Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch, the exclusive provider of online ticketing for Ticketmaster Corp., will begin providing its services wirelessly this week with help from NeoPoint Inc. and what it calls “local intelligence.”
The new service will offer mobile customers access to Ticketmaster.com via their Wireless Application Protocol-enabled wireless device using NeoPoint’s myAladdin.com location-based wireless portal service.
The location services will be an integral part of Ticketmaster Online’s local intelligence plan to deliver options for choosing from the top events happening in a user’s local area. Local Ticketmaster Online offices in 32 cities will provide the editorial content for upcoming events.
“Time is key with wireless devices,” said Paul LaFontaine, vice president of corporate development for Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch. “Local intelligence prioritizes information on what the best events are available in the local area in an immediate time frame. The key to the consumer is availability. What’s available and cool right now.”
When consumers see an event that they want to attend, they enter a few numbers to access their online Ticketmaster accounts and purchase the tickets.
LaFontaine was quick to point out that event promoters couldn’t buy their way into the service, noting local offices choose which events to promote.
The service only will display events for which Ticketmaster supplies tickets, however, that shouldn’t be much of a problem since the company has agreements with most of the performance venues in the country to supply tickets and does a reported $2 million per day in gross transactions on its Web site alone.
LaFontaine noted that Ticketmaster Online was working with several wireless carriers for premier spots on wireless device screens. Those deals are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
NeoPoint also will help develop the site so Ticketmaster Online can tailor the wireless service to what LaFontaine called the “four corners” of wireless devices. Personal digital assistants will have the most functionality for customer interaction since they offer more robust input options. WAP-enabled phones, one- and two-way short messaging services and voice options will provide the other means to secure tickets through the site.
LaFontaine noted that future plans for the wireless service include a “velvet rope” feature that will notify customers when tickets for a desired event will be made available.
