The Event Assistant, Mobile Phone Application for Meetings

        A Dutch company, Log on has created a Web-based application that allows conference attendees to use their mobile phone to network, view the agenda, participate in polls, and more. The product is The Event Assistant. This application only allows the attendees who registered for the conference to view the mobile Web pages. The web pages allows them to search for people by name, title, or company, and in case of exhibitors, by product type and country. Through text messaging, conference organizers can send information out to individuals and groups such as "the seminar location has been changed to Room # " and it also conducts instant-response polls.  The Event Assistant also displays the agenda, where users can get information on the event, the presenters and personal meetings and can also order session presentations, as well as get information on the destination, venue, and transportation. 

       The service works on any device connected to the internet and on any type of connection regardless of the phone service provider. For phones without an internet connection, attendees can still register to receive SMS notifications, to participate in SMS voting and to order session presentations or exhibitor brochures. 

        The fixed cost of the system ranges from about $10,000 to $18,000 per event but it depends on the number of service modules selected. For repeat customers, the prices are about 50% lower and for small meetings, there is a less expensive version available. There is also a variable cost to the system, which depends on the number of SMS messages sent and received. The systems is set up with space for sponsor mentions on the Web pages, SMS messages and elsewhere.