Brazil Does Smartphone Samba by Mark Walsh

What comes to mind when you think of Brazil? Soccer? beautiful beaches? Bossa nova? Coffee? Probably not smartphones. As one of the so-called BRIC nations, Brazil is often characterized as an emerging economy poised for big growth. If the widening use of smartphones is any indication, it's on its way to rising prosperity. ...Read the whole story

  • CardStar Expands Loyalty Program With iPad App by Mark Walsh

    CardStar, which makes a smartphone app for storing loyalty cards, has released a free iPad version of the app meant to be used at home rather than in retail stores. Unlike the current smartphone app, the iPad one offers coupons from participating merchants including Best Buy, Blockbuster, CVS and PetSmart. ...Read the whole story

  • IBM Touts Mobile, Develops Apps For U.S. Open by Laurie Sullivan

    Hoping to be perceived as the genius who sits in the background and waits for the perfect moment to say something profound, IBM wants people to know it touches more than 1 billion mobile phone subscribers daily and continues to develop about 80% of the world's smartphone software made possible through a $100 million investment supporting mobile communications in semiconductors, cellular towers, mobile apps, networks and more. ...Read the whole story

  • spirits Tecate Links Fight Sponsorship To Mexican Holiday by Karl Greenberg

    To further its sponsorship of the bout, to be held at Los Angeles' Staples Center and broadcast on HBO PPV, Tecate will tailor its TV, radio and out-of-home advertising carrying a "Cerveza Con Caracter" theme, with information about the fight. The brand will also augment the effort with retail programs in its key markets. ...Read the whole story

  • YouTube, MLB Deal Streams Video On Demand To Japanese Fans by Laurie Sullivan

    YouTube and MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet arm of Major League Baseball, announced a partnership Monday to offer baseball fans in Japan a way to follow the game. ...Read the whole story

  • retail Mobile Effort Promotes Nine West's New Collection by Aaron Baar

    Nine West has incorporated the barcode into print advertising (to run in Lucky Magazine's October issue), in-store signage, boxes and on a special microsite for the campaign, all clearly marked how to use the virtual barcode. "This is the first time we've been on packaging," CEO Ed Jordan says. "It's a way for people to interact with the brand in ways that might not have done before." ...Read the whole story

  • FCC's Copps Criticizes Google-Verizon Net Neutrality Proposal by Wendy Davis

    Add Federal Communications Commission member Michael Copps to the roster of those who oppose a net neutrality proposal put forward by Google and Verizon. Writing in the Washington Post, Copps says the plan "creates a two-tiered Internet at the expense of the open Internet we now have," while also transforming the FCC "into an agent of big business." ...Read the whole story

  • Skype Launches Business Phone Service by Mark Walsh

    Aiming to boost revenues ahead of its planned IPO, Skype Monday formally rolled out its phone service for business users. Previously in beta for the last six months, Skype Connect 1.0 ties into a company's existing private branch exchange (PBX) or Unified Communications (UC) phone systems to make low-cost voice calls. ...Read the whole story

Android Is From Mars, iPhone Is From Venus? by Steve Smith

When going to industry events, even in beautiful resort locations, don't bring the fiancée. ...More

  • Searching For A Free Text Message Option by Laurie Sullivan

    Dear Google, Please create a tool that allows me to send SMS text messages for free. You did a great job with the call feature on Gmail. Now it's time to move on to similar mobile features. The carriers will move in to take advantage if you don't create a method to lower SMS campaign costs for advertisers and make it less expensive for consumers to share. ...More