Today, LivingSocial released iPhone, iPad and Android (News - Alert) apps that broadcast daily coupons in a user’s current city, according to an article. The release of this app comes on the heels of a mobile app for the iPhone (News - Alert), Android, and BlackBerry platforms that Groupon released two weeks ago.
Groupon, is a website that offers daily, continuously changing deals categorized by location. Coupons are sent daily to user’s e-mail addresses, Facebook (News - Alert), or Twitter feeds and then can be utlize.
LivingSocial offers daily deals on experiences that can be shared. LivingSocial’s website claims to design experiences that will help to bring a new following to local businesses. LivingSocial (News - Alert) announced a $175 Million Investment by Amazon, as well as an additional $8 million investment from Lightspeed Venture Partners, earlier in the year.
The company’s change of direction verging towards mobile apps is the latest attempt to compete with its larger rival. Super Bowl ads this weekend showed the competitive spirit, as LivingSocial bought a pre-game spot and Groupon aired an ad during the game. Groupon had previously intended to run a pre-game spot as well.
Both companies have been using similar tactics to try and get ahead in the industry. Though LivingSocial with its 50 percent off deal on Amazon gift cards in January, prompted Groupon to announce a similar deal last week, partnering with Barnes & Noble.
Both Groupon and LivingSocial will have plenty of competition to deal with moving forward as this industry is continuing to grow, and more competitors emerge. Groupon now in an alliance with OpenX, might have an advantage over the rest, however Amazon is very powerful, so that has been huge for LivingSocial.
Jamie Epstein is a TMCnet Web Editor. Previously she interned at News 12 Long Island as a reporter's assistant. After working as an administrative assistant for a year, she joined TMC (News - Alert) as a Web editor for TMCnet. Jamie grew up on the North Shore of Long Island and holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication with a concentration in broadcasting from Five Towns College. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Jamie Epstein