Tag: Kindle Fire

Amazon aims to set itself apart in the mobile commerce field

Amazon is beginning to feel the weight of mounting competition in the field of online retail. Competition is beginning to heat up as more companies begin embracing mobile commerce for the sake of consumers that rely heavily on smartphones and tablets. Amazon is among the earliest adopters of mobile commerce as its position as an online retailer made the company well suited to meet the needs of mobile consumers. With competition from other retailers, however, Amazon has moved to set itself apart from other companies and has introduced its own virtual currency.

Amazon Coins could be an effective mobile commerce and loyalty tool

Virtual currency is not particularly popular with consumers. This type of currency is most often seen in the world of gaming, where consumers can purchase and use this currency to unlock additional content in the games they enjoy. In retail, virtual currency is somewhat rare as most retailers are content with handling actual money. Virtual currencies are not typically associated with mobile commerce as these currencies are not often associated with mobile platforms of any kind. Amazon believes that its virtual currency, called Amazon Coins, could be quite effective at capturing the loyalty of consumers, especially those interested in mobile commerce, as these Coins can only be used to purchase products through Amazon.

Coins can be used to purchase products from the Appstore

Those interested in using Amazon’s new currency must first purchase the Coins from the company. For 500 Coins, consumers will have to pay $5. The Coins can be used to purchase anything from the Amazon Appstore and are exclusive to Kindle Fire tablets. As such, the Coins are somewhat exclusive, catering to a niche market comprised of those with Kindle Fire devices. While the Kindle Fire has proven to be very popular, Amazon does not expect that the device is so popular that it would encourage consumers to purchase Coins. So, Amazon has decided to give away its Coins for free.

Amazon gives Coins away for free

This week, Amazon has deposited 500 Coins into the accounts of every Kindle Fire user. Amazon expects that the Coins will be well received among consumers as they can be used to purchase a multitude of applications, mobile games, music, and e-books from the Appstore. Moreover, items purchased using Coins typically receive a 10% discount, making the virtual currency more alluring for Kindle Fire users. Whether the Coins will succeed in helping Amazon establish a stronger presence in mobile commerce has yet to be seen.

Marketing campaign to help raise awareness for London Underground

Outdoor marketing firm CBS Outdoor UK has enlisted the aid of augmented reality specialist Blippar to help promote the services of the United Kingdom’s public transit system, London Underground. Tapping into augmented reality is part of the marketing firm’s “Look for Longer” campaign, which encourages consumers to accurately identify 75 London Underground stations using interactive clues they find in posted throughout the city. Blippar’s role in this initiative calls for the use of a massive, six-meter digital screen in the heart of Westfield Stratford City.

Blippar takes over screen at Westfield Stratford City shopping center

Westfield Stratford City is Europe’s largest shopping center, with more than 3 million monthly visitors. With such high traffic, t he shopping center is considered a prime location for marketing campaigns. Blippar has taken over one of the massive digital screens that has made its home in the shopping center to provide consumers with a chance to engage in the campaign’s augmented reality aspects. The interactive posters that can be found on the screen, as well as those found in London, provide consumers with clues that will help them identify the stations associated with London Underground.

London Underground campaign gives consumers chance to win prizes

Through the campaign, consumers have a chance to win an iPad or Kindle Fire if they can correctly identify several London Underground stations and find all the clues associated with the campaign. CBS Outdoor UK believes that augmented reality is one of the best ways to engage a new generation of consumers that have been steeped in mobile technology. In the past, augmented reality marketing campaigns have proven quite popular with mobile consumers.

Augmented reality proves to be effective marketing tool

Augmented reality may be an ideal way to reach out to consumers that are tethered to their mobile devices. The technology allows for dynamic content to be accessed with nothing more than a smart phone or similar mobile device. In terms of marketing, this can turn static campaigns into engaging experiences that are more likely to stand out in the minds of consumers.