Now we’ve a got a lock on some rockin’ new technology thanks to our super-cool, super-new door lock that allows us to unlock and lock our door from our Smartphones.

So while we patiently await the arrival of our promised jetpacks and Hoverboards, Team PRPL will find refuge in the fun we’re having with a far-from-ordinary door lock. Now we just worry about the boss man’s crush on the encrypted communications tool and his newfound ability to lock us in the office. Bring it on, Bobby! We love it here!

Get the Jets through a soaring season, Tim Tebow! We know your website can handle the traffic.

Fans, keep updated:

• Tebow Website: http://www.timtebow.com
• Tebow Twitter: https://twitter.com/timtebow
• Tebow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimTebow

As one of seven campuses owned by Adventist Health System, Florida Hospital East possesses its own ancillary identity, and therefore needs its own digital campaign. Purple, Rock, Scissors will be implementing mobile into their strategy, focusing on a mobile-compatible website, as well as kicking off PPC search campaigns and online marketing tactics.

This isn’t all fluff, folks. Just take a look what happened when other branches’ digital strategies went under the scissors!

What is NFC?

NFC is a standard for devices to establish radio communications by tapping or bringing them within close proximity (typical range is about 4 centimeters).  The standard is based on existing RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology, but allows for two way communication between the endpoints (as opposed to RFID’s one way transmission capability).  Passive communications allow a powered device (phone) to read or write to an unpowered endpoint (such as a sticker embedded in a poster or product), while active communications can be made between two powered devices.

What are the uses of NFC?

Smart phone equipped with an NFC radio enable users to replace their wallet for mobile payments, swap contact information, and can replace identification or public transport cards.  Android devices can be set to send contact information by default, or use Android Beam to share the content active on the originator’s screen.  This allows a user to ‘share’ content within an app with another user; if the receiving user doesn’t have the app, they will be directed to the Android Market page for that app to download.  Other implementations allow users to easily pair devices using other radio protocols.  For example, if you purchased a new Bluetooth handsfree kit that supported NFC, you could tap the kit to your phone to initiate the connection instead of hunting for the default PIN code in the user manual.  Multiplayer gaming with apps can initiate a WiFi connection via NFC to identify the players’ devices.

Product integration and targeted marketing provide another avenue for engagement with mobile devices.  Embedded NFC tags could provide product information for shoppers without the need to wait for an available sales associate.  Others could provide support links to download product documentation or contact customer care via phone or email.  The possibilities are quite vast, and can be combined with QR codes in the near term to facilitate future proof campaigns.

The real driving force that will bring NFC to the mainstream: mobile payments.  NFC enabled smart phones can be used to replace the credit cards in your wallet and facilitate instant transactions via a tap.  Google has already begun trialing their mobile payment system, titled Google Wallet, in a few test markets.  It is currently compatible with Mastercard’s PayPass terminals, in addition to the test terminals that Google has sent out.  Three of the four major carriers in the US (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) are putting their weight behind their own mobile payment service called ISIS.  This is where the biggest push for mobile payments will come from, as the telecoms vie for a share of mobile payment processing profits.  You can be sure if the three of the biggest players in pushing and advertising mobile devices want you to use NFC, they will ensure every OEM includes it in their smart phones.

When is NFC coming?

The good news is, NFC is already here!  Several high-end Android handsets from the third quarter of 2011 onwards have NFC.  This includes Samsung’s Galaxy SII family, the Nexus S, the Galaxy Nexus, and the HTC  Amaze 4G .  While this is still only a small portion of the mobile market, the presence will continue to expand throughout 2010.  CES brought the announcement of several products integrating NFC, and just last week Microsoft announced that Windows Phone 8 (slated for third quarter 2012) will have full NFC support.  BlackBerry OS added NFC support with version 7.1 available on a handful of the Bold and Curve devices.

The only big player not mentioned here is Apple, who have always been tight lipped about their future plans.  Despite their secretive plans, the overwhelming chatter in the industry is that the iPhone 5 will ship with NFC.  Apple has already filed for a handful of patents related to NFC, and numerous partners’ executives have all but confirmed it with statements like Mastercard’s Ed McLaughlin:

“I don’t know of a handset manufacturer that isn’t in process of making sure their stuff is PayPass ready…Um, there are…like I say, [I don't know of] any handset maker out there. Now, when we have discussions with our partners, and they ask us not to disclose them, we don’t.”

- via Mashable

Apple already hired an expert on NFC as their Mobile Commerce Product Manager back in August of 2010, and many developers have already begun prepping their NFC based applications, hinting that Apple will make the big announcement at WWDC (World Wide Developer Conference) this year.

Sources:

• Windows Phone 8 features via TheVerge

As part of their latest efforts to dig deep into digital, Florida Hospital for Children has begun a series of educational webinars geared toward getting in front of its everyday audience. These videos will give parents, patients, and even medical practitioners the opportunity to learn about various topics in depth, and ask questions to be directly answered through additional video responses.

We plan to implement solid Facebook and YouTube tactics for the hospital, cranking up the video content that has become an essential component to any holistic digital or communication strategy. The webinars, hosted on YouTube and also living on the Florida Hospital for Children Facebook page, will provide a new breadth to their brand as a whole.

Check it out

• Florida Hospital for Children Website
• Florida Hospital for Children YouTube Channel
• Florida Hospital for Children Webinars
• Florida Hospital for Children Facebook

Welcome to our newest rocker!

Thanks for kickin’ it with the Purple kids, Florida Hospital for Children! Here’s to effective marketing and helping the little ones!

Click Around:

• Florida Hospital for Children Website
• Florida Hospital for Children Facebook Page
• Florida Hospital for Children YouTube Channel

Upgrades will include Product Finder features, Retail Locators, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. Room 101’s flash-based site will be converted into HTML5, and customer trackers will be incorporated to aid future targeting and branded events (as long as we are invited).

Much like their products, each brand has its own taste and feel, which we will highlight in their digital discourse. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to do some research. We’re feelin’ like high rollers here at Purple with these client perks!

Let us welcome our very own Mace Windu!

Through a pipeline of Purple love, the redesigned Global Robotics Institute website is now live! Along with the interface improvement, its content and structure have been largely refined for SEO purposes. The project also includes an entire PPC campaign, complete with landing pages and click-boosting strategy.

PRS is delighted to launch this new Global Robotics Institute website, as we celebrate the already apparent results! As a result of our marketing efforts, there has been a significant increase in site traffic from search engines and a 90% reduction in cost per lead! These stats, coupled with the 3:1 ROI ratio and 900% increase in conversions, lead us to believe that these modern mavens of the robot world are off to a promising start!

See for yourself:

• New Global Robotics Institute site: http://www.globalroboticsinstitute.com/
• PRPL Case Study: http://purplerockscissors.com/work/florida-hospital-gri/