Tag Archives: retail industry

TheTMSway Weekly Radar on Mobile Marketing and Business

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Making the most of mobile

Mobile is the new billboard. It is a present, local and sleek high definition screen resting comfortably in our bags or back pockets. While some rightly claim that it is the most personally connected device in history, others cite that as many as 70% of us sleep within inches of them. In Australia, where smartphone penetration sits around 50%, there are now more mobile phones in circulation than people.

Mobile adspend soars 157% as FMCG and retail brands follow consumers

Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Procter & Gamble and Unilever are understood to have boosted investment in mobile advertising, in an effort to reach what internet analytics company comScore claims are the 58% of Britons accessing content via apps or the mobile internet each month. According to annual figures from the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), UK adspend on mobile media – including search, display and video – surged 157% year on year to a total of £203.2m in 2011.

Mobile Video Viewership Gaining in Australia

According to Nielsen’s February 2012 “Australian Multi-Screen Report,” smartphones and tablets were present in 49% and 10% of households, respectively, in Australia in Q4 2011 Drilling deeper into the data, Nielsen found that time spent watching mobile video grew from 35 minutes in Q1 2011 to 1 hour and 20 minutes in Q4 2011. The company also reported that Australia’s mobile video audience was heavily concentrated among males and in the 18-to-34 age bracket, a stat that may be even more important for marketing decision-makers than average time spent watching mobile video.

Asian Pacific telecom operator switching and routing revenue to grow by 9.7% in 2012

In terms of revenues in Asia-Pacific, the edge router segment is leading the way, reaching $4.2 billion in 2017, while the core router segment will touch $1.6 billion and the IP/Ethernet router segment will reach $1.4 billion. The edge router plays a key role in carrier networks as the control point for delivering subscriber services.

Mobile Internet Uptake on the Rise in France

Browsing the internet remained the most popular advanced content activity among mobile phone owners, with 24% of them doing so in 2011, vs. 15% in 2010 and 13% in 2009. In addition, reading email (19%), downloading applications (17%) and watching TV (8%) all nearly doubled in adoption rates over 2010, according to the report.

Smartphones drive Thai Q4 mobile phone market

For the final three months of 2011, the mobile phone market in Thailand grows 6 percent quarter-on-quarter, achieving an “impressive” 20 percent yearly growth, says IDC. In a report Thursday, the research firm noted that smartphones were the “driving force” behind Thailand’s mobile phone market. Smartphone shipments grew 66 percent sequentially to make up almost one-fourth of the total mobile phone market in the fourth quarter of 2011, it added.

PLDT mobile units boast 65-M subscriber base

THE wireless units of telecom giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) now have a combined subscriber base of 65 million, a growth of 1.3 million new users from end-2011 figure of 63.7 million. Of this number 50 million came from Smart Communications Inc., Talk ’N Txt and Connectivity Unlimited Resource Enterprises Inc. (CURE). The remaining 15 million subscribers came from Sun Cellular, the mobile brand of Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc. (Digitel), which is PLDT’s latest acquisition.

Report: Consumers more likely to engage with mobile ads

Consumers are significantly more likely to click through a search ad on a smartphone or tablet than they would on a desktop computer, said Matt Lawson, VP of marketing and partnerships at Marin Software, a provider of paid search management services. Consequently, Marin Software’s study “State of Mobile Search Advertising in the US 2012” anticipates 25% of Google’s US paid search clicks will come from smartphones and tablets by December 2012. Mobile smart devices constituted only 5% of paid search clicks in January of this year, said Lawson, describing the projected increase of paid search clicks by the end of 2012 as “explosive adoption.”

Retail rises among the top-spending mobile sectors with 12.3% growth

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Retail climbs up, for the first time, among the top-spending mobile sectors to account 12.3% share of total spend, compared to 5.5% of last year. The unexpected rise, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), is due to rapid growth in the mcommerce.

The FMCG brands, on other hand, also increased their share of total mobile adspend in 2011 to 14.4%, from 11.8% in 2010, making it the third-biggest spending sector after entertainment and media (23.2%) and telecoms (14.9%).

Both retail and FMCG sectors overtook the finance and automotive which have been leading earlier on their mobile advertising spend.

