Sainsbury’s takes on Tesco with mobile launch
Ronan ShieldsSainsbury’s and Vodafone have announced the launch of a new virtual mobile network Mobile by Sainsbury’s in a move to directly rival Tesco and O2’s Tesco Mobile offering.
EE targets rivals’ customers with 4G product launches
Ronan ShieldsThe UK’s largest mobile operator EE is targeting rival networks’ customers whose contracts are about to expire with a host of promotions and services as it looks to exploit its first to market with 4G advantage.
ICO orders Google to change privacy policy
Ronan ShieldsGoogle must amend its privacy policy or face formal sanctions from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under the terms of the Data Protection Act, according to the regulator.
Moneysupermarket blames Google update for slow trade
Ronan ShieldsMoneysupermarket has become one of the first companies to blame recent changes to Google’s search algorithm for a negative impact on its bottom line.
YouTube’s most-watched ads in June
Ronan ShieldsUsing shock tactics on an unsuspecting public reigned supreme last month with Pepsi Max’s Bus Levitation campaign, featuring illusionist Dynamo taking an unorthodox bus journey to the amazement of stunned passersby, topping the list of most seen YouTube ads in June.
German Chancellor calls for greater data transparency by brands
Ronan ShieldsAngela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has added weight to calls for brands to be more transparent in their use of data, calling for a stricter, unified data protection laws across the European Union.
M&S poised to launch m-payments trial
Ronan ShieldsMarks & Spencer is in the final stages of planning the roll out of a mobile payments trial using an app that lets customers pay for goods via payment details stored on their phone, with the process potentially kicking off as early as next month.
Confusion reigns over Google’s Enhanced Campaigns as launch nears
Ronan ShieldsGoogle’s Enhanced Campaigns will be fully implemented on 22 July, but the majority of brand-side marketers are still unsure how the update – the most fundamental change to paid search advertising in years – will impact their online media strategies.
Renault ad banned for objectifying women
Ronan ShieldsA Renault ad featuring gyrating burlesque dancers has been banned by the ad watchdog for portraying women as sex objects.
O2 enters the 4G cat fight
Ronan ShieldsO2, the UK’s second-largest mobile operator, has confirmed its plans to roll out 4G services this month bringing it into direct competition with the UK’s existing 4G provider EE.
Barclays prepares social push to help repair brand
Ronan ShieldsBarclays is fine-tuning its social media strategy via an internally formed ‘ social media steering council’ as part of its ongoing efforts to repair its brand reputation in the wake of last year’s LIBOR rate rigging scandal.
Regulators mull joint action on personalised pricing
Ronan ShieldsThe ICO and OFT are in discussions over potentially backing the same set of sanctions for businesses who transgress guidelines on personalised pricing.
UK mobile marketing budgets surge 90% to hit £1bn
Ronan ShieldsMobile ad spend is forecast to surge 90 per cent to hit £1bn this year, as UK brands follow consumer behaviour and focus on mobile devices, according to research.
‘Retailers under-serving lucrative tablet users’
Ronan ShieldsRetailers are missing out on a significant chunk of the near-£80bn UK ecommerce market by not optimising their websites for the rapidly-growing numbers of tablet users, according to research.
Subway targets families to broaden brand appeal
Ronan ShieldsSubway is aiming to broaden its appeal beyond young people by relaunching its kids offer and promoting its stores as a family friendly environment.