Apple kicks off iPhone trade-ins with credits of up to $280

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Apple on Friday began offering iPhone owners up to $280 in credit for their old handsets toward purchase of a new model as it works to obtain new and keep existing customers. Apple is offering the credits in its stores to those who can prove their older handsets are working and have a wireles

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Google enters smart watch wars as Samsung's plans leak

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Google has upped the ante in the wearable-device competition with the purchase of WIMM Labs, a smart watch designer, the company disclosed Friday, but released few details on the transaction. The move comes against the backdrop of Google developing its own "Glass" device and Samsung Electroni

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BlackBerry must shed "subsets" to remain vital, director says

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

BlackBerry can thrive as a "niche company" once the Canadian outfit sells off "subsets," said Bert Nordberg, a member of a special panel of its board of directors charged with determining the company's future. Nordberg offered no opinion on what units BlackBerry should retain but pointed to the va

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It's final: Verizon will take control of wireless unit for $130B

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Verizon Communications moved to gain full control of its U.S. wireless assets after Vodafone Group agreed to sell its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless, a cash-and-stock acquisition worth $130 billion, the companies announced after Verizon's board signed off on the deal. "The opportunity really crysta

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Microsoft pays $7.2B to land Nokia's phone business

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Microsoft will now become much more of a hardware company after agreeing to pay Nokia $7.2 billion in cash to buy its cellphone business, with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop returning to Microsoft amid speculation he might replace retiring chief Steve Ballmer. The deal includes the Finnish handset-maker's

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Microsoft will buy Nokia's handset business

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Microsoft reached an agreement with Nokia to buy the Finland-based company's smartphone and cellphone handset business for $5 billion. Microsoft will pay an additional $2.2 billion to license Nokia's patents. The acquisition is part of Microsoft's drive to expand beyond the software business. Noki

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Retailers text back-to-school messages for 90% open rates

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

The latest trend in back-to-school marketing for retailers is using SMS to generate high engagement, writes Todd LaBeau, vice president of digital at Lindsay, Stone & Briggs. Kohl's and Abercrombie & Fitch are sending out short and sweet contest messages, whereas Nordstrom and Macy's are c

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How Social Media is Transforming the Marketing Operations Process

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Join this webinar to hear experts from IBM and featured analyst firm Gartner, discuss how marketing operations can help marketers collect, measure, and assess every program—from social to mobile to mass marketing. Find out how fine-tuned marketing operations can have a direct impact on increasing

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Aetna extends its health care campaign to employers, providers

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Aetna today will launch an "Our Healthy" campaign targeted at employers, health care providers and policymakers that highlights its technology and "accountable care" credentials, in an effort to reach the majority of Americans who are insured through their jobs. The campaign, created by OgilvyOne,

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Taco Bell's resurgence required a major marketing, menu shift

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Taco Bell, which Ad Age has named its Marketer of the Year, turned around four years of poor sales by setting itself up as a lifestyle brand with the 2012 introduction of its "Live mas" slogan and its first Doritos Locos Tacos. The Doritos tacos helped turn a 1.4% sales decline in 2011 to an 8% in

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