Digital happenings this week from the IBM, Yahoo, Ibis and more

Online news and edutainment platform The Whiz Times has launched in Singapore, aiming to provide a resource for kids and plug a large gap for advertisers. The website provides news on global issues, scientific discoveries and sports as well as features on figures such as US president Obama.

Furthering its ambition to build an all-in-one social-analytics platform, Salesforce Marketing Cloud has partnered with 20 social-analytics vendors, including Klout, Soshio, Trendspottr and Clarabridge, to offer richer analytics and stronger local language support.

The growth of smartphones and tablets, along with an improved perception of security, is leading the internet to play a significantly bigger role in consumption across Asia, according to a recent study published by Visa. Of the 8,000 consumers surveyed, four in 10 said they browsed products on their phones or tablet device last year.

IBM has launched a new digital marketing system and big data software that pits it against Oracle, Salesforce Marketing Cloud and other web and social media analytics platforms. The new offerings, part of IBM’s big data platform, include the IBM Digital Analytics Accelerator, which is aimed at helping CMOs analyse social media, web traffic and customer communication.

China's high income (top 25 per cent) group leads the world in social engagement, followed by Indonesia and India, while the least socially active are 55- to 64-year-olds in Japan, according to GlobalWebIndex's Social Engagement Benchmark report. The report found that consumers in fast-growing economies are more likely to use a social network or a microblog, upload a photo or video or review a product or brand than consumers in more mature markets.

In the third quarter of the year, Yahoo posted an 11 per cent growth in search revenue minus traffic acquisition costs (TAC) and display grew 0.5 per cent ex-TAC compared with 3Q2011. Last Friday, Yahoo announced that it would be closing down its business in Korea at the end of the year after 15 years citing "growing challenges".

Digital agency Visual Jazz Isobar has launched global innovation unit NowLab in Australia. The unit, which will be based out of the Melbourne office, aims to deliver innovation throughout the network as well as thought leadership and knowledge sharing.

M&C Saatchi Australia has broadened the scope of its services with the launch of a specialist mobile and tablet marketing division. M&C Saatchi Mobile will offer “an end-to-end service that incorporates mobile strategy, planning, buying, tracking, optimisation and reporting”, according to a statement from the agency.

Ibis is aiming to launch the “world’s biggest virtual pillow fight” as a social-media campaign as part of its global rebranding exercise. Through the “Ibis pillow fight party” Facebook application, developed by Media Contacts Singapore, netizens can virtually throw pillows at each other to stand a chance to win hotel stays across the region.