May, 2010
More brands, like American Apparel, are using SVNGR, a mobile application where consumers go places, take photos and earn points, to gain top of mind awareness. With SVNGR 3.0, consumers can log-in to a specific store and compete in their challenges. American Apparel’s use of the app encourages consumers to mimic the mannequins in-store.
May, 2010
Google Buzz, a social network for Google users, has added a “Reshare” button to their program. Like the “Retweet” button of Twitter, users can reshare posts by friends, but they have the option of making them public or private. Also like Twitter, when resharing, a list will appear of who has shared the same post. However, unlike Twitter, once the post is reshared and appears in the user’s own feed, a link will be added to take anyone reviewing the post back to the original post.
May, 2010
Dominos in the UK has launched a promotion through Foursquare that will reward users who check in frequently with a free medium pizza. Once a week, Dominos will reward the “Mayor” of any of their 533 UK and Ireland locations with a free pizza and any other user who checks in and spends more than 10 British pounds will receive a complimentary side-dish.
May, 2010
Wendy’s is promoting their classic “Frosty” treat this summer with a social media campaign. The campaign will be divided into three parts: the Summer Vacation scavenger hunt with prizes for finding clues, the Treat it Forward charitable application with donations going to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and the Frosty Project which will house photos of consumers enjoying their Frosty and the chance to vote on their favorite image. All initiatives will run on Facebook from May through August.
May, 2010
Shrek Forever After is promoting its recent release with a storybook for the iPhone and iPad. Each page is active through touch, allowing kids and adults to move from page to page while interacting with the content. Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers lent their voices to the storybook.
May, 2010 ESPN is launching 5 new iPhone and iPod Apps, called Passport, that target local sports fans in Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. Fans can keep up-to-date on their home teams with breaking news and scores. They can also submit photos and commentary during live games.
May, 2010 Google is set to acquire the $750 million ad network, AdMob. With the Federal Trade Commission’s approval, Google will now become the largest mobile ad network. Experts predict more brands will start to work within mobile platforms after this large acquisition.
May, 2010 Clorox is targeting consumers on the go who need stain removal help. With their new iPhone app, users can search alphabetically different stains and then find an easy solution to get them out.
May, 2010 A new iPhone and Android app, TabbedOut, lets consumers open and close their bar tab directly from their smart phones. To order drinks, consumers still have to speak to the bartender but can access and monitor their tabs on the app and then pay once they store their credit card information. The app is only available at participating locations but users can search for those bars on the app.
May, 2010 Visa has teamed up wtih DeviceFidelity’s In2Pay microSD to allow consumers to use their iPhone to pay at contactless payment terminals. Consumers simply insert the registered microSD in their iPhone case and wave it over the terminal to pay.
May, 2010 CBS and Macy’s are working with the Tony Awards to offer consumers tickets and a walk down the red carpet at the 64th Annual Awards Ceremony . By submitting a video online of themselves singing one of the listed Broadway songs, fans can win if their video receives the most votes.
May, 2010 Starbucks are offering discounts for Foursquare users who have earned the status as Mayor at Starbucks locations across the country. Consumers simply show the Barista that they are Mayors and they receive $1 off a Frappucino. Starbucks has been a company that has really embraced Foursquare recently, including offering their own “Barista badge” for consumers to earn.
May, 2010 Blackberry is set to launch an 8.9-inch tablet later this year. The tablet will be able to utilize existing Blackberry connections via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. E-books, emailing, web browsing, and photo viewing will also be available.
May, 2010 Amazon has released a new iPad application that allows consumers to shop their website and order with just one click. The iPad application offers consumers bestsellers, daily deals, product information, recommendations and customer reviews.
May, 2010
Consumer Reports is rolling out a mobile service to help consumers make decisions at the point of purchase. Through the app, consumers can read reviews, rankings, comparisons, and the latest news. While current subscribers can download the app for free, non-subscribers can purchase the app for $4.99.
May, 2010
Ford Fiesta is beginning its social media campaign by sending two Ford Fiestas and a load of applications from the University of Michigan to San Francisco’s “Maker Faire” on May 22. Participants on the road trip are Ford engineers and University of Michigan students who developed the “Caravan Track” in-car app that enables multiple drivers to track each others’ location. “The car is the ultimate mobile device. We’re researching how to responsibly and safely harness the Internet to enhance drivers’ time behind the wheel,” said Venkatesh Prasad, a technical leader in the Ford Research & Advanced Engineering team.
May, 2010
Women account for twice as much of all mobile downloads than men says a Mobile Marketer study. In April, women accounted for 4.5 million of all downloadable content while men only accounted for 2.2 million of the downloads. Women also prefer to use Blackberry devices over men’s choice in Android platforms. For more information on this study, please visit Mobile Marketer.
May, 2010
To support the launch of the new Volkswagen Toureg, the company has developed an iPhone game to garner buzz and excitement. Players can create their own car then drive it through multiple environments. They compete to win the best time through each course. Cornelia Lenz, head of egames and part of the marketing communications team at Volkswagen, Wolfsburg, Germany, said, “By reaching out to potential buyers through a quality ad game on the iPhone, Volkswagen utilizes Apple’s premium environment to present its products in the right context while also taking advantage of the viral push that free quality games get on the App Store in 80 countries.”
May, 2010
Twitter and Bing have collaborated for a new map displaying Twitter Trends by city. When users click on the cities, they are shown local topics being discussed on the site. The launch will occur through Mashable.com.
May, 2010
Synotes is a new app for Apple products that will wirelessly sync any notes recorded through it between iPods, iPhones, Macs, iPad and the web. Any notes developed in on any outlet will be automatically recorded onto the other devices.
May, 2010
Pringles launched a social media campaign to stop the spread of “oversharers”, or those who post too much information to their Facebook page. In addition to its own website, banner and print ads and digital billboards, Pringles provides its 3.1 million Facebook fans the opportunity to download an “Oversharer” button, the opposite function of the “Like” button. Pringles is selling T-shirts that consumers can design with their favorite “Too Much Information” post.
May, 2010 Samsung is preparing for the launch of their newest phone, The Reality, by organizing one of the largest dodgeball games to take place in New York on May 12. Their goal is to get over 1,500 players through Facebook and Twitter (via hashtag #dodgethis).
May, 2010 The Hartford Financial Services Group is targeting drivers on the road by offering an iPhone application to use when in accidents. With the app, drivers can document accident and driver information, access emergency checklists and find the nearest approved auto shop.
May, 2010
Marvel’s “Iron Man 2″ is gearing up for the release with a loaded iPhone app. Included within the app are video clips, downloadable wallpapers and the opportunity to purchase movie tickets. The app is being described as a “portal for all things Iron Man and as a way to better introduce people to the franchise” (Marvel Brings “Iron Man” To the iPhone).
May, 2010
PepsiCo Inc. will debut a location-based mobile app program called “Pepsi Loot” intended to encourage brand loyalty and consumer relations. The application will enable consumers to earn rewards for drinking Pepsi and show nearby restaurants that carry the brand. “Consumers on-the-go always have mobile devices with them, and when they are hungry, they can open Pepsi Loot on their iPhone and it shows them every Pepsi location in a certain area,” said Margery Schelling, chief marketing officer of PepsiCo Foodservice, Purchase, NY. After earning so many points, consumers can redeem their “loot” for exclusive tracks from artists in Universal Music Group’s catalog.
