Category: Featured News

Google Wallet wins support from MetroPCS

| October 24, 2012

 MetroPCS now supports Google Wallet

Google Wallet has finally won the support of MetroPCS, a mobile service provider in the U.S. The company is one of many service providers that offers the new Samsung Galaxy S III. Like others in its industry, however, MetroPCS did not support Google Wallet, meaning that consumers with the powerful new smart phone were unable to make use of Google’s mobile commerce platform. That has changed, now that Google has struck a deal with one of the few companies that still do not support its platform.

Google continues work to improve mobile commerce platform

Google is keen to get as much support for the Google Wallet as possible. The mobile commerce platform has been available for little more than a year now, but has not yet entered the mainstream. Google has been working to resolve many of the issues that plagued Google Wallet when it was first launched last year, going so far as to introduce a new cloud computing structure that provides more security for the platform.

More Galaxy S III users now get access to Google WalletMobile Commerce News on Google Wallet

Google Wallet has proven somewhat popular amongst consumers and fans of the technology company, but many have been unable to use the platform because of two big problems. The first is the fact that many network operators do not support Google Wallet, thus making the platform unavailable to consumers in these networks. The second, and perhaps most serious problem is the limited availability of NFC-enabled mobile devices. The Galaxy S III was expected to bring NFC technology to more consumers around the world and help expose them to mobile commerce. The smart phone accounts for only one NFC-enabled device, however, in a market that is thriving due to diversity.

Google to clash with Isis

The support of MetroPCS is considered a significant victory for Google’s mobile commerce plans. Google Wallet will soon clash with Isis, an as yet unreleased mobile commerce platform that has already garnered a great deal of support from financial institutes. Isis is backed by AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile, giving the platform immediate access to a wide range of consumers.

Sonic uses QR codes to help schools and teachers

| October 24, 2012

 Sonic launches QR code campaign

Fast food giant Sonic has teamed with DonorsChoose.org to launch a new campaign to encourage consumers to donate to local schools. The campaign, called Limeades for Learning, leverages QR codes as a way to engage consumers. QR codes have become a formidable marketing tool and have shown that they can be quite effective in mobile commerce, thus Sonic has chosen the codes as the flagship for the new campaign. The codes may be able to entice consumers to donate to schools in their area.

Scanbuy develops new codes for Sonic campaign

The QR codes used for the campaign were developed by Scanbuy, a mobile marketing agency. These codes can be scanned using the ScanLife application, which is available for free for smart phones. When the codes are scanned, consumers will be taken to a mobile commerce site where they can search for the name of schools and education projects in their area. Donations will be used to purchase educational materials for schools associated with the campaign, such as books and writing utensils.Sonic QR Codes

QR codes allow consumers to donate to local schools

Sonic notes that more than 6,500 teachers throughout the U.S. have signed up for the Limeades for Learning campaign. DonorsChoose.org claims that the country’s teachers spend a cumulative $1 billion each year out-of-pocket for school materials. Consumers will also be able to vote for educational projects they find interesting through the campaign. At the end of October, Sonic will choose the project with the winning vote and donate up to $100,000 to the project.

Codes considered ideal way to reach out to consumers

This is the fourth consecutive year that Sonic has been behind the Limeades for Learning campaign. The company believes that QR codes are the best way to reach out to consumers in an efficient manner and get them engaged in the campaign. Indeed, many consumers have proven this to be true in the past, as those with smart phones have regularly engaged in mobile marketing campaigns that make use of QR codes in some way.