Tag: IPG-Emerging-Media-Lab

$100 Per Download: The eBay iPhone Story

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$100 per download: The eBay iPhone story What’s the value of an iPhone app download for a brand? The answer varies wildly. For eBay, the value was nearly $100 in sales per download. According to an article in the Financial Times, eBay’s iPhone app has seen over $400 million in sales to date, from just over 4.6 million downloads. To be precise, that came out to $89.95 in sales per download – but the year end (and holiday season) hasn’t yet come.

With numbers like those, one must wonder what kind of ROI Amazon is seeing with their iPhone app. But more than anything, this news points to two key ideas: Mobile commerce is the here and now, and the mobile divide keeps getting wider. Continue reading “$100 Per Download: The eBay iPhone Story”

Are FTC’s blogger rules unfair?

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Are FTC's blogger rules fair?As a journalist in a former life, and as a blogger in this current incarnation, I’ve watched with growing fascination the push and pull happening with bloggers, brands, and now the FTC. I’ve fought my colleagues on the use of the phrase, “citizen journalists” despite my respect for and commitment to the art of citizen bloggery. I have trouble shaking the idea that was drilled into me that someone without formal training and critical investigative skills could be called a journalist.

That said, as a member of a team that believes passionately in social media and the power of online “uberfluents”–as well as being the individual responsible for a team of writers at the Lab, I also recognize the powerful role that bloggers have in shaping our media universe. Continue reading “Are FTC’s blogger rules unfair?”

Your creative deptartment’s new BFF

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Who is your creative dept's BFF? (Flickr/sirmightymac)Adobe recently went from near irrelevant in mobile marketing to king-of-the-hill. While Flash has taken online rich media by storm, a few months ago it was barely supported on any mobile handsets, and for the few which did claim Flash support, it was an incarnation that was bordering on painful. How quickly things can change in today’s mobile market.

The big news has been the addition of iPhone and iPod Touch-compatible file export from Flash Professional CS5. Flash developers can take existing or new Flash assets and use those to create iPhone apps with minimal optimization, and no knowledge of Objective C (which is what iPhone apps are written in). For creative agencies (and the media agencies trying to get those creative agencies to support an iPhone app) this is great news. Continue reading “Your creative deptartment’s new BFF”

Healthcare on-demand

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Healthcare on-demand (iStock)Earlier this week, I attended the Health 2.0 conference in San Francisco. While it may feel like the healthcare industry is still lacking inertia to evolve when it comes to technology, there is at least one emerging market that continues to innovate: Online Care.

The concept of connecting with the right physician for you from the comfort of your own home and, having an online consultation is already here thanks to new Web-based platforms such as American Well Systems. During a conference deep dive, CEO, Roy Schoenberg, provided an interesting peak into where Online Care (previously known as “in absentia healthcare) stands today, and where it’s going. Continue reading “Healthcare on-demand”

How retailers can tap into pre-shopping

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How retailers can harness the power of pre-shopping (iStock)Let’s go shopping.

Those three words used to mean climbing into the car and heading to the local mall. But for today’s connected consumer it more likely means going online, hitting the blogs, following a Facebook trail, or sending out a tweet–all without ever visiting a single retail location.

Two recent surveys show that at least 30% and as much as 70% of consumers who bought retail reported pre-shopping for information about a product before shopping a physical store (ARG, “Pre-shopping and the ever changing role of retail” January 2009). And these numbers are up almost 20% since the same survey less than two years ago. Continue reading “How retailers can tap into pre-shopping”

A new kind of e-reader?

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Vook imageAs many publishers and newspaper professionals contemplate the death of traditional print, along comes another format to participate in its demise, The “VOOK.”   The Vook, Simon and Schuster’s new hybrid book/video combination will be available on computers, iPhones and iPod Touch and allow you to read a book interspersed with videos that add to the narrative, or offer a visual aid for training and education purposes.

Vook’s marketing promises that you can read your book but also watch videos, view how-tos and connect in that social media way with authors and other readers. In fact their big push is that you can “do it all in one place…[no more] switching between applications or websites.” Continue reading “A new kind of e-reader?”

Top 5 ways brands can utilize augmented reality

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Top 5 ways marketers are utilizing augmented reality Augmented reality is everywhere right now. Some are questioning whether it is a fad, or could it be a viable tool for marketers. Yes, there are some technical bugs to be worked out and some ill conceived campaigns but used strategically and creatively AR can be a powerful experience. Here is a list of some of the best ways brands have been using AR:

Enhancing Traditional Print Campaigns
Instead of just having a small “www” invitation to a brand website on a magazine ad, entice them with a teaser for additional content or even an exclusive offer they can only see using the printed piece to unlock the information online.

One of the first brands to use AR, Mini Cooper enhanced their campaign across multiple German auto magazines with a detailed 3D model of the MINI convertible. Continue reading “Top 5 ways brands can utilize augmented reality”

New secret Microsoft tablet revealed

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Microsoft Courier unveiled (Gizmodo)Late last week Gizmodo revealed details about a secret Microsoft tablet codenamed “Courier.” The mockup video and photos show a dual-screen, book-shaped device about the size of a small business planner. Though historically tablet computing has not been a particularly hot topic, this sleek device has a number of features that could potentially be a game-changer for the software giant.

Based on the video expose and leaked images, the device sports a slick multi-touch interface. Tasks and apps can be manipulated via fingertip or stylus and flicked between screens a la-iPhone. The Courier supposedly supports WiFi & 3G as well as fully functional browser. The tablet also is expected to sport a camera and an inductive charger that would allow you to simply drop it onto a charging pad rather than tether it up to an AC power supply or cradle. Continue reading “New secret Microsoft tablet revealed”

The battle over wireless networks begins

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The battle for net neutrality begins (iStock)The FCC has thrown down the gauntlet about network neutrality. While there is a case to be made both for and against a government mandated network neutrality, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is strongly making the case for it. He’s working to have the FCC’s current governing principals turned into hard-coded rules, and to increase the four to six, adding in a principal regarding network non-discrimination (aka neutrality) and one on transparency and openness.
Those are some fighting words.

The FCC has so far skirted around the issues of network neutrality, ruling in ways that indicated their support of the concept, but not calling it out specifically. This latest move is going to cause ripples. Continue reading “The battle over wireless networks begins”

At the Emmys: Fear and praise of new media

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At the Emmys: Fear and praise of new media The Emmys came and went Sunday with a bit more bang, sex appeal, and just plan show biz than previous years.  There were no long political speeches or streaking or as Ken Howard stated, “[interruptions] by a congressman or a rapper” (my favorite line of the night).

What was evident this year was the presence of multi-channel plays to support the main broadcast in a way that encouraged community rather than just showing a display of new media savvy ( a current disease among broadcast shows –gotta have  a blog, a Twitter stream, a something-to-be-cool…with no strategy behind it).

Kyte, a mobile video service streamed live from the red carpet with Facebook and Twitter integration.  CBS, who had the broadcast rights,  allowed users to send in comments or vote in polling questions. E! Online also implemented some Facebook and Twitter integrations.  Continue reading “At the Emmys: Fear and praise of new media”