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On-the-Go with Target’s Mobile Gift Cards (Promo Magazine)
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Posted: 03/18/2010
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Now, with its mobile gift card option, Target, the second-largest U.S. discount chain, makes paying with plastic old school. The retailer is letting customers use mobile phones to redeem gift cards as more consumers use phones with Internet access. Shoppers simply save the account numbers for their Target GiftCards to a PIN-protected area at either online or at the retailer's mobile-optimized site. Customers access the mobile site on their phones, enter the login and PIN for the card and complete the purchase when the cashier scans the unique 2D barcode on the display screen into Target’s P-O-S system, which has been outfitted across all 1740 Target stores nation wide. Customers can also access the mobile site to view merchandise, check product availability, manage gift registries and find locations, among other things. Other retailers like Starbucks and 7-Eleven are testing similar barcode technology to incorporate into their mobile business strategies.
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Industry:
Retail & Products
Topic:
E-Commerce,
Experience & Interaction,
Technology Implementation
Region:
North America
Audience:
Business to Consumer
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On-Demand Software Adds Flexibility to Direct Digital Marketers (Ecommerce Times)
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Posted: 01/21/2010
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The robustness of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products positions them to effectively tackle emerging trends in direct digital marketing. The secret to their success? They share the same “it” factor ideals that often boost the best new businesses to the top of the rung: they are cost-effective, easy to implement and inherently scalable. On-demand products must seamlessly integrate between the three primary channels of direct digital marketing–email, mobile and Web–meaning developers must create software that is simultaneously heightened in usability and simple to implement. The bottom line is that the functionality and flexibility of SaaS and universal profile management systems enhance direct digital marketers’ own flexibility and success in their drive to leverage customer information and boost sales.
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Industry:
Marketing, Design, & Interactive Communications,
Retail & Products,
Technology, Consulting, & Professional Services
Topic:
Business Intelligence,
Content Strategy,
E-Commerce,
Marketing Communications,
Technology Implementation
Region:
Global
Audience:
Business to Business,
Business to Consumer
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Nokia’s “Design By Community”: Hope For Next-Gen Smartphone? (Mobile Magazine)
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Posted: 05/13/2010
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Former king of the mobile technology hill, Nokia, recently unveiled “Design by Community”, a project intended to tap into the psyche of the techie community and recapture the keys to the kingdom. Nokia’s plan of attack is to use its new website to solicit consumer feedback regarding characteristics smartphone users would most like to see in the next generation of smartphones. Nokia amassed thousands of votes about design parameters in the first round of voting. Future
reconnaissance rounds will seek information about characteristics, including: shape, materials, connectivity, video and features like camera. The voting system will reject configuration ideas that are too out-of-the-box or not creative enough. Nokia does not have plans to bring the winning creation to market. They will, however, incorporate them into a design concept.
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Industry:
Marketing, Design, & Interactive Communications,
Telecommunications
Topic:
Business Intelligence,
Creative & Design,
Experience & Interaction,
Marketing Communications
Region:
Global
Audience:
Business to Consumer,
Peer Groups & Communities
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Nexus One Propels Google Into Online Retail (BusinessWeek)
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Posted: 03/04/2010
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Google Inc. has entered the world of online retailing with its sales of the Nexus One, an HTC Corp. manufactured and Android mobile system operated phone. Google will also sell additional Android operated devices, like Motorola Inc. phones, with aims to promote further adoption of the Android operating system. With support from Google’s online store, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless will also carry the Nexus One. "We hope that by partnering with us in offering the Nexus One and future phones from Google, operators will be able to drive even more customers to their network and will be able of [sic] offer their customers another innovative Android device," said Katie Watson, Google spokeswoman.
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Industry:
Retail & Products,
Telecommunications
Topic:
Content Strategy,
E-Commerce
Region:
Global
Audience:
Business to Consumer
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New Tweet Button Simplifies Sharing (Digital Arts)
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Posted: 09/16/2010
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In an effort to simplify sharing and make retweeting one of its core functions, Twitter recently launched a new Tweet Button, which prompts a pop-up box allowing visitors to share a Twitter feed without leaving the site they are visiting. The feature also allows publishers to incorporate custom text into their Tweet Button box, as well as suggest other Twitter accounts to follow. "The Tweet Button will help publishers grow traffic and increase their Twitter following," reads Twitter's announcement. While TweetMeme will be phasing out its popular “retweet” service, the company plans to launch other Twitter-related services. "We have grown to more than 750 million daily retweet button impressions.... That said, the market requires an official solution that can accelerate this growth. So today Twitter is launching its own Tweet Button and we are very pleased to be partnering with them to continue to grow the overall Twitter ecosystem," reads a TweetMeme statement. CNN.com, YouTube, Time.com, Hulu and USA Today have already incorporated the function into their websites.
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Industry:
Marketing, Design, & Interactive Communications,
Technology, Consulting, & Professional Services
Topic:
Content Strategy,
Experience & Interaction,
Technology Implementation
Region:
Global
Audience:
Business to Consumer,
Peer Groups & Communities
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