for marketing, advertising and for customers,” Beasley said.
CrossLink has also developed systems for military exchanges, which send coupons and news of special sales to military families. He's drafting a system for his church, which will allow the pastor to offer interactive sermons.

And the CrossLink system has been rolled out for United Apartment Group, which owns 6,000 apartments in 36 complexes all over town. Besides the monthly-rent and special-event reminders, there are plans to send news that's specific to each tenant, says Katrina Campbell of Outside The Box, a promotion company that works with UAG. Right now, that's an on-demand texting service for apartment hunters, offering the company's hottest deals.

So far, only a few tenants have opted in for the system. United and Outside The Box are pushing it for all residents of their properties.

As the program ramps up, there are numerous options still to be realized — traffic updates specific to each complex that can be sent to tenants, an ability for tenants to make maintenance requests to a centralized dispatch, even emergency evacuation messages in case of fire or natural disasters.

All of these uses become possible, says Wendy Welsh, Outside The Box president, because of the changing role of the phone.

The first generation of wireless users viewed the devices as private phones because of the high costs, Welsh said. Now, as rates have dropped and more people have dropped land lines, the cell phone is their phone of choice. That makes text communication more effective.

The basic premise behind the text messaging systems, Campbell says, is simple.

“People will ignore an e-mail and they'll screen calls. But they always read a text message. And everyone always has their phone with them.”

Costa says more and more companies and phone users will join the interactive community.
“You're going to see more people using their phone as a total communication platform,” he says. “That's where a phone still excels and can't be beat. It's still text communication in real-time, e-mail communication and in many ways it's almost faster and easier to reach in your pocket and send an e-mail than finding a computer.”

CrossLink Media’s Brad Beasley to Present at Innotech San Antonio

2009-03-06T03:17:00.000-08:00

CrossLink Media’s Brad Beasley to Present at Innotech San Antonio

CrossLink Media's Brad Beasley on FOX Business Channel

2009-02-03T04:02:00.000-08:00

CrossLink Media's Brad Beasley on FOX Business Channel

Please Hold, My Cellphone Is Buying a Gift

2008-12-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

Source: Wall Street Journal
By JOSEPH DE AVILA

Retailers eager to attract holiday shoppers are expanding their digital efforts to reach them this season.

Stores like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are using more text-message alerts to spread the news about sales. Online retailers like Buy.com Inc. are sending out daily messages on Twitter, a blogging site that uses short messages, to advertise the latest holiday specials. The Gap Inc., Target Corp., Sears Holdings Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. are pushing new mobile programs this year, too.

Retailers hope these efforts make it easier for customers to shop online, with their cellphones or even at brick-and-mortar stores. And while the prices touted digitally are basically the same as those offered in the store, retailers say customers can get news of sales earlier than with other methods, such as commercials or circulars.

This digital outreach comes as retailers worry about weak sales during what typically is their busiest time of year. Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 5, shoppers spent $14.92 billion online, essentially the same as last year, according to a report released Sunday by research firm comScore Inc. Still, on Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving, holiday shoppers spent $846 million, a 15% increase from last year, comScore's report said.

Connecting with busy shoppers through their mobile phones "is even more important right now" for retailers, given the tough economic climate, says Brad Beasley, president of CrossLink Media, a mobile-marketing firm.

Most cellphones support the promotional text messages. But many advanced shopping and commerce features are built for specific smart phones, such as the Apple iPhone. Most programs, like text-message alerts, require consumers to sign up either through their phones or via the Web.

Wal-Mart is sending out more-frequent text-message alerts to its shoppers who signed up for the service, says Melissa O'Brien a spokeswoman for the company. Last year, Wal-Mart sent out three alerts to shoppers' cellphones the entire holiday season. This year, the company is sending out weekly alerts that customers can tailor by category. Last week, Wal-Mart sent customers text messages detailing holiday specials on toys and home electronics. Shoppers can click on links within the text messages that will take them to Wal-Mart's mobile Web site to find additional details and reviews of that item.

Buy.com is sending out daily deals on Twitter, a Web site on which users send and share short messages via the Web, text-messages and email, says Neel Grover, Buy.com's chief executive and president. The company is sending out about 25 messages a day about new specials it is offering, Mr. Grover says.

