The Internet has improved many aspects of the shopping process. We can now shop in the middle of the night or in a cab, quickly survey a brand’s entire inventory in a single scroll, and read other customers’ reviews about how an item of clothing fits. But there’s always been something missing from the digital shopping experience: the ability to shop with others. The one great pleasure of shopping at a brick-and-mortar store is the opportunity to browse the racks with a friend, discuss the relative merits of the latest fashion trend, or get her opinion about whether or not …

Brands have to ask permission in a straightforward way when collecting data and must maintain transparency regarding all its uses if they want to earn consumer trust, according to a new report by Bain. The idea that consumers will concede their data if rewarded has gained traction in the past couple of years as collection tactics have proliferated. However, no matter how handsomely a consumer is compensated, consumers do not want companies selling their data to third parties.

Ibotta’s expanding cash back program suggests that while coupons have grabbed a prominent spot in mobile shoppers’ hearts, consumers are also gravitating to the opportunity to earn up to hundreds of dollars a year without letting coupons dictate what brands they buy. Shoppers simply download the free Ibotta app onto their phone, or visit the Ibotta.com Web site, browse their favorite products, unlock cash rebates, go shopping, and verify their purchases. The app’s expansion suggests that as more consumers move into mobile, cash back programs may resonate may strongly with them, even as coupons become a mobile commerce staple.

Consulting firm McKinsey has released a reportthat shows that impulse is driving participation in mobile commerce in South Korea. The report notes that the country’s mobile commerce market has doubled in value every year since 2010. Now, mobile accounts for nearly one-third of all online sales made in the country, making South Korea one of the most attractive mobile markets in the world. The report also notes that consumers are making mobile purchases based on impulse more than anything else. Impulse can be a powerful force among consumers. When shopping online, consumers often find products that pique their interest and feel …

Swatch is coming up with its own smartwatch that would enable mobile payments within the next two to three months . The new smartwatch would be part of Swatch’s line of “New Gent” watches and would cost around $80 or more. The new smartwatch would be equipped with NFC technology. With the starting price of the Apple Watch being $349, Swatch could indeed provide a cost-effective alternative. Earlier this year, Swatch also launched a new line of NFC watches under the tag “Swatch Touch.” We had already talked about Swatch partnering with China UnionPay, a Swiss bank and a major credit …

Annual global advertising spend on mobile devices is expected to reach $105 billion by 2019, up from an estimated $51 billion this year, as an attitude shift causes more brands and retailers to use mobile as a core channel for consumer engagement, according to a Juniper Research study. The research, “Digital Advertising: Online, Mobile and Wearables 2014-2019,” argues that the ability of smartphones to deliver targeted, personalized and timely advertising – allied to millennials’ fondness for multitasking on mobile – means that mobile ads offer both high visibility and high response rates. The results point to the power of tech-savvy …

According to recent reports, the long established toy retailer Toys “R” Us are planning to launch a new mobile feature for consumers browsing in-store. This is another step from a major retailer in convergence of both their physical and digital strategy; by leveraging the power of mobile. Undoubtedly, Toys “R” Us see this as another step to streamlining the consumer experience in-store and making the most of the changing shopping behaviours of consumers, in which mobile is at the forefront. The retailer will use 3D image recognition tech to enable consumers to perform a quick and easy product search on …

Now that about three quarters of all adults in the United States have smartphones, Walgreens has decided that this is an opportunity that is too good to pass up and it has now added mobile apps to its shopping experience in order to make sure that it is as easy and convenient as possible. This means that most people have both a smartphone and a local Walgreens, making mobile apps an ideal opportunity to reach out to customers and improve their experience in-store. By doing this, the chain is also hoping that it will encourage people to buy more, while they’re there. …

Credit card issuer First Bankcard recently updated its mobile application, providing quicker access to accounts via a four-digit PIN, with frequency of use increasing following the change. As credit card and banking customers get comfortable with managing their accounts via mobile, they are looking for features that make the process as quick and easy as possible. With this in mind, First Bankcard recently introduced the four-digit Passcode, which replaces the need to enter a username and password, as well as Quick Balance, which lets credit card customers view account balances and recent transactions without having to log in “Within weeks …

Alternative cab service Uber is looking to raise between $1.5 billion and $2 billion in a new funding round that would value the company at $50 billion or more, according to a report that surfaced late last night. The valuation would be increasing from $41 billion, the post-money valuation for Uber’s funding round in December 2014, according to theWall Street Journal report, which cites unnamed sources. The report does not name specific investors for the new round. Uber had no comment to share with VentureBeat regarding the new report.