News round-up: 17th December 2009
- Added:
- Dec 17, 2009
This week’s movers and shakers in the digital industry: Social balloon hunt | World Cup goes 3D | Twitter dating | IAB | GoAllOver | BT Vision | AOP | Tremor Media | RNID | GoodToKnow | Rufus Leonard | Collective | Clash-Media |TheAgency | the rubicon project | Aqueduct | Chameleon Net | I-Level | Incentivated | Aedgency | Archant | twentysix | Eloqua | Yodlee | GigJunkie | OilPrice | Sofialys | Pluck | ATG | EURid | Improve Digital | Pozzitive | VideoTile | Fresh Business Thinking | Onrec | TMW | 7thingsmedia | Interactive Investor | Caravan Club | Sedo
MIT wins social networking balloon hunt
The Defense Advance Research Projects Agency set out this month to learn how quickly people could use online social networks to solve a problem of national scope. The US Department of Defense's research arm placed 10 weather balloons in public places around the country, including in San Francisco's Union Square. The first team to locate and submit the balloons' correct geographic coordinates would get the cash prize.
More than 4,000 teams participated. Over the weekend, Twitter and Facebook buzzed with offers to sell coordinates of sightings. The winning team was spearheaded by Riley Crane, a postdoctoral research fellow at MIT's Media Lab. MIT's team set up an elaborate information-gathering pyramid. Each balloon was allotted $4,000. The first person to spot one would be awarded $2,000, while the people who referred them to the team would get smaller amounts based on where they fell on the information chain. Any leftover money, after payment to spotters and their friends, will be donated to charity.
Crane wonders what types of applications might result from data about information dispersal collected: "Could we design an alert system to help us find missing children? Could we redesign the incentive structure for police rewards?" DARPA officials plan to meet with participants to debrief them on their strategies.
FIFA World Cup 2010 to be available in 3D
FIFA has signed a media rights deal with official partner Sony to film a selection of matches during next year's World Cup in South Africa in 3D. Up to 25 matches will be filmed using 3D technology and images from the fixtures will be shown on Sony's range of 3D products. The 3D matches will not be shown live, however. FIFA is still working on getting live rights for 3D matches. Sony Pictures Entertainment will produce and distribute the official 3D film of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa after the event.
www.FIFA.com
Twitter dating service hooks up with Luvdoo
Luvdoo, a London based development partnership launches Luvtweets a Twitter based dating service. The service will utilise the Twitter API and include new functionality to tackle some of well documented issues with current online dating services. Luvdoo worked with creative agency Redberry Digital to launch the service.
The new service allows those who are looking for love to define themselves in their own terms; using a user defined tagging system rather than the traditional pre-defined criteria of dating sites. Luvtweets has also listened to consumers concern over lack of response when using online dating sites, and has introduced a Responsive Rating algorithm that will ensure the active members of the community will be rewarded. The company is currently undertaking an initial round of funding which it aims to complete by the end of 2009. Luvtweets is seen as a marketing tool for the premium site Luvdoo which is due to launch in early 2010 and will focus on multi platform delivery.
New head of research at IAB UK
The Internet Advertising Bureau – the trade association for digital marketing – has appointed Tim Elkington as its new head of research. The former managing director of the National Online Recruitment Audience Survey (NORAS) has been enlisted to ensure the IAB’s research offering sits at the heart of the industry in 2010, proving the efficacy of online and mobile to UK brands.
Elkington will be responsible for leading the IAB’s many research initiatives, including the biannual online advertising expenditure study with PwC and studies into the effectiveness of digital channels such as mobile, video and social media. He will also be involved in the January launch of the UK Online Measurement Company (UKOM), and responsible for ensuring the trade body produces the right research for its members and marketers, acting as the first port of call for digital insights.
GoAllOver debuts landline validation service for lead generation
London based lead generation specialists GoAllOver has launched landline and mobile number validation in real-time so for instantaneous transfer of clean phone data. GoAllOver’s ‘platform agnostic’ online lead generation software LolaGrove has successfully integrated phone validation for a campaign with Atlas Editions (in association with *EDM) that requires transfer of clean landline and mobile data to a call centre three times per day.
