coupons

Scoutmob Attracts Investors and Partners by Saying It’s Not a Daily Deals Company

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on May 24 at 5:30 am PT

Scoutmob was able to attract $3.25 million in new funding and a major new payments partner by pitching itself as a mobile company and not as a fledgling competitor in the daily deals space.

AmEx to Offer a Prepaid Debit Card That Rewards Users in FarmVille Cash

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on May 22 at 5:00 am PT

American Express and Zynga are rolling out a rewards program today that will allow players to earn virtual currency when they spend money in the real world.

Google Offers Start Appearing on Maps, Coming to More Properties Soon

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on May 10 at 4:35 pm PT

Google has integrated Groupon-like offers into Google Maps, and it’s not stopping there. Expect to see deals on other Google properties with a strong location, social or commerce component soon.

Voices

Foursquare Joins the Coupon Craze

Spencer E. Ante, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on May 9 at 5:00 am PT

Foursquare doesn’t want to be another popular — but unprofitable — social network. Its new plan to make money? Personalized coupons.

Voices

Groupon Replaces International Chief

John Letzing, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in Commerce on April 13 at 1:24 pm PT

Groupon Inc. has tapped new blood to run its international business that accounts for well over half of the young online-coupon provider’s revenue.

Can’t Buy Me Love … But You Can Buy Me Gadgets

Lauren Goode in Commerce on February 8 at 12:54 pm PT

What better way to show your affection than with obscure tablets and daily deals?

News Byte

Mobeam Banks Another $1.5 Million for Mobile Bar Code Technology

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on February 6 at 1:00 am PT

Mobeam has raised another $1.5 million in capital to work on a solution for point-of-sale systems at retail not being able to read bar codes from coupons on cellphone screens. In October, the company raised $5 million; in December, it inked a high-profile partnership with Procter & Gamble, and now adds new investor DFJ Athena, a Korea-focused venture fund affiliated with Draper Fisher Jurvetson, to the list. Previous investors include Yet2Ventures, Samsung Ventures and Mitsui.

News Byte

An Online Marketplace for Everyday Household Items Snags $3.6 Million

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 31 at 9:00 am PT

Alice.com, an online marketplace for household goods ranging from diapers to dog food to toothpaste, has raised $3.6 million in funding. A bit like Amazon-owned Diapers.com, the Middleton, Wis.-based company allows big brands to use the platform to connect with consumers and offer coupons. The round, coming from a group of Spanish investors, closely follows Alice’s expansion to Europe through Alice.es. The company has raised $18.2 million to date.

Microsoft Finally Dumps Deal Provider Now Owned by Google

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 6 at 12:06 pm PT

Microsoft has inked a new partnership with 8coupons to replace The Dealmap, which had been providing local offers to Bing Deals for about nine months.

A Banner Black Friday for Some Disappoints Groupon and Other Daily Deal Providers

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 4 at 2:00 am PT

Groupon and the other daily deal providers saw sales tank during the week of Thanksgiving, unlike traditional retailers, which reported robust sales surrounding the holidays.