Kik Is Launching a Shop for Users to Interact With Chatbots From Brands

Kik has launched its own chatbot shop, further opening the floodgates to users who want to engage with messaging apps from brands and publishers arriving on the Canadian messaging platform. Starting today, Kik's Bot Shop will begin allowing users to download bots for entertainment, customer service and shopping. Developers will also be able to access the platform through Kik's open API, allowing third parties to build bots on behalf of brands that want to try out the emerging space that some say is the best thing since the invention of mobile apps. A total of 16 brands and publishers have launched bots on the platform ahead of the launch. For example, the Vine bot lets users text a word or phrase to the bot, which will then reply with a Vine clip related to the topic. Makeup company Sephora is using its bot to provide beauty advice and product tips, while H&M's provides fashion advice and a chance to directly purchase clothing through the bot. As for The Weather Channel? That one might be easy to guess. Others include GIF search platform Riffsy and comedy website Funny or Die. According to Mike Roberts, Kik's head of messenger services, bots are available in three categories—entertainment, lifestyle and games—with more categories possible after launch. Along with the users side, Kik has named several launch partners that will help create bots on the platform. However, because of the platform's open API, all developers are able to launch bots on Kik. "Messengers... Continue reading at 'AdWeek'

[ AdWeek | 2016-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent bookstores launch Storytime Day, set for this May

After the success of the Indies First movement this November, in which authors worked at independent bookstores, the newest event is called Storytime Day. Spokesperson Kate DiCamillo urges authors to read a story at their local bookstore. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook rewards brands for tagging

Facebook is allowing to Pages to tag one another, but brands and publishers need to judicious in how they use the new feature.The post Facebook rewards brands for tagging appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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StoriesAlive Offers Interactive Children’s Stories

Launched in October of 2013, StoriesAlive is an app and subscription service offering access to a library of multimedia-rich, interactive childrens’ stories for $7.99 a month for the iPad and Android tablets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #android tablets


Pocket Gems Launches Hybrid Game, Novel, Comic Platform

Pocket Gems, the San Francisco-based mobile gaming company, has launched Episode, a new mobile gaming platform, that includes a writer’s portal that will enable anyone to utilize the platform to create their own animated story. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ReedPop To Launch New Comics Show at Javits

ReedPop, which produces New York Comic Con, C2E2 and other pop culture conventions, is launching a new and smaller all comics show to be held at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, June 14 and 15. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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SYP to launch mentoring scheme

Hodder's creative director Auriol Bishop and agent Hellie Ogden are among those taking part... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oyster launches children’s vertical, signs Disney deal

US ebooks subscription start-up Oyster is rolling out a new children’s vertical this week... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Twitter Turns to Flipboard to Acquire Users for Vine

Got growth problems? Here's one way to solve it: advertising.Growth is a top-of-mind concern for Twitter and it appears app install ads are part of the strategy. In this case, a beautiful, magazine-like placement running in Flipboard this week for its six-second looping video app Vine.Digital ad... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google's New Real-Time Audience Measurement Is a Brand Play

Google announced a new partnership with comScore today that it said will improve its ability to tell brand marketers about their digital campaigns. Google touted a new measurement tool—available to DoubleClick advertisers and publishers—that will deliver real-time data about who is seeing ads... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sony to close Reader store and move users to Kobo's ebook platform in 'late March'

With its eye firmly fixed on a return to profitability, Sony's been making extensive cuts to its business arms in recent days (bye bye, VAIO!). So it's no surprise the company would train that cost-cutting eye onto another underperforming unit -- its... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook, Google and Yahoo now say when the US government requests user content (update: Microsoft too)

Last week, the US government finally relented on letting technology companies publish more detail about national security requests; today, some bigger firms are taking advantage of the looser rules. Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and Yahoo have updated ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #taking advantage


Two Authors Launch Brown Girls Publishing

Bestselling Simon & Schuster authors Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley are now teaming up on the business side: the two writers are launching Brown Girls Publishing, a new digital publishing venture that debuts today. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Should Brands Even Be in the Content Business?

The editorial director of the Online Publishers Association weighs in on whether brands should be in the business of creating copy -- or whether that should be left to a partnership with the pros. The post Should Brands Even Be in the Content Business? appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Marvel Launches API Program

Marvel has made an application programming interface available to developers interested in building digital applications around its comic book data and content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scribd launches Kindle Fire app

Book subscription service Scribd has launched a new app for the Kindle Fire. The app, which can... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Interactive novel' invites readers to Choose-Your-Own sex adventure

Follow Your Fantasy promises fresh spin on the genre pioneered in rather less risqué stories in the 1980sA threesome, sex with a stranger or work on a porn film: the choice will be yours, as HarperCollins prepares to launch an erotic version of the Choose Your Own Adventure books which were... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ALA Midwinter 2014: Pew Previews Library User Typology

At the ALA Midwinter Conference this past Sunday, Lee Rainie discussed the latest Pew Research Center Library survey and announced plans to develop a widget that will provide librarians with community-specific data. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hearst Sets Launch for First Issue of Dr. Oz, The Good Life

Hearst Magazines will roll out its newest title, Dr. Oz, The Good Life, Feb. 4. With 800,000 copies being distributed, including 375,000 copies on newsstands for $3.99 and another 425,000 going to subscribers of other Hearst titles, The Good Life could well be the biggest consumer magazine... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The User Is (Still) Not Broken

Back in 2006, Karen Schneider, now university librarian at Oakland, Calif.’s Holy Names University, published “The User Is Not Broken: A Meme Masquerading as a Manifesto” on her blog, the Free Range Librarian. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Parnassus Books Launches Online Lit Journal

Parnassus Books launches "Musing," an online literary journal featuring author interviews, book recommendations, and bookish news. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book recommendations