Musicland Group is testing online and cell phone alerts for its Sam Goody, Suncoast and Media Play Web sites.
Consumers register at the sites, then get real-time messages about new releases, special offers and celebrity news. Messages are sent to registrants’ cell phone or PDA, or via e-mail.
Members of Musicland’s loyalty program, Replay, can request alerts when new items go up for bid on members-only site Showbidz.com, which auctions off entertainment merchandise.
The system, called LiveMessage, is run by Redwood City, CA-based MessageCast, a two-year-old “alert engine marketing” firm. Alerts are broadcast over Microsoft Corp.’s MSN Alerts Network. Minnetonka, MN-based Musicland has 900-plus stores.
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