Category Archives: Mobile barcodes
SnapTags from Spyderlynk vs QR Codes plus Microsoft Tag
It is highly unlikely that SnapTags from Spyderlynk will completely replace QR Codes. QR Codes are like legacy systems – they just keep on going! But seriously, QR code providers should start thinking of a contingency plan as the competition is just getting better.
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Scanbuy delivers MTV and Taco Bell with QR Codes – but, shock, we like it
Taco Bell and MTV have teamed to promote this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. They have partnered with the help of mobile company Scanbuy. The ScanLife QR Code has been placed on boxes and packages or Taco Bell food and branded “Big Box Remixed”. Once scanned the codes will deliver all forms of VMA content to the user. These include videos, interviews and performance footage.
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Sex & Tags & QR codes
Rating: Our roundup of ‘recent’ QR campaigns
When GoMo News spotted an article headed ’8 recent examples of using QR Codes for marketing and/or brand awareness’ on Socialwayne.com here, naturally, it grabbed our attention. However, on closer inspection it soon became obvious that plenty of these examples aren’t recent at all. In particular the one from the French clothing supplier, Denim Code. There are two things wrong with using Denim Code as an example: – firstly it isn’t recent, it was done back in 2007. And secondly, the 2D barcodes in question are not even QR codes, they are Metatags (See our mobile barcode 101.) So, we thought it time to give our own round-up of how 2D barcodes are being used. And to point out that the Denim Code example is always used because sex sells. Continue reading
Food app draws support from Asda & Tesco
Rating: Helps those with IBS and coeliac disease using barcodes
All those people with food intolerances – such as IBS and coeliac disease – will benefit from an improved mobile app created by FoodWiz. The company has persuaded Tesco and Asda to release their food databases as part of an initiative. FoodWiz is available on iPhone/iOS and Android based phones and aims to help people with food selection and healthy eating. The app also aims to help all those suffering from food related medical conditions – such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. It focuses on the specific information that an effected consumer wants when they buy a food product. Naturally, this app works by reading 1D (regular) barcodes using a cameraphone. Continue reading
QR codes used to promote publicity stunt
Rating: Seems connected to location based advertising
Two QR codes were embedded in an email sent to GoMo News which appear to be tied in with some kind of publicity stunt for location based advertising. The QR codes link to videos on YouTube which promote a flashmob which will take place in Queen’s Road East, Central Building Corner in Hong Kong, today [August 3rd 2011]. The posting is entitled ‘Something Happening Here’. In the video you can clearly see a map and it is accompanied by Google ads. We’d guess this isn’t intentional, but one of the ads is very definitely for ladies of the night. Some-one should have done their homework more carefully. Continue reading
Scanbuy hires Alan Atlas to bolster its mobile barcode tech
Rating: Aims to unlock new industry segments and drive partnerships
To help grow the company’s global market share and technology leadership in the rapidly emerging mobile barcode space, Scanbuy has appointed mobile industry veteran, Alan Atlas, as its new CTO. Atlas has deep experience of leading the development of
Internet, enterprise and operating system software products. The appointment comes at a time when mobile barcodes are reaching a tipping point with mass consumer and business-to-business adoption. Continue reading
Tesco to make mobile price comparisons easier
Rating: Plans to roll out free Wi-Fi in stores
A report in the Financial Times here suggests that Tesco’s CIO, Mike McNamara, is thinking long and hard about introducing free Wi-fi into the company’s stores. One major motivation is that providing Wi-fi would make it much simpler for customers to check prices instore via their mobile phones. “You can stand Canute-like and pretend nothing is happening … or you can say it’s happening, and I am going to help it happen,” he told the FT. The move has also been linked to making Tesco’s loyalty card (Club card) more digital. Continue reading
GoMo News discovers warcoding in Soho bar
Rating: Guerrilla placement of QR codes
Want to get your QR/2D barcodes noticed? Well, you might want to follow in the steps of Steve Richards, who runs a bar in Soho [London]. He’s effectively invented the art of ‘warcoding’ through the strategic placement of QR codes around this public house. So, instead of merely printing a QR code within a poster stuck to the wall, Richards has affixed the barcodes to the fabric of the pub. GoMo News discovered one stuck to the front of the Gentleman’s toilet door – with absolutely no explanation whatsoever. It worked because we scanned it in with our trusty Motorola Defy – using the NeoReader from NeoMedia. The code actually invites you to complete a customer survey. Richards appears to have found a brilliant way to inspire the use of QR codes. Continue reading
Bulmers improves its QR code act, slightly
Rating: Needs to try harder
