For consumers on the go who can’t wait, Overstock sends cell-phone alerts

Discount retailer Overstock.com Inc. has a new service for consumers who can’t wait to get to their computers to find out what deals Overstock is offering today. Verizon Wireless Get It Now customers can receive Daily Deals alerts from Overstock featuring a different product from each of eight categories every day, delivered to their cell phones. The cell phone alert is different from the Daily Deals alerts that Overstock customers can receive via e-mail.

This is the first time Overstock has sent alerts to cell phones. The company says it is in discussions with other cell service providers to offer similar alerts.

Cell phone customers who want to buy the Daily Deal have to phone their orders to Overstock’s call center. Overstock expects to allow them to order via the cell phone using the web later this year.

Every Daily Deal includes a product picture and description. Daily Deal product categories include Apparel, Entertainment, Electronics, Home & Garden, Jewelry, Sports & Toys and Handmade Goods.

Customers with Verizon’s Get It Now service can download applications over the air and purchase them from their phones. Services include getTXT, getIM, getEMAIL and getGAMES. getGOING applications offer restaurant location services with maps and directions. The service also includes getPIX to view and share photos, getFLIX to view web cams and getTONES to identify incoming callers by assigning a unique ring. GetALERTS allows customers to receive a range of information and getBROWSING connects them to the Internet.