Banks and credit card companies are rolling out services that let customers manage their accounts from their mobile devices. JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America customers can use their cell phones to check account balances, transfer funds, and pay bills. An estimated 134 million people bank online at least once a month. Although the mobile advertising market is currently small ($2.6 billion), it is rapidly growing (up 44 percent from last year and expected to grow to over $12 billion by 2016), as more and more companies seek ways to exploit new
databases of location-specific information. The largest providers of mobile display advertising are Apple’s iAd platform and Google’s AdMob platform (both with a 21 percent market share) followed by Millenial Media. Facebook is a distant fourth but moving rapidly to catch up. Alcatel-Lucent offers a new service to be managed by Placecast that will identify cell phone users within a specified distance of an advertiser’s nearest outlet and notify them about the outlet’s address and phone number, perhaps including a link to a coupon or other promotion. Placecast’s clients include Hyatt, FedEx, and Avis Rent A Car. Yahoo displays ads on its mobile home page for companies such as Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, Hilton, Nissan, and Intel. Google is displaying ads linked to cell phone searches by users of the mobile version of its search engine, while Microsoft offers banner and text advertising on its MSN Mobile portal in the United States. Ads are embedded in games, videos, and other mobile applications.
Shopkick is a mobile application that enables retailers such as Best Buy, Sports Authority, and Macy’s to offer coupons to people when they walk into their stores. The Shopkick app automatically recognizes when the user has entered a partner retail store and offers a new virtual currency called “kickbucks,” which can be redeemed for Facebook credits, iTunes Gift Cards, travel vouchers, DVDs, or immediate cash-back rewards at any of the partner stores. Fifty-five percent of online retailers now have m-commerce Web sites simplified versions of their Web sites that make it possible for shoppers to use cell phones to place orders. Clothing retailers Lilly Pulitzer and Armani Exchange, Home Depot, Amazon, Walmart, and 1–800 Flowers are among those companies with apps for m-commerce sales.
Games and Entertainment
Smartphones and tablets have developed into portable entertainment platforms. Smartphones like the iPhone and Android-based devices offer downloadable and streaming digital games, movies, TV shows, music, and ring tones. Users of broadband services from the major wireless vendors can stream on-demand video clips, news clips, and weather reports. MobiTV, offered by Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, and other mobile carriers, features live TV programs, including MSNBC and Fox Sports. Film companies are starting to produce short films explicitly designed to play on mobile phones. User-generated content is also appearing in mobile form. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and other social networking sites have versions for mobile devices. In 2012, the top 10 most popular apps on Facebook are games, led by Words with Friends, FarmVille, and CityVille, each with over 5 million daily users.
databases of location-specific information. The largest providers of mobile display advertising are Apple’s iAd platform and Google’s AdMob platform (both with a 21 percent market share) followed by Millenial Media. Facebook is a distant fourth but moving rapidly to catch up. Alcatel-Lucent offers a new service to be managed by Placecast that will identify cell phone users within a specified distance of an advertiser’s nearest outlet and notify them about the outlet’s address and phone number, perhaps including a link to a coupon or other promotion. Placecast’s clients include Hyatt, FedEx, and Avis Rent A Car. Yahoo displays ads on its mobile home page for companies such as Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, Hilton, Nissan, and Intel. Google is displaying ads linked to cell phone searches by users of the mobile version of its search engine, while Microsoft offers banner and text advertising on its MSN Mobile portal in the United States. Ads are embedded in games, videos, and other mobile applications.
Shopkick is a mobile application that enables retailers such as Best Buy, Sports Authority, and Macy’s to offer coupons to people when they walk into their stores. The Shopkick app automatically recognizes when the user has entered a partner retail store and offers a new virtual currency called “kickbucks,” which can be redeemed for Facebook credits, iTunes Gift Cards, travel vouchers, DVDs, or immediate cash-back rewards at any of the partner stores. Fifty-five percent of online retailers now have m-commerce Web sites simplified versions of their Web sites that make it possible for shoppers to use cell phones to place orders. Clothing retailers Lilly Pulitzer and Armani Exchange, Home Depot, Amazon, Walmart, and 1–800 Flowers are among those companies with apps for m-commerce sales.
Games and Entertainment
Smartphones and tablets have developed into portable entertainment platforms. Smartphones like the iPhone and Android-based devices offer downloadable and streaming digital games, movies, TV shows, music, and ring tones. Users of broadband services from the major wireless vendors can stream on-demand video clips, news clips, and weather reports. MobiTV, offered by Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, and other mobile carriers, features live TV programs, including MSNBC and Fox Sports. Film companies are starting to produce short films explicitly designed to play on mobile phones. User-generated content is also appearing in mobile form. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and other social networking sites have versions for mobile devices. In 2012, the top 10 most popular apps on Facebook are games, led by Words with Friends, FarmVille, and CityVille, each with over 5 million daily users.
No comments:
Post a Comment