The value and significance of mobile marketing, according to Unilever’s communications buying manager via mobile marketing magazine, is likely going up as Smartphone penetration in Europe continues rising.

Meanwhile, the director of mobile and operations at the IAB said that improvements in measurement and ad formats over the past year were attracting spend to mobile; and that the interactive rich-media mobile ads has made them more appealing to brands and consumers, and that is really driving FMCG and retail spend.”

The mobile search is reported to attract greatest spend with 66% while display rises to 195% to £59.4m.

TheTMSway Weekly Radar on Mobile Marketing and Business

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Big Potential for In-Store Mobile Marketing

“Consumers have already demonstrated that they like to research products online before buying them in a store,” said Jeffrey Grau, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report “Mobile Shopping from In-Store: A Potential Game-Changer.” “Until now, researching online and buying in a store have been sequential activities that take place hours, days or even weeks apart. But customers who bring their Web-enabled mobile phones with them into a store can do online research at the point of a purchase decision.”

Opinion: A New Publishing Frontier

For advertisers and marketers, e-readers — which captivate with their convenience, portability and access to a huge library of content — represent an exciting new avenue to connect with consumers. Already, owners of devices such as the Kindle, Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble’s Nook say e-readers are prompting them to read and access an increased amount of text. Apple’s iPad continues the devices’ evolution. But what do consumers want and expect from e-readers? Our research reveals insights into both this and how businesses can tap into this growing market. Here, our key findings:

A mobile strategy does not just mean rolling out an app: panelist

Although having a mobile strategy is critical, most companies do not actually have one, according to a speaker at the Luxury Interactive 2010 Conference. A lot of brands have an application and call it a mobile strategy. Companies such as Nike, Sephora and Ralph Lauren have applications and are incorporating other aspects of mobile into their multi-channel campaigns.

7 in 10 Consumers Act upon Mobile Email

Sixty-eight percent of global consumers act upon email they receive on a mobile device while using a desktop PC, according to [pdf] a new report from digital marketing firm e-Dialog.Majority of Consumers across Regions Act upon Mobile Email at PC. While the PC remains the primary manner in which consumers access their email, analysis from “Global Perspectives” indicates mobile email activity presents new challenges and opportunities for email marketers.

How the Entertainment Industry Can Move Beyond the Click

Interaction time translates to real-world branding impacts. Online marketers recognize the inadequacy of the clickthrough as an ad performance metric but still rely on it for its simplicity and ease of use. A joint study from comScore and MediaMind (formerly Eyeblaster) gives marketers in the entertainment industry reason to look further, to measures of interaction and dwell time, for a more accurate indication of performance.

Mobile coupons: What those savings really cost you

Invented over a century ago as anonymous pieces of paper that could be traded for discounts, coupons have evolved into tracking devices for companies that want to learn more about their customers’ habits. Although they might look similar to those in Sunday newspaper circulars, many of today’s digital versions use bar codes packed with information about the coupon: the date and time it was obtained, viewed and redeemed; the store where it was used; perhaps even the search terms typed to find it.  Increasingly, retailers are marrying this data with information discovered online and off, such as guesses about your age, sex and income, your buying history, what websites you’ve visited, and your current location or geographic routine — creating profiles of customers that are more detailed than ever, according to marketing companies.

Obama Proposes to Double Airwaves for Mobile Internet

President Barack Obama proposed today almost doubling the airwaves available for smartphones, laptop connections to the Internet and new wireless devices. Obama signed a memorandum that commits the U.S. to free up 500 megahertz of government and commercial spectrum in the next decade to meet demands for mobile access to broadband services. The proposals may face resistance from television station owners such as CBS Corp. and News Corp.’s Fox Broadcasting that gave up airwaves as part of their switch to digital signals last year, and have sought to keep their remaining allocation. Wireless carriers led by AT&T Inc. are seeking more spectrum.

More China Challenges For Google

If 2010 is anything, it is the year the Internet went mobile. In the U.S., the fast acceptance of the iPad, and then the iPhone 4, has shown that what was missing was not people’s willingness to go mobile, but the lack of good mobile infrastructure and user-friendly products. Now, Google’s Android mobile OS has joined the fray, offering Apple good solid competition, and offering consumers a wealth of products to choose from. Ever since Google launched Adwords in June 2002, the company has become a literal cash machine, offering consumers everywhere the capability, as advertisers, to launch highly targeted ad campaigns globally.

