Target has added new components to its mobile Web site and iPhone application to ramp up for the holiday season.

Starting Nov. 17, Target is launching mobile access to several of its Christmas at Target tools such as Checklists, Merry Planner Calendar, Perfect Gift Pairings, Target Christmas Videos and a Gift Finder. Target consumers can also opt-in for holiday-planning text-message alerts.

“Ninety-two percent of Americans have a mobile phone and most people never have it more than three feet away from them at all times,” said Kelly Basgen, spokeswoman for Target, Minneapolis. “At Target, we know that mobile devices are integral parts of our guests’ lives, so we’re providing convenient, on-the-go mobile solutions for our guests.

“In keeping with our ‘Expect More. Pay Less.’ brand promise, our mobile functionality will help our guests easily find the perfect gifts and incredible deals, whether they’re using the Find it at a Target Store application on their phone to locate a specific item’s availability and aisle location while in our stores, or using the Gift Finder to search for gift ideas by interest, recipient or price to stay within their budget,” she said.

Target is a nationwide department store with 1,743 stores across the United States and a fully integrated Web site at http://Target.com.

Holidays and mobile
Under the Perfect Gift Pairings section, consumers can find products such as Apple’s iPod touch alongside accessories such as headphones to create the perfect gift package.

The Merry Planner is a calendar filled with tips and Target sale dates to make holiday preparations easier for the consumer.

The Checklists are pre-populated shopping lists that are sharable and printable.

Consumers can also use their phone to view, manage and update TargetLists and registries.

TargetLists let gift recipients share their wish lists and gives gift-givers a way to locate and purchase listed gifts.

TargetLists are currently available on the mobile Web site and the feature will be available on the Target iPhone application later this month.

The Gift Finder in the iPhone application categorizes gift ideas by interest, recipient and price to help consumers stay within budget while finding presents.

The iPhone application also uses the device’s GPS capabilities to look find nearby Target locations.

Additionally, the Find it at a Target Store feature lets consumers check specific item availability and aisle location from their mobile device.

On Target.com, consumers can sign up for SMS alerts from Target about the latest deals seen in Target’s weekly advertisement.

Consumers can also opt-in to receive text-message alerts for Target’s Daily Deals service by visiting http://dailydeals.target.com.

Daily Deals is a new destination on Target.com that offers free shipping and savings of up to 50 percent off regular prices for five products each day. The deals are available exclusively online, for one day only.

Ms. Basgen said that Target has increasingly gone mobile to address the needs of its consumers.

“At Target, our goal is to be fresh and innovative, connecting with all of our guests in a way that’s reflective of their wants and needs,” Ms. Basgen said. “We know that more and more, mobile devices are integral parts of our guests’ lives, so providing convenient, on-the-go mobile solutions for our guests is an important layer to our overall holiday campaign.”