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4th Annual Mobile Marketing Day Speaker Laura Marriott
The Annual Mobile Marketing Day 2012
Register early to ensure your seat! Each of these events has sold out and people had to be turned away at the door!
Hear industry experts discuss the state of mobile marketing at this fourth annual event on March 22 in New York, organized by Mobile Marketer in conjunction with the DMA Mobile Marketing Council.
Mobile's maturity over the past year is unprecedented. The opportunities that arose in 2011 and the uptake by marketers in the channel proves that outreach to consumers on the go is the future of marketing. However, brands, ad agencies, retailers, and publishers are still trying to figure out how to integrate mobile into their multichannel mix while dealing with the complexities of the medium, including device and platform fragmentation and lack of advertising standardization.
“Mobile Marketing Day will focus on the state of mobile marketing and how it should fit into the multichannel marketing strategy,” said Giselle Tsirulnik, deputy managing editor of Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily.
“Attendees can expect to learn the ins and outs of the most popular mobile sub-channels such as advertising, media, messaging, QR codes, app and Web site development, and location-based marketing,” she said. “Those in attendance will learn how to incorporate various mobile strategies into the 360-degree marketing plan.”
Limited to only 100 executives, the daylong conference is part of a continuing series of educational and informational events run by Mobile Marketer and the DMA Mobile Marketing Council. The event is being held in midtown Manhattan, and is walking distance from Grand Central Station and Times Square. Registration is $99 for DMA Council members, $299 for DMA members, and $499 for non-members; the fee includes breakfast, lunch, and cocktails.
LIMITED NUMBER OF SPONSORSHIPS/TABLETOPS AVAILABLE — RESERVE NOW. Contact Lisa Merizio Smith [lmerizio@the-dma.org]
Agenda
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Debate: Which Channel Will Be the Breakout Star in 2012?
With so many channels to choose from — SMS, mobile ads, mobile search, messaging, mobile Web, mobile apps, QR codes and mobile video — it is hard to foretell which will bring the best ROI. Consumers now expect from mobile phones experiences realized on Web-enabled computers and stores — plus more. Panelists in this session will conduct a lively discussion regarding:
The various mobile channels and how they work for branding and customer acquisition
Which channel will be the breakout star in 2012 and why?
How new forms of mobile marketing and what the future holds
What progress is being made in mobile measurement within the various subchannels of mobile
Best practice tips for 2012 and beyond
Speakers: Laura Marriott, acting-CEO, NeoMedia Technologies
Eric Harber, Chief Operating Officer, Hipcricket
Gary Schwartz, Vice President, Millennial Media
Lisa Abramson, Director of Marketing, Rhythm NewMedia
Alistar Goodman, CEO, Placecas
Moderator: Giselle Tsirulnik, Deputy Managing Editor, Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily
Maserati takes customization to mobile through QR placement
By Rachel Lamb
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February 23, 2012
Maserati GranTurismo S
Italian automaker Maserati is taking the next step in mobile marketing by inserting customized QR codes into a print advertisement that leads to an optimized site where consumers can build their own GranTurismo S.
The advertisement, which is found in many luxury-focused magazines including Robb Report, is a one-page placement with a QR code with the Maserati symbol in the middle. The optimized site post-scan takes consumers to a site where they can build their own car, check out different models, locate a dealer and sign up for email newsletters.
“High smartphone usage in the higher income brackets is a truth, and from what we see from our own statistics, QR code scanning is significantly higher on smartphones,” said Laura Marriott, Vancouver, British Columbia-based CEO of NeoMedia Technologies.
“Affluent individuals are also likely to be tech-savvy and are often early adopters, which makes them an ideal audience to scan a QR code,” she said. “Thus brands like Maserati that leverage QR codes to offer their consumers a means to interact with their brand are showing that they understand their target audience and are appealing to their target audience.”
Ms. Marriott is not affiliated with Maserati, but agreed to comment as an industry expert.
The GranTurismo S is a two-door vehicle with a 4.7L V8 engine. It can go 0-60 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds and maxes out at 183 miles per hour.
Safe landing
The ad in Robb Report is for the new Maserati GranTurismo GT.
Maserati shows the red convertible against a sunset with “Maserati” and the logo at the top of the page above “Hand-stitched adrenaline.”
Maserati ad
The rest of the ad describes some of the car features, including extensive customization options, and includes the QR code with the Maserati symbol enclosed.
