Apple sued over e-billing

Apple, along with more than a dozen other firms conducting e-commerce, has been hit with a patent lawsuit relating to its e-billing technology through its online stores, says Apple Insider.

The 28-page formal complaint was filed late last month by Actus, saying that 15 companies, including Apple, Best Buy, and Amazon, are infringing on several of its patents using electronic tokens.

The filings describe a pay-by-click method of e-commerce by which shoppers can quickly make repeat purchases or rentals with a specific online retailer after having a billing account that they populate with credits or funds.

Online marketers who want to make the most out of their html e-mail newsletters need to be aware of the impact of social media, especially since Facebook allowed advertising, it has been said, according to Global Gold.

Research scientist at Facebook Cameron Marlow conducted a study to determine online social media relationships and found that the average Facebook user may have 500 friends, but communicates with around 20 of these and keeps in close contact with an average of ten.

Summarising the findings, Business Week noted: "What can this teach advertisers? People don't pay much attention to most of their online friends. By focusing campaigns on people who interact with each other, they'll likely get better results."

DST International Output (DST), the Bristol-based transpromo specialist, has rebranded as DST Output to reinforce its affiliation with its US-based sister company of the same name, reports Printweek.com.

By strengthening relations with its American sibling, DST Output says it would be able to offer clients access to emerging global initiatives, such as e-billing services and data processing.

DST Output has urged marketing businesses to make the most of their customer communications and essential mail, such as bills and statements.