Merchant Acquiring: Looking to the Future

Virgin “Elevates” Rewards Program with Facebook and AmEx
Virgin America is taking its airline rewards to new heights. Elevate, its frequent flyer program, now accepts Membership Rewards point transfers from American Express cardholders.

Sandwiched Together, Groupon and Quiznos Test New Loyalty Strategy
Groupon, the godfather of daily deals sites, wants to show its business model can also be used to increase repeat customers. For its first test, Groupon teamed up with Quiznos to offer a voucher for eight orders at half off.

At World’s Largest Travel Agency, mCommerce is Taking Flight
One in 20 users at Expedia.com, the world’s largest travel agency, prefer to book via mobile, according to Joe Megibow (VP, Mobile and E-Commerce Optimization). He discusses with PYMNTS.com the driving factors behind this trend.

Step in the Right Direction: Foot Locker Upgrades mCommerce Sites
Foot Locker re-launched its mCommerce destinations in part to better achieve a consistent brand experience across channels. Stacy Cunningham (Corporate Vice President, Marketing, Foot Locker, Inc.) talks about the sites’ new mobile payment functionalities.

Domino’s Pizza + Foursquare = Recipe for Payments Success
As one of the first brands into Foursquare, Domino’s is looking to increase engagement with customers and position themselves at the forefront of new technology.

Exclusive Interview: What’s Next for American Airlines’ Loyalty Program
With more than 66 million participants today, AAdvantage Loyalty Program President Maya Leibman declares AAdvantage “one of the most successful loyalty programs in the world.”

How PayPal Helps Power Popular Children’s Games
Security is a top priority with any online payment system but perhaps even more so when the product or service is designed for children.

How ProPay Became ISO of the Year: Mobile, Social and Security
Name: Chris Mark | EVP; Emerging Markets at ProPay, Inc. developing mobile payment platforms with a strong focus on security and looking toward mobile payments with a social flair

Which Is the Fastest Retail Brand to Reach 2 Million “Likes” on Facebook?
GameStop, the world’s largest multichannel video game merchant, accomplished this impressive feat in only 365 days. GameStop’s VP of eCommerce and GM of GameStop.com, Kelly Mulroney, spoke with PYMNTS.com about why social commerce is an ideal fit for the gaming sector.

Sears and K-Mart Detail Mobile Payments Strategy
Sears emphasized efficiency and connection speed in designing its mobile Web and apps, including aspects related to the payment process. Murray stressed that Sears’ mobile offerings focus on creating an easy transition for consumers to buy products they were just browsing.

Office Depot: Takin’ Care of (Payments Innovation) Business
Office Depot is leading the charge in merchant mobile innovation with the recent launch of their iPhone app, “Office Depot Anywhere.” Exploiting its seamless platform integration, Office Depot allows customers to transition between PC and iPhone without disrupting the checkout process.

Sports Authority Scores Big with shopkick’s Location-Based Loyalty Solution
Sports Authority CMO Jeffrey Schumacher explains how the company has been a pioneer in the digital frontier for the retail sector in this exclusive NEXTcast interview.

Balancing Security and Convenience in the Mobile Payments Market
Historically, new technologies have been introduced that were later found to have pronounced drawbacks for consumers. Ensuring the protection of consumers has not always been a driving factor in the promotion of new products. ProPay EVP Chris Mark calls for heightened mPayments security in this exclusive commentary for PYMNTS.com.

drugstore.com Offers Tips for Developing a ‘Healthy’ Mobile Retail Strategy
drugstore.com, a top online health retailer, understands this concept and recently launched four mCommerce sites to give their shoppers the greater flexibility and convenience they seek.

Target to Offer Cardholders Additional 5% off Already Low Prices Every Day
Target Corporation announced today that beginning this fall guests will receive 5 percent off at check-out every day when they use a REDcard at any Target store or on Target.com.