Village Gamer

Vancouver’s RewardLoop has announced a universal Point of Sale (POS) adaptor that enables restaurants and retailers of any size to simply and cost-efficiently deploy a secure, transaction-based mobile loyalty program. The patent-pending RewardLoop Connect adaptor connects easily to merchants’ existing Point of Sale (POS) systems and can be set up in minutes.

RewardLoop is also pleased to announce it has recently closed a seed financing round led by Canadian angel investor Boris Wertz (W Media Ventures) with the participation of prominent executives from leading online and offline retailers.

RewardLoop’s turnkey mobile loyalty programs are ideal for independent and chain merchants alike, including coffee shops, restaurants, retailers, local service providers, and other high purchase volume – frequency categories. RewardLoop differentiates itself from an ever-growing number of mobile ‘check-in’ -based loyalty programs by offering a first-of-its-kind transaction-based mobile loyalty platform that offers a level of security comparable to traditional card-based programs.

“For a mobile loyalty program to deliver value and be successful in our business, it needs to be transactional and secure. RewardLoop is the only solution we’ve seen that meets these criteria,” said Tim Kraus, Interactive Marketing Manager at Quiznos USA.

Through its RewardLoop Connect device, RewardLoop prints transaction-identifying QR codes on merchant bills and receipts. Consumers scan these secure, one-time-use QR codes with their mobile phones to earn and redeem merchant-defined loyalty rewards through RewardLoop’s cloud hosted platform. RewardLoop’s mobile-rendered stamp cards show users their earning progress towards each reward.

With its groundbreaking innovation, RewardLoop Connect is a device that sits between the merchant’s POS system and receipt printer. It intercepts the print data stream, adds a RewardLoop QR code, and then passes the print command to the printer. The printer prints the receipt exactly as delivered from the POS system, but inserts an extra footer that includes the merchant’s secure, one-time-use, RewardLoop QR codes. The device also prints QR codes for secure reward validation and redemption. When these codes are scanned by a customer the customer is delivered to a hosted, merchant-branded mobile application optimized for the user’s mobile phone. Read the rest of this entry »

The next step in delivering value and flexibility to customers is here with the Shaw Movie Club, giving Shaw customers access to hundreds of movie titles for only $12 per month as part of Shaw’s ongoing commitment to provide more content on demand.  It is important to note that watching Shaw Movie Club through your TV will not impact your monthly data transfer amount, whereas watching the movies streamed through an internet connection such as your PC, will.

The Shaw Movie Club features unlimited access to hundreds of titles like The Expendables, Burlesque and Red. Unlike similar programs, customers who subscribe to the Shaw Movie Club will have access to newer movie titles that are updated monthly to watch streaming online or directly on your TV.

Customers can also get their Movie Club content in High Definition later this summer. For an additional $5 per month, all titles will be available to customers with the stunning quality of Shaw HD, thanks to the Movie Club HD Pass.

“The Shaw Movie Club is the result of listening to our customers and delivering products that fit their needs and the way they use technology,” said Peter Bissonnette, President, Shaw Communications Inc. “The Shaw Movie Club brings our customers more choice and value – they get the best titles available to enjoy whenever, wherever they want.”

The Movie Club launches on the heels of Shaw’s new Internet packages, which provide customers with dramatically increased data levels and speed. Customers can access the Shaw Movie Club through several platforms:

• Through the Shaw Gateway – available to Calgary and Edmonton customers, with Vancouver and national dates to follow through the summer

• Shaw Video On Demand Online – customers can log in with their customer care identification or Shaw email. They can then search for titles available with the Movie Club subscription – a select number of titles are available for streaming online, or to order to their Digital Box

• Searching for titles on the VOD App for iPhone and Android – search and order titles to customers’ Digital Box to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes

Movie Club can be added to customers’ entertainment packages through the Shaw Plan Personalizer, which enables all customers to customize their home entertainment services by choosing the features they love and want.

BMO recently launched its 100^th Business Coach Podcast, in conjunction with PROFIT Magazine, offering tips to Canada’s entrepreneurs and small business owners with special guests Robert Herjavec of Dragon’s Den, Global Sustainability leader Bruce Poon Tip and Canadian billionaire Michael Lee-Chin.

“BMO takes pride in the quality of advice and services it gives to Canada’s entrepreneurs,” said Cathy Pin, Vice-President, Commercial Banking, BMO Bank of Montreal. “Using new media to better communicate with this demographic is a natural extension of the services we already provide to our customers, at our branches and online.”

The milestone 100^th podcast focuses on some notable ‘100s’ that small businesses must prepare for, including the first 100 days of operation, the hiring of the 100^th employee and the 100 first investments.

“Across the country, the outlook among business owners is increasingly positive,” said Ms. Pin. “We are encouraged by the increasing number of firms willing and able to invest in their operations and we are glad to provide these business owners the tips and tools they need to continue to grow.”

Noteworthy tips from BMO’s business experts for the big 100s:

First 100 Days: Make sure the doors stay open. At the beginning, it’s tough: in order to ensure your business survives, you have to pass one hurdle, then another one and another one. Make sure you don’t have too long term a view.