Mobile Web browsing volume greatest during evening hours: Opera

Marketers in the mobile space should pay special attention to the four-hour block from 8 p.m. to midnight, according to a new report released by Opera Software ASA. Opera’s State of the Mobile Web Report for May 2010 detailed usage statistics for a number of worldwide mobile Web browsing trends. Among key findings was the discovery that the hours from 8 p.m. to midnight see a disproportionate amount of the mobile traffic over the course of a day on the Opera Mini mobile Web browser.

Mobile Provides Valuable Link To Hispanic Demographic

The Hispanic population is a very mobile-savvy demographic, ripe with potential for brands reaching out to them, a new report published today by eMarketer suggests. Hispanics have their mobile phones with them more than African Americans and even more than non-Hispanic whites, the report suggests, adding that marketers who are just turning to mobile will “find a market well ahead of them.”

Mobile coupons help retailers track customers

Last month, Tara Kuczykowski walked into a Target store in Columbus, Ohio, pulled out her mobile phone and handed it to the cashier. The cashier scanned the digital coupon on the phone’s tiny screen, and Kuczykowski got $1 off sandwich-size Ziploc bags. Target got something, too: another entry in its database about her. Invented over a century ago as anonymous pieces of paper that could be traded for discounts, coupons have evolved into tracking devices for companies that want to learn more about the habits of their customers. Although they might look similar to the ones in Sunday newspaper circulars, many of today’s digital versions use special bar codes that are packed with information about the life of the coupon: the dates and times it was obtained, viewed and, ultimately, redeemed; the store where it was used; perhaps even the search terms typed to find it.

Double-digit growth seen for US and Europe online retail

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Mobile is seen one of the efficient channels to leverage growth for online retail in US and European regions.

A recent study from Forrester Research said that online retail in the regions will experience significant growth over the next 5 years. An estimated 10% compound annual growth rate is expected for US online retail – thatmobile5’s reaching to almost $250 billion by 2014; while Western Europe is expected to higher its rate margin at 11%.

For small businesses to get motivated, Forrester report suggested that businesses must take adjustments between the online and offline channels now that consumers have desires on those spaces, otherwise, it causes some risks of losing sales.

Forrester said a multi-channel strategy is a response to consumer’s desire to hop between offline and online worlds to maximize that growth, now that consumers, report said, are seen to increasing mobile and social behavior. Read more

TheTMSway Weekly Radar on Mobile Marketing and Business

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Report: Global Mobile Advertising Market to Reach $18.5 Billion by 2015

Mobile advertising market is at variable maturity levels in different regions, but is expected to grow at a faster rate as compared to other advertising formats such as Internet, print, direct mail, and television. With the introduction of new forms of mobile advertising such as display advertising, mobile Internet advertising, and search, the marketers have greater opportunities than ever to reach more targeted customers.

Mobile marketing tipped for further growth in 2010

Adoption of mobile marketing is set to expand significantly over the next 12 months as consumers become more reliant on their handsets. TMCnet correspondent Calvin Azuri, citing a report carried out by E-mailvision, said that the continued growth of the channel will see it become one of the main drivers of email marketing in 2010.

Asia Pacific handset sales up 7%, says Gartner

The mobile marketing potential of Asia Pacific has been highlighted by Gartner in a new study which reveals that handset sales surged in 2009. Analysts at the research firm reported that handset sales in the region bucked the global trend by increasing to 483.5 million last year, up by 6.7 per cent from the 2008 figure of 453.1 million.

Mobile internet revenues ‘will boost south-east Asian telecoms market’

Money generated from mobile internet browsing will help the south-east Asian telecoms market perform strongly this year, IDC has forecast. The research firm predicted that the region’s mobile operators and infrastructure will generate revenues of $36.1 billion (£23.2 billion) in 2010, an increase of eight per cent from its performance in 2009.

