SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING LOYALTY AND REWARD FUNCTIONALITY IN MOBILE COMMERCE

1 . A computer-implemented method for providing a loyalty/reward program, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that a consumer has entered a predefined merchant location;

transmitting a notification to a mobile device associated with the consumer;

providing one or more payment tools on a mobile device for the consumer to facilitate a purchase from a merchant associated with the predefined merchant location;

generating a loyalty/reward credit for an account associated with the consumer; and

receiving an instruction from the consumer to redeem loyalty/reward credit for goods and/or service from the merchant.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a network link for the merchant to access a loyalty/reward application program;

receiving an indication that the merchant has opted in to an associated loyalty/rewards program;

receiving one or more merchant parameters for a customized merchant loyalty/rewards program; and

generating a downloadable app or application program for the consumer to access the customized merchant loyalty/rewards program.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a code from the consumer's mobile device located at a merchant location;

identifying a merchant's loyalty/reward program;

facilitating access to an app or application program associated with the merchant's loyalty/reward program; and

receiving consumer information via the app or application program.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a merchant loyalty/rewards credit from one merchant loyalty/rewards program;

receiving other merchant loyalty/rewards credit from at least one other merchant loyalty/rewards program;

determining at least one offer or advertisement based at least in part on the one merchant loyalty/rewards program and the at least one other merchant loyalty/rewards program;

outputting the at least one offer or advertisement to the consumer's mobile device;

generating or transmitting a notification to the consumer's mobile device upon receiving an indication of at least one of the following: the consumer's mobile device is in a predefined location, an earned reward, a reward threshold, an expiring reward or offer, or a third party product and/or service review; and

categorizing, organizing, ranking and/or prioritizing two or more merchants and/or associated merchant loyalty/reward programs based at least in part on consumer use, preference, conduct and/or behavior.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a card/loyalty proxy;

linking a merchant and/or affiliate identifier to a payment device via the card/loyalty proxy;

linking multiple merchant and/or affiliate identifiers to the payment device via the card/loyalty proxy;

associating multiple merchant and/or affiliate identifiers with a universal loyalty credential;

receiving an indication that a linked payment device or universal loyalty credential is being used at a point of sale (POS) device, for an online transaction, or via a mobile device transaction;

determining a loyalty/reward activity based at least in part on the card/loyalty proxy; and

transmitting the card/loyalty proxy or universal loyalty credential to an associated merchant facilitating a transaction.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an indication the consumer has performed a predefined activity;

crediting a consumer's account in a loyalty/rewards program based at least in part on the predefined activity;

outputting an indication of the credit to the consumer's mobile device;

receiving an instruction from the consumer to redeem a loyalty/reward credit on behalf of a third party;

determining a loyalty/reward activity based at least in part on the card/loyalty proxy; and

transmitting the card/loyalty proxy to an associated merchant facilitating a transaction.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an indication that the consumer has arrived at or will arrive at predefined merchant location;

transmitting a respective notification to a point of sale (POS) device associated with the merchant;

based at least in part on the indication, determining consumer identity, merchant identity and/or merchant's loyalty/reward program;

outputting information associated with one or more consumers at the predefined merchant location;

receiving a name or unique code with payment information from at least one consumer;

authenticating the name or unique code;

facilitating payment processing associated with the consumer purchase of a good and/or service from merchant;

receiving payment authorization request from consumer; and

transmitting payment confirmation, offer and/or loyalty/reward credit confirmation to POS device and/or mobile device associated with consumer.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a network link for the merchant to access a loyalty/reward application program;

receiving an indication that the merchant has opted in to an associated loyalty/rewards program;

receiving one or more merchant parameters for a customized merchant loyalty/rewards program; and

generating a downloadable app or application program for the consumer to access the customized merchant loyalty/rewards program.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an offer at the consumer's mobile device;

determining a plurality of names in a contacts module of the mobile device;

generating a display of the plurality of names on a user interface of the mobile device;

receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of names at the mobile device;

determining a contact reference for each of the selected names from the contacts module of the mobile device; and

transmitting the offer to each of the selected names at the respective contact reference.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an offer at the consumer's mobile device;

receiving access information for at least one social networking website;

accessing the at least one social networking website with the access information;