First 100 Employees: Too many entrepreneurs hire people that they want to have a beer with or that they can be friends with. But coincidently, those people often have the same skills as you. Don’t stretch your budget without diversifying your employee base.

First 100 Investments: Make sure you are entering into a business that you understand in an industry that you understand. Make sure the industry has long term growth prospects, where the product cycle is long and the cash flow relatively predictable.

Ubisoft has revealed Uplay Passport, a new program designed to provide players with access to bonus content, exclusive offers, and online multiplayer play. Uplay Passport is an adjunct to Uplay, an in-game service that offers gamers extra value, including a bevy of rewards and community features, just for playing Ubisoft games. The Uplay Passport program will begin in the coming months and will be included in many of Ubisoft’s popular core games.

In each new copy of a Uplay Passport-enhanced game will be a one-time use registration code that, when redeemed, provides access to Uplay Passport content and features. The code can be found on the insert card inside the game box. Gamers can identify Uplay Passport-enhanced games by looking for the logo on the back of the box.

Uplay Passports will also be available for purchase on PlayStation®Store for $9.99 and on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points. Customers that rent, borrow or purchase a pre-owned game can also purchase a new Uplay Passport online for $9.99 and automatically unlock the game’s online content and features. Starting with the upcoming DRIVER^® San Francisco release, games featuring the new Uplay Passport will offer gamers exclusive bonus content plus access to online features.

D-BOX Technologies Inc. is now offering its immersive motion technology in more than 90 theatres worldwide with the release of the highly anticipated Warner Bros. Pictures’ franchise finale, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

Harry Potter fans across the continent (well, most of it) can expect to be transported back to Hogwarts with Harry and friends while experiencing incredibly realistic motion effects all along the way. Scenes of intense battle and exhilarating flight now come to life as D-BOX MFX Seats pitch, roll and heave in perfect sync with the action taking place onscreen.

This final act is the third film in the series to offer D-BOX motion effects. Locations introducing the D-BOX experience for the first time with Harry Potter, include these theatres:

• Cobb Theatres Hollywood 16 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• Cobb Theatres Dolphin 19 at Dolphin Mall in Miami, Fla.
• Cobb Theatres Lakeside 18 in Lakeland, Fla.
• Regency Theatres Plan 16 in Van Nuys, Calif.
• ShowBiz Cinemas 12 in Waxahachie, Texas
• Zurich Cinemas Rotterdam Square Cinema 7 in Schenectady, NY

For a complete list of theatres offering the D-BOX experience with Harry Potter, check out the location map on the D-Box site – sadly, there are only 9 currently-equipped locations across Canada, with none in BC.

Also, for those totally unfamiliar with the D-Box products (because it occurred to me that some of you may not know exactly what D-Box does & as a disclaimer, no, this is not a “promoted post”), they make very special gamer chairs as well, which offer a similar type of gaming experience for titles enhanced with the D-Box MFX technology. Oh and yes, you can get Home Theatre D-Box seating to enhance your own movie nights.

Vancouver-based Serebra Learning Corporation has engaged MNP LLP of Vancouver to prepare a valuation report on Blue Drop Inc., to be filed with the TSX Venture Exchange in connection with the proposed business combination between Serebra and Bluedrop. Trading in the company’s shares will remain halted pending engagement of a sponsor and completion of a preliminary review of the proposed transaction by the Exchange.

Earlier this year, Serebra and Blue Drop had announced the creation of a reseller agreement between the two companies, which would see a portion of Serebra’s sales team offering Bluedrop’s Coursepark product to customers. Coursepark is an online learning site that offers individuals access to skills that promote career development, and small businesses a training solution that allows them to build and/or buy courses, and implement, track and manage users’ completion of courses.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to expand our suite of products on offer to current and future clients,” said Taleeb Noormohamed, President and CEO of Serebra. “Coursepark is rapidly becoming a leading global learning site and we are thrilled at the opportunity to help expand its ever-growing user base. It is an excellent complement to Serebra Campus, allowing our sales team a different target market to pursue.”

In addition, Serebra and Bluedrop have negotiated a separate service agreement to have select members of Serebra’s development team provide specialized technical assistance to support Bluedrop’s roadmap for the Coursepark product.

“As we continue to negotiate the terms of a reverse takeover, these reseller and service agreements provide an opportunity to expand our mutual understanding of our products and business models,” added Taleeb.

The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, announced in Calgary that the Government of Canada is once again accepting applications from local businesses to help kickstart their innovative ideas by moving their products and services from the lab to the marketplace.

“In Canada, we have enormous entrepreneurial talent and through this program, we’re giving Canadian businesses an opportunity to move their ideas into action,” said Minister Ambrose. “Our Government is committed to delivering results for hard-working Canadians by staying focused on what matters most to them—jobs and the economy.”

Launched in 2010, the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program/Kickstart initiative (CICP) is a $40-million pilot program created to help Canadian businesses by testing their innovative products and services within the Government of Canada before taking them to the marketplace. Federal departments will test innovations that fall within four key areas: environment; health; safety and security; and technology.