Following GoMo News‘ criticism of its use of QR codes for its No.17 cider advertising campaign here, we were pleasantly surprised to find another of Bulmer’s QR codes that actually worked. This one was featured in the UK’s Metro free magazine and we noted that the code was resolved by Scanbuy. So itworked this time. The only snag is that Bulmers has fallen foul of our of our Top Tips for including QR codes in your campaigns (see here). The unlearnt lesson is that that a 2D barcode should resolve to something which is mobile friendly. Unfortunately, in this case it didn’t. The code took mobile phone users straight to a full HTML site. Continue reading
O2 launches biggest location based promotions service
Rating: Save up to £105 with Priority Moments
Billed as the biggest launch of a location-based (promotions) service in the UK, O2 has just revealed a new offering which it is calling Priority Moments. It will go live tot the general public on July 26th.The aim is to provide the operator’s 22 million UK customers with a wide range of ‘coupons’ representing offers from some of Britain’s best known High Street brands. The list includes Harvey Nichols, Odeon Cinemas, Toni & Guy and WH Smith. The whole system is paperless but the initial promotions featured eight digital alpha-numeric codes. However, Shadi Halliwell, head of brands with O2, told GoMo News that this is just temporary. “Ultimately we hope to move towards barcodes and NFC,” she explained. Continue reading
Red Bull uses QR codes in New York City
Rating: Energy drink supplier is mobile savvy
Displaying how it is harnessing the latest mobile technology to enhance its brand, energy drink supplier – Red Bull – was placing QR codes on promotional posters placed on bus shelters last week. The posters (which were spotted by Mobile Marketeer here) were designed to encourage people to attend its Red Bull Creation challenge which took place on June 10th in McCarren Park in Brooklyn, NYC. When New Yorkers scanned the 2D barcode with their mobile devices, it pointed their browser at a video that highlighted the challenge and what they can expect to see. It’s just another example of how the company – which sponsors two teams in Formula One racing – is aware of how to annex a mobile phone as a marketing tool. It’s experimented with augmented reality, mobile apps, and Bluetooth as well as QR codes. Continue reading
Handheld barcode scanner is Android & iOS compatible
Rating: ideal tool for scaling up your smartphone app
There must be plenty of apps written for smartphones that take advantage of the barcode revolution but fail to scale up to high volume usage in harsh environments. That’s the chief reason why Maxa Technologies has released a new rugged handheld barcode scanner – the Pidion BI-500. The device is designed to communicate (via Bluetooth) with apps written for windows Mobile 5.0/6.1/6.5; Apple iOS; and Android. One huge benefit is that this product has GPS built-in. So it can, “Scan barcodes and save the location data simultaneously offering integrated functionality and improved productivity for the user,” as Steve Berry, a director with Maxa, explained. There’s even an option to integrate an RFID reader if you should want it. Continue reading
Silverstone employs QR codes for customer feedback
Rating: Ferret’s high tech replaces tickbox surveys
Spectators @ the British F1 Grand Prix were able to provide feedback in real-time by using QR codes or SMS/text, thanks to a system provided by Feedback Ferret to the organisers – Silverstone Circuits. Feeback Ferret claims this ability to express their thoughts and provide feedback to the organisers immediately rather them taking out their frustrations on social networks. The QR codes were promoted around the racing circuit and through the event guide.The use of Feedback Ferret’s technology is in addition to web feedback forms and post-event emails. These all form part of Silverstone Circuit’s strategy to allow fans to provide feedback via their preferred communications channel. Continue reading
US hasn’t reached tipping point for QR codes
Rating: here’s some hot tips on how US businesses can get there
On numerous occssions, GoMo News has highlighted the failure by some prominent brands to properly implement the use of QR codes within marketing promotions or ad campaigns. As the US market finally awakes to the benefits of using mobile barcodes (and QR codes in particular), we’ve spotted at least two publications providing useful advice to businesses on how to take advantage of this aspect of the mobile device revolution. One good example here is a column in the Forbes magazine blog entitled, ‘ 5 Tips for QR Code Campaigns’. Written by Michael Matthews, you can find the entire article here. More advice appeared in an article produced by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Called simply, ‘Quick tips for marketing with QR codes‘, this article also contained some useful words of advice and observations. “Every technology needs a tipping point to become mainstream.,” Matthews says. “As much as Jimmy Fallon has tried (see here), we [the USA] still haven’t reached the mainstream with QR Codes. Yet.” Continue reading
Another QR ad campaign misfires for Henry IV
Rating: Who has Flash in their Android phone, anyway?
Fresh from our discovery that there was something wrong with a QR code in a recent marketing campaign for Bulmers Cider (see here), GoMo News has spotted another major embarrassment for the creators of an add campaign for the Henry of Navarre film. It’s not too clear who has created this mess, but those who want to view a trailer fro the film about the life of Henry IV of France might be surprised to learn that their ‘smartphone’ needs to support Adobe’s Flash. GoMo News wouldn’t like to hazard a guess at the percentage of smartphone owners this requirement disenfranchises – but it must be huge. Continue reading
