Cellyspace launches mobile virtual tours; Makes real estate buying easier
By Dusan Belic on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 at 9:24 AM PST In Services
Cellyspace has introduced a neat web application called “MMS Composer” for realtors to create and send virtual property tours to the potential home buyer’s mobile phone. The system allows realtors to easily compose property slideshows using images, audio, video and text, choose a unique keyword for their content and then promote the keyword on signs and print advertising. When home buyers text this unique keyword to Cellyspace’s shortcode, the slideshow is sent directly to their phone.
The idea is to allow realtors to generate sales leads, announce price reductions, broadcast alerts and promote their listings, agents and firm.
As for the technology used, Cellyspace relies on MMS to send property information to the potential buyers. Alternatively, they can send a regular SMS with a link to the appropriate WAP page, in case buyer’s phone doesn’t support MMS.
Finally the pricing. Cellyspace doesn’t charge for creating, storing and publishing MMS. However, after the free trial has expired, realtors pay 20 US cents per MMS sent. It’s a “pay of performance” model and when you think about it, $20 per 100 live prospects is far from expensive.
I think if you want to buy a house it is a not very great took, what you can see in display of mobile phone ? I believe in pictures u can’t do anything, why they are not use youtube? it is much better if you have a good video camera and you upload your video – then it would be just great. also this service paid. is there many services what people ready to pay online ?
YouTube is cool, but it won’t work on most mobile phones. MMS on the other hand is more universal solution…
Of course that you’ll still have to visit the apartment/house before buying it. The way I see it, Cellyspace’s service only helps you easily disqualify properties you certainly won’t buy.
A Cellyspace shortcode/keyword placed into a newspaper classified ad can return an enormous amount of information beyond just pictures in the MMS. Also what about all the people walking/driving by? Adding a shortcode/keyword to the sign will enable people to get an MMS slideshow preview of the house and other information. (Such as how many bedrooms/bathrooms, sq feet and even updated pricing). Think about all the ‘Price Reduced’ signs you see nowadays…
SeeInside.mobi also offers virtual real estate tours (with pictures, not video) on cell phones, but it’s FREE! Well, there’s a free account option, they just put some google ads at the bottom of your listings, that’s all. They don’t use SMS or MMS, which is better because there’s no per-message fees. I think real estate listings on mobile phones is a great idea, good for getting info to buyers “on-demand” even when you’re not available to take a call. Everyone has a cell phone these days, so your listings should be available. In Canada, commercial MMS services aren’t really available or workable, so we use the mobile web instead!