Tag: mobile commerce

Hipcricket chosen for new mobile marketing campaign

| October 25, 2012

 SouthStart Communities selects Hipcricket for mobile marketing initiative

Hipcricket, the mobile marketing subsidiary of Augme Technologies, has been selected by SouthStar Communities, a real estate development company serving Texas and North Carolina, for a new marketing campaign. The realtor will be tapping into Hipcricket’s AD LIFE platform, which will allow it to develop mobile websites and make use of QR codes for various advertising purposes. QR codes have long been a powerful marketing tool amongst U.S. realtors. Indeed, the real estate industry played a major role in bringing the codes to the U.S. and helped make them popular.

Hipcricket platform to be used to build mobile sites and manage QR codes

SouthStar Communities has taken note of a significant increase in website traffic coming from mobile devices, suggesting that more consumers are becoming reliant on their mobile devices when shopping for new homes. In order to tap into this market, the realtor is looking to make use of Hipcricket’s services to help build websites that are optimized for viewing on mobile devices. QR codes will be used in various print advertisements and on signage for new homes.Mobile Marketing Commerce News

QR codes may help realtor reach out to consumers

When consumers find these QR codes and scan them with their mobile device, they will be able to find information concerning a particular home or be granted the ability to browse SouthStar Communities’ extensive property database. In both cases, consumers will be directed to a mobile website where they can find the information that they want. Hipcricket will provide the resources that the realtor needs to make this campaign a reality and will also provide the company with a way to track the performance of its QR codes and other mobile marketing initiatives.

QR codes continue to hold favor with real estate industry

QR codes are among the most popular mobile marketing tools available today. The real estate industry is well versed in the use of the codes, having been one of the first industry’s in the U.S. to make extensive use of them. The codes have served the industry well, proving popular amongst consumers and providing realtors with a way to stay engaged with potential home buyers no matter where they may be.

Retailers pushed to prepare for mobile commerce

| October 25, 2012

Credit companies pressure US retail industry to upgrade point-of-sale terminals

U.S. retailers are facing a deadline from American Express, Discover, Visa, and MasterCard, to make upgrades to their point-of-sale terminals to make them more compatible with mobile commerce. The deadline is set for October 2015, giving retailers plenty of time to invest in NFC-enabled terminals, but few retailers have shown enthusiasm in diving into the world of mobile commerce. Some retailers claim that mobile commerce is not yet at the point where it can be considered viable.

Mobile commerce is gaining modest ground in US

Despite concerns regarding security and efficiency, mobile commerce is growing in the U.S., backed heavily by financial groups and the telecommunications industry. These parties are investing heavily in NFC technology and the infrastructure needed to make mobile commerce a success. Part of this effort is encouraging the retail industry to make updates to its point-of-sale technology to foster the expansion of mobile commerce.

New terminals may mean better financial securityMobile Commerce Deadline

Retailers are tasked with upgrading their sales terminals to be equipped with NFC technology so as to better serve consumers with NFC-enabled smart phones and mobile devices. These devices can be used to make payments for goods and services, but only if they have an NFC terminal to interact with and finalize the purchase. Sales terminals are also expected to make up the bulk of the security features the mobile commerce industry needs to thrive. As such, these terminals may help placate the fears consumers have been having regarding the safety of their financial information.

Retailers still unconvinced of the popularity of mobile commerce

The retail industry has been disinclined to throw major support behind mobile commerce and prepare for the widespread use of NFC technology because of the relatively high upfront cost associated with such an initiative. Though there have been signs of mobile commerce catching on with some consumers, many retailers claim that there is not enough evidence to justify dumping funds into upgrading technology that is able to meet the needs that consumers have now.