Category: Percolate

How A Finnish Mall Found Success With “Physical Cookies”

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: Mashable

Last fall, a mall in Helsinki, Finland reportedly started testing a new VIP loyalty program in which individually targeted deals are offered to shoppers who agreed to carry a plastic key fob embedded with an RFID chip with them. Since then, over 14,000 customers have tried out this “physical cookie” device, which can provide valuable insights on the shopper’s preferences.

The mall worked with local ad agency TBWA\Helsinki to create the RFID key chains, which don’t require registration or sharing any personal information. After a four-month trial, the mall reported some promising results, as customers with “Physical Cookies” spent 21.7% more time in stores than those who didn’t.

 

The Next Step For Google Wallet

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: Re/code

In its latest attempt to compete with Apple Pay, Google has inked a distribution deal with major US carriers: Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T will pre-install Google Wallet on their Android phones for US consumers starting later this year. Meanwhile, Google is also licensing payment technology from Softcard to help smooth its impending expansion. Given that Apple Pay comes with every new iOS device, it seems fair for Google to try the same tactic.

Why Car Manufacturers Need To Work With Tech Companies

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: New York Times

Toyota caused a stir in the connected car market when the company was quoted by the NY Times as saying that it currently has “no plans” to offer either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay in its new models, despite being listed by Apple as an official CarPlay partner.

As more and more traditional OEM in-car equipment, such as GPS systems and CD players, are rapidly being replaced by newer, mobile-based substitutes, car buyers will understandably expect some compatibility with their mobile devices. Going against consumer behavior is not the best move for car manufacturers, especially when most seem to lack the technological expertise to develop an integrated and user-friendly in-car OS.

What Retailers Need to Know about Facebook’s New Ad Tool

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: AdWeek

Facebook is giving Google a run for its ad money by launching a new Dynamic Product Ads platform specifically for retailers. With this new offering, retail brands such as Target will be able to upload their product catalogues and allow the social media giant to generate targeted ads for each item. By harnessing insights from the behavioral and location data of its users for product-specific offers, Facebook might just have a shot at competing with Google AdWords.

Why Some People Are Routinely Deleting Their Tweets

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: Fusion

The newest trend in social media is a seemingly odd one: reportedly, an increasing number of Twitter users is starting to routinely delete their old tweets, some even going as far as to set up automated system to help simplify the process. Most tweet-deleters cite the effort as a way to eliminate liability for their random online musings. This new phenomenon points to the way in which social media users are now carefully curating their online image, so as to avoid the potential awkwardness that stems from unfiltered thought-sharing.

 

How IFTTT Just Made App Automation Simpler

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: TechCrunch

IFTTT, the leading platform for app automation, has been quite popular with developers and early adopters, and now the company is trying to make the tech more accessible to more consumers by rebranding.

Along with its original IFTTT (short for “IF This, Then That”) app being renamed to a simple “IF”, it’s also launching three free new apps — Do Button, Do Camera and Do Note — that will respectively let users trigger up to three actions each to make connected things work. If successful, this move could speed up the automation of our online and mobile actions in and between different apps and services.

 

Uber Continues To Dominate Transportation

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: Forbes

You may have noticed the option to take an Uber while searching for routes in Google Maps, but that’s just the start of  Uber’s ongoing vertical integration. Earlier today, the car-hailing company announced a partnership with mobile startup Breathometer to prompt users who have failed its breathalyzer test to call an Uber directly from its app.

Aiming to become the de facto brand for on-demand car services, Uber has been steadily transitioning from being a mere app to being an omnipresent button in any app that remotely relates to transportation, and this newest addition to its string of selected partners will help Uber further expand its reach.

How Samsung Plans To Compete Against Apple In Mobile Payment

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: TechCrunch

Look out, Apple Pay! Samsung is entering mobile payment with its acquisition of payment startup of LoopPay. Samsung has stated it will work toward building LoopPay’s technology into future devices, and stressed that a “holistic mobile wallet” based LoopPay’s unique magnetic secure transmission (MST) technology would enjoy wider converge than most mobile payment systems that employ NFC tech, including Apple Pay.

Regardless of Samsung’s self-proclaimed superiority, Apple Pay has already got a great head start, recently entering new territories like vending machines, in-flight purchases, and government agencies. Samsung has a lot catching-up to do if it is serious about competing with the Cupertino rival in mobile payment.

Why Microsoft Is Opening Up The Xbox

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: GeekWire

Xbox users can soon expect a new array of apps to pop up on the gaming platform, as Microsoft is preparing a software development kit to be released later this year. This new SDK will allow developers to build universal apps for a variety of Windows devices, including the Xbox One, while fostering deeper integration across the Microsoft ecosystem. Moreover, it will buff up Xbox’s functionality by introducing third-party apps, moving it closer to becoming a true multimedia hub for the living room.

How Pandora’s New Feature Can Help Artists And Brands

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: Re/code

Popular Internet radio service Pandora is launching a pilot test this week that will allow music artists to send personalized audio messages to the listeners, which the company foresees will be used to plug upcoming tours and new albums, or simply to provide context on a particular song.

More interestingly, the company also mentioned its plan to make this new Artist Audio Messaging feature geo-targeted and hyperlocal. This means that soon artists and brands alike on Pandora will be able to target fans in a specific city or region with relevant, localized messages.