The second call for proposals is now available on MERX, the Government of Canada’s electronic tendering service. Successful bidders will see their pre-commercial innovative products and services tested within government departments, and will be given valuable feedback from users participating in the pilot program.

In March, 19 innovations were announced as part of the first round of the CICP. Today, the Minister announced an additional eight pre-qualified Canadian innovations that government departments will be able to buy. These additional innovations were submitted under the first call for proposals.

The following eight additional businesses have pre-qualified for the first round of the CICP:

• Breviro Caviar Inc.(formerly Supreme Sturgeon and Caviar Ltd) – Pennfield
• Amika Mobile Corporation – Ottawa
• Edgewater Computer Systems Inc. – Ottawa
• Fluvial Systems Research Inc. – White Rock
• blutip Power Technologies Inc. (formerly Hy-Drive Technologies Ltd.) – Mississauga
• S5 Systems – Ottawa
• Synodon Inc. – Edmonton
• Trusted Positioning Inc. – Calgary

There are now 27 pre-qualified innovations from Canadian companies that form a part of the CICP’s first round. Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is working with government departments to match innovations with the right test departments, and will be entering into negotiations with the selected companies to put contracts in place to test their innovations, should the right department be found. This will facilitate Canadian companies in moving their innovations into domestic and international markets.

The CICP is managed by PWGSC’s Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, whose mandate is to improve accessibility to government procurement opportunities for small and medium enterprises. Launched as part of the Government of Canada’s Budget 2010, the CICP is a new initiative to promote Canada’s economic growth.

Electronic Arts Inc. has announced the pricing of $550 million aggregate principal amount of 0.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 (the “notes”) in a private placement. EA has also granted the initial purchasers in the offering an option to purchase up to an additional $82.5 million aggregate principal amount of notes solely to cover overallotments. The notes are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The offering is scheduled to close on or about Wednesday, July 20, 2011. EA anticipates posting supplemental information regarding the offering following the closing of the offering on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 on its Investor Relations website.

The notes will be convertible into cash and shares of EA’s common stock, if any, based on a conversion rate of 31.5075 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $31.74 per share of common stock, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. Prior to April 15, 2016, the notes will be convertible only upon the occurrence of certain events and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the notes. Interest on the notes will be payable semiannually in arrears at a rate of 0.75% per annum on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on January 15, 2012. The notes will mature on July 15, 2016, unless previously repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date.

EA estimates that the net proceeds from the offering of the notes will be approximately $536.6 million (approximately $617.3 million if the initial purchasers exercise their overallotment option in full), after deducting the initial purchasers’ discount and estimated offering expenses (excluding the cost of the convertible note hedge transactions described below). Read the rest of this entry »

UNIT4 Business Software the North American subsidiary of UNIT4, provider of business software for Businesses Living IN Change (BLINC™), is meeting increased demand among non-profit organizations that are focused on achieving transparency and accountability to meet the new global demands of a competitive non-profit economy. As non-profits expand and evolve they are operating their organizations as tightly-run, often international businesses in a sector that is becoming more competitive.

UNIT4 Business Software has enjoyed increasing momentum in this sector in the last six months, particularly in North America, signing large non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as ACDI/VOCA, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), as well as research facilities such as TRIUMF in an agreement worth more than $1 million. UNIT4 has also seen success with European non-profits and NGOs including ZonMw and the Innovation Institute of the Ministry of Health in the Benelux, as well as a leading national charity in the UK.

“All these organizations have one thing in common and that’s the desire to deliver the accountability and transparency of a public company and to be more competitive,” says Ton Dobbe, VP of Product Management at UNIT4. “Warren Buffet has alluded to this in how he chooses which organizations to donate to – those who operate as businesses earn his money because they’re operating on a business level. That’s what our software allows non-profits and NGOs to do.”

Agresso Business World is particularly appealing to Businesses Living IN Change (BLINC™) because it is designed for complex organizational structures that change frequently while still delivering total accountability and transparency. It is known among non-profits for its post-implementation agility that allows end users to respond swiftly and cost-effectively to changing funding levels and new funding structures, regulatory reporting requirements, and reorganization and restructuring without customers having to rely on costly external consultants. Read the rest of this entry »

Score Media Inc., home of ad-supported sports app ScoreMobile®, has announced the appointment of Lars Laakes, Director of Software Engineering, to its digital products team.

With over twenty years of industry experience, Lars has held various positions at Logitech, Microsoft and ADP and was a co-founder of ObjectArts Inc.  Through his various roles, he has garnered leadership experience in software development, business and technical architecture, process and delivery governance and team building.

Most recently, in his role at Logitech as Director of Software Engineering, he led the software services and client development teams in the Digital Home Group.  These teams developed the next generation Digital Home services platform enabling Logitech to deliver the latest line of Harmony Remote Controls and the first GoogleTV device – the Logitech Revue. His teams developed platform services that enable content based control, building on the convergence of entertainment on internet streaming content services, connected TVs and mobile devices.

“We are extremely pleased to be adding Lars to our team,” says Dale Fallon, Vice President, Digital Products, Score Media Inc.  “We will continue to work with our world-class development partners and by adding Lars we are well positioned to take our in-house engineering capabilities to a similar level.”