Mobile phone as a second opinion

March 27th, 2010 • 1 comment automotive, mobile

Originally published in Headlight Blog. Editor’s Note: Headlightblog.com recently caught up with James Spahr, a UX Lead at Razorfish and pictured below, who has been working on the Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) account since Razorfish was selected as the digital agency of record in January 2009. This past summer James worked on a mobile website for MBUSA as part of the agency’s work to support the 2010 E-Class launch. He was interviewed for Headlightblog.com by Kyle Outlaw, a regular Headlightblog.com contributor who is also a UX lead at Razorfish and one of the agency’s mobile subject matter experts.

Headlightblog.com: What were the key business drivers behind the creation of the mobile website for MBUSA?
James Spahr: The goal of the mobile website was to create a destination that mobile advertising could ultimately be driven toward. The point was to deliver products and information about the new E-Class, whether you were directed to the site from a mobile ad, accessed the site directly on your mobile phone or, while sitting in front of the TV, saw the URL and typed it in. Read More

A more connected car: On Mercedes-Benz, mobile and vehicle telematics

March 27th, 2010 • automotive, mobile

Originally published in Headlight Blog. Mercedes-Benz mbrace, a new telematics platform that Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) launched recently, is the first such system to have a companion mobile application. The app lets registered mbrace customers lock and unlock vehicle doors as well as locate their vehicle from within the vicinity of one mile. The app also lets owners contact their preferred Mercedes-Benz dealership or locate dealers in the U.S. by proximity. It provides dealer name, address, phone number and even pinpoints their location on a map. The click-to-call functionality allows for easy access to the mbrace Customer Response Center, Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center and Mercedes-Benz Financial. Users must be active Mercedes-Benz mbrace subscribers to use the companion mobile application.  Read More