Mobile Commerce

Target is running mobile commerce-enabled ads to let music fans buy their favorite albums before the upcoming Grammys. The mass merchant retailer is making music sales the focus of the advertising campaign but is also promoting other entertainment-related products.

Bass Pro Shops is kicking off a pilot of mobile sales devices that will optimize the customer experience by reducing the amount of time spent waiting in line.

Urban Outfitters has placed mobile calls to action on the back of its catalog. The calls to action promote the company's video work, mobile website and iOS app, while also pushing its web and social media efforts.

Best Buy decided to forgo the regular celebrity spokesperson for its annual Super Bowl commercial in favor of highlighting mobile technology innovators.

Just in time for Valentine's Day shopping, Fred Meyer Jewelers and Littman Jewelers, making up the third largest fine jewelry retailer in the United States, today announced the launch of the Fredmeyerjewelers.com and Littmanjewelers.com mobile websites, optimized for mobile devices including iPhone and Android smartphones.

After recently announcing the milestone of 3 million active users, coupon system Shopkick is revealing that its mobile app helped drive more than $110 million in-store revenue for partner retailers and brands in 2011 in its first full year operating the app.

Retailers have spent millions of dollars and countless hours ensuring consumers are able to view pages and navigate their e-commerce site on a mobile device. This is all very well, but the minute a consumer decides to make a purchase it becomes clear that the attitude of facilitating mobile commerce hasn't yet permeated to the checkout page. Consumers are still required to enter their billing and delivery address details on an awkward mobile keypad or screen, making the risk of lost patience and abandoned carts very real. 

Home Depot is continuing to prove that mobile is a prime part of its digital strategy by running commerce-enabled mobile ads. The retailer is running a mobile ad campaign to promote its line of floor products and lead consumers to a commerce-enabled mobile site. The ads are running within Pandora's iPhone application.

Saks Fifth Avenue is piloting an iPod-based mobile point-of-sale solution in two of its OFF 5TH outlet stores, with plans for a wider rollout to additional outlet and Saks Fifth Avenue stores in spring 2012.

Interested in digital wallets, gaming or social media? You'll soon be acquainted with near field communication. It could transform the way we shop, pay, save and interact with other mobile device users and even with physical objects.