Rating: Aims to offer built-in QR code reader
As shows like the Mobile World Congress (MWC) have so clearly demonstrated, offering a mobile app to accompany the event is an absolute must these days. Which is why GoMo News was so impressed to learn that the leading UK technology event – IP EXPO – has just launched its own mobile apps. Rather than merely offering an iOS app for iPhone users, the show’s organisers have commissioned Android and BlackBerry apps, too. If you’re still glued to your Symbian smartphone don’t despair as there’s a really excellent mobile version of the standard web site. To surf it from your mobile phone, just point your browser to http://mobile.ipexpo.co.uk. Of course, that mobile site isn’t just aimed at Nokia owners – it will work for any brand of smartphone (Windows Mobile, bada – even Windows Phone Mango).GoMo News got really excited about the next bit. There’s plans to build a QR code reader right into the Expo app itself. Which will save you all of the hassles involved with installing a separate QR code reader.
What will you be able to do with the QR code reader? Well, the organisers are planning to encourage exhibitors to place QR codes on their site posters and bury them away in their exhibitor marketing materials.
QR codes will also make it easy for smartphone users to hook themselves into free Wi-fi services being offered at the show.
One of the facilities which all show attendees always crave is an easy way to build their own personal agenda for the event.
At IP EXPO that capability is being offered by the ‘My Visit’ tool. Scroll through the list of conference sessions – add yourself in – and the times and details will automatically be added to your very own show schedule.
Another very clever use of mobile is the ‘feedback’ through which app users can vote for their favourite seminar sessions. 1,000 per cent much easier than trying to get people to fill in bits of paper.
The actual event doesn’t actually take place until 19th- 20th October [2011] and will take place at London’s Earls Court 2. (That’s different from the original Earls Court next door).
If you want to register for your free place at IP Expo why not do so now here.
Neil Robertson-Ravo, social business and online manager at Imago Techmedia the event’s organiser, commented, “MY VISIT on the smartphone is a smart move. Our attendees need to make effective use of their time.
With the new application they can plan their day at IP EXPO weeks in advance; the moment they sit down on the train on the way to the show; or even in the spacious lounges at Earls Court.
The choice is theirs.”
The Apple version is on the iTunes App Store whilst the Android version is available from the Android Market.
Presently, the BlackBerry version isn’t on the BlackBerry App World so just point your mobile browser here to download the BlackBerry app to download it.
It appears that the organisers are slightly worried about data charges which attendees might incur.
There’s a warning that, “User login and registration data between the web and the mobile app is synchronised every hour.”
If you’re on the wrong data tariff, that could prove quite expensive should you try to synchronise yourself at this point in time.
So for the meantime, synchronisation is turned off. But all the other bits of the IP Expo (besides the QR reader) are ready and waiting for you to use them.
