Is it a phone, radio, computer, or TV?

No it is all of the above. Talking about the new Apple IPhone. With the its recent release, Apple has already sold over one million phones in twenty-one countries. The new IPhone is a big hit with consumers.  Reason behind the success it’s success is the integration of all functions into one device and the user interface.  Since it is on the 3G network, consumers are able use the internet as if they were on a laptop.  This allows you to check your mail, surf the web, watch videos, and much more.  Apple doesn’t have a monopoly on the 3G network, but do seem be taking the lead.

With the integration of all these features, especially the internet, into one  device  made myself think of the impact on  marketing and  consumer  research.   One day our cell phone number could become like  the social security number is to the finical system.  Could cell phone providers track our web browsing, location, and cal history for the sole purpose of market research.  Basically they could data mine our life through our phones.

Mind swarms with ideas of how to apply this information  to the marketing and business world.   Billboard advertisements could be placed  better using the web browsing history of all users within the visual range.  Local restaurants could modify daily specials based consumers web search for receipts.  New store locations could be based on Google map directions searches.  Can search how far consumers have to travel to reach a particular store, such as Barnes & Nobles.  Barnes & Nobles can then use this information to determine new store locations.

These are just a couple of ideas of how using individual cell phones to track consumers could benefit marketers and consumers.