MU301S MATTHEW GILES

Overview Introduction Introduction Current Weight Loss sites Current Weight Loss sites Proposal/Target Market/Executive Summary Proposal/Target Market/Executive Summary How it works How it works Costing Costing Problems/Issues Problems/Issues Conclusion Conclusion References References Questions Questions

Introduction The weight loss industry has established itself as a Billion £/$ industry. The growth of such companies as ‘Weight Watchers’ still thrive in bringing in customers to consume their products. The weight loss industry has established itself as a Billion £/$ industry. The growth of such companies as ‘Weight Watchers’ still thrive in bringing in customers to consume their products. A lot of items you buy from the supermarket or out in town never include the calorie check so by introducing a quick and easy method this can be fixed A lot of items you buy from the supermarket or out in town never include the calorie check so by introducing a quick and easy method this can be fixed

Current Weight Loss Sites 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

Proposal I will be introducing a mobile device which allows the user to text in a specific food and receive response indicating I will be introducing a mobile device which allows the user to text in a specific food and receive response indicating Calories Calories Carbohydrates Carbohydrates Fat Content Fat Content Sugar Sugar The service will allow the user to pick and choose which food they feel is more appropriate for their diet or a healthy lifestyle. The service will allow the user to pick and choose which food they feel is more appropriate for their diet or a healthy lifestyle.

The Target Market Biting Calories would target anyone concerned about their weight or want to choose a healthy eating lifestyle. Biting Calories would target anyone concerned about their 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? Biting Calories will have to use a SMS gateway. There are a number of company’s which will provide this kind of service. E.g. Intellisoftware who offer an SMS interface, from this Biting Calories will be able to send SMS messages to individual or multiple recipients. Biting Calories will have to use a SMS gateway. There are a number of company’s which will provide this kind of service. E.g. Intellisoftware who offer an SMS interface, from this Biting Calories will be able to send SMS messages to individual or multiple recipients. Intellisoftware provides the database to store the information so it acts as an automated response. Biting Calories can then return replies instantly. Intellisoftware provides the database to store the information so it acts as an automated response. Biting Calories can then return replies instantly. Text sent to the PC – Automated response through database

How it works? Using the application Biting Calories is able to do the following Using the application Biting Calories is able to do the following 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, 2000, XP & Vista Compatible with Mac OSX Tiger/Leopard & PC Windows ME, 2000, XP & Vista

How it works? How to deliver the Information The foods are split up into different categories for instance The foods are split up into different categories for instance The user will text the word Fries, the keyword ‘fries’ will be sent to the database holding all the desired information. The user will text the word Fries, the keyword ‘fries’ will be sent to the database holding all the desired information. Biting Calories will check the database to retrieve the keyword ‘Fries’ Biting Calories will check the database to retrieve the keyword ‘Fries’ A response will be sent with the different chips available e.g. McDonalds, Burger King, and Chip Shop. The user will have to reply with the specific product name and the size of the product S/M/L A response will be sent with the different chips available e.g. McDonalds, Burger King, and Chip Shop. The user will have to reply with the specific product name and the size of the product S/M/L Then a list of the Calories, Fat, Carbohydrates, and sugar content will be sent for the desired product. The user will not always have to send a double message because a vast majority of items will have the same amount of Calories, Fats, Carbohydrates and sugar content Then a list of the Calories, Fat, Carbohydrates, and sugar content will be sent for the desired product. The user will not always have to send a double message because a vast majority of items will have the same amount of Calories, Fats, Carbohydrates and sugar content

Costs Below is the Profit/Loss Projection for 3 years

Costs The way Biting calories will make money is from the users sending in the text messages. The way Biting calories will make money is from the users sending in the text messages. Each text message sent into BC will cost £1 but a reply from BC will only cost £0.04 Each text message sent into BC will cost £1 but a reply from BC will only cost £0.04 First year predicted price target will stand at £9, but for the third year the predicted price would be at £1,675,328. That’s the total profit price, which has been worked out. First year predicted price target will stand at £9, but for the third year the predicted price would be at £1,675,328. That’s the total profit price, which has been worked out.

Problems/Issues? Possible problems could come from in the server is down/database Possible problems could come from in the server is down/database Customer satisfaction with correct results Customer satisfaction with correct results Operating 24 hours a day Operating 24 hours a day Adding the foods to the database due to McDonalds/Burger King and other fast food outlets constantly changing their menus Adding the foods to the database due to McDonalds/Burger King and other fast food outlets constantly changing their menus Maintenance Maintenance

Conclusion Weight loss would be helped with users now knowing what food is good or bad for them Weight loss would be helped with users now knowing what food is good or bad for them Dieting would become easier Dieting would become easier The end of possible junk food The end of possible junk food Potential Money making project Potential Money making project

References Txtlocal(2008), SMS GATEWAY sms.php#prices sms.php#prices sms.php#prices Weightwatchers(2008) Dieting site Images from Google