Last month, Sears launched a new mobile Web site called Sears2Go, where customers can make credit-card purchases directly from their phones. Tom Aiello, a Sears spokesman, says one way shoppers are using the site is to make purchases while in the store after finding out that an item is sold out.

Amazon.com, Target and the Gap each recently released free iPhone applications for holiday shoppers. Amazon's application, launched last week, is one of the most robust shopping applications for the iPhone. Users can browse for items and compare prices of new and used items sold by Amazon and its retail partners. Shoppers can make purchases directly from the application.

Amazon.com released a mobile Web site optimized for the iPhone soon after the phone was released. After noticing the traffic and sales that the site got from users, the company decided to develop a specific application with richer features, says Sam Hall, director of wireless products and services for Amazon. For example, the new application lets users snap a photo of item using the phone's camera, and Amazon employees try to find similar items for sale on the Web site.

Jeffrey Donenfeld, a 26-year-old manager for an interactive marketing firm in New York, recently downloaded the Amazon application. Mr. Donenfeld says he likes being able to use it while in stores to compare prices against items on Amazon. But he will use the application only to buy products he has already researched, he says.

The Gap's iPhone application lets users mix and match clothing items to create an outfit. The components are then compiled on a gift list. Shoppers then use the application to find the closest Gap store in their area.

Target's iPhone application focuses on giving shoppers gift recommendations based on the gender and age of the recipient. After inputting this info, shoppers give the phone a shake, and a recommended gift item appears on the phone. The application gives shoppers links to Target's Web site, where they can buy the item or look for the nearest store. For the first time this year, Target is sending out text-message alerts about their holiday sales to its registered customers, too.

Text messaging boom hatches new business

2008-11-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

San Antonio Business Journal - by Mike W. Thomas

Self-professed serial entrepreneur Brad Beasley is always on the lookout for a new business opportunity.

He found that opportunity 2 1/2 years ago, watching mobile phone usage skyrocket across the country. The trend led Beasley to launch CrossLink Media to capitalize on the boom. CrossLink is a software and services company specializing in mobile marketing applications.

Beasley says he knew that mobile communications was going to be the “next big thing.”
“It already is big, of course,” he says. “But I think it is still just scratching the surface of where it is going to go.”

Presently, more than 50 billion text messages are sent every month just in the United States. About 18 percent of mobile phone users do not have a landline at their home, while more than half of those who do prefer their mobile phone as a primary communication device.

What CrossLink Media does is provide its clients with a simple way to reach out to this broad market in an effective and inoffensive way.

The company’s proprietary software allows consumers, media companies and advertisers to interact in real-time using a consumer’s wireless phone. The program is Web-based and is as simple to use as sending an e-mail, Beasley says. Companies can use the platform to engage customers and communicate one-on-one rather than via mass marketing with traditional media. But the most important aspect is that it is entirely optional, Beasley says.

That means people must opt-in to the program in order to receive any of the marketing materials being sent out.

“No one gets our messages unless they opt-in to the program and we also make it easy for them to opt-out,” Beasley says.

Beasley, whose background is in business development, says he came up with the idea for the program and then contracted with an overseas software development company to develop it. He also worked out agreements with major carriers such as AT&T and Verizon to offer the service.

“We provide all the connections to the carriers and deliver a turnkey solution to our customers complete with technical support,” he says.

Beasley says it is no surprise that mobile phones have become a prime target for marketers looking to connect with potential consumers.

“People don’t leave their homes anymore without their phones,” he says. “It has become like an electronic leash for most of us.”

Movie time

The opt-in feature was a key feature that attracted Santikos Theaters, one of CrossLink’s most recent clients. Meghan Vincent, director of communications for Santikos, says in just two months they already have 2,000 people who have opted to receive the company’s promotional messages and it is resulting in a high rate of redemption when they send out coupons or promotional offers.
“It is good to know that we are not spamming people,” Vincent says. “We are reaching people who want our messages and who are clearly in our demographic group.”

Santikos regularly sends out $1-off coupons for concessions at its local theaters and the response has been tremendous, Vincent says.

“Last week, we had our first promotional blast where (for one day only) we offered a free movie,” she says. “At the time we had about 1,500 people in the club and we had more than 80 redemptions. That is a huge rate of redemption compared to traditional mail-outs.”