Top Brands and Industry Pioneers from Around the Globe to Gather in Singapore for the 2010 Mobile Marketing Association Forum Asia

Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) is pleased to announce the return of the MMA Forum Asia to Singapore on April 13 to 15, 2010 at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Singapore. The theme of this year’s forum is “Now and Next”, a chance for participants to analyse and review the year just past as well as forecast what is to come. This year’s Forum will bring together over 250 participants from all over the globe, uniting members of the mobile marketing eco-system including regulators, brands, agencies, content aggregators, carriers, device manufacturers, technology developers and other major players in the mobile marketing industry. The focus is squarely on brands and agencies, and the event is open to members and non-members alike.

Demand for Mobile Financial Services Grows

While mobile coupon and mobile commerce usage may not have grown as quickly as many marketers hoped, Americans appear to be eagerly adopting mobile banking. The “Mobile Money Study” by Data Innovation found that a strong majority of US smartphone users (68.7%) had accessed banking or other financial services on their mobile phone in the past three months.

67% Of The World’s Population Are Mobile Subscribers

A new report published yesterday by the UN indicates that 67% of the world’s population, or two-thirds total, are mobile subscribers- far outweighing Online access. 67% of the world’s population represents around 4.6B people, up from only 1B in 2002, indicating staggering continued growth.  In developing nations, however, the uptake is even more substantial with 57% of the total population in these nations being mobile subscribers, even though other technologies are scarce.

Embedded Mobile Traffic Rapidly Grows

Mobile data traffic from embedded computing devices is increasing so rapidly that if current trends continue, the total number of bytes sent each month in 2014 will equal the total equivalent traffic measured in 2008, according to ABI Research. ABI Research estimates that nearly 7,900 petabytes of data will be sent from embedded computing devices in 2014. This traffic originates from laptops, netbooks and Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) that are equipped “out of the box” with cellular or mobile broadband modems. Laptops and netbooks will account for about 90% of the traffic, with the contribution from MIDs and media tablets remaining fairly small.

Apple stings HTC with patent lawsuit

Apple said it sued rival smartphone maker HTC for infringing on 20 of its patents related to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. The company said it filed the action concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission and U.S. District Court in Delaware.

Asians becoming more adept in using mobile and online technologies

ASIAN consumers are becoming more open to digital and mobile advertising and online commerce, says Universal McCann (Malaysia) chief executive officer Prashant Kumar. “Countries like South Korea and Japan have mobile technologies that’s a generation ahead of western markets. In fact, youth in Japan are called ‘Oyayubizoku’,” he tells StarBizWeek.

Asia leads travel industry recovery; emerging markets look positive

In 2010 nascent trends such as the use of online marketing, the adoption of digital applications and mobile technology are expected to take root as travel players discover the benefits that these can bring to their businesses. “Asia’s huge potential for growth and its relatively younger travel industry mean that travel players in this region are strategically well placed to capitalise on the new realm of opportunities as the economy steps into a recovery phase,” Bailey concluded.

TheTMSway Weekly Radar on Mobile Marketing and Business

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The mobile commerce prerogative for retailers in 2010

As retailers settle into their routine this year, one thing must change from 2009: mobile must no longer suffer benign neglect. At risk are dashed consumer expectations for consistent experience across store, catalog, online and mobile. While retailers and marketers have suffered through a 2009 holiday of endless checklists, sage advice and told-you-so’s, now is the time to examine how the American consumer is changing in her shopping and buying habits, as well as in her receptivity and response to targeted marketing messages.

How the Mobile Decade will change marketing, media and commerce

The nation stands today at a pivotal point where mobile will soon infuse every marketing, media and retail decision just as the Internet did in the last ten years. The Mobile Decade is upon us. Marketers have only to look around this country and see the one thing that consumers today cannot be parted from: their mobile phone. And that device, as the decade wears on, will become the interface between consumer and society.

Mobile Marketing Association Forecasts 2010 Trends for North America and Celebrates 2009 Accomplishments

10. Hypochondriac? We’ve got an app for that!
Ongoing global pandemics and concerns about socialized healthcare warrant a prescription for mobile content geared toward the sick and the paranoid. Symptoms to watch for include apps that diagnose, doctors that text and medical reminders at hand. Mobile health is just what the doctor ordered! 9. Back to Reality…Oh, those boring old coupons – they get lost, forgotten, left behind or expired. Look for augmented reality to start playing a larger role in location-based advertising. Now, when you’re walking into your favorite coffee shop, the real-time mobile coupon you receive gives you instant gratification with your discounted daily grind.

