Affiliates and Coupon Sites Invade Mobile Experience

Recently, I shared a story where I placed an order via mobile using Amazon.com app and what a great mobile experience that was. With mobile users in mind, the folks at FreeShipping.org, a popular affiliate marketing publisher has decided launch an iPhone app to provide free shipping and discount coupons to all popular online retailers. As an online marketer by trade, it was nice to see my 8-5 job's affiliate marketing codes on the "FreeShipping" app. Whether an online retailer is ready or not, the mobile commerce is happening and cool apps like "FreeShipping" will take the eCommerce eco-system to mobile.

The "FreeShipping" iPhone app is the second app this company has produced. Their first app launched is called "Coupon Sherpa" (couponsherpa.com) which is catered towards accessing printed coupons for brick and mortar stores. Already an iTunes staff favorite, "Coupon Sherpa" is also providing great mobile experience for users. I can't think of how many times when I walk into a brick and mortar store wanting to buy something only wishing I had printed out the 30% off friends and family coupons that I saw on my favorite affiliate marketing websites. With this app, you can easily retrieve the coupon on your iPhone and show it to the store clerk.

Both apps are great compliments to each other and as for me, it becomes another great mobile experience addition!

Slifter - Mobile Comparison Shop at Local Stores

At the SES NY show today, I ran across a vendor called Slifter.com. They hooked up a N95 via Video Output to a 32" LCD to demonstrate their service. Basically, you can use your smartphone to search for an item at a brick & mortar store nearby (sorted by best price).

There are two ways of using this service. First, point your mobile device to Slifter.com. For some phones, you will be prompted to download an app. or you can access their service via mobile browser for the same thing. Once you have inputed an item and the zip code, a results list is shown of the item by feature (or color) and then sorted by price. Once you select the item, the next page will show you the store by distance. In some scenarios, they will prompt that the vendor has the item online-only. For the most part, the list is composed of local stores and their inventory. The actual product page gives you additional information for directions, map, store phone and ability to text your friends about this product. I find that most of the large brick & mortar retail stores have their inventory available on Slifter (ie. Target, Apple, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.)

Personally, I find this mobile service refreshingly simple to use. They have even got a Slifter SMS service for non-web capable phones. As their website have stated, "95% OF RETAIL SALES OCCUR IN LOCAL STORES" and Slifter is like that missing puzzle connecting a consumer's phone to local store's pricing/inventory. I am filing this one under a good "Mobile Experience"!

VISA to Test Mobile Payment Program

MobileTechNews reported a story on VISA's pilot mobile payment program. The test will begin with 500 VISA employees and gradually roll out to a public trial throughout 2007. More importantly, VISA's online survey revealed 61% of the respondents are interested in making a purchase through their mobile phone as well as 64% of mobile users are interested in receiving coupons via mobile devices. To me, this sounds like the smart folks at VISA are taking the mobile commerce very seriously. Good to hear.