To opt-in to the program, a consumer only has to text a particular word, like “Santikos,” and a code number. Then they can receive the promotional offers and be connected to a mobile Web site that allows them to check times and locations for movies showing at Santikos theaters.

“We think there is a big incentive to opt-in to the program, especially when you are standing in line at the concession stand and it allows you to immediately receive a $1-off coupon,” Vincent says.

Beasley notes that online coupons are environmentally friendly because they require no paperwork and can be redeemed just by showing your phone to the cashier who records the code number on the display.

Military applications

CrossLink scored its biggest contract to date this past April when it was awarded an exclusive mobile contract with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to provide text-based mobile coupons across military installations throughout the United States.

“In today’s world, virtually everyone uses their mobile phone for more than just talking,” says Chris Peterson, senior restaurant business manager for AAFES. “CrossLink Media’s mobile coupon program should provide a convenient way to distribute timely and relevant offers to our members and their families.”

The addition of AAFES to its client roster has significantly boosted CrossLink’s revenues, Beasley says, but he declined to give specific figures.

“During our first year, we were in research and development mode,” he says. “Last year our revenues grew by a significant percentage and this year things are going in the right direction.”
Beasley says he has several pending contracts with local restaurants and retailers. He also says the AAFES Human Resource side has expressed an interest in the service and is considering using it to send out job alerts and local-specific weather alerts.

“It is pretty exciting,” he says. “This technology is only limited by your imagination. I really think we are just on the surface of what is possible.”

Beasley came to San Antonio in 1989 to work for the Spurs basketball organization. He has already founded and sold two other companies — Alumni Group and Black Diamond Products.
But even though Beasley is always scouting for that next big business idea, don’t look for him to be selling his new company just yet.

“This is a fun business to be in and I have no desire to get out of it anytime soon,” he says. “I want to continue building the business for the foreseeable future.”

CrossLink Media
Founded: 2006
Owner and president: Brad Beasley
Tel. No.: 210-857-5802
Web site: www.crosslinkmedia.com

Santikos Theatres Selects CrossLink Media to Power its Mobile Marketing Programs

2008-10-17T03:44:00.000-07:00

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, September 30, 2008 - Santikos Theatres, the only major independently owned and operated theatre chain in Texas, has selected CrossLink Media to power its mobile marketing programs that launched earlier this week.

CrossLink Media's proprietary software platform, MessageLink, will power the Santikos mobile program to allow consumers to text in for movie schedules and show times from their mobile phones and will also provide Mobile VIP Club members with special offers and discounts.

Consumers will text the word SANTIKOS to 95613 to receive an immediate offer to their wireless phone and a link to the Santikos mobile website for all theatre locations, movie listings and show times.

“The ability to check movie listings and show times from the wireless phone is a perfect fit for our customers. Our partnership with CrossLink Media provides Santikos customers with added convenience, mobile-only discounts and incentives and delivers all of this directly to their mobile phones. This is a win-win for everyone,” said Meghan Vincent, Director of Communications, Santikos Theatres.

“Santikos Theatres is already a household name in the San Antonio area and our mobile programs will help provide even greater value to their customers and enhance the overall user experience”, said Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media.

About Santikos Theatres
Louis Santikos, a Greek entrepreneur, was one of the pioneers in the San Antonio motion picture industry. Having immigrated to Texas Mr. Louis Santikos built the first opulent movie theatre in San Antonio, the Palace Theatre. This endeavor was only the beginning at the Santikos Company, which included film distribution and continued to introduce many more grand theatres throughout the decades that followed.

Louis’ son John always shared his father’s passion for motion pictures and after graduating from St. Mary’s University, he entered the movie business. His first involvement in the motion picture industry was with the Olmos theatre in San Antonio, a successful single screen movie house. John continued to bring new cinema experiences to San Antonio when he acquired thirteen Drive-In theatre locations, including the historic Mission Drive-In.

Over the next 2 decades, John Santikos added to his entrepreneurial resume with many more theatres across the city featuring the latest ideas in the industry including the first multi-screen indoor theatres, art theatres, THX and digital sound technology, 3D presentation etc.

In 1987, the operational division of the theatres was sold to Act III Theatres. However, in May 2001, John Santikos returned to his beloved business by obtaining the theatre chain he had sold. He quickly reinvigorated the company with his passion for films and business savvy.

