MU301 MU301

S0511178S0511178

MATTHEW GILESMATTHEW GILES

OverviewOverview IntroductionIntroduction Current Weight Loss sitesCurrent Weight Loss sites Proposal/Target Market/Executive SummaryProposal/Target Market/Executive Summary How it worksHow it works CostingCosting Problems/IssuesProblems/Issues ConclusionConclusion ReferencesReferences QuestionsQuestions

IntroductionIntroduction The weight loss industry has established itself as a Billion The weight loss industry has established itself as a Billion

£/$ industry. The growth of such companies as ‘Weight £/$ industry. The growth of such companies as ‘Weight Watchers’ still thrive in bringing in customers to consume Watchers’ still thrive in bringing in customers to consume their products.their products.

A lot of items you buy from the supermarket or out in town A lot of items you buy from the supermarket or out in town never include the calorie check so by introducing a quick never include the calorie check so by introducing a quick and easy method this can be fixedand easy method this can be fixed

Current Weight Loss Current Weight Loss SitesSites

The main website used for weight loss is weight watchers as seen here. They offer a lot of information on dieting, but one thing they do not offer is an option to text in a certain food to see the potent ional calories, fat, carbs, sugars etc…

Below is the top Banner from the site, which shows an array of information

ProposalProposal I will be introducing a mobile device which allows the user I will be introducing a mobile device which allows the user

to text in a specific food and receive response indicatingto text in a specific food and receive response indicating CaloriesCalories CarbohydratesCarbohydrates Fat ContentFat Content SugarSugar

The service will allow the user to pick and choose which The service will allow the user to pick and choose which food they feel is more appropriate for their diet or a healthy food they feel is more appropriate for their diet or a healthy lifestyle.lifestyle.

The Target MarketThe Target Market Biting Calories would target anyone concerned about their Biting Calories would target anyone concerned about their

weight or want to choose a healthy eating lifestyle.weight or want to choose a healthy eating lifestyle. The ages could vary from as young as 14 and upwards.The ages could vary from as young as 14 and upwards.

How it works?How it works? Biting Calories will have to use a SMS gateway. There are a Biting Calories will have to use a SMS gateway. There are a

number of company’s which will provide this kind of number of company’s which will provide this kind of service. E.g. Intellisoftware who offer an SMS interface, service. E.g. Intellisoftware who offer an SMS interface, from this Biting Calories will be able to send SMS messages from this Biting Calories will be able to send SMS messages to individual or multiple recipients.to individual or multiple recipients.

Intellisoftware provides the database to store the Intellisoftware provides the database to store the information so it acts as an automated response. Biting information so it acts as an automated response. Biting Calories can then return replies instantly. Calories can then return replies instantly.

Text sent to the PC – Automated response through database

How it works?How it works? Using the application Biting Calories is able to do the Using the application Biting Calories is able to do the

followingfollowing

Send SMS messages to individual or multiple recipients Send SMS messages to individual or multiple recipients Create and manage contacts and groups Create and manage contacts and groups Send branded SMS messages Send branded SMS messages Get SMS delivery reports Get SMS delivery reports

Compatible with Mac OSX Tiger/Leopard & PC Windows ME, Compatible with Mac OSX Tiger/Leopard & PC Windows ME, 2000, XP & Vista 2000, XP & Vista

How it works?How it works?How to deliver the InformationHow to deliver the Information

The foods are split up into different categories for instanceThe foods are split up into different categories for instance The user will text the word Fries, the keyword ‘fries’ will be The user will text the word Fries, the keyword ‘fries’ will be

sent to the database holding all the desired information. sent to the database holding all the desired information. Biting Calories will check the database to retrieve the Biting Calories will check the database to retrieve the

keyword ‘Fries’keyword ‘Fries’ A response will be sent with the different chips available A response will be sent with the different chips available

e.g. McDonalds, Burger King, and Chip Shop. The user will e.g. McDonalds, Burger King, and Chip Shop. The user will have to reply with the specific product name and the size of have to reply with the specific product name and the size of the product S/M/L the product S/M/L

Then a list of the Calories, Fat, Carbohydrates, and sugar Then a list of the Calories, Fat, Carbohydrates, and sugar content will be sent for the desired product. The user will content will be sent for the desired product. The user will not always have to send a double message because a vast not always have to send a double message because a vast majority of items will have the same amount of Calories, majority of items will have the same amount of Calories, Fats, Carbohydrates and sugar contentFats, Carbohydrates and sugar content

CostsCosts

Below is the Profit/Loss Projection for 3 yearsBelow is the Profit/Loss Projection for 3 years

CostsCosts The way Biting calories will make money is from the users The way Biting calories will make money is from the users

sending in the text messages. sending in the text messages. Each text message sent into BC will cost £1 but a reply from Each text message sent into BC will cost £1 but a reply from

BC will only cost £0.04BC will only cost £0.04 First year predicted price target will stand at £9,533.00 but First year predicted price target will stand at £9,533.00 but

for the third year the predicted price would be at £1,675,328. for the third year the predicted price would be at £1,675,328. That’s the total profit price, which has been worked out.That’s the total profit price, which has been worked out.

Problems/Issues?Problems/Issues? Possible problems could come from in the server is Possible problems could come from in the server is

down/databasedown/database Customer satisfaction with correct resultsCustomer satisfaction with correct results Operating 24 hours a dayOperating 24 hours a day Adding the foods to the database due to McDonalds/Burger Adding the foods to the database due to McDonalds/Burger

King and other fast food outlets constantly changing their King and other fast food outlets constantly changing their menusmenus

Maintenance Maintenance

ConclusionConclusion Weight loss would be helped with users now knowing what Weight loss would be helped with users now knowing what

food is good or bad for themfood is good or bad for them Dieting would become easierDieting would become easier The end of possible junk foodThe end of possible junk food Potential Money making projectPotential Money making project

ReferencesReferences

Txtlocal(2008), SMS GATEWAY Txtlocal(2008), SMS GATEWAY http://www.txtlocal.co.uk/online-sms.http://www.txtlocal.co.uk/online-sms.php#pricesphp#prices

Weightwatchers(2008) Dieting site Weightwatchers(2008) Dieting site http://weightwatchers.comhttp://weightwatchers.com

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