Pizza Hut and Amex Launch Super Bowl Deal

February 2012

Pizza Hut and Amex are teaming up for a Foursquare Super Bowl promotion, offering a $5 rebate on Pizza Hut orders over $10. Amex members will check into Foursquare’s “Super Swarm Sunday” feature, and upon ordering via phone, online or in-store at Pizza Hut they’ll receive an alert within moments regarding their Amex account credit. Pizza Hut will also run their pre-game spot on NBC, a part of their user-generated video contest promoting the Foursquare deal. For more information, please see Mashable.

Facebook’s Relationship with Zynga

February, 2012

There is a lot of hype around Facebook filing to become a public company. One interesting number that arose during their IPO filing on Wednesday is that Zynga accounts for 12% of all of the revenue generated by Facebook. Facebook’s sales for 2011 totaled at $3.71 billion and $445 million of that revenue came from their current partnership with the game-maker Zynga. The independence of the two companies may become an issue for investors. Learn more about these two companies by visiting Mashable.

Bank Of America Tests Daily Deals

January, 2012

Bank of America has announced that it is testing a Groupon-like daily deal service for its account holders. The new “BankAmeriDeals” is currently being tested among employees and suggest deals based on your previous spending habits on your credit or debit card.  When viewing their online statement, the user can see what deals are available to them and then select which they would like to redeem.  When they purchase the deal item from a retailer with their Bank of America credit/debit card, they will pay full price and at the beginning of the next billing period the percentage off from the deal they chose will be deducted from their statement. This move shows how banks are moving towards internet banking services and embracing extra value added offers to keep consumers loyal and increase credit card spending.  For more information, see Mashable.

The New Citi App Shares Points on Facebook

January, 2012

The Citi Thank You Point Sharing Facebook app allows Thank You rewards members to pool their points together with their friends on Facebook and extend their reward possibilities.  The collective value can be used toward sharing a goal or reward, such as a trip or charity donation. “This new app is a first in the marketplace and a fun, flexible way to share points,” said Ralph Andretta, head of co brands and loyaltu at Citi Cards. For more information, please see promomagazine.com

Credit Site’s Mobile Tagging Campaign

November, 2011

In collaboration with Shazam, FreeCreditScore.com will support their tie with music by allowing users who tag songs in the commercials to track their credit scores no matter where they are. Along with the credit score updates, users who tag the commercials can also gain access to ringtones by the “FreeCreditScore.com Band” and wallpapers. Ken Chaplin, senior VP of Marketing for Experian Consumer Direct, said, “The Shazam opportunity is a great fit for our brand because it allows us to extend the brand’s reach through the continued lyrics and songs performed by the freecreditscore.com band.” To learn more about this mobile marketing program, please visit MobileMarketer.com.

HelloWallet Tracks Spending on iPhone

November, 2011

Newly launched HelloWallet will aid iPhone shoppers by providing them updates on their budgets. An interesting feature on this app is it’s ability to track budget spending by category, sometimes based on venue. The app also shows past spending habits in a bar-graph, which may be beneficial to impulse buyers or those concerned with the amount of money they have available to make a purchase. The app is currently available for download (free) in the iTunes store. Please visit TechCrunch.com to learn more about this application.

Give Money to Friends with PayPal’s FB App

November, 2011

We’ve all been there. You borrow some cash from a friend and promise to pay them back at some point in time.  Well now to make settling your debts to your friend who covered your last bar tab easier, PayPal has created a Facebook app that lets you send money to friends online.  The app, named Send Money, does exactly what it implies.  All you need to select amount and who you’d like to receive the payment with an option to include an e-card.  For more info, please visit: http://mashable.com/2011/11/17/paypal-facebook-send-money/

Groupon to Start Rewards Program

September, 2011

Groupon is planning to introduce a program that rewards its return customers. When Groupon users spend a certain amount of money at a business, they will earn Groupon Rewards. The purchase amounts will not be monitored by any NFC chip or mobile chick-in. Groupon plans on tracking the purchases directly through the users credit card, allowing users to automatically receive rewards if they purchase with the same credit card. For more information, please see Groupon Rewards.

