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As consumers adopt an increasing number of digital devices, a number of distinct ‘digital personalities’ are emerging, a shift which is forcing companies to adopt more innovative business models to deliver personalised experiences, according to a new IBM study, Beyond Digital.

IBM says most users fall into one of four emerging personality categories:

Efficiency Experts use digital devices and services to simplify day-to-day activities. Efficiency experts send e-mails rather than letters, use Facebook to communicate with others, access the Internet via mobile phones, and shop online.

A spike in demand for Facebook advertising has enabled the Social Network to up prices by more than 40% over a one-year period for promotions sold based on the number of views, according to a report by TBG Digital. The research also found that average CPM grew 15% in the last quarter – 13% in the UK, and 11% in the US.

Can banks get the game? Yes, according to banking solutions software outfit IND Group. Pioneers in banking gamification, IND Group believes that this is a ‘significant innovation for banks in the next couple of years’, writes Sally Ratcliffe.

Renault UK has rolled out a new Facebook application, Renault 4+ 4 years in 4 pictures, which enables consumers to showcase their most popular images from the last four years on the Social Network’s new Timeline feature, writes Steve Mullins. The app, developed by Publicis ‘Team Renault’, asks users to select one image from a shortlist for each of the past four years before generating a unique image for the Timeline cover.

One billion dollars for a two-year-old, non-money-making company with just nine members of staff? It’s hard not to be sceptical about Facebook’s latest start-up acquisition, says Thinktank International Research. But the research firm has come up with three key Instagram learnings which transfer well to other tech companies:

A whopping 82% of Americans have a favourable opinion of Google, while 53% express a strongly favourable opinion of the giant search brand, according to a ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted by Langer Research Associates. And Apple? Seventy-four percent see the brand favourably, but it lags Google by 16 points when it comes to strong devotees.