The phone number cleansing process has rejected leads from publishers that are pre-validated, PAF-checked due to incorrect telephone prefix or landlines failing to correspond with their address.
BT Vision gets NBC TV shows
BT Vision has entered into a licensing agreement with NBC Universal International Television Distribution for subscription-on-demand and video-on-demand rights in the UK to shows such as Heroes and House. BT Vision is the new "must have" for digital TV viewers who want all the best US drama. From today, December 1st, BT Vision customers can choose from a selection of popular NBC Universal series including Law & Order, 30 Rock, The Office (US version), Bionic Woman, House and Heroes.
BT Vision customers can enjoy NBC Universal programmes as part of their subscription to BT Vision's TV Pack. They will also be available to viewers on a per-episode basis via video-on-demand.
AOP restructures following review
The Association of Online Publishers (AOP) is restructuring its current co-chairmanship structure following the appointment of Lee Baker as Director in September this year. Lee was tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the AOP internally and researching the views of its members and stakeholders: his proposals have been presented to the Board.
Amongst several changes recommended, including managing a process for the AOP to operate independently of PPA; the co-Chair structure will be dissolved, and Tim Faircliff, General Manager of Consumer Media at Thomson Reuters will remain as the current Chairman of the AOP. Dominic Collins, Group Director of Trader Media Group, who was initially appointed in September 2009 will step down from his co-Chair role for the AOP. The review was made with the full consultation of the co-Chairs, the executive Board, and members; including discussion with the various AOP committees.
FHM publisher hires Tremor Media for video ads
Bauer Media Group, the largest privately-owned publisher in Europe, has chosen Tremor Media to deliver engaging, targeted online video ads on its websites in the UK, USA and Germany.Bauer, which publishes 282 magazines in 15 countries, and boasts an annual turnover of €1.79 billion, will begin running online video ad campaigns from today on its sites such as FHM, Empire, Take A Break, Bella and Motorcycle News.
Tremor Media, the world’s biggest online video ad network, is providing Bauer with its Acudeo technology. Acudeo enables Bauer to schedule and deliver video ad formats within the video content that they host online. The service is compliant with the new Video Ad Serving Template (VAST) standard, making Acudeo is compatible with every video player and ad network, making implementation and integration across Bauer’s range of websites quick and easy.
RNID launches hearing check Facebook app
RNID, the largest charity for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, is launching its innovative hearing check application on Facebook. The application measures a person’s ability to hear someone speaking when there’s background noise, similar to being in a crowded room. The tool is a free, quick, simple and completely confidential way for Facebook users to check their hearing.
The application allows the user to complete the hearing check, post the story to their wall and encourage their friends to do the same. The hearing check application was developed by RNID’s New Media and Technology teams, who commissioned digital agency Display to deliver the final project.
http://apps.facebook.com/rnid-hearing-check/
GoodtoKnow debuts recepies channel
Goodtoknow.co.uk, an mass-market site for UK women, has unveiled a new Recipes Channel. The IPC site generates 5.8 million page impressions across its 885,000 monthly unique users*, has spent the year developing the channel, which launches with a raft of features for busy mums who need quick family meal solutions.
The year-long technical development of the Recipe Channel is underpinned by extensive user testing and research from IPC’s Origin Panel – a UK-wide, nationally representative panel of over 7,000 women. And the Recipe Channel offers a range of new solutions for advertisers, including sponsorship opportunities across video content, recipe collections and tools, including ‘What’s in my fridge?’.
Rufus Leonard develops iPhone app for British Gas
British Gas has launched a Meter Read App for the iPhone designed by leading digital and brand agency Rufus Leonard and developed by the Internal Development Team at British Gas. The iPhone App lets customers submit a meter reading via the iPhone. Customers can now upload their meter readings via the App which eliminates estimated bills. British Gas is the first energy supplier to launch an iPhone application.
The British Gas iPhone App is available from the App Store.
