mBlox to deliver flight-tracking texts

Global flight information firm OAG has tapped mBlox to deliver text alerts to travelers in the Star Alliance network.
The pact, which will be announced this week, allows OAG customers to use their phones to track the flights of the Star Alliance’s 17 member airlines. The service includes alerts of flight delays, terminal changes and a confirmation of flight status prior to take-off, and is free aside from carrier messaging charges.
The news marks yet another win for mBlox, which claims to have processed more than 1.4 billion messages valued at $500 million last year. And it underscores a growing trend among consumer-facing businesses: offering free text services in an effort to increase stickiness and attract new customers. Financial institutions, delivery services and healthcare providers are just a few of the industries that are working to expand their offerings via free mobile services.
UPS and FedEx were two of the first major U.S. brands to exploit wireless, launching text services nearly a decade ago that allowed their customers to track packages and find drop-off locations.