Rolls-Royce Motor Cars brought an elevated experience to users of the car rental DriveNow application with a free chauffeured driving service in East London. From April 1-3, consumers could search for the Phantom, Wraith and Ghost models on the map, hidden under code names Sir Henry, Charles and Eleanor, as a form of Easter egg hunt. For the consumers able to find and book the vehicles, they were given a complimentary taste of the Rolls-Royce experience.

MLB.com At Bat has added Apple Watch users to its target audience on Major League Baseball’s official mobile application for the 2015 season, providing fans with vital scores, statistics and content to enhance engagement with the sport. Starting April 24, Apple Watch users of the MLB.com At Bat app will be able to receive live scores, statistics, pitch tracking, player cards, notifications and news. The feature is a way for MLB, whose core audience tends to skew older than other major sports, to connect with younger fans on mobile. 

Earlier in the day, a report hinted that Flipkart-owned e-commerce site Myntra would shut down its website and exist as an app.  According to the report, Myntra would close its website on May 1. While we need to wait to see exactly how Myntra plans to close the website and how it would migrate its users to the mobile apps, online shoppers in India are already slamming the move. Most online shoppers IndiaToday.in spoke to said that they find it more comfortable to browse the website compared to the app. "I find it easier to shop on the website than the app. …

Square is making another bid for the restaurant and bar scene with its latest product. Today, the mobile register launched Open Tickets, which allows customers to keep an open tab. The product is said to be rolling out this week. “‘Keep my tab open.’ Music to a bartender’s ears. More often than not, it means more sales — and bigger tips. But managing tabs can be a pain,” the company wrote in a blog post. The new feature is Square’s latest love note to the food and beverage industry. Open Tickets is a small product update, but it’s a noteworthy play for a market it covets.

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi announced that it is partnering up with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s finance arm to develop mobile payments systems, specially designed for wearable technology. Ant Financial, part of Alibaba, includes Alipay, which is one of China’s most popular online payment services is partnering with Xiaomi to enable the Alipay Wallet to be used on the Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelet. This will allow users to make payments, quickly and easily and is another step in promoting mobile payments and wearables in China.

Mcrosoft has officially entered into the domain of payments, with Microsoft Payments, Inc., When the announcement came out a week or so ago, that Microsoft was entering into the world of payment (see references below), it was only natural to search the various state financial regulators’websites for issuance of money transmitter licenses. Below is a screenshot from the NMLS (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Registry or Nationwide Multistate Licensing System) that shows the license(s) on file on behalf of Microsoft. The State of Idaho (Department of Finance) was one of the first to issue the money transmitter license to the …

Mobile is transforming the hotel check-in experience, with 1 million Marriott International customers having checked in to their rooms on their mobile devices since the option was introduced nearly two years ago. Marriott International is celebrating the accomplishment with a sweepstakes across its brands giving Marriott Rewards members who use mobile check-in a chance to win a share of millions of rewards points. Mobile check-in is still a relatively new offering, but it has quickly been embraced by a number of hotel chains including La Quinta and Hilton in addition to Marriott.

Toyota Motor’s Scion brand is simplifying car shopping by testing a virtual showroom that leverages mobile chat and video to provide guidance from customer representatives to visitors to Scion.com. The SaleMove/Autobytel-developed service brings a human element to digital car buying while providing real-time highlights on products, services and features. The program, piloted at more than 50 Scion dealerships across the United States, points to the importance of providing a seamless shopping experience for vehicle buyers on mobile.

Online marketplace Amazon is a threat to many luxury brands with its expanding presence and recent ranking as the top store for affluent consumers, according to Shullman Research Center. Consumers are increasingly turning to mass-market online retailers to shop for the convenience, lower prices and better selection. Competing with retailers that can offer these benefits to consumers is a challenge among luxury labels, but the exclusivity and service options of these brands often win with top consumers looking for the total experience when purchasing a product.

While Apple Pay has won the buzz war since its launch in October, Samsung’s mobile payment initiative is poised for higher use at retailers, according to Mike Cook, a senior vice president and assistant treasurer at Wal-Mart Stores. Cook was speaking with Jason Oxman, CEO of the Electronic Transaction Association, during the organization's conference this week in San Francisco. The flexible technology powering Samsung's wallet will drive the company's success in mobile payments, Cook said.