As part of Google's GoMo "Go Mobile" initiative, on November 15 and 16, Google kicked-off the effort to make Mobile, Alabama, a fully mobilized city. As part of Mobile's mobile makeover, Google upgraded Lulu's, a local hotspot (and we don't mean in the wireless sense); Foosackly's, a local chicken joint; and Red Square Agency — watch their makeovers below.Continue reading...

Facebook is finally phoning home with an integrated HTC smartphone code-named “Buffy,” (as in vampire slayer, not songbird Sainte Marie). Buffy will operate on a modified version of Android that supports HTML5 as an applications platform, and it’s still 12 to 18 months out, as first reported when TechCrunch broke this story over a year ago.

“Although it has changed scope and leadership, Buffy has been an ongoing area of concern at the social networking giant for the past two years. These days, the project is led by Facebook CTO Bret Taylor,” reports AllThingsD.

“Our mobile strategy is simple: We think every mobile device is better if it is deeply social," a Facebook spokesperson comment to ATD. "We’re working across the entire mobile industry; with operators, hardware manufacturers, OS providers, and application developers to bring powerful social experiences to more people around the world."Continue reading...

The use of mobile apps has grown significantly in the last year as a new study shows that more than 90% of the world’s biggest brands are using them as marketing tools, according to Warc.com. 

Research group Distimo looked into whether the top 100 members of Interbrand’s 2011 Best Global Brands list are selling apps in such app stores as those run by Apple, Microsoft, Google and Amazon, Warc reports. (For those of you keeping score at home, brandchannel is owned by Interbrand.)

"Global brands have realized over the past 18 months that app stores offer a viable channel to promote their brand, reach consumers, and for a subset of brands, sell content," the study said.Continue reading...

Now out of Beta, GoldRun's smartphone platform uses objects as ‘virtual breadcrumbs’ for scavenger hunts and branded campaigns with pots of social commerce gold at the end of the digital rainbow. It engages users real-time with an interactive experience that yields real world rewards.

It strutted its stuff at the recent Fashion's Night Out event in New York, partnering with Bloomingdale’s and NBC on “Look the Part, Be the Part,” the first co-braned cross-industry promotion to use augmented reality.

Running through Sept. 26, shoppers at Bloomingdale’s 44 stores nationwide can participate in a photo opp with virtual characters from NBC’s fall lineup by downloading the free app, and are eligible to win a trip to Los Angeles for an on-set visit or a grand prize trip to Chicago for a walk-on role in NBC's new series, The Playboy Club.

In addition to posing with bunnies from The Playboy Club, Bloomie’s reps with GoldRun- loaded iPads are on hand to snap photos for customers with virtual cast members from four other new NBC shows: Whitney (starring Whitney Cummings), Free Agents, Prime Suspect with Maria Bello, and Up All Night, featuring Christina Applegate, Maya Rudolph and Will Arnett.Continue reading...

The United Nations today launches a first-of-its-kind mobile app, bringing the UN's latest news directly to consumers. The app aggregates news feeds from multiple UN agencies and programs to deliver an integrated, real-time stream in six languages.

Users can personalize the app by selecting topic areas and regions of interest to follow, while visually impaired users can use the voice-reader feature.

On hand for the kick-off event today in New York will be Kiyo Akasaka, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, singer-songwriter and UN Messenger for Peace Stevie Wonder and Disney's High School Musical star and UN Youth Champion Monique Coleman.

The app is available on Android and iPhone/iPad and Windows Phone platforms and enables users to support UN Foundation campaigns and programs, including Nothing but Nets, Girl Up, the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, the Better World Campaign, and the United Nations Association of the USA.

The United Nations Foundation is a public charity created in 1998 with a $1 billion gift from Ted Turner. Its work focuses on reducing child mortality, empowering women and girls, new energy sources, peace and human rights and innovative technology in the health category.Continue reading...

Lucky Peach is a new, hybrid food journal being published by McSweeney’s.

It’s also an iPad app, created by award-winning chef, the avid tweeter David Chang, of Momofuku restaurant fame in New York, in partnership with writer Peter Meehan, and Zero Point Zero Production, the Emmy winners for Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations series on Travel Channel.

Chang’s next step, on trend for chef entrepreneurs, might have been a eponymous TV show, but instead, Lucky Peach, with the first issue on ramen, marks his choice in a move that bridges old media and new.

For McSweeney's fans, the niche publisher of literary magazines, imprints, and websites founded by writer Dave Eggers, it's also a tasty offering.Continue reading...

McDonald's Canada is looking to make customers consider its restaurants (literally) a hotspot.

This week, more than 1,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the nation are rolling out free and unlimited Wi-Fi, sponsored by Bell Mobility. No purchase, username or password is required to use the wireless network service, which boasts one-click access.

By June 1st, more than 90% of the country's 1,400-plus locations will hoist the McD's Wi-Fi logo at right "as part of the company’s commitment to placing the customer experience at the core of its business," as the press release states.

The chain's new Wi-Fi service will enable customers using a smartphone, laptop or tablet device to "catch up on emails, browse the Web and stay connected" — and give them one more reason to dip into a McDonald's, of course.Continue reading...

Vodafone is taking it to the streets…and soon, Heathrow Express trains in London.

A new fleet of Vodafone-branded Union Jack cabs enable cab riders to pay their fares via handsets, in a nearly-near field communication (NFC) scenario – where users send a text to the taxi’s number and are automatically charged.

Hundreds of the branded taxis hit the streets this week in one of London’s largest ever ‘wrapping’ ad campaigns.Continue reading...