December 2011

Mobile devices are redefining shopping, from inspiration to purchase and beyond. In fact, according to comScore, 10.8 percent of people used mobile to visit a retailer site on Cyber Monday, up from 3.9 percent in 2010. Also up—by nearly two and a half times—was the number of items U.S. shoppers bought via eBay Mobile on Black Friday.

Thanks to smartphones, consumers can buy, research and browse at home, in store or nearly anywhere else. They can use barcode scanning apps to compare in-store prices to those online and instantly purchase via mobile. They can buy coffee at Starbucks with the company’s mobile payment app, which has seen more than 26 million transactions since January. And they can even “tap to pay,” using services like Google Wallet and ISIS, at select offline stores, public transportation providers and online merchants. Soon, this capability will be everywhere. [...] Read >

Few mobile activities can boast ubiquitous access and use across all mobile phones like SMS. The CTIA reports that the number of yearly text messages grew by over 1,750% from 2006 to 2011. And with an open rate of 97%, it’s no wonder why brands are starting to accelerate their mobile presence by launching mobile initiatives like SMS campaigns. Standard SMS campaigns offer great value to consumers (the cost is almost negligible) and keep brands top of mind while aligning with CRM efforts. Not to mention, they’re a great way to engage your customers and take a step toward the O.P.E.N. direction! [...] Read >

As the market for browser-capable devices continues its rampant growth, the need to design websites compatible with these devices grows with it. We have heard that mobile web usage has been predicted to meet and even outpace desktop in the months ahead. We also know from The OPEN Brand that digital consumers are seeking on-demand experiences, which are all about efficiency, ease of use, control, and findability. So now more than ever before, brands need an efficient way to deliver these kinds of experiences to their consumers, regardless of whether they choose to use a desktop computer, phone, tablet, the latest eReader, or some combination of them. Responsive web design arose from that need, and is nothing less than a whole new approach to designing and building for the web, one that allows the consumer experience to be tailored to multiple devices without the effort of creating and maintaining multiple separate sites. [...]

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