“Custom codes create a nice visual connection to the brand, especially since QR codes are so visible, which is part of the reason they work,” said Mike Wehrs, CEO of Scanbuy, New York.
“We always guide our customers to use custom codes when they make sense, like in print, and ensure they work across multiple devices and apps,” he said.
There is also a call-to-action at the bottom of the page for the Maserati Web site and phone number.
When consumers can the code, they are taken to the mobile-optimized site where consumers can explore the vehicle.
Maserati landing page
Users are able to choose car color and wheel rims by tapping different colored swatches.
Maserati customization page
Consumers can look at other models, find dealerships and explore other components of the brand by tapping at the Maserati logo at the top of the page to be brought to the homepage.
Maserati takes its mobile site as an opportunity for customer retention by including a section for email blast sign-ups.
Cracking the code
Other luxury brands have been using customized bar codes.
For example, U.S. lifestyle brand Ralph Lauren upped the QR code ante with customized bar codes to lure consumers into its store locations (see story).
The new bar code, complete with the brand’s polo player logo, is in Ralph Lauren store windows to entice affluent men into stores and allow them to engage with the brand through a chance to win tickets to the US Open tennis tournament.
Branding a QR code makes it undeniably property of that label, especially to those who already know its mascot or logo.
Indeed, as long as the brand experience reflects post-scan – most importantly, that the content is optimized for mobile – some experts think that customization is unneeded.
“We tend to recommend that our brands do not brand their codes, but instead leave them as is and use other elements of their campaign for branding in order to ensure the best possible consumer experience,” NeoMedia’s Ms. Marriott said.
“However, as long as the custom QR codes are easily identified by the consumer and result in a positive scan experience, then great,” she said.
Bloomingdale’s amps up mcommerce game via multichannel initiative
by Rimma Kats
Bloomingdale’s is proving that mobile plays an integral role in the company’s overall strategy via a new catalog that not only promotes its recently launched iPad application, but also includes QR codes and SMS calls to action throughout.
The company has placed mobile bar codes on almost every page of its women’s and men’s catalog, which let consumers learn more about the looks featured. Additionally, underneath each QR code, there is an SMS call to action.
“QR codes are fabulous at bringing life to static media,” said Laura Marriot, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies, New York.
“By placing QR codes throughout the catalog, Bloomingdale’s is giving the opportunity for the consumer to interact with the retailer directly at time of desire,” she said.
“Whether that interaction is to access greater information about the product, a coupon or to complete the purchase, Bloomingdale’s is helping create a dialogue with their consumer, which in return, helps to build affinity and brand loyalty.”
Ms. Marriott is not affiliated with Bloomingdale’s. She commented based on her expertise on the subject.
Bloomingdale’s did not respond to press inquiries.
Bloomingdale’s is the upscale department store chain that is part of Macy’s Inc.
All about mobile
Recently, Bloomingdale’s sent out its new catalogs – one specifically for women and one for men.
The women’s catalog, The Stylist, informs consumers that they should watch out for mobile bar codes and encourages users to download the Scanlife application.
Additionally, the company is promoting its iPad app throughout the catalog and informs consumers that they can shop each of the looks featured via their tablet device.
There are a total of 14 QR codes featured in the women’s catalog and a total of 6 mobile bar codes featured in the men’s catalog, The Essentialist.
Next to almost every designer look there is a mobile bar code.
For example, on page 4 of the women’s catalog, there is a Marc by Marc Jacobs look with a QR code next to it.
Consumers are encouraged to scan the mobile bar code to see colorblocking tips and tricks. Those that do not want to scan the QR code can text the keyword COLOR to the short code 51515.
In addition, consumers can shop the Marc by Marc Jacobs look via the Bloomingdale’s iPad app.
Similar to the women’s catalog, the men’s one also includes mobile bar codes, SMS calls to action and promotes the company’s new iPad app.
IPad shopping
The Bloomingdale’s iCatalog iPad app lets users view pages and spreads, tap on the items they are interested in buying and browse additional information about a certain product.
Consumers can also share their favorite products with friends and family through email or social network such as Facebook and Twitter.
The app lets consumers view multiple colors on select products with SwatchMatch and enjo slideshows with PhotoSession.
The company’s new catalog initiative is a great way to offers consumers different mediums to shop.
Mobile bar codes are growing at a rapid speed, but SMS and mobile applications are also an effective method to boast user engagement.