Collective spreads Christmas cheer with ‘naughty or nice’ Twitter-driven app
Digital creative agency Collective has unveiled their ‘naughty or nice’ Twitter-driven app, featuring their very own Collective Santa at www.collectivelondon.com. Users can find out whether they’ve made it onto Santa’s naughty or nice list before discovering what they deserve in return. Visitors enter their Twitter username to wake Santa from his snooze. They can then watch as Santa checks their tweets for various naughty or nice key words while he boogies to the music. Once the results are in, Santa responds by telling the user if they are naughty or nice and what they deserve this Christmas (anything from a “ruddy good talking to” to “a little donkey”).
Clash-Media launches telephone lead generation service
Clash-Media, the Global Lead Generation specialist, has launched Clash Voice, a new service that combines Online Lead Generation and Telephone data gathering – extending Clash-Media's full circle lead and data management package. This will enable marketers to enhance their online and digital marketing campaigns, because they can now collect, manage and optimise data that is difficult to access through the Internet, for example, older generations or within markets such as financial services, which contain sensitive data.
By tightly integrating contact centre capabilities into its digital marketing campaigns, Clash-Media is able to boost the efficiency of its lead generation and enhance the likelihood of conversions.
TheAgency launches Youth Insight Service
A new youth marketing insight service is being launched by TheAgency, a leading brand and response marketing consultancy. Bike Shed will provide clients with exclusive access to a range of programmes delving into the minds and attitudes of young people aged between 16 and 19.
The Bike Shed team of 50-60 teens will be driven through social media portals including a TheAgency Bike Shed Facebook page. The team will be asked to take part in surveys, share insight and give opinions on creative ideas for potential marketing campaigns. To encourage participation, members will be incentivised through a number of reward schemes, which will include gifts such as Sony Playstation’s, Apple iPods, itunes vouchers, even driving lessons.
New Publisher Development chief at the Rubicon Project
the Rubicon Project has appointed Bas Seelen as Director of Publisher Development for Northern Europe. Seelen will be responsible for strategically supporting publishers across Northern Europe as they leverage the Rubicon Project’s technology to optimize and monetize advertising inventory, as well as help grow relationships with ad networks in the region.
Seelen’s experience in Internet advertising extends over ten years and includes previous roles at companies such as Wunderloop, the leading independent provider of targeting services, AdLINK Internet Media and Netplus Advertising Network. At Wunderloop, Seelen served as Managing Director, responsible for opening the firm’s first office in Benelux and growing the company to become the market leader in under a year. Seelen is based in Amsterdam, from where he’ll continue to serve on the Advisory Board of IAB Netherlands, and reports to Jay Stevens, the Rubicon Project’s VP and GM International.
Lloyd’s of London appoints Aqueduct for site revamp
Three-hundred year-old iconic insurance institution Lloyd’s of London has appointed integrated agency Aqueduct to develop a new website, following a competitive pitch. The site lloyds.com will feature rich resources, personalisation and web 2.0 integration to enable users of the site, who visit from all over the world looking for news and resources, to more easily access the information they require. The first phases of the new site are due to launch in 2010.
Chameleon Net creates Facebook app for TheGivingMachine
Digital agency Chameleon Net has created a Facebook app for TheGivingMachine, the internet not-for-profit shopping portal that enables shoppers to donate the click-thru commission from online sales to charities and schools of their choice. The app enables consumers to show their support for their nominated beneficiaries by creating a badge that appears in their Facebook profile. The badge comprises two components, each linking to separate destinations. The top half of the badge shows TheGivingMachine’s logo and links to the home page of the shopping portal. The lower half displays a badge unique to the consumer’s selected beneficiary with links to that organisation’s profile page at www.thegivingmachine.co.uk.
www.chameleonnet.co.uk
www.thegivingmachine.co.uk
i-level boosts search team with two new appointments
i-level, the leading digital communications agency, has made two senior appointments since November to lead its integrated search offering and to meet client demand. Greg Shickle and Oscar Romero: previously at Carat and HP respectively, bring together media, search and technological expertise. These appointments, along with the appointment of Judith Lewis in June 2008; and the recent internal promotions of Andrea Brown, Nick Smith, Ollie Wood and Francesca Gioia, make up the seven Search Directors leading a 40-strong Search team, demonstrating i-level’s continued commitment to revitalising its client service model.
