JCPenney is turning to its existing database to get the word out about a new SMS program that promotes the company's latest product line and doles out deals for it. Earlier this week, JCPenney sent out a text message to consumers informing them about the new product line. The company has used SMS quite a bit in the past to build a relationship between the brand and its customers.

UK mobile app company YPlan has secured GBP7.9m in one of the largest Series A funding rounds in Europe this year, led by US venture capital firm General Catalyst Partners, with backing from existing investors Wellington Partners and Octopus Investments. Formed seven months ago, the London-based mobile app start-up which enables users to book last minute events at discounted rates, says the funding will be used to fulfil its plans for expansion by launching the business in New York later this year.

Mobile commerce has been growing at an alarming rate. Throughout much of Europe, however, mobile payments have become a convenient way to purchase tickets for public transportation. This trend has begun to spread to Russia, where telecommunications network operator TeleSystems has been showing more interest in the concept of mobile commerce and how it can be used to make purchasing tickets more convenient.

KFC is making sure consumers know about its new boneless chicken products and are able to find the nearest location to try them out via a targeted mobile advertising effort. The company is running the campaign within Pandora's iPhone application. The fast food giant has relied on mobile advertising heavily in the past to promote new products, drive in-store traffic and build brand awareness.

The Alaska Airlines mobile application for iOS users has been updated to enable users to add their boarding pass to Passbook, helping the airline improve customer experiences and increasing engagement. The airline has offered electronic boarding passes through its native apps for some time but this is the first time they will be supported by Apple Passbook. The updated app also now includes push messaging to alert users to gate and seat changes, time changes and other travel updates that can be served in real-time.

With 18,000 stores and 200,000 employees, rolling out any program at Starbucks--whether for a coffee flavor, an app, or a daily deal--is going to be risky, considering the employee training and consumer marketing involved. But the company seems almost to court risk in its willingness to move fast and push through innovation at scale, especially in the digital arena.

E-commerce may be facing another big turning point: mobile. While the opportunities are likely to be enormous, the winners are far from guaranteed. Maybe it won't be Amazon.com? Or eBay? Perhaps it will be a startup? Well, this is what Wish is hopping for

Taiwan second largest telecommunications network operator, has launched a new mobile commerce service that aims to provide more convenience to consumers throughout Taiwan. The country has emerged as a very active market in terms of mobile commerce, with many consumers showing favor for mobile shopping over traditional shopping. This trend has encouraged telecommunications companies to take mobile commerce more seriously and begin to cater to these consumers and their interests.

Luxury retailers can benefit from using geo-targeting mobile technologies to keep affluent consumers coming into their stores and not their competitors' locations. Retailers can use geo-targeting in a variety of ways, which include targeting consumers in a store, outside a store or in specific neighborhoods. By using these technologies along with consumer data and research, retailers can access their target consumers and drive them into store locations.

Coca-Cola brand Glaceau vitaminwater is leveraging SMS to deliver coupons to customers and give them a chance to win concert tickets. The text4tix call-to-action appears on specially marked labels of select 20-ounce bottles of Vitamin Water through Oct. 31 and on 32-ounce bottles through Dec. 31. Consumers are also encouraged to text in for a chance to win concert tickets via in-store signage as well as local and mobile radio advertising.