Offering consumers all three is a sure-fire way to engage them and further build that business and consumer relationship.
“And for the consumer, what a great experience to quickly, by scanning the QR code, access the product of desire,” Ms. Marriott said.
“No long URLs to remember, no waiting till they get home, no call center IVRs to wade through, simple, instant and easy access to the mobile Web or application experience,” she said.
Final Take
Rimma Kats is staff reporter on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York
QR Code Trends/Early Adopters by Laura Marriott
Written by Laura Marriott, CEO, NeoMedia Technologies
The convergence of social media and technology is changing how people shop and what they expect from retailers. The QR code is the latest technology to be part of this shift. According to research from comScore, 20.1 million mobile phone owners in the U.S. used their device to scan a QR code in the three-month average period ending October 2011. Among this group, 59.4% scanned from home, 44% from a retail store and 26.6% from a grocery store.
It seems that QR codes have become a retailer’s secret weapon. But why? The answer lies in interactivity: By simply using the camera phone to scan the code, consumers can connect to the product web site; check availability, reviews and ratings; access comparative shopping information; enter contests; and even go direct to a call center to have their questions answered. Suddenly, static media has become two-dimensional, exciting and, most importantly, measureable.
Used as a marketing tool, QR codes can bring a brand to life and provide detailed information to the increasingly connected and savvy consumer. They can be used in store on products, either on shelf, on pack or at point of sale. Alternatively, they can envelope the consumer in a deeply immersive brand experience that merges online and off, or be used to drive sales and increase footfall.
But are retailers really seeing results from QR codes? What trends are emerging? Who are the early adopters integrating this new marketing tool to best effect? How is the technology changing the customer experience?
Revolutionizing Window Displays
The integration of QR codes into store fronts and window displays is an emerging QR code trend. In a South Korean subway station, Tesco created a virtual store ? a wall of product images, each with their own QR code ? that allows passers-by to scan and buy items then have them delivered to their homes. Even though Southeast Asia is the home of the QR code, this is an idea that retailers in the U.K. have been quick to copy. Waitrose recently incorporated the concept into its Brighton branch store front, filling the window with product images and QR codes related to its Top 30 Christmas gifts. HMV and 20th Century Fox recently launched posters on bus stops with QR codes on each image of a DVD or Blu-Ray; when scanned, the codes direct consumers to the HMV online store where the items can be purchased.
Providing Additional Product Information
Another trend is using the QR code to access additional information. In the U.S., the first major retailer to adopt the QR code was electronics retailer Best Buy, who integrated QR codes into its at-shelf product fact tags in September 2010. By scanning the code, Best Buy shoppers can view and compare key product features more visually, as well as access reviews and email product information to friends. In Germany, grocery chain REWE first introduced QR codes into its products in early 2011, allowing customers to access product origins and examine nutritional information.
Realizing The Brand
Target is another retailer pushing the boundaries by using mobile bar codes to provide customers with a more interactive experience. The U.S. retail giant embedded QR codes into its national print advertisements for home furnishing products. When customers scan the QR code, they are linked to a 60-second video of Sabrina Soto, a home styling expert, who demonstrates how Target’s furnishings and products can liven up home décor. Macy’s Backstage Pass used a similar approach: scanning the code brought celebrity designers and fashion authorities into every store location nationwide. Customers received essential tips; information on the latest trends; and advice and inspiration straight from their favorite style icons.
Refining The Offer
QR codes go beyond the ability to bring something fresh and invigorating to a campaign; when used in conjunction with an analytics platform, they allow retailers to gain valuable data about the consumer from each and every scan. Retailers can use the insight to further tailor consumer interactions to better address their target audience and funnel additional spend into high-performing components of their campaigns.
Future Applications: The QR Code In 2012
According to a new study from Forrester Research, 5% of adult U.S. smartphone users now scan 2D bar codes ? including QR codes ? up from 1% in 2010. Based on this growth, mobile barcodes will continue to gain traction in 2012, thanks to greater smartphone penetration, increased consumer awareness, and brand confidence and understanding. QR codes also will cement their place as the dominant 2D code, becoming the most utilized mobile media elements leveraged by marketers across all sectors.
