Category: Featured News

GREE launches messaging application in test markets

| December 27, 2012

GREE messaging appGREE begins testing new application in small markets

GREE, a Japanese developer of mobile gaming applications, is setting up to launch its GREE Messenger in 2013, which will be available for the iOS and Android platforms. Though the developer has plans to launch the new application next year, the GREE Messenger is actually already available in some markets. This is because GREE has decided to push a test launch to determine the impact the application may have in the already crowded Asian market.

India, New Zealand, and Australia get GREE Messenger

The Asian market is filled with messenger applications that are designed to connect consumers to one another. These applications are typically very simple, allowing consumers to chat with their friends and make use of animated graphics to spice up their messages. GREE is keen to enter into this sector and has decided to test its messenger application in three markets: India, Australia, and New Zealand. The test version of the application has limited features and has seen relatively little coverage due to the fact that GREE has not actually announced that it is available in these markets.

Application may feature gaming aspects in the future

Mobile gaming has become much more than a craze among consumers; it has become a very important and accepted part of the mobile technology space. Though the GREE Messenger is not a mobile gaming application, GREE does have tentative plans to introduce some gaming elements into future versions of the app. For now, users will be able to text chat with their friends, invite their friends to group chats, share photos and videos, and check into locations they visit.

Foreign markets may be good testing grounds

Introducing the GREE Messenger to smaller markets in Australia and New Zealand where messaging applications are not as popular as they are in Asia may be a good move. Asia’s most popular messaging application, WeChat, boasts of more than 200 million users, with others also taking up a similar portion of the consumer base. This makes its difficult for similar applications to find any headway in the market and GREE is primarily focused on exposure and ensuring that its application can actually live up to consumer expectations.

SocialVibe teams with Placecast to launch ambitious new marketing solution

| December 27, 2012

SocialVibe teams with PlacecastSocialVibe and Placecast introduce marketing solution for retailers

SocialVibe, a digital advertising firm, has announced that it has teamed with Placecast, a location-based marketing provider, in order to launch a new marketing solution for the retail industry. The campaign will feature in-app advertisements in a mobile game that could help retail brands reach a new demographic of mobile consumers. The idea is simple: The mobile game associated with the campaign would encourage consumers to interact with advertisements from retailers. Interacting with these in-app advertisements would reward consumers with in-game points and other benefits.

Duo combines gaming with location-based marketing

The solution from SocialVibe and Placecast is being put to use by Best Buy in a new marketing campaign with mobile gaming and location-based marketing at its core. Through the use of a mobile gaming application that is associated with the SocialVibe and Placecast campaign, Best Buy customers will be receive a variety of in-app advertisements while they are playing their mobile game. Interacting with the advertisement and opting into a marketing program will net consumers with rewards in the mobile game as well as special offers from Best Buy and any other retailer participating in the game.

Location-based marketing may be enhanced through mobile gaming

The advertisements that consumers will see in the game are meant to make use of geographic information to appeal to specific demographics. The mobile game will use technology and methods developed by both SocialVibe and Placecast in order to accomplish this feat. Location-based marketing has been very effective in the past and may be able to be enhanced through mobile gaming.

Best Buy campaign to run through December

SocialVibe has been leveraging location-based marketing in the social gaming space since 2007. The company has a wealth of experience in this field, which may be attractive to a wide variety of retailers. The Best Buy campaign will run throughout December, giving shopper ample time to experience the campaign during the holiday shopping season.