Incentivated appoints ex-GLA marketer
Incentivated, the mobile marketing specialist, today announced the appointment of Jason Cross as
its Marketing Director. Cross, who was most recently acting Head of Marketing at the Greater
London Authority, will be tasked with reviewing and overhauling the brand and marketing strategy
for the agency, which includes Marks & Spencer, British Airways and the COI amongst its clients.
Prior to filling the role of acting Head of Marketing at GLA, Jason Cross was a key member of the
marketing team that operated under both Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone. He helped develop
and drive award-winning campaigns such as Cabwise, which includes a successful SMS-based
cab-hailing service, and the annual London Freewheel cycling event.
Aedgency video guide offers best practice advice on cross targeting
Performance-based marketing specialist Aedgency has launched the latest in its range of video guides for online marketers. One of Aedgency’s lead traffic managers explains how to get the most out of cross targeting whereby advertisers can look to widen the base audience for an online campaign by extending it to different niches. The video tip outlines to marketers a four step guide to implementing an effective cross marketing strategy.
http://www.youtube.com/aedgency
Archant Publishing Group goes mobile with YOC
YOC has been selected by the UK's largest independently-owned regional media business, Archant, to create mobile sites for three of its key titles; the Norwich Evening News, Ilford Recorder and Norwich City FC Fanzine The Pink’Un. YOC will develop bespoke mobile sites for Archant and help the publisher to develop its digital strategy by embracing the mobile channel and offering its readers access to the regional papers’ content from any mobile phone. The mobile sites will enable Archant to extend their reach to a new mobile audience and create new revenue streams amongst local advertisers.
Mobile site: m.eveningnews24.co.uk
twentysix launches ‘Extreme Gamer’ viral campaign
Full-service digital agency twentysix has launched “Extreme Gamer” - a new unique, adrenaline-fuelled viral to promote Epson’s new range of projectors. Extreme Gamer is a video games player who likes to think big. His extreme mobile gaming suit has an Epson EH-TW450 HD-ready projector mounted to the front. A games console and battery are loaded on the back. The power and clarity of the Epson projector allows the Extreme Gamer to light up a building like a cinema screen and play video games wherever he likes.
The film can be viewed here.
Eloqua offers social media reporting tool
Eloqua has launched a Social Sharing and Reporting toolset. The product allows marketers to harness the power of the social Web by pulling online conversations into their promotions, empowering fans to share marketing content with social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and track inbound traffic from blogs and social networks.Eloqua’s Social Sharing and Reporting tools integrate with existing outbound marketing campaigns to enhance lead generation, lead nurturing, lead scoring and overall marketing effectiveness.
Yodlee launches personal finance tool
Yodlee, plans to open its the Money Dashboard personal finance management portal to all UK consumers next year. Recent Money Dashboard research demonstrates how 75 percent of UK consumers are using online banking, up from 54 percent in 2005 (BBA annual report), which illustrates that the UK market is primed for the shift to PFM. Recent analyst data further confirms that PFM solutions, which allow consumers to view and interact with all of their financial accounts in one place, are in high demand by consumers, with nearly one in four seeking a better online PFM solution (Javelin Strategy & Research).
GigJunkie joins with Bebo in social networking partnership
GigJunkie has struck a UK partnership with AOL owned Bebo, launching a social networking collaboration and ‘Tour Dates’ application. Launched in 2008 GigJunkie.net (http://www.gigjunkie.net) is designed to make it easier for live music fans to search for their favourite gigs and get the best deals on tickets. GigJunkie.net gets ticket feeds from all of the UK’s primary and secondary ticket agents so fans can search for any band and venue in one listing, compare prices and buy tickets from their preferred agent.
Energy website to give away editorial content to media partners
OilPrice.com has confirmed new discussions with a limited number of online media partners about syndicating its exclusive oil and energy market financial editorial content free of charge.The editorial line up contributes regularly on diverse subjects including the latest trends and influences in energy, metals, economics, geopolitics and alternative energy.
