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Mobui Corp. reportedly has launched “Audience (News - Alert) Chat,” a mobile group chat application made specifically for television broadcasters and studios.

 

With Mobui Audience Chat, television audiences can interact with the shows that they are watching by posting opinions, comments, or questions in chat rooms using their mobile phone.

 

Also, television viewers can ask a question to a show’s host or a reality show cast-off to gain a “behind the scenes’ perspective” on the show as they watch it. Company officials said that chat room postings can also be broadcasted on the television screen as the show airs.

 

Officials said that Mobui Audience Chat allows television broadcasters and studios to deliver mobile group chat services with the launch of new television programs or to enhance existing shows.

 

Some of the features of Mobui Audience Chat include: mobile device support; show chat rooms; celebrity chat rooms; user defined chat rooms; personalized user profiles; and a send to a friend feature.

 

Currently, the Mobui Audience Chat runs on more than 100 different phone models, including the iPhone, BlackBerry (News - Alert), Windows Mobile, Java, and BREW powered devices.

 

Show chat rooms feature allows broadcasters to offer a wide variety of branded chat rooms that match their on-air programming schedule. Broadcasters also can host celebrity moderated chat rooms, allowing the audience to interact with on-air talent when the celebrity’s show is airing.

 

User-defined chat rooms allow audience members to set up their own chat rooms and invite friends and other fans to join. Plus, members can customize their profile.

 

The product also offers short message service “send to a friend” functionality, enabling users to invite others to download the application or to join a current chat room by way of text messaging.

 

“Television broadcasters and studios are searching for ways to attract new viewers and encourage people to get more engaged with programs live, when they air,” said Berge Ayvazian (News - Alert), chief strategy officer at Yankee Group.

 

He said that the companies like Mobui deliver these types of interactive mobile experiences, and offer broadcasters a creative way to differentiate themselves and connect with their audience in real-time.