McDonalds brings "m-Venue" user-selected media to face stuffers

Today's discerning consumer can no longer be satisfied by a mere peel-and-win game on their box of fries, now it takes 10 flat-screen TVs and a sound system to keep those burger lovers coming back. McDonalds has started to roll out a new m-Venue system to franchisees, which provides music and videos to customers via text-messaging and WiFi. Users can select the video content they'd like burned into their retina by the in-store big screens via text message while they chow down on fries, and can purchase ringtones, video, wallpaper and games for download as well. This new effort definitely isn't the first attempt at getting customers into McDonalds for more than the meals, but positive reaction at pilot stores might mean this idea is a bit less ill-fated.

[Via The Wireless Report]

[Qweltol @ Sep 28th 2006 4:21PM]

Now if they would just learn how to make good coffee. And their orange juice goes down like battery acid. But, they've got ringtones.

[thrill @ Sep 28th 2006 4:08PM]

would you like fries with that mp3?

[Steve @ Sep 28th 2006 4:10PM]

This is McCrap

[Brent @ Sep 28th 2006 4:13PM]

If they really want people to return to their stores, maybe they should start making GOOD food (instead of crap). Just an idea...

[Zeke @ Sep 28th 2006 4:14PM]

I've seen something very much like this in a bar in Seattle. There's a big plasma above the bar displaying messages that people text to a certain number. Each message has a number next to it, and anyone can "grow" or "shrink" a message by texting that number.
The cool part with this thing was that it was free... not displaying ads or anything... I honestly have to wonder whether or not it was enough to bring people in to that bar.

Multiple plasmas = large franchisee investment. I don't expect a ton to use this. Some McD's have video menus, but most don't.

[Steven @ Sep 28th 2006 4:46PM]

god McDonalds needs to give it up. there food is McCraptular. I used to work there (I admit it) and ugg I so don't wanna eat there. I worked d at burger King and still wanna eat there. thats bad

[Snorkle256 @ Sep 28th 2006 4:52PM]

Awesome deal. I can't wait until the McDonald Super Center comes to my town. I'll be able to get my McShirts, my frozen McMeals, print out McFotos, get my McMovies and more!

[PDubNYC @ Sep 28th 2006 5:43PM]

^^^
Don't forget about the McSh*ts

[TVGenius @ Sep 28th 2006 5:59PM]

One of ours is being heavily remodeled right now, but I'm not counting on it. Something like this might fly, but I sense there's a $.99 charge involved with the text message, otherwise it seems a simpler touch-screen computer (ala the jukeboxes at Texas Roadhouse) would suffice.

[aptmunich @ Sep 29th 2006 2:28AM]

They have these in a few mcdonald's here in munich already, it's freaking awful.
They expect you to sit in front of a annoying flashing LCD display integrated into a metal column...

[ScooterJP @ Sep 29th 2006 5:57AM]

I doubt this was customer-driven - more like a marketing exec wanting to throw some bling into the mix to impress the board, or sold a 'solution' by some e-marketing company offering tools to reach a 'key demographic'. It's like their food: formulaic and soulless.