Tag: google

Isis teams with USA Technologies to bring mobile commerce to vending machines

| December 6, 2012

 

Isis gets a boost through partnership with USA Technologies

USA Technologies, a leading cMobile Commerce - Isis teams with USA Technologies ashless payment solutions firm serving primarily small sectors of the retail industry, has teamed with Isis, one of the largest mobile commerce platforms in the world. Isis was formed as a joint venture from AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile, and is the only mobile commerce platform that was able to garner the support of most of the world’s major financial institutions before its launch. Isis is poised to become the leading mobile commerce platform in the world, and it is getting a major boost from USA Technologies.

Mobile commerce comes to vending machines

USA Technologies has announced that some 7,500 vending machines in Austin, Texas, and Salt Lake City, Utah, will be able to accept mobile payments made through the Isis platform. These vending machines will be equipped with USA Technologies’ ePort and ePort Connect services. These are NFC-based services that are designed to facilitate mobile, wireless payments. Users of the Isis platform will be able to use their mobile device to purchase products from these vending machines without having to use physical currency or connect to the vending machine in any way.

Vending machines use NFC technology

Because the vending machines will be equipped with NFC technology, only consumers with NFC-enabled mobile devices will be able to use the vending machines with Isis. The vending machines will accept traditional currency in order to serve those without Isis or an NFC-enabled device. Mobile commerce has seen some criticism in the past because of its acute focus on NFC technology. The scarcity of NFC-enabled mobile devices is part of the reason behind the criticism, as well as concerns regarding the security of the technology.

Isis poised to compete for mobile commerce superiority

Mobile commerce continues to gain momentum in the U.S., and Isis and USA Technologies are keen to take advantage of that fact. Isis is currently considered one of the only mobile commerce platforms that may be able to compete with Google and PayPal. Both these companies have invested heavily in mobile commerce, with PayPal working on developing an alternative to NFC technology that is more inclusive of a wider range of consumers.

Google acquires Incentive Targeting

| December 3, 2012

 

Google announces acquisition of retail coupon firm

Google has announced that iIncentive Targeting Acquired by Googlet has acquired retail coupon firm Incentive Targeting. The massive technology company has been showing increasing interest in mobile commerce and marketing recently, hoping to engage a new generation of consumers that have become highly reliant on mobile devices. According to Mike Dudas, a member of Google’s mobile commerce division, the acquisition of Incentive Targeting will help Google focus on coupon marketing campaigns that will be directed at very specific demographics.

Incentive Targeting boasts of advanced sales analysis system

Incentive Targeting was founded in 2007 and has partnered with several retail chains to develop highly targeted marketing campaigns. Earlier this year, the company was granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for “a computer-implemented method and system for conducting a search of electronically stored information.” This system enables advertisers to analyze sales information and use this information to develop highly specialized coupon campaigns.

Google shows interest in coupons for advertising

This system is likely what caught Google’s eye in the first place. The company has made major strides in the field of online advertising, especially through engaging mobile consumers. These consumers have proven especially responsive to participating in mobile marketing campaigns that provide them with some sort of special offer, such as digital coupons. Though Incentive Targeting’s system is often used for physical marketing campaigns, it can also be tuned to be used for online business, something that Google has shown interest in doing in the past.

Mobile marketing continues to be a major focus of Google

Mobile marketing is becoming an ideal way to engage the growing audience of mobile consumers. More people have access to mobile devices now than they ever have, creating an opportunity for advertisers to establish a constant connection with these consumers. If Google can leverage the technology developed by Incentive Targeting to engage these people, it may be able to see a major uptick in its mobile marketing and online advertising business.