A Giant Enters The Local Deals Arena by Mark Walsh

The super-hot local deals space just got more crowded with Visa introducing a new iPhone app with offers from more than 50 partners including Papa John's Pizza, Holiday Inn, Tourneau and Pearle Vision. Through the free app, Visa will show users nearby locations of participating merchants where offers can be redeemed. ...Read the whole story

  • Internet And TV, Equal Time For U.S. Households by Laurie Sullivan

    A Forrester study released Monday confirms what marketers thought: Americans spend as much time online as they do watching television. The average U.S. household watches 13 hours weekly of traditional broadcast TV -- equal to the amount of hours spent online, according to the report. Titled "Understanding The Changing Needs Of The US Online Consumer 2010," the report bases the findings on Forrester's survey of more than 30,000 consumers. ...Read the whole story

The 'Move It Forward' Awards by Steve Smith

The lists of best apps and mobile campaigns are pouring out in these final weeks of the year. For my part, I have been in this mobile game too long to be much impressed by the shiny objects. I prefer the long-haul perspective that recognizes this is a medium of experimentation and iteration. I am more interested in watching how some brands and mobile categories have advanced in this year of rapid mobile growth. So without further ado and with unctuous presenter banter, here are the mobile things that caught my eye simply because they were moving quickly and they ...More

  • Why Google Acquired NFC Tech Company Zetawire by Laurie Sullivan

    Here we go again. Little known Toronto-based Zetawire got scooped up by Google in August, according to 451 Group Analyst Ben Kolada. The Canadian startup designs near field communications (NFC) technology. While it's a small deal, don't think of this one as another day, another acquisition-at least for Google. It's not a technology that Google acquired to hide in the background, only to dissolve or make disappear one year later. It launched its first NFC marketing service earlier this month. ...More