Illuminated Technologies announced today that it will be including a new lead generation feature in Lumaganda, tentatively named Lumaganda Mobile. Illuminated Technologies plans to demo three initial mobile applications: mobile Sudoku, a mobile financial calculator, and a mobile version of The Art of War, to demonstrate its ability to use custom software as a lead generation tool. Lumaganda Mobile will be added to the list of lead generation features already offered by the Lumaganda service, which include contact forms, surveys, and newsletter subscriptions.

Lumaganda Mobile's downloads are a set of free, mobile applications available on J2ME, Palm OS, BlackBerry OS, Pocket PC, and SmartPhone platforms. The aim of developing the first application in the series, a mobile financial calculator, was to provide an easy-to-use application that would add value to any businessperson through functionality and portability. By offering a standard arithmetic calculator in conjunction with financial calculation options, any user can easily and quickly compute present values, return on investments, and break even points. The product also offers the ability for users to submit requests for new equations to be developed. By doing so, the compiled list of financial calculations becomes one that is highly practical and applicable to the target market.

Target Market and Benefits

This mobile application targets business individuals and university students and is to be utilized in the workplace or an educational institution. For the business user, this calculator becomes a valuable tool that is available on any widely used mobile platform. Ultimately, this product will alleviate the need to have multiple pieces of technology on hand. Thus, convenience is the key feature to the business user.

For students, this application will essentially replace the need for a financial calculator . The product will feature a basic arithmetic calculator with better user interface than most calculators available on current cellphones. Because the cellphone is owned by the majority of today's population, this product will allow students to quickly and conveniently compute financial equations.

The benefits of this product lie in its ability to accurately address the needs of two separate markets with the same product. This product will be functional, yet convenient enough that it will be accepted. The goal is to establish and increase demand for the application as the product becomes used by the market.

The ability to submit feature requests is also a significant benefit to this product. By utilizing SMS technology, users are able to connect through the application and send a request for a financial calculation they would like to see included into the program. This approach at determining the most highly demanded equations allows for only the most necessary formulas to be incorporated. As a result, usage and performance of the application is not hindered by the complexity created from providing long lists of irrelevant formulas.

Mobile Applications as a Lead Generation Tool 

The immediate use of a free financial calculator is for advertising and lead generation marketing purposes. Once it becomes readily used by the market, the application helps to fuel brand awareness. Financial calculations and equations are also popular searches on major search engines, and providing this application as a one-stop solution works to improve the business's image.

By offering the product for free to users, the opportunity is opened for the business to use the application as a lead generation marketing tool. Inputting personal information will become a necessity before the application can be downloaded. Alternatively, an email address of a specific cellphone can be entered into the website for a direct download. With either option, the business collects a database of leads (full names and emails for the former, and cellphone contacts for the latter) who are interested in the product, thus allowing for more specific target marketing in the future. Furthermore, this application is carried by mobile applications, and as a result, they act as an advertising tool, which fuels the popularity of the product, which in turn, creates a greater product demand and more visits to the website.

Mobile applications such as the financial calculator also open potential for users to refer the product to friends. By using an online referral system, the database can expand based on single users inputting their friends' emails into the referral boxes. As a result, one visitor to the site can potentially provide more than just their own single lead.

Mobile Applications and Seach Engine Optimization (SEO)

Mobile applications such as the financial calculator become a means through which a company employing such a free download can improve its search engine ranking across the major search engines. Search engine optimization ranking is improved in three ways: 1) number of hits and 2) incoming links and 3) interlinking across relevant websites.

The application will be made available on the company website. A link will be provided to all sites so a user can easily reach the page to download the calculator. In addition, banner graphics are used across different websites as a linking tool. These graphics can be easily copied and pasted to third party locations so that anyone can provide a link to the download page.

The aim of this marketing approach is to have as many inbound links to the download page as possible. Each individual who uses the financial calculator will become familiar with the application and its development company, thus building a positive brand image. In addition, the abundance of inbound links will drive up the popularity of the website, thus improving the overall rank of the page.

The number of hits to the webpage through individuals downloading the calculator will also boost popularity of the webpage and increase its overall ranking.

Finally, if different sources offering the download link offer relevant content, this network also assists in improving the ranking of the download site. If these sources are linked together, then the effect is even greater.

Ultimately, the product itself is a means through which lead generation and search engine optimization can take place. By offering a product that is highly demanded, the number of individuals who become interested in the product will increase. The greater the demand, the greater the popularity of the download source, and as a result, the larger the database of leads will become.

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The mobile financial calculator is available as a beta release for the following platforms. Select the version you would like to download, save the file to your computer, and transfer the application to your handheld via a USB cable. For detailed instructions on installation, please consult your mobile user's manual.

Financial Calculator Beta

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Lumaganda has also released a mobile version of Sudoku (LumaSudoku) and a Business Slides of Sun Tzu's The Art of War (LumaSlides).