At this time he brought many innovations to San Antonio; The in-theatre dining experience, the redesigning of the city’s only art house, The Bijou at Crossroads and completely remodeling the Galaxy, transforming it into the Rialto Cinema Bar and Grill. Today, the theatre circuit also includes the Northwest, the completely renovated Embassy and four brand new multiplexes: the Palladium IMAX, the Mayan, the Silverado in San Antonio and the Silverado IMAX in Houston. With the highly anticipated construction of the Granada and Legacy Theatres in San Antonio and with future entertainment venues to come, Santikos remains a prominent name as the only major independently owned and operated theatre circuit in Texas.

About CrossLink Media
CrossLink Media, a leading interactive mobile software company, provides mobile solutions that create a truly interactive consumer experience. Its proprietary software platform, MessageLink, allows organizations, brands and media companies to effectively communicate with consumers in real-time and with measurable results. CrossLink Media also services brands with its proprietary Bluetooth ad-serving software, BlueLink, which enables brands to further develop their customer relationships within close proximity to the BlueLink device.

CrossLink Media creates, manages and delivers mobile campaigns via relationships with all major wireless carriers throughout the United States. CrossLink Media’s mobile network provides access to over 200 million wireless phone subscribers in the U.S. and can extend this network to reach over 2 billion consumers worldwide. Whether it’s broadcast, print, outdoor, or online, CrossLink Media cuts through the advertising clutter and creates a one-on-one relationship with the mobile consumer. For more information, visit www.CrossLinkMedia.com.

Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Awards CrossLink Media Exclusive Contract to Deliver Mobile Coupons

2008-04-07T02:11:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS, NV and SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, April 2, 2008 — Today at CTIA Wireless 2008, CrossLink Media, an interactive mobile software provider, announced that it was awarded an exclusive mobile contract with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to provide text-based mobile coupons across military installations throughout the United States. AAFES is a multi-channel retailer offering quality merchandise and services via retail stores, catalogs and online to active duty, guard and reserve members, military retirees and their families at competitively low prices.

CrossLink Media's proprietary software platform, MessageLink, will allow AAFES to communicate with military members anytime, anywhere via their most personal device – the wireless phone. Authorized members will now have access to mobile coupons that provide special discounts and shopping incentives throughout the various military installations.

"The AAFES award is much more than a customer to CrossLink Media,” said Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media. “AAFES’ slogan is ‘Serving the Best Customers in the World’ and we take that to heart. It is an honor to receive this award and to help serve our military and their families,” said Beasley.

“In today’s world, virtually everyone uses their mobile phone for more than just talking”, said Chris Peterson, Senior Restaurant Business Manager for AAFES. “CrossLink Media’s mobile coupon program should provide a convenient way to distribute timely and relevant offers to our members and their families. We are looking forward to working with them.”

About CrossLink Media
CrossLink Media provides mobile solutions that create a truly interactive consumer experience. Its proprietary software platform, MessageLink, allows organizations, brands and media companies to effectively communicate with consumers in real-time and with measurable results. CrossLink Media also services brands with its proprietary Bluetooth ad-serving software, BlueLink, which enables brands to further develop their customer relationships within close proximity to the BlueLink device.

CrossLink Media creates, manages and delivers mobile campaigns via relationships with all major wireless carriers throughout the United States. CrossLink Media’s mobile network provides access to over 200 million wireless phone subscribers in the U.S. and can extend this network to reach over 2 billion consumers worldwide. Whether it’s broadcast, print, outdoor, or online, CrossLink Media cuts through the advertising clutter and creates a one-on-one relationship with the mobile consumer. For more information, visit www.CrossLinkMedia.com.

About the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, AAFES is now in its second century of service. AAFES remains committed to its dual mission of providing quality products and services to military families worldwide and generating earnings to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs.

AAFES operates more than 3000 facilities worldwide, in more than 30 countries, five U.S. territories and 49 states. AAFES operates some 143 retail stores and more than 2200 fast food restaurants. AAFES also provides military communities with convenience, specialty stores and movie theatres on installations worldwide, including locations in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

Experts Offer Strategies On How Retailers Can Crack The Code On Mobile Marketing

2008-04-07T02:06:00.000-07:00

By Amanda Ferrante, Assistant Editor

After seeing coupon redemption rates of 50% in its initial 12 test stores, Subway Restaurants recently expanded its “My Subway Mobile” campaign to more than 100 locations. The chain is now offering a dozen different promotional offers to more than 5,500 customers through the program, which is managed using a service from Modiv Media.

