That retailers are realizing they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by making gift cards easier for consumers to use is what I’m taking from this piece on Cardpool’s new service (now in limited release to existing Cardpool customers) that allows you to buy gift cards, and have them immediately delivered to your iOS or Android device.

Because closed-loop gift cards are part of, well, closed gift card networks, I would guess this could only be done in collaboration with the gift card issuing company, such that Cardpool is able to issue new gift cards.

This would have to be my favorite way to use your a gift card, buy it and then immediately use it up at the checkout counter of the store you are in.