Which of these smartphone card readers will win the mobile payments race?
The mobile payment industry is constantly evolving and extremely complex.
NFC gains a lot of attention largely thanks to the fact that Visa has thrown its weight behind the technology. However, as yet, it has failed to take off because access to NFC enabled devices is limited and consumers are still largely sceptical.
In the short-term, it seems likely that mobile card readers will prove to be more popular with merchants and consumers.
Only 24% of online consumers are aware of EU cookie law
With only two days to go until the EU E-privacy Directive comes into affect, a new survey has found that only 24% of online consumers are aware of the new law.
This is despite the fact that 84% of respondents in the TRUSTe survey said they are aware of cookies.
A similar survey we ran in April with Toluna Quick found that 69% of online consumers are aware of cookies and what they do.
The findings of these two surveys prove that people generally know what cookies are, yet in our survey only 23% said they would be happy to say yes to cookies.
Six clever examples of branded Facebook apps
Facebook apps are a good way for brands to engage with their fans in a way that doesn't feel like a hard sell.
They also have the added bonus of scraping lots of useful consumer data. However, apps aren’t necessarily right for all brands.
They need to be in keeping with the company's values and offer users something they want to engage with and share with friends.
Here are six examples of brands that have put Facebook apps to good use.
LOVEFiLM and Netflix save BSkyB from regulator sanctions
The Competition Commission has changed a ruling on BSkyB’s dominance of the pay-TV film market thanks to the growth of digital services such as LOVEFiLM and Netflix.
In an abrupt u-turn, the CC said that Sky Movies no longer provides Sky with an advantage over its pay-TV rivals.
It reversed a ruling from last year which found that the satellite broadcaster’s deals with major Hollywood studios effectively gave it a monopoly on the market and caused higher prices for consumers.
App review: eBay's revamped iPad app
Earlier this month eBay overhauled its iPad app to offer users a range of new functions and hi-res images.
The app now has a customisable homepage, back button and new ways to view search results. eBay appears to have taken the liberty of giving itself five stars in the product description, but are the upgrades actually an improvement?
User reviews in the App Store show that opinion is fairly polarised: 362 people give it five stars but 265 give it one star.
Just 17% of UK consumers 'completely aware' of mobile NFC payments
Only 17% of UK consumers are ‘completely aware’ of what contactless mobile payments are, according to a survey by eDigitalResearch.
However, 67% of respondents have heard of the technology before, suggesting that more needs to be done to educate consumers about how NFC works.
This tallies with research published recently by VoucherCodes.co.uk which found that 55% of British consumers were unable to name a single mobile payment brand.
Facebook buys gifting app Karma as mobile spree continues
A failure to properly monetise its mobile platform has always been Facebook’s Achilles heel, so it’s no surprise that it has just acquired another mobile-based company.
Social gifting app Karma has become Facebook’s fifth mobile buyout so far this year, though the news was somewhat overshadowed by Friday's IPO.
It follows the acquisitions of mobile companies Instagram, Lightbox, Tagtile and Glancee.
88% of consumers consult reviews when making a purchase
Recommendations from friends are the most influential driver for UK shopping habits followed closely by consumer reviews, according to a new survey by Reevoo.
More than half of respondents (52%) said friends’ recommendations were influential, followed by consumer reviews (48%), advertising (24%) and advice from sales assistants (22%).
The survey also found that a massive 88% of consumers ‘sometimes or always’ consult a review when making a purchase, and 60% were more likely to purchase from a site that has customer reviews on.
The power and growth of mobile marketing: infographic
If you are a frequent reader of the Econsultancy blog, you’ll be well aware that mobile is an extremely important channel for marketers.
The ability to target consumers anytime, anywhere, is a massive opportunity for brands and advertisers, so it’s no wonder that mobile marketing investment is predicted to triple in the next four years.
But in order to make best use of the opportunity, advertisers need to understand who is using mobile and what they are using it for.
Q&A: Google's Rick Jones on multichannel retailing
The growth of mobile as a marketing channel has provided a massive opportunity for retailers to connect with their customers.
However, it has also created new problems for brands trying to offer a joined up, multichannel experience.
Google’s industry head of retail Rick Jones is tasked with helping brands use digital to create a single customer view.
I spoke with him at last week’s E-commerce Futures Conference to find out his opinion on delivering an effective multichannel customer experience.