In another recent indication of the power of mobile marketing, Papa John’s Pizza recent Super Bowl campaign, “TEXTRA Points for Pizza,” drew over 115,000 registrants who were looking to score super discounts on pizza based on the final outcome of the big game.

While many of the early success stories around mobile marketing have been in the QSR sector, industry analysts suggest there are significant opportunities for other retailers to get in on the mobile action.

“The possibilities for mobile marketing are endless,” says Brad Beasley, president of CrossLink Media, a mobile marketing company offering both messaging and Bluetooth ad-serving software. MessageLink, the company’s proprietary messaging system, executes mobile campaigns via a secure online interface that enables clients to log in and create, modify, and deploy within minutes.

In addition, MessageLink provides a fully automated CRM solution offering additional information and request follow-up communication. “MessageLink provides a great CRM tool as clients now have immediate interaction with their mobile database and can reach these customers anytime, anywhere via the consumer’s most personal device – the wireless phone,” says Beasley.

MessageLink also controls CrossLink’s “Txt 2 Buy” feature that enables consumers to purchase products directly from their wireless phone and makes every advertisement and communication with the consumer an immediate point-of-sale opportunity. With Txt 2 Buy, consumers don’t need to wait until they get online to place an order, nor do they have to wait on the phone for an operator to complete the order.

Beasley says the highlights of mobile marketing include the following potential payoffs for retailers:

1-to-1 interaction with consumers vs. mass communication
Measurable results
Increased store traffic
Increased impulse buys
24 x7 x 365 access
Ability to reach only those customers who have specifically asked to receive your offers. No more wasted advertising

DIALING UP URGENCY
Andy Nulman, CMO of Airborne Entertainment, a mobile marketing company that’s worked with major brands such as Taco Bell, Maxim Magazine, and the NHL, agrees there is a big opportunity for retailers to cash in on the immediacy that the mobile medium provides.“It’s not about technology, it’s about people. People are interested in finding deals. Mobile marketing is just getting off the ground…the time is right now.” Nulman builds his case for mobile marketing around the acronym NOW, pointing to the following strategies:

Nearby: “Customers need to be in your radius, close, local. Shoppers aren’t traveling very far for a pair of jeans.”

Only: “There has to be a limit. Create a sense of urgency for your campaign. Establish a relationship to create an addicted customer.”

Wow: “Make a compelling offer. Make consumers opt in for select communication. You want them to come sporadically.”

A few of the key benefits of mobile marketing Nulman points to include the local drawing power of mobile media and the urgency that is created by text messages. “It is also dynamic so that you can take action when you need to. Do you have an empty store? Do something about it,” Nulman says. He offers the following 5 strategies retailers can employ to take advantage of the rapid growth of mobile marketing:

1. The NOW Psst: “Limited time offers, but they need to be engaging and special. Target people near your location. The Secret Sale: Things like in-store sales, or special offers. Having consumers text to a special number will provide them with a message/discount/coupon. It’s completely opt-in and there are no paper costs.”

2. Random Discounts: “For instance, have promos that allow consumers to text for specific discounts, coupon codes, etc.”

3. The In-store Experience: “Give the customer control of what they want. Get them additional information like the back-story on products. When you make products more people-oriented, like Gap’s Red campaign, it becomes personal, and people will want to buy. Let consumers feel like they have the inside scoop.”

4. The Countdown: “Let the shoppers know that time is running out to save. Text alerts like ‘Only ten pairs left’ with an image of the product. And do so whenever there’s a new number to report. This creates urgency and keeps the customer’s mind on the store.”

5. Develop WAP Sites: Create a mini website for people to view on their phone. Keep it simple with your company logo and plain text. This lets people know what’s going on in your store.”