Next year, as best practices become mainstream and brands move past the trial-and-error phase to deliver bolder, sharper strategies, retailers will be creating even more intriguing campaigns. We also will begin to see coupling: a tactic in which brands include multiple modes in their calls-to-actions, such as using both QR and SMS in advertisements. QR codes will be launched alongside NFC initiatives, as these technologies increasingly are seen as complementary rather than competitive. Next year also will see industry guidelines for standardization and best practices take shape, led by one of the major trade associations.
QR codes take customers on an interactive and oftentimes immersive product/brand journey and make a unique and dynamic contribution to the marketing mix. Undoubtedly they will continue to hold countless possibilities for retailers in the years ahead.
Laura Marriott has been CEO and Chairperson of NeoMedia Technologies since October 2010. Previously she served as NeoMedia’s CMO and has been an active member of the NeoMedia Board of Directors since January 2009. Before joining NeoMedia, Marriott ran her own mobile consultancy that helped companies engage the mobile channel in their day-to-day businesses. Marriott also has served as President of the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) from 2005 to 2009.
Report shows 4,500% growth QR code scans 2011
Research and Markets report shows 4,500% growth in QR code scans in 2011
Mobile Commerce Press:
Research and Markets, a market research firm, has released a new report concerning the growth of QR codes and how much they have been scanned this year. 2011 has been a successful year for the codes as many more companies have begun incorporating them into their marketing campaigns. Awareness of the codes has been swelling amongst consumers, who had never before been exposed to such mobile technology. The report details how quickly the codes have grown in a single year.
According to the report, QR code scan rates have jumped by 4,500% since the first quarter of 2010. The report notes that businesses are beginning to hit their stride in using the codes, which has translated into ease of use for consumers. Many consumers are still mystified by the codes – not knowing exactly what they are – but that lack of awareness is quickly being snuffed out as the codes become a staple in mobile marketing.
$$$$$ QR codes @ London 2012 Olympic Games
QR codes will be used for marketing, live displays, publications and websites for planning and execution of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
From Visit London, the official tourism website of London.
Google Ventures funding QR Codes!
After 10M downloads in 1 year, Scan gets $1.7M from Menlo and Google Ventures to perfect QR codes
by Ben Popper/VB Mobile
Like most people, Garrett Gee thought the experience of creating and using QR codes kind of sucked. “They were not visually appealing or user friendly,” he told VentureBeat. So as a sophmore at Bringham Young in Utah, Gee and few friends created their own iOS app, Scan, to help users create and interact with QR codes. 10 million downloads less than a year later, and the startup has scored $1.7 million in funding from big names like Menlo Ventures, Google Ventures, Yuri Milner’s Start Fund, Social + Capital Partnership, and Lady Gaga manager Troy Carter.
“We came at it from a design perspective and we were young, sort of native to the iPhone,” Gee said. After just three months in the App Store Scan had passed a million downloads. “That’s when the investors came calling.” The company wanted to make it simple for anyone to create a QR code and to find ways to engage with them that took user experience seriously. “Most people are interacting with QR codes using their phones, but a lot of time that took them to a mobile web site that was poorly designed.”
Scan tried to simplify that experience by creating simple interactions linked to social services. Users could scan to “like” something on Facebook or check-in on Foursquare. Along with the funding announcement today, Scan is launching Scan Pages, a three step process that allows user to create a drop dead simple mobile site to serve as the landing page for the QR code.
Along with a ton of inbound interest from investors, Scan also scored some big clients, including NBA teams and pop star Lady Gaga, who used their app to create QR code campaigns. “It’s kind of exciting to think what we can do now that we actually have a budget for marketing,” said Gee.
The vision for Scan goes beyond the QR code, which helps to explain why Google is so interested. “We’re planning to incorporate NFC, barcodes and image recognition like they have in Google Googles,” says Gee. “Basically making it simple and fun to jump from the real world to the web with a click of a button on your phone.”
QR Code Insights From ComScore
ComScore published its ‘2012 Mobile Future in Focus’ report today with key insights from 2011 and what they mean for the coming year. It’s a mobile marketers ‘must read’ and the full report is available for download from their website here. This is a snippet specifically on QR Codes from the report:
During 2011, QR Codes came onto the scene as a way to bridge mobile and traditional media across various mediums including print publications, product packaging, outdoor kiosks and more. A QR (”Quick Response”) code is a specific matrix bar code (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by smartphones. In December 2011, 1 in every 5 smartphone owners in the U.S. scanned a QR Code with their phone, leading Canada and European markets as the top scanning market. Canada and Germany both saw near 16 percent of smartphone owners scanning QR Codes during the month, while the UK and Spain (home to the most penetrated smartphone markets) saw just 12 percent of their audiences scanning QR Codes.
