Frontiering Talk

BMW is not only “frontiering” new car developments, but continues to embrace new media.

Already known for new media with their BMW films, BMW now offers a range of PODCASTS and also VODCASTS.

The VODCASTS are mostly PR videos but they will inspire and excite the avid BMW car enthusiast. No doubt soon, these will automatically be delivered to your new BMW.

BMW aren’t the only car marker embracing new media. Honda has placed their new Civic ad online, (nothing special there), but they also placed a very entertaining video / vodcast of how the ad was made!

Update: BMW have just released a new site which will distribute audio books by famous crime writers and will feature BMW cars. Here’s how the site describes the books ..

Put on your seatbelt and prepare for highs, lows and plenty of twists and turns. BMW, in conjunction with Random House, brings you BMW Audio Books, a unique series of specially-commissioned short stories showcasing the work of some of the finest contemporary writing talent. Each gripping tale is yours to download for free and a new book will be available to download every two weeks. Listen to them on your MP3 player, your laptop or ideally, in the car. So sit back, hit play and enjoy the ride.

Interesting technology ..

Imagine combining your love for bouncing balls and your obsession with taking pictures into one, now it has a name SatuGO. Simply throw SatuGO into the motive to catch the moment, where it hits you get a picture, or take air photos by activating the timer before throwing the SatuGO.

Of interest is how, under the Media and Download link, they provide a complete range of photos and information particularly to help bloggers “spread the word”.

Is Google about to start selling audio ads like it sells search ads with it’s Adwords program?
Google’s audio advertising?

When Google announced it’s acquisition of dMarc Broadcasting, a digital media solutions and services firm, analysts started to speculate.

Creating Audio ads for radio is an established industry, and auctioning radio ads to help with targeting makes sense for Google. Even more so is the ability to sell audio spots on the vast number of Podcasts that more and more people are consuming. However, just like Adwords helped create a whole new industry segment of Search Marketing, I think audio advertising will be re-invented. New technologies will be harnessed to help with executing audio “calls to action” which will be measured, reworked and re-executed.

“Google is committed to exploring new ways to extend targeted, measurable advertising to other forms of media,” Tim Armstrong, Google’s VP of ad sales, said in a statement. “We anticipate that this acquisition will bring new ad dollars and accountability to radio by combining Google’s expansive network of advertisers with dMarc’s talented team and innovative radio advertising technology.”

Why stop there? It’s not a stretch to assume that google will soon be auctioning video ads for Video on Demand or VODCASTS. Microsoft’s Adcenter is pursuing a similar concept, and there is no doubt Newscorp’s Myspace is likely to introduce a similar concept.

Advertising as we know it has changed, and those that embrace New Marketing are sure to benefit.