Amazon mobile payments: secure but not convenient

Amazon appears to be contemplating a bold move into mobile payments, with prospective plans to develop an anonymous mobile payments service. By putting information privacy at the heart of the service, Amazon stands to tap into a lucrative opportunity, with strong evidence to suggest that mobile wallet security is still a major concern for many consumers.

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American Express enhances the TV viewing experience with mobile commerce

American Express's recent move to use TV viewing to boost its mobile commerce activity highlights a major growth opportunity for payment providers to boost engagement through a more tailored and direct avenue, as over half of US consumers currently use their mobile to shop online.

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Anheuser-Busch: high spirits may not pay off

Long Tail Libations, the new spirits company from Anheuser-Busch, has appeared at a time when Americans are increasingly keen to consume the innovative liqueurs it is promoting. However, given the significant scale and market knowledge advantages of the more established spirits players, Long Tail is most unlikely to become a cash cow for its parent.

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Bank of America announces plans to charge monthly maintenance fees on its accounts

Bank of America plans to introduce tiered accounts for which customers will have to pay a maintenance fee. This means the reintroduction of premium bank accounts that will carry a charge of up to $25 a month. Given the current economic climate and the trend toward fiscal austerity, it seems unlikely that customers will be receptive to these accounts.

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Boys will be boys? More male consumers embrace feminine values

As gender roles continue to blur, the personal care industry could benefit as more men take an active interest in their appearance. Datamonitor research has highlighted some of the key 'megatrends' based on changing consumer values, with gender complexity at the forefront of the issues for personal care players to confront.

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Cadbury-Schweppes: fighting fire with fizz

Cadbury-Schweppes' restructuring plan has generated funds for investment in marketing, research and development. The company's success in the US diet carbonated beverages markets has given it the impetus for greater focus on this segment. However, its reliance for success on an ailing brand such as 7-UP may prove a hindrance in this approach.

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Coca-Cola: Minute Maid targets the online juice consumer

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Consumer goods: store for war

Uncertainty about the increasingly likely US-led war on Iraq, together with continuing concerns over terrorism, are troubling consumers. This state of fear has repercussions on consumer purchasing behaviour, encouraging cutbacks on some products and the stockpiling of others.<BR />

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Diet Coke: keeping it real online

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Facebook reveals its growth potential in the virtual payments space

In its filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission to raise $5bn in new funding through its long anticipated initial public offering, Facebook revealed that its payments business accounted for 15% of the company's total revenue in 2011, giving the virtual games payment market an estimated $1.9bn annual value within Facebook's platform alone.

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