Hunker down and find that tin foil cap, pronto! Privacy advocates, we've a new target for you to bang on: Integrated Media Measurement. The 4,900-person media research company is looking to take advertising measurement to a whole new level (or new low, as it were) by embedding tracking modules within cellphones. In short, the module picks up audio from ads and records information about the exposure; in the future, if you were to purchase whatever product you heard about (like seeing a movie that was plugged), it would register a hit and deem you a sucker. As of now, the only testers with these freaky phones are individuals who signed up for this stuff, but you better believe major marketing firms (and TV / movie studios in particular) are perking their ears up and begging to know more.

[Image courtesy of Corbis, thanks ugotamesij]

Oh yeah, we know a certain dutiful crew in the R&D labs at RIM are toiling away on the BlackBerrys that we'll be swooning over in the years to come, but what winner took the time (and what champion instructed him / her?) to conjure up this PowerPoint slide? Reportedly, this here slide was used within the company to show just how awesome its handsets are, because clearly, if six rich people accept free phones well before the street date from you, that equates to stellar quality and usability. Oh, and just remember RIM -- we'll bet Motorola used to brag about all the superstars with RAZRs, too. See how far that got 'em?

Hey, bet you'd like to know that Verizon Wireless' Mike (you know, from Minute with Mike) thinks the BlackBerry Storm is going to "crush the competition." He also expects his sales team to "take the world by storm." He also states that this handset's screen is "built to be the most responsive of its time." Oh, but he totally neglects to mention a price and / or release date. Thanks Mike. Thanks a lot. Full mind-numbing episode is after the jump.

Sony Ericsson is taking the viral route on marketing with its forthcoming Xperia X1, launching a new "alternative reality thriller" centered around a mysterious character named Johnny X. There's not much meat in the video the company is desperately trying to sneak into your daily YouTube diet, but at least we get to see action-packed chases, Memento-stealing plot points of the highest order, and one weird, seemingly backmasked utterance of "Johneeeeeeeeeee... X!" Hit the read link for the full clip, and check out another video after the break which helps to unravel the mystery.

[Via Pocket-lint]

With Japanese handset sales declining pretty much across the board (thanks, lower subsidies!), it follows logic that the government and Japanese-based handset makers would look internationally to pick up the slack. In a rather vague report, we're told that the nation is hoping to push its technologically advanced mobiles in other countries, though it'll have a tough time marketing mobile TV without sufficient infrastructure. One of the token handsets chosen to lead the parade is a Sony-made "wallet phone," which is only described as having cashless technology built in. Color us (very) mildly enthused.

We understand the need to catch eyes these days, and while Rogers will certainly not be the first nor last to promote a new piece of kit with an obscenely large version of said kit, this one just takes brobdingnagian marketing to a new plateau. The absolutely gigantic Rogers Bold launch kit includes a plethora of Bold flyers, informational pamphlets and all sorts of other goodies that'll be handed out to prospective buyers shortly. The real question is: who gets to take this thing home once the buzz dies down?

[Thanks, Michael]

Last we checked, "er" isn't located anywhere within the word "Bell" or "Bell Mobility." For whatever reason, that didn't stop the Canadian telecom company from spending big bucks in order to create a new marketing push focused on the two letters. Reportedly, the "Today Just Got Better" campaign will be plastered just about everywhere in the Great North here shortly, leaving onlookers confused and unconsciously drawn to the name. Is this really where we're at as a society? Creating ads that have no connection to the brand just to garner attention? Sigh.

Great news -- one of Motorola's ad agencies, Ogilvy London, has deduced the answer to Moto's product woes. Turns out the problem was that although everyone seems to know the infamous "HELLOMOTO" tag line, no one really knows what it means, so they're tacking a new one on: "We Generation." The new phrase is apparently designed to emphasize the social capabilities of the company's handsets (you know, like calling and talking to people, for example) and will hit virtually every ad medium starting this week. The agency's verbiage leads us to believe that ye olde HELLOMOTO isn't quite off to the cemetery yet -- and if the RAZR's ungodly lifespan is any indication, it won't be going anywhere any time soon.

[Via IntoMobile]

Remember that not-entirely-innocent looking prehistoric creature that won your heart immediately upon viewing Samsung's optical illusion promotional vid? Apparently quite a few folks demanded to see more of the Soul dinosaur, so Sammy hoisted him up onto a truck and proceeded to drive around a few English towns. Catch the sub-2 minute journey (reactions included) just after the break.

[Thanks, Claudio]

We'll be frank -- we really have no idea what Samsung's getting at with its freshest Soul promotional video, but it's certainly a fine piece of eye candy if nothing else. Put simply, the video shows a maniac darting about demonstrating ten optical illusions in just over two minutes, and in case you couldn't guess, the Soul is saved for last. Should we have prefaced that bit with a spoiler warning? Too bad -- vid's still waiting after the jump if you're interested, though.

[Thanks, Joel]

Just in case you haven't learned enough about the forthcoming Samsung Instinct from our hands-on gallery / UI video walkthrough, Sammy has launched a promotional website designed to give you the skinny. Within the site, you can peer at a handful of press shots, get schooled on all of its features and sign up to be notified when it's ready for your hands to be wrapped around it. Nothing too exciting, but those with the Instinct high on their list of next mobile to own will surely find it worth the click over.

Nothing shows your complete and unwavering devotion to a handset maker like buying an ultra-rare vehicle with its logos on there, wouldn't you agree? Those vigorously nodding up and down (well, those vigorously nodding up and down in Brazil) can get set to grab a limited edition Renault Sandero, which will come "fully equipped with Nokia's navigation system and [undisclosed] car add-ons." The super-special Sandero will come stocked with an N95 and cost around €17,650 ($27,693), but you'd better hurry, as only 1,000 of these niche motorcars are being built. It's like Nokia heard your cries for letting the chance to nab one of those co-branded Twingos slip through your too-busy-texting thumbs or something.

[Via Textually]

Here's one that is sure to get the pro-privacy crowd all riled up, and rightfully so. Apparently, Verizon is sending out notices to customers that update them on all the fine print, but if you actually take a moment to peruse the documentation, you may notice something you're not exactly kosher with. The carrier is now planning on sharing its database of CPNI records -- which is defined as "data collected by telecommunications corporations about a consumer's telephone calls, including time, data, duration and destination" -- to outside sources unless you take the initiative to opt out. The notice claims that users will have to remove themselves from the process within 30 days of receiving the letter, or else it "will assume that you give the Verizon Companies the right to share your CPNI with the authorized companies as described above." We just can't see this going over well. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via mocoNews]

Thankfully, the previous rumors of a Playboy MVNO have been laid to rest (at least momentarily), but that hasn't stopped Playboy Enterprises from teaming up with Quattro Wireless "to provide Playboy content on mobile phones." Reportedly, "users of the mobile site will be able to view non-nude photos of Playboy playmates and read their personal interviews," and the phone-friendly site will also lead to music, game and book reviews along with access to the Playboy Advisor advice column. The content from the standard website is synced regularly to the mobile outlet through Quattro's GetMobile platform, and as expected, you'll find lots of targeted advertisements cluttering your diminutive screen should you chose to visit.

[Via SlashPhone]