Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Getting Privacy Right Is Key To Beacon Deployment by Mark Walsh

Major brands and retailers are still in the early stages of testing and rolling out beacons to enhance service and boost sales. But at least some indicate they are seeing positive early results, as attested by remarks from speakers at the OMMA mCommerce conference last week. These include beacon initiatives by companies such as Lord & Taylor, Hillshire Brands, and a group of 100 stores on London's famed Regent Street. ...Read the whole story

  • OpenTable Rolls Out Mobile Payments Nationwideby Mark Walsh

    Following a trial in San Francisco earlier this year, OpenTable on Monday said it will expand its mobile payments service nationally in the coming months. The new feature allows users to pay for meals through the OpenTable iPhone app in addition to booking restaurant reservations. ...Read the whole story

  • Sizmek Acquires Aerify To Add Mobile Tracking, Retargeting To Platformby Tyler Loechner

    Ad management platform Sizmek on Monday announced it has acquired Aerify Media, a mobile tracking and retargeting firm. Sizmek paid $6.25 million in cash for Aerify. Sizmek will retain all Aerify employees and plans to fully integrate Aerify's tech into Sizmek's ad platform, MDX. ...Read the whole story

  • Bing Powered SNIPP3T App Satisfies Urge For Celebrity Newsby Laurie Sullivan

    Searching for the latest news on George Clooney, Jay Z or Prince George of Cambridge? Microsoft has quietly rolled out SNIPP3T, an iOS app built on the Bing platform that gives fans another way to get the latest information on celebrities, from actors to musicians. ...Read the whole story

  • Google Moves Toward 'Buy' Button Through Listen Now Ad Unitby Laurie Sullivan

    Google has begun testing "Listen Now" ad units, along with Spotify, Rhapsody and Apple's Beats Music, to simplify purchases for consumers through an advertisement. In the Listen Now ad unit, consumers searching for music by an artist can preview a song or songs by clicking on the button that appears in search results, which takes the listener to one of several music services either on desktop and mobile. ...Read the whole story

  • Millennial Media Revs Up 18%, Market Share Slipsby Mark Walsh

    Mobile ad network Millennial Media on Monday reported revenue increased 18.1% to $67.3 million in the second quarter. Millennial Media has struggled to contend with the growing mobile advertising clout of Google and Facebook. Millennial will see its market share continue to slip, to an estimated 0.4%. ...Read the whole story

    Around The Net

    • Yo Branches Out Beyond The "Yo" The Next Web

      Yo is no longer a messaging app that simply sends the word, “Yo.” Rather, as The Next Web reports, the app “now gives you the option to show a photo and your full name,” as well as “Yo” any existing hashtag. Also, “the updated app now lets you attach any link saved to your clipboard. There’s also the Yo Index, which transforms the app into a more advanced notification system.”  ...Read the whole story

    • Microsoft Adding TV Streaming Feature To Xbox OneThe Verge

      Microsoft was widely believed to have reconsidered its mission to market Xbox One as a centralized entertainment system. Yet, the software giant continues to add multimedia features to the console, including a new streaming feature that lets users watch TV on a Windows, iOS or Android phone or tablet using a SmartGlass app on a home network. “Microsoft says the streaming TV feature will be available initially in countries where its digital TV tuner will be available, so it looks like the U.S. might have to wait to stream TV,” The Verge reports.  ...Read the whole story

    • Restaurant Chains Adapting to Mobile BehaviorsMobile Marketer

      While each industry vertical has its own pace of technology innovation and risk-versus-reward criteria in regard to adoption, restaurant chains are experimenting heavily with mobile at present due to many customers using search, reviews and ordering from restaurants via smartphones. Due to the on-the-go nature of their businesses, fast-casual chains need to be available to their customers on mobile. ...Read the whole story

    Surely Second-Screener Social Success Is 'Reactive,' Not 'Real-Time'? by Sean Hargrave, Staff Writer

    The term "real time" is already the first name on the team sheet of any brand marketer hoping to reach second-screener football fans this season. But with the planning that goes into "real-time," should we not ...More

    • Mobile Shoppers & the Act of Beaconing by Chuck Martin, Staff Writer

      Beaconing has been the missing piece in the mobile shopping puzzle. Though based on a small piece of hardware transmission capability, beaconing is about to become more an activity than a technology. The technology is essentially ...More