OilPrice.com has now begun preliminary negotiations with a number of online media organisations including iStockanalyst.com, Zerohedge.com, ArabNews.com, PakistanEconomist.com, Minyanville.com, Stocktwits.com, Stockhouse.com, Taipanpublishinggroup.com and KansasCity.com about exclusive permission to reproduce the latest analysis and editorial insight.
Sofialys to launch mobile ad server for agencies
Sofialys, a mobile advertising firm, has launched Mobile Adbox for Agencies, its open ad serving and ad management solution for media agencies. An increasing number of media agencies have been looking for the right solution to integrate mobile as part of their customer’s marketing mix.The Mobile Adbox for Agencies manages all campaign publication, and gives the agencies the ability to amend the planning and forecast the available inventory for an upcoming campaign and to target and track according to user profile, location, country, handset and type of site/application for each and every advertiser customer.
Pluck moves forward with European expansion plans
Pluck, a Demand Media company providing social media platforms to publishers, retailers and consumer brands has completed the next step in its international expansion plan with two new senior European hires. Building on the success of Pluck’s established London operation, Sigrid Eyres and Marguerite Monrose will lead the sales charge across Germany and France respectively.
Louis Vuitton expands collaboration with ATG
Louis Vuitton has extended its partnership with ATG to further extend its presence across the Web and develop innovative cross-channel services. Using the ATG Commerce Suite, Louis Vuitton aims to further enhance its online customer experience by providing novel and innovative services based on a new digital platform concept. The new multi-year agreement includes the roll-out of ATG Commerce 9.1, including ATG Commerce Service Center to optimize the performance of Louis Vuitton Customer Services Centers.
Louis Vuitton will partner with the marketing communications agency Ogilvy to define and implement this new approach the brand is offering to its online customers.
Frank Lord, VP EMEA, ATG, said, "Having a world renowned brand such as Louis Vuitton expand its partnership with ATG is a rewarding confirmation of ATG's success in helping e-commerce innovators strengthen their competitive positions and remain at the top of their market."
.eu now supports all official EU languages
EURid has announced that internationalized domain names (IDNs) became available today under the .eu top-level domain. For the first time, residents of the European Union can register a .eu domain name that uses characters from the whole Latin, Cyrillic or Greek alphabets; for example the Polish ł, the Spanish ñ, the Danish ø, the French é, the Bulgarian л and the Greek θ.
Will the city of Bucharest start using București.eu? Will the Åland islands start
using Åland.eu? That remains to be seen. All .eu domain names, including IDNs,
are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
www.eurid.eu/en/eu-domain-names/registrarlist
Improve Digital continues European expansion
Online advertising revenue specialist, Improve Digital has expanded its European team with three new appointments to meet the growing demand for its ad network optimisation service. The company's client base has tripled in the past three months and its team now consists of Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish staff to meet this need.
Sabina Zinat joins the company as a strategic partnership manager from Blackrock Merrill Lynch where she was a senior analyst. Other service roles have been taken up by Kevin Le Gall and Fernando Huguett, for France and Spain respectively. In September and October of this year, Improve Digital also appointed senior online media experts Michel Juvillier, Axel Hoehnke and Vikki Chase.
Improve Digital tackles the industry issue of unsold online advertising inventory, estimated in the UK to account for 80 percent of the total available (NMA – August 2009). The company helps premium online publishers maximise advertising income from ad networks and exchanges, with increases ranging from 60 to 300 percent.
Pozzitive launches Comedy Network on Facebook
Pozzitive, the production company responsible for hit shows such as Harry Enfield and Chums and Little Britain, is continuing its social media campaign with the launch of its new Facebook page as part of its overall digital strategy that has been created and managed by social media agency Hot Cherry.
Following its YouTube Channel and Flickr group; the Facebook page will host exclusive images, video and additional content. The collections feature never-before-seen images of comedians such as Victoria Wood and Little Britain and behind-the-scenes photos from shows including Coogan’s Run.