Mobile Internet Report Everywhere (Get Used To It)

Morgan Stanley’s Mobile Internet Report, released only a few weeks ago, is already taking on the air of a self-fulfilling prophecy as it finds its way into mobile industry announcements and business plans. Predicting more people will connect to the Internet via mobile devices than PCs in five years, the report is helping to spark a new wave of mobile hype at the start of 2010 that will likely carry over throughout the year.

Nokia projects 500 million handset sales in 2010

Nokia expects to ship over 500 million units in 2010, predicted Rick Simonson, the head of Nokia’s mobile phones unit, who also defended the company’s platform strategy. Simonson, in a wide-ranging interview about Nokia’s corporate strategy and vision, said in an interview with the Economic Times of India that the company’s reliance on three platforms–Mameo, Symbian and its proprietary platform–would pay off.

2010 Signals End of Recession for American Mobile Market

A new study by TNS shows strong promise for the mobile phone market in 2010 with 53% of Americans (55% Canada) planning to buy a mobile phone in the next six months, up from just 24% (19% Canada) this time last year. Touchscreen phones are set to be the big winners, with 29% of consumers (28% Canada) looking to buy one as their next phone. Mobiles with Qwerty keyboards are also rising in popularity, with 23% (19% Canada) planning to purchase one as their next device.

China’s Wireless Data Service Market to Nearly Double by 2013

The release of 3G licenses in China is spurring a wireless data boom, with national revenue from such services rising by 18.9 percent in 2009 and nearly doubling from 2008 to 2013, according to iSuppli Corp. As the one-year anniversary of the issuance of 3G licenses in China approaches, wireless data revenue, including both messaging and non-messaging service, is set to rise to $19.3 billion in 2009, up from $16.3 billion in 2008. By 2013, data revenue will surge to $31.5 billion, increasing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.1 percent from $16.3 billion in 2008.

Google vs Apple: the gadget showdown

Google’s Nexus One smartphone is its first foray into hardware. Can the internet search giant challenge Apple’s iPhone or the BlackBerry? Nick Clark reports. or the world’s gadget lovers, it looks like being a very happy new year, with the two most innovative technology companies of the past decade set to launch eagerly awaited devices within weeks of each other. oday marks the unveiling of the first of the pair, with Google due to reveal its first high-end mobile phone, dubbed the Nexus One, …

Smartphone surge continues

The smartphone handset market in Thailand has bucked the downward trend that has beset the rest of the handset market over the past year, with solid growth. he momentum is expected to continue in 2010 at the expense of traditional mobile phones, say global handset manufacturers. oth European and Korean handset makers have stimulated a renewed focus on smartphones, with the collapse of the market for mid-tier handsets. he popularity of the BlackBerry and iPhone have spurred demand, thanks to the surge in social networking.

2010 Top 5 Korea Telecom Market News Spotlights

In conjunction with the global economic environment, the telecommunications market in Korea is also expected to become more brisk in comparison to the previous year. Along with a deregulatory governmental mood, the competition between telecom players will be even fiercer. The first commercial LTE (Long Term Evolution) commercial service began in Sweden last year and is expected to increase LTE service all around the world. Korean telecom operators have also shown more detailed blueprints for 4G technologies with LTE and WiBro(Wireless Broadband).

TheTMSway Weekly Radar on Mobile Marketing and Business

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Mobile can be used to keep content with consumers at all times: ad:tech

NEW YORK – New technology, such as mobile, is changing the way brands are rolling out product integration. A panel at ad:tech, New York titled The Branded Entertainment in the Digital Age explored how marketers are adapting to the changing media landscape to reach consumers with branded entertainment. However, some panelists disagreed on the power of the mobile platform.

Over half a billion people to use mobile money transfer services by 2014, according to Juniper Research

Juniper Research report reveals that mobile money transfer is a growth market opportunity despite near term issues. According to new analysis from Juniper Research, consumer demand for mobile money transfer services will see users exceed 500 million globally by 2014, principally in developing countries. Juniper Research’s new report – ‘Mobile Money Transfer & Remittances: Markets, Forecasts & Strategies 2009-2014’ -  also suggests…

Mobile Payment Options Evolve

Two online payment companies recently took steps to allow consumers to pay for goods using their cell phone numbers, but the charges don’t appear on consumers’ cell phone bills. Instead, Zong and Obopay are allowing users to pay with a credit or debit card and link to that payment card by entering their mobile number.

