PROSPECTIVE PANELIST FAQ
Are you on the plan where you pay for your own phone bill? Go to your FAQ.
- What does IMMI do??
- How does IMMI measure what I watch?
- Are you recording my conversations?
- How was I selected?
- Why do you want me? I don’t watch much TV or listen to the radio.
- Can anyone participate?
- Do I have to switch my cell phone provider?
- Will you pay any early termination fees that my existing provider charges?
- What is the model of the cell phone you will give me?
- Can I use the cell phone for personal or business calls?
- How long can I stay in the IMMI panel?
- Can I drop out of the research panel?
- How much time does this take?
- OK, I'm ready. How do I sign up?
CURRENT PANEL MEMBER FAQ
- What do I do if I'm moving?
- Does it matter if another person in my family uses the phone?
- Why do I need to tell you if I'm going on vacation?
- If I want to change my service plan or add service features, who do I call?
- Should I take the phone with me to movies, doctor's office, restaurants?
- What if I have technical problems with the phone?
- Why was I notified I'm on alert when the phone is working fine?
- Why doesn't the phone stay charged longer?
- What should I do if I get an email or phone call from IMMI Support?
- What is a software update?
- What if I am asked for my Social Security number?
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- What does IMMI do??
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Have you ever wondered where TV ratings come from? In the past, media audiences were measured by asking people like you to record what they watched in a hand-written diary. IMMI has a new way to collect data that uses the special IMMI cell phone you carry. IMMI then issues reports to TV networks, radio stations, movie producers, and advertisers.
- How does IMMI measure what I watch?
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IMMI will supply you with a special IMMI cell phone that creates digital codes from movies, television, and radio programs you listen to. The cell phone transmits these codes back to IMMI, where they are compared to codes created from what was broadcast or playing in the theater. If the codes match, we know you were exposed to that material.
- Are you recording my conversations?
- No. The IMMISM cell phone software can match only media (TV, radio, movies, etc.) data and nothing else. IMMI adheres to a strict privacy policy.
- How was I selected?
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Your name was selected at random from a telephone database. You, along with thousands of other Americans, were chosen to be representative of all adults. In order for the audience ratings to be accurate, we hope that you will join the IMMI research panel. We need your participation to ensure the audience for shows you watch will be measured accurately.
- Why do you want me? I don’t watch much TV or listen to the radio.
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Some people watch a lot of TV and others watch very little. IMMI needs all kinds of people to participate.
- Can anyone participate?
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Unfortunately, for our panel members to truly represent their areas they must be randomly chosen. Our panelists must also be between the ages of 13 and 54 and not be employed in a job connected to advertising, media, or media research.
- Do I have to switch my cell phone provider?
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IMMI uses cell phones provided by Cingular/AT&T. You should use the IMMI phone as your main phone. If you already have a cell phone from AT&T/Cingular or a different provider, you can port your phone number over to the new IMMI phone. It is easy to port your number and there will be no interruption in your service. If you had an existing contract, you will be released from the contract.
- Will you pay any early termination fees that my existing provider charges?
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We refund the termination fee for your old service (you are still responsible for any outstanding balance). You will need to fax a copy of your bill or invoice showing the charge for the Termination Fee to 800-571-3678, ATTN: ETF
- What is the model of the cell phone you will give me?
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You will be receiving an IMMI AT&T/Cingular 3125 Smartphone. This slim, state-of-the-art phone takes pictures, videos, accesses the internet. It runs Windows Mobile and has much of the power of a computer, yet is smaller than most full-featured cell phones.
- Can I use the cell phone for personal or business calls?
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Yes. As long as you participate in the IMMI research panel, it's yours to use as your primary cell phone for the duration of time you are an IMMI research panel member.
- How long can I stay in the IMMI panel?
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You will have an opportunity to be on the research team up to two years as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements and fulfill your obligation to keep the phone charged, powered on and with you at all times.
IMMI reserves the right to terminate your membership to the IMMI panel. Conditions, which may result in termination from the panel include:
(1) failing to fulfill your role as a IMMI panel member by keeping the phone on, with them at all time and battery charge
(2) no longer meet panel membership eligibility requirements
(3) excessive phone usage where voice plan minutes are in excess of 1000 minutes a month
(4) 411 directory assistance calls are in excess of 2 per month
Final panel termination will be determined on a case-by-case basis and IMMI will contact you for resolution before any termination action will be taken. - Can I drop out?
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We hope you don't. If you change your mind, you can drop out of the IMMI research panel at any time. IMMI will send you a pre-paid shipping label to return the phone, and documentation to assist you with finalizing your Cingular/AT&T account.
- How much time does this take?
- There is little time involved. You simply carry the cell phone we supply you and use it as you would use any mobile phone. We ask that you recharge it every night.
- OK, I'm ready. How do I sign up?
- You don't need to do anything. A representative from IMMI will call you in the next few days. You may also call us at (800) 980-0656, and we'll get you started right away.
- What do I do if I'm moving?
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Go to Update to send us your new address. If you are still in an IMMI area, you may be able to continue as a panel member.
- Does it matter if another person in my family uses the phone?
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You are the IMMI panel member, and you need to keep the phone with you. Data received while other people have the phone (even within your family) are not valid.
- Why do I need to tell you if I'm going on vacation?
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Sometimes when you leave the cell phone coverage area, the phone is unable to upload media data and this can cause technical problems. Please advise us of your Travel plans, so we can help you avoid this problem.
- If I want to change my service plan or add service features, who do I call?
- Your service plan is being paid for by IMMI and cannot be changed. If you have an issue with the plan, contact your panel member representative.
- Should I take the phone with me to movies?
- Yes. Use Quicklist to put the phone on Silent, and carry the phone with you as you normally would. It's important that we understand the media you are exposed to everywhere.
- What if I have technical problems with the phone?
- We want to keep your phone working. Use Troubleshoot on this site to get your phone back online. If the problem is connected to IMMI software and/or you are on alert, this should help you solve it. Otherwise call IMMI support at 800-571-3678. Sometimes the problem may be a service provider problem, and we may refer you to Cingular/AT&T.
- Why was I notified I'm on alert when the phone is working fine?
- The phone can seem perfectly okay, but the IMMI software has stopped working for some reason, so the phone isn't sending in data. To continue as an IMMI panel member you need to work with this site and IMMI Support to get your phone sending data again.
- Why doesn't the phone stay charged longer?
- The IMMI software is always running on the phone. This uses battery power. It's a good idea to have a charger in your car or at work. Charge the phone every night.
- What should I do if I get an email or phone call from IMMI Support?
- Please respond as soon as possible. This is part of your responsibility as an IMMI panel member.
- What is a software update?
- IMMI engineers are always working to improve the software on your phone. Every so often an improved version of the software needs to be downloaded and installed. IMMI Support will notify you by email a few days before this happens. Updating and installing is as simple as following a few onscreen directions. The email will tell you how to do it.
- What if I am asked for my Social Security number?
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1) We will NEVER ask for the following personal information in emails:
* Credit and debit card numbers
* Bank account numbers
* Driver's license numbers
* Social Security numbers
* Passwords2) We will never ask you to download an attachment or software directly from an email. If we do need you to update the IMMI software on your phone, we will first send you an email alerting you to an upcoming update. Then, we will send you a link to the updated software via your phone's Internet browser or an SMS (text) message directly to your phone.
3) Any email from us will include the 800 telephone number for the company and will be from your panel member representative.
We hope that this policy will alert you to any suspicious emails you may receive. If you have questions about an email that comes from IMMI, contact us and let us know.