Capital One Invades 3 Zynga Games

September, 2011

Capital One will now appear in three popular social games from Zynga.  The financial company will have a Capital One bank in CityVille and feature the goat from the company’s TV ads in FarmVille and The Pioneer Trail. During their gameplay, consumers will be directed to the Capital One Facebook page to learn about exclusive offers.  According to AppData, Capital One will reach nearly 131.5 million monthly active users of the popular social games.  For more info, please visit: mashable.com

MasterCard’s Payment Process of the Future

September, 2011

MasterCard has developed a payment prototype that will allow users to wave their hand in front of their T.V’s and make a purchase. The technology comes from an integration with Xbox Kinect and will use a prototype app called QkR. Essentially, users will move their hands in front of an icon in the corner of their screens, then they will be taken to a purchase funnel. A receipt will then be sent to their QkR app. For more information, please see MasterCard.

Jumio Turns Webcams Into Card Raders

August, 2011

Jumbio, the new technology that turns your webcam into a credit card reader, is now available for all WordPress websites. Jumbio is set up like any other plug-in, publishers just need to download, install and activate. Then all of their users can purchase and make charitable donation by just turning on their webcam and flashing there cards. To read more visit Jumbio for WordPress.

AMEX Mobile Aims to Help Traveling Customers

August, 2011

AMEX is hoping to aid those who frequently travel by allowing them to change travel plans quickly during instances of storms or unforeseen disruptions. The application lets companies track their employees as they travel, and is updated if delays are anticipated. Through the app, companies can track changes in itineraries and connect with their employees. “Our goal is to provide both travelers and their companies support in day-to-day traveler management as well as in emergencies and travel disruptions,” said Michel La Bianca, vice president of technology strategy at American Express Global Business Travel, New York. To learn more, visit MobileCommerceDaily.com.

Citi and Best Buy offer Mobile Rewards

August, 2011

Citi Bank and Best Buy are now offering consumers the “Citi Thank You Rewards” app for  iPhone and Android devices. The app is an extension of the Citi Rewards program which allows Citi consumers to earn points by using their credit card or participating in other banking activities. Customers can now use this mobile app to track how many points they have, points in turn can be used to purchase Best Buy products. For more information, please see Citi Thank You Rewards.

Farmers Insurance and FarmVille = Neighbors

June 2011

Farmers Insurance and Zynga’s FarmVille teamed up via Facebook on June 23, for a 24 hour promotion. The tens of millions of FarmVille players had the option to “Like” Farmers Insurance Facebook page after they saw Farmers’ virtual farm in the FarmVille game. Individuals who chose to “Like” the page received a Farmers Airship icon as well as two “unwithers”, an aid to maintaining their virtual crop. For more information, please see Farmers Farm.

Foursquare partners with American Express

June, 2011

Foursquare partnered with American Express on June 23^rd to offer discounts to cardholders when they check in at select merchants. After linking your American Express card to your Foursquare account, you’ll be able to earn special offers at certain retailers and restaurants: Spend $75 at H&M, for example, and you’ll get $10 back on your next statement. There’s no longer the need to wave your smartphone at the salesperson–after checking in, deals are synced to your American Express card directly. For more information, please see Check-In Special.

BillShrink Launches Statement Rewards

June 2011

BillShrink has launched a new service called Statement Rewards that combines loyalty cards, daily deals and bank statements. The service is designed so that online bank statements will also include deals and discounts for bank customers based on their recent spending. The company hopes that this service will help consumers think more favorably about the banks they do business with as well as provide them with offers to help them save money. To learn more visit The New York Times.