determining a plurality of names from the social networking website, wherein each name is associated with a person affiliated with the consumer on the social networking website;

generating a display of the plurality of names on a user interface of the mobile device;

receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of names at the mobile device;

determining a contact reference for each of the selected names from the social networking website; and

transmitting the offer to the person associated with each of the respective selected names at the respective contact reference.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an offer at the consumer's mobile device;

receiving access information for at least one social networking website;

accessing the at least one social networking website with the access information;

determining a plurality of names from the social networking website, wherein each name is associated with a person affiliated with the consumer on the social networking website;

generating a display of the plurality of names on a user interface of the mobile device;

receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of names at the mobile device;

accessing a page at the social networking website for each of the respective people associated with the selected names; and

posting information associated with the offer on each of the accessed pages of the social networking website.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request from a consumer's mobile device to download an application program;

identifying a share received offer program based at least in part on the request;

facilitating access to an application program associated with the share received offer program;

receiving consumer information via the application program associated with the share received offer program;

receiving access information for at least one social networking website via the application program associated with the share received offer program; and

receiving a personal identification number for accessing the application program associated with the share receive offer program.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request from the consumer's mobile device to download an application program;

identifying a share received offer program based at least in part on the request;

facilitating access to an application program associated with the share received offer program;

receiving consumer information via the application program associated with the share received offer program;

receiving access information for at least one social networking website via the application program associated with the share received offer program; and

receiving a personal identification number for accessing the application program associated with the share receive offer program.

14 . A system for providing a loyalty/reward program, the system comprising:

at least one processor operable to execute computer-executable instructions; and

at least one memory operable to store computer-executable instructions operable to:

receive an indication that a consumer has entered a predefined merchant location;

transmit a notification to a mobile device associated with the consumer;

provide one or more payment tools on a mobile device for the consumer to facilitate a purchase from a merchant associated with the predefined merchant location;

generate a loyalty/reward credit for an account associated with the consumer; and

receive an instruction from the consumer to redeem loyalty/reward credit for goods and/or service from the merchant.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:

receive a request from a consumer's mobile device to download an application program;

identify a share received offer program based at least in part on the request;

facilitate access to an application program associated with the share received offer program;

receive consumer information via the application program associated with the share received offer program;

receive access information for at least one social networking website via the application program associated with the share received offer program; and

receive a personal identification number for accessing the application program associated with the share receive offer program.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:

provide a network link for the merchant to access a loyalty/reward application program;

receive an indication that the merchant has opted in to an associated loyalty/rewards program;

receive one or more merchant parameters for a customized merchant loyalty/rewards program; and

generate a downloadable app or application program for the consumer to access the customized merchant loyalty/rewards program.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:

receive a code from the consumer's mobile device located at a merchant location;

identify a merchant's loyalty/reward program;

facilitate access to an app or application program associated with the merchant's loyalty/reward program; and

receive consumer information via the app or application program.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:

receive a merchant loyalty/rewards credit from one merchant loyalty/rewards program;

receive other merchant loyalty/rewards credit from at least one other merchant loyalty/rewards program;

determine at least one offer or advertisement based at least in part on the one merchant loyalty/rewards program and the at least one other merchant loyalty/rewards program;

output the at least one offer or advertisement to the consumer's mobile device;

generate or transmit a notification to the consumer's mobile device upon receiving an indication of at least one of the following: the consumer's mobile device is in a predefined location, an earned reward, a reward threshold, an expiring reward or offer, or a third party product and/or service review; and

categorize, organize, rank and/or prioritize two or more merchants and/or associated merchant loyalty/reward programs based at least in part on consumer use, preference, conduct and/or behavior.

19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:

generate a card/loyalty proxy;

link a merchant and/or affiliate identifier to a payment device via the card/loyalty proxy;

link multiple merchant and/or affiliate identifiers to the payment device via the card/loyalty proxy;

associate multiple merchant and/or affiliate identifiers with a universal loyalty credential;

receive an indication that a linked payment device or universal loyalty credential is being used at a point of sale (POS) device, for an online transaction, or via a mobile device transaction;

determine a loyalty/reward activity based at least in part on the card/loyalty proxy; and

transmit the card/loyalty proxy or universal loyalty credential to an associated merchant facilitating a transaction.