Are customers from different mobile channels worth the same?

That question should be legitimate to ask as more retailers such as fast food giants Pizza Hut and Papa John’s generate record sales from mobile customers. Among the key mobile channels to consider are Web site, SMS, application, display ads, search, email, carrier portal and brand-specific mobile devices such as Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook.

How mobile analytics can increase campaign ROI

With the extensive reach of mobile devices and more people using their mobile to browse the Web, mobile advertising has quickly become an essential way for online marketers to engage and ultimately generate more revenue from this audience. According to Juniper Research, global spending on mobile Internet advertising will be $500 Mobile advertising provides click-through rates ten times higher than traditional online advertising and the unique ability to effectively target a broad demographic of consumers.

Mobile marketers looking forward to ad:tech New York

As the digitization of media continues to redefine marketing, ad:tech New York is coming to town to provide brands, agencies and others in the industry a forum to exchange ideas, experiences, new practices, emerging models and expert opinion.  This year’s show will have its first-ever Mobile Mix track on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Mobile marketers are eager to sit through these sessions and learn from one another.

It’s Getting to Be an mBanking World

A recent report from IDC Financial Insights emphasized that banks need to prepare themselves for the coming wave of mobile adoption to avoid being left behind by competitors and advices to take a more strategic look at mobile banking rather than evaluating it simply as an extension of online banking and bill payment.

Are Consumers Clamoring for Green Phones?

New research suggests demand for environmentally-friendly devices will power sales of “green” phones in the coming years. A recent study by ABI Research found that nearly half of U.S. consumers would choose a green handset over a conventional phone if price, features and performance were the same.  ABI estimates the proportion of properly recycled handsets will grow from 8% in 2009 to 17% in 2014. A separate Juniper report predicts that even with an incremental shift in consumer attitudes, shipments of green phones will grow from 250,000 in 2009 to 105 million by 2014.

Mobile charitable fundraising to reach $2M in 2009, says expert

Mobile giving this year is expected to end with $2 million in pledges, an exponential increase from last year’s $350,000. In this Q&A, the Mobile Giving Foundation’s Jim Manis expounds on the state of mobile giving.

TheTMSway Weekly Radar on Mobile Marketing and Business

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Retailers to Send up to 3 Billion ‘Mobile Coupons’ to Phone Users by 2011, According to Juniper Research

New figures from analyst firm Juniper Research estimate that almost 3 billion mobile coupons will be issued to Mobile Users by 2011, with just under $7 billion of discounts redeemed. The new Juniper study finds that mobile coupons are becoming an increasingly important tool for brand owners and retailers to provide a `push to purchase’ capability for mobile marketing and advertising campaigns. The key issues driving the move to mobile coupons include:

 

Will BlackBerry give Android, iPhone a run for their money?

With all of the buzz around marketing on the iPhone and Android-enabled devices, there seems to be a sleeping giant left behind in the dust. Research in Motion’s BlackBerry has quietly become the leader in smartphone market share in North America even though the first incarnation of its much-anticipated Storm was nothing to write home about. Will the touchscreen BlackBerry Storm 2 help RIM gain coveted smartphone marketshare and therefore woo marketers to the platform?

LinkedIn Surpasses 50 Million Users

As we reported yesterday, growth for some of the world’s biggest social networks — like Twitter and Facebook — appear to be flattening. One site bucking that trend though is LinkedIn, which saw a 5.68% growth in traffic for the month of September, according to Compete.

Good news for Android, from both Verizon and Gartner

Analysts from Gartner are predicting that the Android OS will be running on 14% of all smartphones globally by 2012, putting it ahead of iPhone, WinMo and Blackberry. The OS currently has around 2% of the smartphone share – but Gartner is confident that the openness of the OS will lead to a surge in the number of devices being manufactured, sold and used over the next 3 years.