Fred Dinenage shows Videotile 'How' to treat celebrities
The Legal Deeds Poll has commissioned website video production specialists, VideoTile to produce a number of video website inserts featuring a range of celebrities. Popular news presenter and TV host celebrity, Fred Dinenage, was in action recently at the Videotile studios as one of the first specially trained celebrities for the promotional videotile for The Legal Deeds Poll Service a company which allows you to change you or your child’s name by simply filling on a form online.
Freshbusinessthinking debuts video series 'Digital 2010'
Fresh Business Thinking is releasing 'Digital 2010', a thirteen-part video series in which leading practitioners in online marketing, branded content and social media reveal the challenges and trends that will shape the digital world in 2010.Leading figures in digital media - from ad agency professionals to serial entrepreneurs – share their vision of how businesses will communicate, market their products and deliver content in 2010. Experts featured in Digital 2010 include John Straw (Search DNA), Rob Weatherhead (Latitude Express) and Tom Gleeson (ESPN).
Ideas revealed in the series are that Twitter will merge with GPS, mobile will become a major channel for digital content, video will become more pivotal to online marketing and print newspapers can only be saved by computer tablets.
New look for Onrec.com
Onrec has re-launched its website and magazine after 10 years of growth in the UK and 7 years’ presence in the US. Onrec, the global resource for information on online recruitment, has expanded its portfolio to include regular conferences and exhibitions in the UK and in the US.
New head of email role at TMW
Digital and direct agency, Tullo Marshall Warren (TMW - www.tmw.co.uk) part of the Creston Group of companies, has this month appointed Ryan Hickling as Head of Email, and made three other senior appointments, as it continues to enhance its offering to clients. Ryan has been appointed to build on the existing foundations of email campaigns that TMW already execute on behalf of clients, including Infiniti, Diageo, Nissan Europe, the RAF and T-Mobile. He will play a key role in integrating email into broader marketing initiatives such as CRM and help unlock the greater potential of all email marketing initiatives.
7thingsmedia wins raft of retail clients
7thingsmedia, the affiliate marketing & search agency, has been appointed by a number of retailers to manage their affiliate marketing programs prior to the key Christmas trading period. Joining the likes of USC and Stone Island & C.P. Company; 7thingsmedia have signed a handful of established multi-channel brands including Space NK Apothecary, Guthy-Renker UK, High and Mighty and UNICEF Shop.
www.7thingsmedia.com
ActionAid appoints We Are Social
International development charity ActionAid has appointed We Are Social as its retained social media agency. The agency, which was appointed following a three-way pitch, will kick off its work with the charity with an extensive conversation audit, examining how people currently talk about hunger related issues in social media and discovering the influencers driving the conversations, before working on specific campaigns later in the year alongside AictionAid’s creative agency, Nonsense London.
Interactive Investor and City AM forge alliance
Interactive Investor an the leading online financial services provider, announced an alliance with City AM, London’s preeminent business newspaper. Under the partnership agreement the two parties will share their financial news and data resources. Among other sources, the combined content will be available on City AM’s new website, which will be powered and managed by Interactive Investor.
The new alliance between two leading digital and print brands creates a compelling proposition for users and advertisers. It will allow advertisers to reach the most affluent market in Britain, and arguably Europe, by providing a single source to target the City of London and its constituents. The alliance’s combined content will be available on the websites of both companies, as well as the City AM newspaper.
Caravan Club revamps website
The Caravan Club recently went live with its new-look website. The overall flexibility has been achieved by the introduction of Umbraco as the new CMS. By replatforming and moving over to Umbraco, an open source web application framework, The Club has taken the necessary steps to effectively future-proof the website, and ensure that it continues to be able to offer the improvements members want to see.
www.caravanclub.co.uk
Sedo updates website
Online domain marketplace and monetisation provider Sedo has launched its new website. As a result of an extensive study involving Sedo members, employees, consultants and focus groups, Sedo developed the new site to address the domain investment needs of its seasoned members, including large and small business owners, online marketing and advertising professionals.
