Zapp, the UK m-commerce company recently set up by VocaLink, has selected Oracle to help build its technology platform. Zapp plans to allow consumers to make real-time payments from their mobile devices, unlocking the money in their current account. Payments will be processed by linking a mobile phone number to a bank account. Payments can be made via smartphone with no need to use a card. Zapp gives consumers direct access to the money in their existing bank accounts through their mobile phone and real-time payments. Zapp will be integrated into merchants' online and mobile checkouts and can be used …

Gas prices are on motorists' minds even before they pull up to the pump, as results from a new study indicate. According to the xAd/Telmetrics 2013 U.S. Mobile Path-to-Purchase Study, two out of three gas and convenience searchers are using mobile exclusively for their searches. The study, conducted by Nielsen, also shows that 85 percent of search time is spent on a smartphone with most users conducting gas price comparisons/searches. The gas and convenience category offers one of the highest mobile conversion rates -- nearly 90 percent -- as most mobile users who search for these services ultimately make a …

Frozen yogurt franchise Pinkberry is ramping up its loyalty program by driving downloads of its mobile application via email. Pinkberry's app was released last October, and the company is driving downloads by emailing customers that register a rewards card. The free app is available for download in Apple's App Store and Google Play.

The Topps Co. incorporated near-field communication and QR code technology in its displays at the 2013 MLB All-Star FanFest to give baseball fans a deeper engagement. Fans have been able to scan QR codes on giant baseball cards, which feature MLB All-Stars, for a chance to win special prizes. They can also touch the cards with NFC-enabled smartphones to activate the feature.

M-commerce sales were up 136 per cent year-on-year in June and up eight per cent on May 2013, according to figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index. Online retail sales also grew by 20 per cent y-o-y in June, the highest recorded growth in two years, adding to other recent evidence of economic recovery in the UK.

Marks & Spencer is in the final stages of planning the roll out of a mobile payments trial using an app that lets customers pay for goods via payment details stored on their phone, with the process potentially kicking off as early as next month.

Baidu Inc., owner of China's largest search engine, agreed to buy app store 91 Wireless for $1.9 billion in its biggest announced acquisition to gain a greater share of the mobile user market. The company will acquire the majority stake owned by NetDragon Websoft Inc. (777) and all other shares, Baidu said in a statement today. Investors in 91 Wireless on March 27 included companies controlled by PCCW Ltd. Chairman Richard Li and Temasek Holdings Pte, a separate filing showed.

Bharti Airtel, through its fully-owned subsidiary Airtel M Commerce Services Limited (AMSL), has tied up with Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) to offer railway bookings through Airtel money. With this, commuters travelling by rail every day will now be able to register through their registar option *400# on Airtel mobile phones and book tickets through their mobile phones via airtel money.

Lancme Canada is using mobile, Web, social media and email in a new contest that ultimately drives consumers to shop a line of eye makeup products online. The beauty brand's mobile campaign shows off its new Show eye makeup products that were created by Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz. Lancme Canada worked with Tagga Media on the initiative.

Macy's is getting a head start on back-to-school season with a campaign that circles around mobile and social as key ways to connect with college students this year. The retailer is using SMS and a mobile microsite in its campaign to give away a $500 gift card this year. Macy's continually turns to mobile in its seasonal campaigns since its core demographic is heavily tech-savvy.