Opinions Wanted: Would you use a "Send Listing to Cell Phone" feature?

[Calum]

I’m thinking about adding a link on my listing details page that would allow a user to send the listing data to their cell phone, via a text message. Kind of like you can do on the Starbucks site, see “send to mobile” http://www.starbucks.com/retail/loca...ce=MapPoint.NA

Obviously, it wouldn’t be the entire listing, probably just the street address, price and our contact info. I have no idea what this would cost to set-up, but before I send REW on a wild goose chase I thought I’d see what others thought of the idea.

Do you think someone would use the feature? Or is it just a gimmick that would look good in a listing presentation, but no one really uses? Is anyone already doing this?

[webmaster]

Instead of sending it to their cellphone, why not have an SMS or cellphone friendly version of your search, so they can view all listings via their internet cellphone connection? A single listing send to a friend might be nice, but I would think the entire MLS would be more helpful

[Calum]

I like that idea too, although it sounds more expensive. I was thinking they would tend to send it to their own phone so they could possibly drive by later.

Would you actually need a smartphone with an actual browser to view something like you're mentioning? If someone has good old fashioned flip phone would they be able to access something like that?

[3 blind mice]

I fell in love with the GMAC franchise websites' application of wireless search. Go to any of their websites and websitename.com/wireless. Simple and brilliant... A cell phone internet visit takes you to those pages rather than the home page which might not be visible or useful to regular phones due to heavy graphics.

[BrandonSternfield]

If you make a mobile website, it is generally a lot more low key.

Normal phones can in fact view it, the only draw back is not everyone with normal phones have data plans. I'm apparently a freak using a Samsung A707 with unlimited data (as a student, and someone who gets horribly lost, I need the internet at my finger tips, but I don't want a smart phone).

It would be text and a few pictures. I don't know how your mls site looks, but my MLS site would actually worked if they optimized it for the cell phone resolution. It doesn't have to look pretty when it's a mobile site, user navigation is key in that case.