Of those U.S. smartphone owners that scanned a QR Code in December 2011, the most popular source of scanning was product packaging (done by 42 percent of the scanning population), while the most popular location for scanning was at home (done by 57 percent of scanners). Product information was the most popular result of scanning a QR Code with nearly 3 in 4 of the scanning audience directed to product info. Nearly one-third of those that scanned a QR Code resulted in a coupon or offer, while 1 in 4 received event information. QR Codes demonstrate just one of the ways in which mobile marketing can be integrated into existing campaigns to help reach desired consumer segments and further bridge the gap between mobile and traditional marketing strategies at relatively low risk and investment for brands. But in order for it to become a truly effective marketing tool, marketers must understand how consumers are engaging with these codes and how these codes can complement marketing strategies to create another connection point with consumers.
86% of marketers plan to use QR Codes
From BizReport:
Mobile barcode firm Scanbuy has released findings of a new study that reveals marketers are well aware of QR Codes and the majority say they will be using them at some point in the future.
According to the study nearly all marketers are aware of QR Codes and 50% are already using them in some fashion. Despite many consumers not knowing what to do when coming across a QR Code a whopping 86% of marketers said they plan to use QR Codes sometime in the future.
However, QR codes are not the only mobile barcodes that are being considered. Scanbuy notes that many companies are looking into the likes of Microsoft Tags and EZcodes.
Scanbuy found that the top three placement choices among marketers are magazines/newspapers, direct mail and product packaging. This is somewhat in line with the findings of a recent study by Martin Chadwick Bailey. It found that newspapers and magazines are where most QR Codes are being found and scanned (35%) followed by on packages (18%) and on websites (13%). Surprisingly few were scanned from billboards (11%) or a piece of direct mail (11%).
Product information, promotions and coupons were the top three content choices for marketers using or considering the use of QR Codes, found Scanbuy.
"We're excited to see the continued growth in awareness among marketers, and we expect both the quantity and the quality of QR Code marketing to grow considerably in 2012 with 86% of respondents reporting that they plan to use 2D barcodes in the future," said Mike Wehrs, CEO and President of Scanbuy.
QR Codes: The Here and Now of Mobile Marketing
From RIS Media
While more and more consumers are turning to their smartphones for information, brokers and REALTORS® everywhere are adapting in order to properly serve their mobile, forward-thinking clientele. The latest trend in the world of mobile marketing is not only dominating the mobile world, but also changing the way agents are promoting their listings and printing their signage.
Over the last couple of years, QR codes, short for quick response codes, have been popping up almost everywhere you look. Advertisements in magazines and newspapers, posters, billboards, and even real estate for-sale signs have all been sporting these small, square codes. When scanned with a smartphone, these quirky and efficient little codes have proven to be powerhouses for marketing strategies, driving users to any type of content a company desires, from a robust, mobile-enabled website to a page with a single, simple message. The possibilities are endless with QR codes, however, for REALTORS®, to be without them could be a fatal (and costly) mistake in judgment.
“I feel the biggest advantage QR codes have provided to the real estate industry is the ability to distinguish one REALTOR® from another. They are also opening a new conversation point for people to talk to sellers,” says John Lim, president and CEO of Mobile Real Estate ID, a company dedicated to increasing real estate business through the implementation of cutting-edge mobile technology and interactive marketing. “There is a real wow-factor to QR codes when utilized properly, with delivery to a mobile-enabled website.”
There is quite possibly no technology more efficient than a QR code for transmitting property information to a passerby or potential homebuyer. Scanning the code saves the consumer precious time. With just one or two clicks (or touches), a mobile user can arrive at a website, saving him or her dozens of keystrokes and mobile Web searches.
Since the industry’s inception of QR code technology, REALTORS® managed separate QR codes for each property listed, making sure the right code landed on the appropriate signage. With each home needing a unique code, all riders required a custom design costing approximately $20 per rider, and REALTORS® were responsible for appropriately managing each code/property combination. Except now, the industry is getting a step ahead of the mobile movement thanks to a new system put in place by Lim and his company.