Capital One’s Visigoths on Farmville

June, 2011

Capital One has recently joined the likes of Lady Gaga, Dreamworks and 7-Eleven by making an appearance in the highly popular Zynga game, Farmville, for Facebook.  The identifiable Visigoths from the Capital One TV ads, can now be used in the game for players to get “Double Mastery” points when they put a Capital One Visigoth statue on their farms.  Players can also dress up their avatars in branded Visigoth clothing, both for males and females, which is a first for the game.

Google Announces Google Wallet

May, 2011

Google announced its newest app, Google Wallet today at a company press conference.  Google Wallet will be a mobile payment system working in conjunction with its other new venture, Google Offers.  The two ventures allow Google to combine payment and customized discounts at the point of sale through one mobile device.  Google Wallet has initially partnered with Citi, MasterCard, First Data and Sprint as the accepted cards and mobile platforms for the service.  Google will start a field test for the app on Thursday May, 26th and expects to fully launch the service this summer.  Consumers will be able to download the app on their phone and using their Google account, link their payment info with the app.  Using the unique “single tap” system, consumers will be able to provide payment info, coupon and loyalty cards in one swipe at supporting retailers.  Google is working to grow the number of retailers that will support the platform.  For more information, see Mashable.

YouTube and AmEx “Map My Summer” Interactive Map

April, 2011

YouTube and American Express’s Australian “Map My Summer” site has closed video submissions and has announced the release of the final interactive map.  The site aimed to create a map that showed a Summertime “archive of events, experiences, and people around the country” through videos posted and shared by users in Australia.  Starting December 1 (the beginning of the Australian summer) until April 8th, people could upload and share their summer themed videos and tag them based on activity, place, or people.  The videos were then compiled, sorted by geographical location of the upload, and loaded to a virtual “map”.  Users can now go on and browse the map and view consumer’s videos.  The map also shows statistical data about the submitted videos according to geographic location on interactive donut graphs showing what activity types, locations etc. were most popular per city.  You can search for videos by category (place, activity, person) or view specific tags such as beach, wedding, celebrity etc. Over the course of 4 months, users uploaded over 212,000 videos.  During the course of the promotion the site also featured the American Express Clip of the Week as well as other brand content relating to the map of Australia’s summer activities.  All submitted videos are now eligible to be included in a final movie sponsored by YouTube and American Express outlining the site’s findings on the Australian summer.  Currently editors are working to sort through the 15+ hours of footage uploaded to the site to create the film that wil be premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in June.  For more information see YouTube’s Map My Summer.

AMEX Honors Admin. Professionals on LinkedIn

April, 2011

AMEX is running a sweeps on LinkedIn to gift Administrative Professionals with AMEX gift cards. Formerly “Secretary’s Day”, the “Administrative Professionals Day” is celebrated on Wednesday, April 27. Companies can nominate their favorite Administrative Professional on LinkedIn, then ask connections to also nominate the same person. The Administrative Professional with the most nominations will win a $2,500 AMEX gift card, while 100 others will win $25 gift cards.

Visa Enters Geolocation Mobile Marketing

April, 2011

Visa has entered the geolocation mobile marketing market and positioned itself as a direct competitor to Foursquare, Groupon, and even eBay.  Visa has launched a new mobile marketing service that allows retail stores to send text messages to consumers that are triggered by purchase habits logged on their Visa cards.  Consumers must opt in to the program online and provide their phone number and credit card information.  Anytime a consumer swipes their Visa card to make a purchase, that data is logged and scanned to see if they are eligible to receive any offers or messages from nearby retailers.  Consumers are eligible for offers if they meet pre-specified criteria such as shopping in a certain zip code, shopping during a certain time of day, or purchasing certain items (i.e. gas, groceries, clothes).  Retailers pay to be a part of this service and can outline the criteria the consumer must meet in order to receive their offers.  The offers are texted to the consumer’s phone and can be presented at the cash register to redeem. The service is free for Visa card holders. This move by Visa to enter the mobile marketing market comes after major new market entrances by giants such as Foursquare, Groupon, and eBay.  Foursquare recently partnered with AmericanExpress during South By Southwest to offer exclusive deals for AmEx holders unlocked by Foursquare checkins.  Groupon and eBay both recently purchased smaller companies specializing in mobile deals unlocked by location based software.  For more information see Ad Age.

