Only two years have passed since Microsoft first announced the development of Windows Phone 7, but in the world of mobile devices, two years can feel like a lifetime. So we’re certain there were more than a few sighs of relief in Redmond when Engadget posted its glowing review of the new OS. Could it be that the lag time between releases gave Microsoft the advantage of incorporating some functionality that Android used to improve on Apple’s iOS3? If LG makes good on its promise to release Panther in September, we’ll soon find out. Whatever the date, it’s clear that this new OS should shake up a market dominated by Apple and Android, and that’s exciting to us both as marketers and as gadget geeks. Is your company making the best use of mobile technology? Talk to us about the potential of mobile advertising, marketing, and applications.
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Quick Hits
Three-fourths of Americans surf the internet while watching TV, a 20% jump from a year ago, according to a recent study of 3,400 internet users by Yahoo! and Nielsen. How many of those were also scarfing popcorn at the same time was not revealed.
Windows Phone 7 may not have to start from scratch when it comes to click-through rates. According to a report from Smaato Inc.’s Mobile Advertising Metrics, while Symbian and Android phones lead CTRs in the US, Windows phones show four times better metrics in Europe.
More and more of today’s shoppers begin with search—most of them with Google. According to a recent eMarketer report, 87% of internet users have used the internet to browse, research, and compare products in the last year. And Forrester reports that 45% of in-store purchases are influenced by online research.
The percentage of US adults who are “Behavioral Greens”—those who think and act green—rose 5% percent between 2006 and 2009, while the percentage of Americans who are “True Browns”—those who have negative attitudes about environmental issues—remained flat, according to Experian Marketing Services’ 2010 Holiday Marketer report.
Lucky Number 7?
Square Takes a Swipe at Innovation
Once in a while, a new company comes along whose intuitive, easy-to-use service changes the way real people do business. PayPal, anyone? Well, it’s happened again with Square—a company that lets you make credit card transactions with your smartphone. But we’ve been watching this company closely for another reason: its smart, casual go-to-market campaign and video really stand out, both by nailing a clean and simple message and by using a youthful voice that’s hip without being condescending. We’re always into new companies that seem to speak the language of their target market, and Square really gets it. Does the way you speak about your company align with the attitudes and expectations of your audience? Ask our strategy team for a free site assessment to find out.
Rewarding Risk by Design
What separates a good designer from a great one? According to Warren Berger, author of Glimmer: How Design Can Transform Your Life, and Maybe Even the World (Penguin Press), there are traits that truly innovative designers share. Not only that: these traits can equate to real business value. Designers question commonly held assumptions, observe and pay close attention to people, connect unrelated ideas in fresh new ways, and give them form as a sketch or prototype—all behaviors that may be associated with risk. But for great designers—not to mention writers, developers, and information architects—setbacks along the way are actually useful, because they show you what works and what needs fixing. At Garrigan Lyman, we believe in taking calculated risks to break through the ordinary and achieve unique, memorable creative solutions that turn heads and elevate your brand. That’s not just good design—it’s good business. How can great strategy, design, digital, and video take your brand to the next level? Ask us.
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