Mobile coupon platform Shooger has expanded its cross-platform strategy with the addition of an application for BlackBerry devices, which represent the largest share of smartphones in the United States.

Now Shooger is available on BlackBerry, iPhone and Android smartphones. With Shooger, consumers can find money-saving deals on everyday services and products like pizza, manicures and car washes on their smartphone, at http://www.shooger.com and via opt-in SMS text messages.

“We continue to make Shooger deals accessible to more consumers, no matter the device,” said Matt Myers, chief marketing officer of Shooger, Coral Gables, FL. “Launching a BlackBerry app is a natural next step to bring consumers relevant offers, anywhere, anytime. 

“It is important to have a cross-platform presence so that consumers can receive deals in the format they prefer,” he said. “It also gives merchants multiple ways of reaching prospective or current customers on their mobile devices.”

Mobile coupon usage rising
Shooger offers users more than 100,000 local and national deals from 50,000 merchants, searchable by proximity and categories.

Extending the reach of existing advertising, Shooger’s coupons and deals provide businesses with a simple, performance-based mobile marketing option, allowing them to send instant offers directly to customers.

Mobile coupons are convenient and effective for both consumers and merchants.

With the economy still recovering, consumer interest in money-saving deals is not waning.

Borrell Associates reports that mobile coupons are a big chunk of the expected mobile marketing explosion, with estimates that mobile coupons will grow from $2.7 billion in 2009 to $57 billion in 2014.

According to Nielsen Co., smartphones account for 24 percent of the U.S. mobile market.

Research In Motion  BlackBerry is the largest smartphone provider with nearly 35 percent of smartphone subscriber market share in the second quarter of 2010.

BlackBerry’s Shooger
Like other existing versions of Shooger, the BlackBerry application includes location-based offers, maps, click-to-call, coupon redemption, clip and follow to save.

Shooger applications are now available for high-resolution BlackBerry handsets with 4.6 OS and higher, including the popular Bold and Storm models.

“Shooger’s BlackBerry app presents consumers with coupons and deals based on their location for everyday products and services, helping them save money without having to clip paper coupons,” Mr. Myers said. “Shooger makes it easy for shoppers to follow their favorite merchants and be alerted to new discounts when available.”

Final take
Giselle Tsirulnik is senior editor of Mobile Commerce Daily