Cold Stone Creamery is the first merchant to launch an gifting program using the First Data eGift Social solution.

”We’re making it easier for people to share a Cold Stone moment, even if time or distance prevents them from being together. Now you don’t have to wait for special occasions to share ice cream; you can send Cold Stone gifts instantly, any day, just because,” said Daniel Beem, president of Cold Stone Creamery. “We’re delighted to know that we’ll be part of more of life’s little moments, from ‘get well soon’ notes and rewards for a job well done to ‘I miss you’ wall posts.”

Inside Facebook has estimated that consumers spent $10 million on virtual goods through applications on the Facebook platform in 2009. The eGift Social solution takes this trend to the next level by moving purchased virtual gifts into the physical world. READ MORE »

Chase quietly introduced a new version of its mobile banking app last week that supports remote deposit capture from the iPhone. Jim Bruene over at NetBanker has a write up on how it works, including some nice screen shots. The app upgrade also included mobile access to Chase's P2P payment service.

MasterCard has announced the Launch of its first MasterCard MarketPlace™ app that gives cardholders mobile access to exceptional deals.

The sale of physical merchandise via mobile phones hit $1.2 billion in 2009, according to ABI Research Inc., and is projected to reach $2.2 billion in 2010. With MasterCard MarketPlace Overwhelming Offers™ iPhone app, merchants will be able to improve their relationships with shoppers by offering special deals to those seeking to make purchases from them through their mobile devices while also capturing the additional mobile commerce revenue opportunity.

READ MORE »

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