Industry Leaders SmartReply and VeraSprite Join with the Partnership to Launch a Mobile Marketing Initiative leveraging the emotional force of audio-visual SMS messaging on the mobile phone
NEW YORK, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Partnership for a Drug-Free America has launched its first audio-visual SMS mobile public service campaign in collaboration with SmartReply, North America's leader in mobile marketing for top retail brands since 2001, and VeraSprite, a leading provider of photorealistic audio-visual text messaging. This effort creates new opportunities to connect parents with Time to Talk(R), the Partnership's campaign empowering parents to have open, honest conversations with their teens about the risks of drugs and alcohol.
This new initiative is designed for parents interested in learning how to start the conversation about drugs and alcohol with their teens. The campaign utilizes SmartReply's multi-million unit SMS message inventory to encourage opted-in users to download customized audio visual VeraSprite messages and sign up to access tips, tools and advice from the Partnership's Time To Talk program at TimeToTalk.org. Parents can also opt in to receive monthly news via email.
"Most parents feel anxious when it comes to talking to their kids about drugs and alcohol," said Hilary Baris, Digital Media and Marketing Director at the Partnership. "This campaign takes a fun, friendly approach to helping parents understand the importance of having the conversation. We're very grateful to SmartReply and Verasprite for their generosity and commitment to reaching parents with this important information, especially as kids head back to school."
"As parents, we recognized that the emotional power of audio-visual text messages was the most effective way to motivate parents and children to talk together about drugs," said Mark Jaffe, Chief Executive Officer of VeraSprite. "We are thrilled to be able to utilize the strength of the VeraSprite Messenger solution to encourage families to start that critical dialogue together."
"The important work of The Partnership is something that our entire company has rallied behind," said Dan Jones, VP, Channel Development for Smart Reply. "We are grateful that we can leverage our mobile network to expand the Partnership's reach and help even more American families."
About SmartReply
North America's leader in mobile marketing for top retail brands since 2001, SmartReply recently completed its acquisition of mSnap, the largest SMS advertising network in the United States, allowing the company to deliver targeted, relevant mobile messaging on an unprecedented scale. The combination of SmartReply's leading voice and SMS technology platform and mSnap's vast network represents the largest capacity for comprehensive mobile marketing communications in the United States. SmartReply is based in Irvine CA and has offices throughout the US. For more information please visit www.smartreply.com.
About VeraSprite
VeraSprite produces mobile phone applications for the Google G1, iPhone, Blackberry and many popular Java enabled phones designed to enable advertisers to emotionally engage consumers via push messages on the mobile phone in a way not previously possible. A photorealistic talking head spokesperson communicates to opted-in customers as rich graphics illustrate the spokesperson's message in a split-screen format. Communications may include brand-enhancing messages designed to engage the customer along with the latest product or service news, up-coming events, specials and discounts. For more information, please visit www.verasprite.com.
VeraSprite and SmartReply have partnered to leverage this unique engagement technology with the nation's largest mobile network.
About The Partnership
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a nonprofit organization that unites parents, renowned scientists and communications professionals to help families raise healthy children. Best known for its research-based national public education programs, the Partnership motivates and equips parents to prevent their children from alcohol and drug abuse, intervene when drug and alcohol use is present and to find help and treatment for family and friends in trouble. Visit drugfree.org for more information.