Google Testing In-Store Mobile Payments

March, 2011

In the next 4 months, thousands of stores in San Francisco and New York will be test-allowing payment through mobile phones. Using NFC (near field communication), customers will simply touch their phones to a tag at special cash registers to check out.  Not all phones are equipped with NFC technology, but it is beginning to go mainstream, already included in the Android phone the Nexus S. Google wants to team with advertisers in this too, providing ads and offers at point of sale for those using NFC chips.

AmEx Social Currency on Facebook

March, 2011

American Express has launched its new “Social Currency” campaign on its Facebook page. The campaign started with AmEx noticing that their rewards members were looking for more unusual and unconventional ways to use their rewards points and that they also liked bragging about the items they purchased with the points.  A new tab on AmEx’s Facebook page allows users to post about their favorite trips, big purchases, or cool gadgets that they’ve had courtesy of their rewards points.  The tab also posts daily deals centered around the points such as half off digital cameras when you purchase them with your rewards points.

American Express expanded the new promotion through a new partnership with Foursquare that was premiered at South By Southwest.  AmEx users can receive special deals from the company unlocked by location check-ins on Foursquare.  At SXSW, AmEx offered “spend $5, save $5″ programs through Foursquare at many retailers around Austin.  This “Social Currency” campaign will be supported in the coming weeks through print and TV advertising. For more information see AdAge.

AMEX Offered Deals Via Foursquare

March, 2011

American Express partnered with Foursquare to provide cardholders deals when they check-in to certain locations. The campaign lasted from March 11-15, during the SXSW Festival, and provided those who had registered for an AMEX card locations and vendors where they could receive great deals for using their cards. In order to redeem the deal, they had to first check-in at that particular location. In addition to the partnership, the two companies collaborated to donate $1 to [Grounded in music] for each purchase made via the promotion.

Facebook, Google, IBM: Startup America

February, 2011

Facebook, Google and IBM have partnered with the United States White House to launch “Startup America”. The campaign is dedicated to spurring entrepreneurship within the country. The campaign’s website said the purpose of the initiative is to “marshal and highlight commitments from companies, universities, and non-profit organizations that will spur the creation, scale, and support of high-growth firms.”

Capital One Launches Mobile Banking App

January, 2011

Capital One launched a new mobile banking app, providing Capital One consumers with “immediate access to your bank anytime, anywhere.” The app offers account access, nearby branch/ATM locations, and allows consumers to pay their bills on-the-go or transfer funds as the need arises. The app is free and currently available in the iTunes app store for the iPhone.

Deposit Checks With Chase’s iPhone App

July, 2010

Chase updated its iPhone app to include the new Quick Deposit feature that allows users to deposit checks from their iPhone.  To make a deposit, bankers select an account, enter the amount, and take a photo of the front and back of the check.

Square iPhone App, Plug-in Credit Card Payments

February, 2010 Square targets small businesses with an iPhone app and small plug-in device that takes credit card payments via mobile. By simply registering on Squareup.com, consumers can take and make payments from their iPhone or iTouch. Check out the video explanation.

H&R Block Internet Tax Agents Hit The Internet

January 2010

H&R Block ia pursuing new clients and entering the realm of social media and online blogging communities. Backed by a team of 1,000 tax-professional members, H&R has hit Twitter, forums, blogs and Facebook by answering tax questions from large business owners to small home owners. The goal is to inform and educate potential clients who might be interested in using their full service online or store front tax preparation services.

Fake Banking Android Mobile Apps

January, 2010 A series of fake banking Android mobile apps for First Tech Credit Union were found in the Android Marketplace. These apps contained malicious code with aim to collect users’ personal banking information. Since discovery, they have been removed but First Tech recommends immediately deleting them from your phone. Even with the introduction of a new technology like the new Android, security should still remain a top priority for consumers.