1. INFECTIOUS
A round up of the latest communications news and ideas from around the world
JANUARY 2011
Brought to you by

2. MARKS & SPENCER
GEOLOCATION OFFERS
High street favourite Marks & Spencer
has signed-up to O2’s “You Are Here”
location-based marketing service,
which will see opted-in O2 More users
get sent a text or multimedia message
offering them a free 250ml smoothie
when they approach M&S stores.
For a customer to receive a message
they must be a part of the O2 More
programme, an add-on service that
gives exclusive offers and information.
Customers then register an interest in
the products and services on offer.
For M&S, this means when O2 More
customers that have expressed an
interest in food and drink or clothing
enter an area near an M&S store they
will be sent a text message featuring a
special offer they can redeem at that
store, straight away. To redeem the
offer customers quote a unique
product code from the text to the
customer service assistant.

3. STARBUCKS ACCEPT
MOBILE PAYMENTS
Starbucks have now made it even
easier for customers to pay for their
morning caffeine fix thanks to the use
of mobile phones. The mobile payment
service will be available to all
Blackberry, iPhone, and iPod Touch
owners by downloading an application
that will allow them to load a bar-code
directly into their device. The service is
based on the company’s
existing mobile application, which
allows customers to manage their
Starbucks card balances with their
phone.
The service is currently only available
in its 6,800 US stores but is sure to
arrive in the UK soon.

4. TAGABLE TELEVISION
Shazam Entertainment, the Viewers can then simply hold
world’s leading mobile discovery up their smartphones to tag the
application, is partnering with programme and the app will
American cable channel Syfy recognise the specific episode
to bring TV tagging for viewers being aired. It will then offer a
of its new show Being Human. variety of information on that
The company, which started as show such as previews of next
a mobile service to help people episodes, exclusive videos,
discover new music, will have its downloads and competitions.
logo embedded into the show.

5. THE HUMBLE BIRO
TURNS 60
To celebrate the brand’s 60th
anniversary, BIC has developed a
virtual wall where people can leave
drawings and messages using a
range of BIC cristal pens. Users can
also read about the brands history,
look at other users creations in the
‘cristal art gallery’ and share their
creations with friends via social
networks.

6. TURNING UP THE HEAT
ON BUS SHELTERS
Caribou Coffee has launched an
innovative campaign for its new range
of hot breakfast sandwiches. Bus
shelters have been installed around
Minneapolis that not only look like
ovens but are also equipped with real
heaters to keep waiting commuters
warm in the cold weather.

7. COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2011
Pantone have released their pick for
the “colour of the year” for 2011,
Pantone 18-2120. Also known as
Honeysuckle, the company explains
why it represents our current times:
“In times of stress, we need
something to lift our spirits.
Honeysuckle is a captivating,
stimulating colour that gets the
adrenaline going – perfect to ward
off the blues,” explains Leatrice
Eiseman, executive director of the
Pantone Colour Institute®.
“Honeysuckle derives its positive
qualities from a powerful bond to its
mother colour red, the most physical,
viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

8. INTERACTIVE DISPLAY
WINDOW
Aussie streetwear brand WESC have
debuted a brand new interactive
advertising platform across its
stores. The interactive windows
allow online users to upload video
content, create a personalised
background and then choose which
city they want to showcase the
footage. This really needs to be seen
to be believed, so click on the link
below:
Link: http://vimeo.com/18740420
Don’t forget everything featured is available online at: www.infectious-online.com