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New Media News Every Morning

AOL is best ISP in customer experience… really?

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AOL was rated as the top Internet service provider for overall customer experience, according to a survey of consumers by Forrester Research, an independent research company. The survey asked nearly 4,600 consumers about their interactions with Internet service providers based on a number of measures, including usefulness (tied for first at 79%) and ease-of-use (71%).

AOL’s overall “Customer Experience Index” rating was 71%, higher than any other service provider in the survey, according to Forrester. The Forrester survey also found that AOL’s Index score climbed five percentage points between 2007 and 2008.

In this kind of economy, it is good to know that businesses are focusing on providing top customer experience.

Originally posted on March 26, 2009 @ 10:29 am

Gamblingplanet.org adds new web 2.0 tools to its online casino portal

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logo1Gamblingplanet.org announced the addition of two web 2.0 tools to the site’s existing network of social media features. The additions include a free user poll and a Twitter news feed.

The new Gambling Planet poll is a single-click survey that asks players their preference among online casino games. Gambling Planet’s own developers created the poll and offering it free of charge at widgetbox.com. Webmasters who employ the widget on their site gain several benefits, including a link to Gambling Planet and insight to player preferences.

Gambling Planet’s other new web 2.0 endeavor—a round-the-clock Twitter news feed—is perhaps even more exciting, particularly for the site’s typically unfazed writers who are, reportedly, “as enthusiastic as school girls on prom night” about the Twitter team-up. Renowned for its provocative news and editorials, Gambling Planet will now provide 24/7 daily updates via Twitter.com.

Originally posted on March 29, 2009 @ 3:14 pm

Filed Under: Web

ValueClick Media enhances targeting with ActiveAds

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ValueClick Media is introducing ActiveAds, enabling advertisers to tailor banner ad creative for each consumer.

ActiveAds allows marketers to display customized messages in ad creative without the need to develop and manage multiple creative units. Banner ads are dynamically assembled to present a more relevant version of the ad’s text or images based on anonymous information available from the client or ValueClick Media.

ActiveAds provides an efficient way to micro-target the most desirable audience segments while providing consumers with more engaging ads, ultimately resulting in better campaign performance. Unlike some other solutions, all ActiveAds targeting is done anonymously and without any use of personally identifiable information.

Originally posted on April 5, 2009 @ 11:20 am

USGA, WGT launch virtual U.S. Open Championship

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uspenThe United States Golf Association and World Golf Tour (WGT) have formed an agreement to host the first Virtual U.S. Open Championship on www.USOPEN.com.

Developed in partnership with Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y., the Virtual U.S. Open will take place on a state-of-the-art simulation of the Black Course at Bethpage, allowing golf enthusiasts everywhere to play an online golf championship from their computers at no cost, at the same time and on virtually the same course as the actual U.S. Open competitors in June.

Visitors to www.USOPEN.com can play qualifying rounds for the Virtual U.S. Open, beginning May 25th through June 21st. The top 156 qualifiers plus ties will then square off for the Virtual U.S. Open title on June 22nd. The winner will be crowned the USGA Virtual U.S. Open Champion and will be a guest of the USGA at the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif.

WGT has utilized its patented technology to bring Bethpage Black to life online. First, nearly 100,000 high-definition images were taken of the course from the ground and with helicopters using precisely mapped GPS coordinates. These images and additional data collected from the course were then translated through WGT’s proprietary physics engine to enable players to virtually experience Bethpage Black within a photo landscape. Championship tees and hole locations, U.S. Open-quality rough and accurate green contours and speeds all combine to make this the most realistic championship golf experience ever offered online.

Originally posted on March 25, 2009 @ 11:34 am

Filed Under: Web

NIC launches first Recovery Act iPhone application

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eGovernment firm NIC has launched “Transparent Gov,” a free iPhone application dedicated to deciphering where and how the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to be spent.

The Transparent Gov application includes:

  • Clear and concise spending information depicted graphically for ease in understanding
  • Lists of key recipients of the funds
  • Ability to drill down into relevant text from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

NIC also launched today a one-stop online source for access to stimulus and transparency information from governments nationwide. The site is a free resource that tracks the transparency services offered by federal, state, and local governments in their efforts to make more information available to citizens.

Originally posted on March 27, 2009 @ 10:04 am