Another point of value in the mobile phone is its capability to increase customer loyalty. Dustin Young, Vice President of Emerging Technologies at InComm, a leading distributor of stored-value gift and prepaid products with over 145,000 retailers, says there are three points of true value in utilizing the mobile phone as a CRM tool:

Provide the retailer with a cost effective channel;
Provide the consumer with a user-friendly way of accessing unique offers, like an abbreviated dial code;
The ability of the merchant to tie coupons to existing vehicles of POS code

Mobile Commerce Slowly Taking Hold Among Retailers

2008-02-05T04:59:00.000-08:00

Contacts:
Ylan Q. Mui
Washington Post Staff Writer
210-857-5802

NEW YORK, January 19, 2008 - The store of the future knows who you are. Walk into the store, and it sends a coupon to your cellphone for a leather recliner that complements your home entertainment system. A store employee has received a text alert that you have arrived. Need directions? Snap a photo of your surroundings with your cell, and the store will send you a map directing you to the right department.

These are just some of the scenarios conjured by IBM at the National Retail Federation convention here this week, and they may not be far from reality. For years, mobile commerce has been hyped as the future of retail, even as American consumers have been slow to accept it. But at this annual show of cutting-edge retail technology, the industry attempted to show it is ready to dive headfirst into a wireless world.

"It is certainly, I think, still an emerging phenomenon, but one that we believe is going to continue and probably accelerate as the technology allows," said Pat Conroy, vice chairman and U.S. consumer products leader at Deloitte & Touche USA.

In recent years, retailers have begun relying on text messages as a quick and convenient way to let customers know about promotions or events. During the cutthroat holiday season, for example, Wal-Mart sent shoppers a text message detailing secret in-store specials such as a Sony PlayStation 3 with 10 movies for $499. Cusp, a boutique offshoot of Neiman Marcus, sent customers a text yesterday headlined "Welcome to the jungle, baby!" that highlighted new safari-inspired fashion.

Now retailers are trying to find ways to turn the cellphone from a simple communication device into an indispensable shopping aid. Already, many consumers keep their phones within easy reach, making it an attractive target for retailers.

"This is like an electronic leash for most of us," said Brad Beasley, president of CrossLink Media, a mobile marketing company. "From a marketing perspective, nothing has the reach that mobile does."

Cellfire, a mobile coupon company based in San Jose, has signed 500,000 users since it began in 2005. It offers promotions for car-rental services, fast-food restaurants and entertainment, including deals exclusive to mobile customers. Redemption rates for the coupons range from 5 to 15 percent, compared with .58 percent for its dead-tree counterparts, according to chief executive Brent Dusing.

Although some Americans will bristle at the idea of another electronic missive being fired their way, research by Deloitte finds shoppers are highly intrigued by the idea of mobile commerce, even if they haven't tried it.

A recent survey by Deloitte found 61 percent of consumers were interested in a service that would allow them to scan a product's barcode in a store and receive other retailers' lower price for the same product. Fifty-seven percent said they would want to receive a coupon on their phone, and 19 percent said they would be open to receiving a video or text message about a sale from a store as they passed by.

However, only 4 to 6 percent of shoppers surveyed said they had actually used those services. Though the technology to integrate them into the shopping experience exists, retailers are still grappling with how to use it. Too often, stores approach cellphones as mini-laptops, said Fred Balboni, global retail industry leader at IBM.

"The mobile channel is not a translation of the Web channel to a smaller footprint," he said.

Cellphones can function as tools to help consumers shop smarter or more efficiently. In South Korea, for example, shoppers can place orders at fast-food restaurants using their cellphones and receive a call when the food is ready, Conroy said. In Japan, many cellphones are equipped with bar-code scanners for customers to check prices or even the quality and freshness of produce.

This year, CrossLink is launching a program with national retailers that it calls "text to buy." Consumers who register their personal information -- such as shipping and billing addresses and credit card numbers -- will be able to purchase products in certain commercials by sending a text message to a specified number. Beasley said the service will be tested in four locations and, if successful, will expand to 300 more.

"It turns any type of advertisement, any type of communication into a purchasing opportunity," he said. "It's kind of like impulse buying at its best."

Beasley said mobile technology is most easily applied to services that are instantaneous, such as a restaurant sending out a text message to drive lunch traffic or music and videos that can download in a few seconds.

Retailers are also considering equipping employees on the sales floor with specialized high-tech cellphones. At the convention this week, Motorola unveiled a phone with a built-in bar code scanner that would allow workers to check product prices and receive calls and text messages from the boss at the same time. Goodbye, loudspeaker pages.

Despite these technological advances, consumers remain protective of their phones. While they may be willing to share their e-mail addresses to make a purchase or join a mailing list, shoppers are much more hesitant to grant stores access to their cellphones.

