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Now called Gift Connect, the service acts like any other advertising platform, with brands looking to advertise and publishers who send those ads out to their audiences. However, the ads themselves are actually gifts from brands, and the publishers are sports teams, musical artists, or other affinity groups.

"Walmart began recruiting top Silicon Valley talent and acquiring start-ups last year. For instance, Walmart acquired Kosmix, a company that specializes in making web design more seamless, for $300 million. That team has been working for over a year to fix Walmart's systems and improve its website.  Walmart is investing in the "social gifting" market. A year ago, Walmart launched "Shopycat," which makes gift recommendations based on friends' Facebook profiles. The site is now called "Walmart Gifts" and allows customers to log in and get personalized recommendations based on Facebook and Twitter profiles.  The retailer got a better search engine. A dozen top engineers took 10 months to build it, and while the company won't discuss sales figures, they said the new system is more user-friendly. "If you search for cotton socks now, you'll actually find them," Manjoo writes.  Walmart is trying to lead the charge in same-day shipping. Its at an advantage considering that 96 percent of Americans live within 20 miles of a Walmart.  Walmart is investing like crazy in its mobile app. "Walmart imagines that as you go through an average day, you'll remember things you need--milk, bread, a new tennis racquet, a toy truck for your nephew's birthday--and tell the voice-enabled Walmart app. The app will list each item's location inside your local Walmart and include product info; eventually, it will also learn your preferences and offer recommendations. And once you're actually in the store, you'll be able to summon an associate to help you," Manjoo says. "

collaborative amazon giftcard with Facebook friends.

Nearly 45 percent of respondents in a survey fielded by analyst firm Sterne Agee said they would consider purchasing and sending physical gifts to friends through the newly released Facebook Gifts product.

Karma App - send gifts through the app. Recipient can choose to accept gift or pick something else from the store. Do this through text, email, or facebook. 

looks like Facebook Gifts feature isn't doing so well

Check-in and leave gift cards for Clingle or FB friends at a location

new holiday campaign. old spice sending 7million gifts

Another Walmart app? Shopycat reads your friends' FB feeds to pick up on gift hints

The app posts links to gifts you want in your friends' newsfeeds. 

Send Redbox gifts

Those who receive gifts must check in at the business with the Giftly app on their smart phone, and purchase whichever items or services they choose, after which they are immediately reimbursed by Giftly.

Uses info from FB to make suggestions on what to give as gifts

recreates excitement of opening a real present.

Send a gift in a virtual present box that has a "peek proof" countdown 

radio shack has a facebook campaign that lets users upload "so wrong" gifts.  every week, RS will select one "so wrong" gift and make it "so right"

ice cream chain will allow consumers to send tangible gifts to friends via the social network. Using the e-gift app, developed by e-commerce firm First Data Corp., consumers can select one or more friends to send gifts to, either by adding them from Facebook or entering their e-mail address. Unlike virtual gifts on Facebook, however, the Cold Stone app sends a code for a physical product that can be redeemed at any of the chain's 1,300 locations.

Ease the physical burden with Gyft, an app for Android and iPhone that digitizes and stores you physical gift cards, then lets you use and even regift them right from your device.

You can now give Amazon Gift cards via facebook

Weekly 11.4

Gift converter system allows someone to set parameters around items they want, and the system alerts them if someone buys a gift that doesn't fall into that.

Weekly 11.11