Online retailers must look to mobile commerce

The ecommerce experience is all about taking the shopping environment to the consumer instead of the consumer physically going to the shop. Today, however, this scenario is changing rapidly. As the usage of next-generation handsets grows and mobile technology continues to advance, bringing the ecommerce experience to consumers will increasingly mean delivering it to their mobile devices.

Mobile advertising poised for substantial growth: CTIA keynote

A Yahoo Mobile executive said that mobile advertising has been growing despite the economy during a keynote address at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2009: Mobile Business. Yahoo also unveiled the next phase in its efforts to deliver personally relevant Internet experiences to mobile users worldwide by showcasing the new Yahoo mobile homepage during the keynote address. The presentation covered the growth of mobile Web usage and Yahoo’s various ad-supported mobile properties, including search, applications and the mobile Web site.

Which Smartphones Fill Consumer Content Needs?

The iPhone continues to top all other smartphones in measures of consumer satisfaction. In May–June 2009, Crowd Science found it well ahead of the BlackBerry and other smartphones in measures of satisfaction and brand loyalty—and content usage too. August 2009 data from CFI Group agrees: Users are happier with the functions of their iPhones than with any other smartphone. Android and Palm Pre took second and third place, respectively.

Mobile Advertising Becoming Line Item In Brand Media Buys

When a mobile phone that spends 18 hours in someone’s pocket or purse makes a noise, they stop what they’re doing and service the device. “That’s a marketer’s dream,” Michael Wehrs, president and chief executive officer for the Mobile Marketing Association, tells Online Media Daily. People develop a personal attachment to the device, so they tend to trust it. Large companies, such as BMW, Lufthansa, Pepsi and Coca-Cola, have recognized the benefits of mobile advertising.

Report: Android to surpass iPhone market share by 2012

Research firm Gartner is forecasting that Google’s Android operating system will surpass Apple’s iPhone in global smartphone market share by 2012, Computer World reports. Gartner says that Nokia’s Symbian OS will own 37.4 percent of the smartphone market that year, putting Android in second place with a predicted 18 percent of the market. BlackBerry OS came in third in the report with a predicted 13.9 percent of the market, followed by the iPhone’s OS X with 13.6 percent of the market. Windows Mobile is expected to control 9 percent of the market share.

Entertainment top vertical in mobile ad spend: Millennial Media

The entertainment industry, an early innovator in mobile, remained the top vertical in terms of mobile advertising spend in the third quarter, according to Millennial Media’s U.S. Scorecard for Mobile Advertising Reach and Targeting (SMART) report. The consumer packaged goods (CPG) vertical jumped from sixth in mobile marketing spend in the second quarter to the fourth spot in the third quarter. In addition, Apple drove Samsung out of the top spot for number of ad impressions among device manufacturers.

Multi-channel retailers need to incorporate mobile, social

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Amid the tweaking moment of current retail industry, technology advancement and consumer preferences are still viewed to open a door for the e-commerce.

DMNews got a chance of interviewing with the Executive Director of the Global Retail Executive Council with mobile and social shopping as center of the discussion.

Find out what the mobile and social media can do to multi-channel retailers, and why do retailers need to review and consider to these two potential expansion areas.

Read on…

Multi-channel retailers need to incorporate mobile, social

by Nathan Golia

Though the economy has put a squeeze on retailers, advances in technology and consumer preferences have opened doors for e-commerce to take another step forward. James Crawford, executive director of the Global Retail Executive Council, talked to DMNews about two potential expansion areas: mobile and social shopping.

Q How has the economy affected e-commerce so far, and what trends do you see as the holidays near?

A There have been some permanent changes to the way people shop. First of all, every purchase is now a considered purchase. Across all economic strata, people are far more conscious of what they’re buying. I think e-commerce has been somewhat insulated because it’s always been a considered purchase — rarely do you do an impulse buy online. There’s no question this holiday is going to take a hit because of what’s going on in the economy. Credit is much tighter, and the costs of using credit have gone up. Even for people who are a good credit risk, there are more fees and higher interest rates. I think we’re going to see smaller basket sizes. It’s probably going to be a better year for specialty retailers who have unique products that you can’t buy elsewhere. Product assortment will be key. You need to have the right mix to draw the customer in and the right things that ultimately they want to buy.

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