M&C Saatchi Mobile launches in South Africa

"M&C Saatchi Mobile has well-established London, New York, Los Angeles and Paris offices. We are delighted to announce the expansion of our Mobile offerings to South Africa" said James Hilton, global CEO of M&C Saatchi Mobile, in Sandton yesterday.

"We pride ourselves in being a true full service mobile and tablet marketing agency. We can assist with both the strategic and tactical approach to making mobile and tablet an integral part of the marketing strategy. This includes every kind of mobile mechanism available, from the simplest SMS through to smart phone applications and everything in between."

"When you consider South Africa has almost 100% cell phone penetration, 14 million+ mobile data consumers and a 15% (7.5 million) smartphone penetration, we see huge opportunities for Mobile and Tablet marketing both in SA and into Africa. We anticipate the domestic mobile media market that soared to R500m in 2011, to soon be a billion rand plus market. Mobile media is the only cost-effective way to reach a vast audience with ever-increasing precision."

"Tablet usage in SA is growing at a rapid rate with an estimated 460 000 users as at end May 2012. At present brands are only touching the surface of what the tablet has to offer in terms of engagement levels internally and externally. As tablet devices become ever more ubiquitous on couches and coffee tables, marketing agencies and brands really will have to sit up and take notice of this undeniably powerful platform."

"Mobile phone service is gaining by leaps and bounds in Africa. Indeed, so many Africans have subscribed to wireless service that the continent is now the second-largest market in the world - having supplanted Latin America - and behind only Asia, the top market "said Hilton.

Tasked with leading M&C Saatchi Mobile South Africa is Zeyad Davids. Having spent 14 years in leading roles in the digital space in Australia, he returned to South Africa over 2 years ago as managing partner, digital at M&C Saatchi Abel. "Mobile is truly the "First Screen" today and thinking of it as the third screen is losing sight of how consumers are living their lives and the role of mobile devices in enabling deeper brand connections as well as transactional opportunities."

"M&C Saatchi Mobile South Africa will launch as a fully-fledged, stand alone, mobile marketing services agency, offering three core services - media planning and buying, creative & production and consulting. Our media buying service stands to offer Clients the benefit of harnessing the significant media spend volumes that M&C Saatchi Mobile currently manages globally," says Davids.

For more information go to www.mcsaatchimobile.co.za.