SHANGHAI, Dec. 22,2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Globally, digital advertising and screen numbers are growing significantly, by 10 to 35%, even in markets in Europe and North America suffering most from the economic crisis. In China, with tri-networks integration, mobile content and payment services all hot topics, and with the easier operations and often greater effectiveness of digital advertising, the growth has been explosive. Against this background and a dramatic increase in its own revenue and profitability, Touchmedia, China’s largest in-taxi advertising company, has announced aggressive expansion plans for 2011 to 300 guests at its 2010 Shanghai Client Party.
Rapid Growth in Size and Strength
2010 has seen Touchmedia almost double its fleet of taxis and sales grow commensurately. The revenue growth was recognized recently when Deloitte named Touchmedia as one of the 10 fastest growing technology companies in China.
In 2011, Touchmedia plans to again double the number of taxis and add 3 new cities, to reach a total of over 50,000 screens and 600 million annual viewers by year end. They are also considering international expansion.
In Beijing, the government selected Touchmedia as the partner for its taxi traffic management system and Touchmedia also announced new partnerships with Xinhua and the CFPA.
Identifying Prospects Age, Gender, Interests and Location
The company, as well, announced a series of new functions and services that will be coming to its screens in 2011. They have recently developed location based advertising in some cities; time based ads that change during the day; and data input on the screen which has enabled them to collect 3 million email addresses or phone numbers from qualified prospects entering promotions or seeking more information. Today, in Beijing for example, it can track where the taxi picks you up in the morning and where it drops you off, what pages you look at and what products, identifying you as male or female, approximating your age and even your income and tastes.
Using this data Touchmedia will launch a series of CRM based services in 2011. This will be coupled with applications that can be demonstrated on the in-taxi screen then downloaded to passengers’ mobile phones; downloads of games or information from the screens; MMS and SMS couponing; and 3D modeling of products on the screens.
Continuing Community Service Focus
Micky Fung, the Founder and Chairman of Touchmedia, and Ray Lui, the Honorary Chairman of Touchmedia, emphasized that the company will continue its focus on supporting charity and community services in 2011, using many of these new tools.
They cited support for public events such as the Expo and the Asian Games; the interactive talking maps developed with the Shanghai Municipal Institute of Surveying & Mapping and the Shanghai Transport Department, used by more than 20 million passengers in 2010; and promotion of charities and community services such as the Wheelchair Foundation and the Library Project. Touchmedia’s contributions have been recognized by over 40 major awards, including most recently a Beijing government award as “China’s Most Socially Responsible Media.” To Quote Tom Stader of the Library Project, “Volunteers have been pouring in from cities that run your ad. Touchmedia has transformed our achievements and is the most effective piece of marketing we have ever participated in. Simply unbelievable.”
Micky Fung summarized, “With the new innovative technology we have developed, we are proud to offer new services to consumers, clients and charities alike. Services that are unique anywhere in the world.”
About Touchmedia
Touchmedia was founded in 2003, by its Chairman, Micky Fung, to develop state-of-the-art touchscreen media technology in China. It is the largest in-taxi interactive media company, delivering innovative digital media solutions for clients and the out-of-home advertising industry in China, at a time when reaching affluent consumers on traditional media is increasingly challenging.