"A mobile device is like, 'I'll lend you my tooth brush.' It's very personal," Balboni said. "Mobile devices are one of those last barriers."

CrossLink Media and Fellowship of Christian Athletes Partner to Deliver Mobile Content and Services to Membership Base

2007-10-24T04:36:00.000-07:00

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, October 16, 2007 — CrossLink Media, an interactive mobile software provider, today announced an exclusive mobile partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), America's largest sports ministry, impacting all levels of sports and sports enthusiasts everywhere. CrossLink Media's proprietary software platform will allow FCAto communicate with its membership anytime, anywhere via their most personal device – the wireless phone. FCA will now be able to extend its reach to its membership for real-time updates on events, daily devotionals and more.

"FCA is a first-class organization and we are proud to be associated with them. CrossLink Media understands the need for immediate communication within large membership groups and our mobile services will help streamline these efforts and make them more efficient," said Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media.

"FCA well-recognizes the reliance that active people have on mobile technology today”, said Tom Rogeberg, Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “For our many hundreds of staff across America and the tens of thousands of athletes, coaches, volunteers and ministry friends we interact with on a daily basis, CrossLink Media’s technology will be a welcome, economical and effective delivery system for important, timely information."

About CrossLink Media
CrossLink Media provides mobile solutions that create a truly interactive consumer experience. Its proprietary software platform, MessageLink, allows organizations, brands and media companies to effectively communicate with consumers in real-time and with measurable results. CrossLink Media also services brands with its proprietary Bluetooth ad-serving software, BlueLink, which enables brands to further develop their customer relationships within close proximity to the BlueLink device.

CrossLink Media creates, manages and delivers mobile campaigns via relationships with all major wireless carriers throughout the United States. CrossLink Media’s mobile network provides access to over 200 million wireless phone subscribers in the U.S. and can extend this network to reach over 2 billion consumers worldwide. Whether it’s broadcast, print, outdoor, or online, CrossLink Media cuts through the advertising clutter and creates aone-on-one relationship with the mobile consumer. For more information, visit www.CrossLinkMedia.com.

About the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is touching millions of lives... one heart at a time. Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on theprofessional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA is the largest Christian sports organization in America. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ.

CrossLink Media Retains Prevail Ventures

2007-06-26T03:41:00.000-07:00

Relationship expected to expand the Company’s interactive mobile applications

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, June 21, 2007 — CrossLink Media, a software and services company who provides a complete suite of interactive mobile marketing applications, today announced a strategic alliance with Prevail Ventures, a leading advisor to early-stage, venture backed companies. CrossLink Media's proprietary software platform allows consumers, media companies and advertisers to effectively interact in real-time via the consumer’s wireless phone.

“Our relationship with Prevail Ventures will not only assist in our initial round of funding, but Mark’s experience also provides us with invaluable counsel as we continue to expand our business,” said Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media.

CrossLink Media deploys an array of technologies that deliver advertising messages, content and mobile transactions to the consumer’s wireless phone for a truly interactive experience. The CrossLink Media platform allows companies to engage their customers and communicate with them one-on-one rather than mass marketing via traditional media. All campaigns are strictly on an opt-in basis and consumers are never sent an unsolicited message.

“CrossLink Media is an attractive company as it provides an entire suite of interactive mobile applications. They provide a one-stop shop of mobile applications that not only includes messaging, but also Bluetooth and M-Commerce. We are excited about working with them,” said Mark Losh, Founder and Managing Director of Prevail Ventures.

According to research conducted by the Mobile Marketing Association, the premier global association that strives to stimulate the growth of mobile marketing and its associated technologies, 40 percent of global brands have already deployed text message marketing campaigns. By 2008, 89 percent of brands will use text and MMS to reach their audiences.

“Mobile is already the next big thing and as an industry, we have only just begun to scratch the surface of its potential. Mobile provides consumers with anytime, anywhere access to information that’s of interest to them and that is why it is the fastest growing medium in the world,” added Beasley.

About CrossLink Media
CrossLink Media provides a comprehensive suite of mobile marketing solutions that create a truly interactive consumer experience. Its proprietary software platform allows consumers, media companies and advertisers to effectively communicate in real-time via the consumer’s wireless phone.

