Omnichannel

When one thinks of the most connected, Foursquare-loving urban hipsters or text-obsessive teens spring to mind. Moms, not so much. But according to Babycenter's 2011 Mobile Mom Report, moms with smartphones like the iPhone spend more time with the mobile web (6.1 hours a day) than the PC-based web (4.1 hours).

Tikatok, an online application allowing parents and children to publish original stories into professional-quality hardcover and paperback books, has teamed with HP to create interactive kiosks in Barnes & Noble stores.

Data, data everywhere. No wonder retail marketers are overwhelmed with the volume of data available in today's marketplace. But what to do with it all? With this enormous volume of data comes not only opportunity, but also responsibility. No longer can retailers simply get by on marketing what they want. They must now listen to the voice of the consumer, and market how the consumer wants.

Sears must have had some success with the QR codes in its 2010 holiday catalog, as the department store chain's new tools catalog has been populated with QR codes as well. The QR codes typically resolve to videos showing the various tools in use which is a great idea, every tool catalog should be like this.

When it comes to the e-wallet market, only one name really holds weight: PayPal. American Express hopes to change all that with its new service, Serve. A digital payment and commerce platform, Serve will give consumers the ability to spend, send, and receive money on the internet just like PayPal.

The traditional definition of convergence has evolved to mean something much more than the ability to view media across three screens (computer, mobile, television). The term now represents the blurring of the lines between media delivery, social interaction, mobile experiences, and even the physical and digital worlds. Here are nine things that happened in the last year to bring convergence into focus:

Best Buy announced it will be partnering with open wireless broadband network provider LightSquared to enter the wireless industry by becoming a mobile virtual network operator selling mobile broadband access.

For years marketers have cited the success of 2-D barcodes overseas and eagerly waited (and waited) for them to take hold in the U.S. Thanks to prominent endorsements from Target, Best Buy, Macy's and Post Cereals, that day might finally be nearing.

Starting out on mobile can be overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you prepare for your first campaign? These are questions that we hear every day. This is the first in a series of posts on establishing your presence on the mobile web — before you even start your first advertising campaign.

Lingerie and apparel company Frederick's of Hollywood is taking a new tack on consumer outreach with the launch of its first magalog — a more editorially-driven catalog that showcases the label as a lifestyle brand.