The Boy Scouts are going mobile, with scouts using a small accessory that plugs into a smartphone to process credit card payments for purchases of Camp Masters Popcorn. Troops will be able to use the PayAnywhere app and mobile point-of-sale credit card reader to support their efforts to raise funds by selling popcorn. By adding credit card sales, the Boy Scouts hopes to boost sales and capture transactions from customers who might not have cash readily available.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts is showing off its South American properties through an iPad application that provides consumers with a description of the hotel and the location to get a sense of the area before booking a trip. Starwood, which has nine brands including the St. Regis and The Luxury Collection, showcases all of its South American properties through the Starwood South America app. An app like this can be beneficial for affluent travelers who want to be assured they will have a luxury experience before booking a stay.

Marketers are continually trying out various channels to connect with tech-savvy consumers and reach them in a new and unique way. However, getting that initial tap and seeing it through the entire redemption process is still a challenge for many. Marketers across the board understand that mobile marketing is prolific in transforming the physical and emotional bond between brands and consumers. However, while the growth of mobile and mcommerce outpaces many other platforms, mcommerce revenue has yet to accurately reflect how impactful mobile marketing is to total sales, per industry experts.

It wasn't the huge mobile payment announcement some hoped for, but Apple did at least take a small step towards making mobile commerce easier. At the Apple Worldwide Developer's Conference yesterday, the company announced updates to its Safari browser that will ship with the new OS X Mavericks version of its operating system. Included in Safari is a new feature called iCloud Keychain, a mobile-wallet-like feature that will allow users to save passwords and sync them across their Apple devices, be they laptop, tablet or phone. The information is fully encrypted and makes it easier for users to log in …

A mobile payments solutions provider has launched a new mobile payments system in Traverse City, Michigan. This new system will allow drivers to pay for parking using their mobile devices, thereby offering a more convenient experience. Parkmobile has seen the growing need for mobile commerce services in the U.S. and has been working to meet this need in its niche market, quickly establishing a strong foothold within this market and successfully promoting mobile payments.

7-Eleven is using a combination of different channels to drive in-store traffic and celebrate National Iced Tea Day. The company is giving away free Snapple tea for six days, beginning June 10 and going through June 15. The company is also using the hashtag #Awesummer to spread the word.

Retailers such as Walmart and Peapod continue to embrace QR codes to support virtual stores that highlight how easy it is for on-the-go consumers to purchase everyday items via their smartphones. QR codes make sense for these initatives because many consumers know what a QR code is and that they can scan one with their smartphone to link to an online site. Still, sales are not always the objective here - in some cases, it is more about raising awareness of mobile shopping more broadly.

London department store Harrods is targeting local shoppers through a city-wide mobile scavenger hunt to win approximately $1,500 to spend in-store. The retailer's ambassador, the Green Man, is dancing in the streets of London to promote Harrods annual sale and encourage consumers to enter the contest by taking an image of him and posting it to Twitter. Not only is the contest creating a social buzz for the retailer, but it is also making use of out-of-home advertising since the Green Man is likely to draw attention on the streets.

AllYou, the Time Inc. magazine sold at Walmart, is making its tablet edition interactive by enabling readers to easily shop items featured on its editorial, as well as advertising pages. The monthly magazine focuses on money-saving and time-saving tips and is available at Sam's Club and via subscription in addition to Walmart. Tablet users can easily see which products are shoppable as well as a list of retailers and sites where the products can be purchased.

A leading Spanish telecommunications company has announced a new partnership with CaixaBank and Santander to create a joint venture that aims to develop a new mobile banking solution that include launching a mobile wallet service for consumers. Mobile commerce has been showing strong growth throughout Europe, leading many telecommunications companies to make their way into this space in order to meet the changing needs of consumers. Banks have also been taking note of this trend and have been following in the footsteps of telecommunications companies.