CrossLink Media creates, manages and delivers mobile campaigns via relationships with all major wireless carriers throughout the United States. CrossLink Media’s mobile network provides access to over 200 million wireless phone subscribers in the U.S. and can extend this network to reach over 2 billion consumers worldwide. Whether it’s broadcast, print, outdoor, or online, CrossLink Media cuts through the advertising clutter and creates a one-on-one relationship with the mobile consumer. For more information, visit www.CrossLinkMedia.com.

About Prevail Ventures
Prevail Ventures assists early stage technology companies in raising capital and developing strategic and tactical operational strategies. Prevail works closely with the Venture Capital community to fund and develop promising companies during the early formative stages. Prevail has raised more than $350 million of capital funding and produced more than $1.6 billion of value to its shareholders. For more information, visit www.PrevailVentures.com.

2007-05-30T04:15:00.000-07:00

Monster Media and CrossLink Media Join Forces to Expand Offering to Out-of-Home Advertising Market

Alliance brings mobile marketing capability to MonsterVision interactive advertising systems

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, May 29, 2007 — Monster Media, the leading provider of patented interactive advertising systems, today announced a strategic alliance with CrossLink Media, a provider of mobile marketing solutions that extends the interactive consumer experience and helps drive sales and results. CrossLink Media's proprietary software platform allows consumers, media companies and advertisers to effectively communicate in real-time and with measurable results. The company's mobile marketing solutions also extend the reach of Monster Media's patented interactive advertising system, MonsterVision.

MonsterVision integrates rich, visual display technology with sound to captivate audiences and deliver effective branding messages in high traffic areas. Oversized images splash across the display and invoke everyone who passes by to become part of the projected brand message. Viewers are able to physically interact with the display using body movements across the projected image.

"CrossLink Media's mobile marketing solutions represent a natural extension of the Monster Media product suite," said John Payne, President of Monster Media. "CrossLink Media offers extremely effective and measurable products that will increase the next-generation advertising resources available to our customer base. We are now able to offer advertisers an additional medium for achieving real time, high-impact physical and emotional connections that simply aren't possible with other, more traditional advertising mediums."

The partnership between Monster Media and CrossLink Media represents the latest innovations in next-generation advertising. According to research conducted by the Mobile Marketing Association, the premier global association that strives to stimulate the growth of mobile marketing and its associated technologies, 40 percent of global brands have

already deployed text message marketing campaigns. By 2008, 89 percent of brands will use text and MMS to reach their audiences.

"CrossLink Media recognizes the synergy between out-home-advertising and mobile marketing," said Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media. "Our relationship with Monster Media will help media companies and brands extend their reach beyond the venue and allow consumers to carry this message with them for anytime, anywhere access. We are excited about this alliance and feel it will enable both companies to provide a complete interactive solution to our respective customers," added Beasley.

About Monster Media
Monster Media is an international media company and leading provider of patented innovative alternative advertising products. Monster Media's network of sports and entertainment venues, transit facilities and retail programs are located in many top designated market areas in the United States, Europe, South America and Puerto Rico. Since its inception in 2004, Monster Media has focused on customer branding interaction and has evolved into a diverse multimedia firm with an expanded product base and media network that allows advertisers to reach consumers across the globe. With Monster Media's various offerings, from permanent locations to mobile and promotional capabilities, advertisers have the ability to engage with consumers both physically and emotionally. For more information, visit www.monstermedia.net.

About CrossLink Media
CrossLink Media provides mobile marketing solutions that create a truly interactive consumer experience. Its proprietary software platform allows consumers, media companies and advertisers to effectively communicate in real-time and with measurable results.

CrossLink Media creates, manages and delivers mobile campaigns via relationships with all major wireless carriers throughout the United States. CrossLink Media’s mobile network provides access to over 200 million wireless phone subscribers in the U.S. and can extend this network to reach over 2 billion consumers worldwide. Whether it’s broadcast, print, outdoor, or online, CrossLink Media cuts through the advertising clutter and creates a one-on-one relationship with the mobile consumer. For more information, visit www.CrossLinkMedia.com.

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Editor Note: To schedule interviews with spokespersons from Monster Media and/or CrossLink Media, or to obtain high-resolution images or video footage of Monster Media's products, please contact Michael Beno at benom@ruderfinn.com or 312-329-3970.