Mobile Real Estate ID’s OneCode™ system provides REALTORS® with one single QR code to use for every property they have listed for sale. Potential buyers scanning the code can then access the accurate property information, including the agent’s contact information, instantly with zero management or technical skills necessary, saving agents the time and need to swap or reprint signs. In addition, Mobile Real Estate ID’s printing saved agents more than half in signage costs in 2011, with free sticker printing for already-existing signs. According to Lim, REALTORS® saved $477,750 via his company’s cost-conscious services in 2011. With 31,580 signs mobilized, the company saw a total of 104,560 scans with 213,112 page views, proving that those who did scan the codes clicked on more than one property while there.
Not only is the OneCode™ system easy and efficient for REALTORS®, but it continues to facilitate an easy method of information generation for the buyers and sellers it serves. As QR codes continue to place information directly in the palms of their hands, only this time faster, buyers have more time to spend with the information presented, which increases the chances of the seller getting a bite on the home. As Lim suggests, QR codes can be a success even if the code isn’t scanned. “If you see a QR code on a sign, you might take 30 seconds or more to look. They catch your eye. If the code makes you stop and look for 10-15 seconds more, then it worked.”
The trick is not necessarily surrounding the QR code itself, but rather, how one uses it. The big push, according to Lim, is the fact that mobile technology has not been used correctly since its injection into the real estate industry. Once a code is scanned, the user should be brought to a mobile-optimized website. If there is no optimization for the mobile user, it has the potential to hurt the industry at large.
All forms of technology must be reigned in and employed properly in order to have a significantly positive impact on business. This year, as Lim suggests, ask yourself, “How am I using this technology?” and “How do I monetize it?” “It is one thing to have a mobile solution. It is another to make money off it and, today, saving money is making money,” says Lim.
One fact that has certainly been proven throughout the course of 2011: QR codes aren’t a fad; they are the “here and now” of mobile marketing, says Lim. However, if they fail to work properly, it may deter people from scanning them, and precious credibility could be lost in the process. “If you can’t search properties correctly, you could lose trust in the REALTOR®. There are too many potential losses right now for the real estate industry if they don’t step up and fix the problem of making sure that everything that works online, including all forms of digital marketing, also works on the mobile device,” advises Lim. “Looking at 2011 in review, QR codes have increased penetration, increased sales and, when done correctly, will make you more money.”
Apps, QR Codes 2012's top mobile marketing investments
From Biz Report:
by Helen Leggatt
Econsultancy's 2012 report found that while over 68% of companies and agencies are increasing their digital marketing budgets this year just 16% are increasing their spend on traditional marketing channels.
Mobile will see a hefty chunk of investment over the coming 12 months. When Econsultancy asked which mobile technologies and channels would attract investment over half (57%) of businesses and over two-thirds of agencies (67%) cited mobile apps as their top investment in the next 12 months.
Despite a mixed press, QR Codes were the second highest answer for businesses (48%) and agencies (44%) alike closely followed by mobile commerce and mobile advertising.
1st QR Code Used Super Bowl Ad Success!!!!!!!
qrmedia.us/1st-qr-code-used-in-a-super-bowl-ad-a-success/
If you were watching the Super Bowl Sunday, you witnessed a great game, half time show, and the best commercials companies can buy. If you were one of the many who sticks around to watch the Super Bowl commercials, you probably witnessed the first Super Bowl commercial in history to feature a QR code. Go Daddy took a risk, many believed the QR code would look terrible on a commercial (which is why they should of designed it) but they decided to take the gamble.
“We decided it was worth the risk to play to all the people watching the game and using their smartphones simultaneously,” said Go Daddy Executive Chairman and Founder Bob Parsons. “I’m thrilled we made the decision. Viewers scanned the code and as a result, Go Daddy set an all-time sales record for our mobile site.”
“Prior to the game, it was estimated smartphone users would check their devices ten times during the game. Go Daddy has used the technology in other television ads, but a QR code had never been used in a Super Bowl commercial by any advertiser.”
“The QR Code technique debuted with the star who has been in more Super Bowl commercials (10) than any other celebrity ever, Danica Patrick.”
There is a lot to take away from the Go Daddy QR code experiment. For one, more people then ever are engaging the web from mobile phones, and by using a QR code, Go Daddy was able to break their mobile site traffic record, and break record sales from their mobile site simply using a QR code. Go Daddy has proved that a QR code will increase business and sales if used properly. Congratulations to the Go Daddy team for they super QR success.
QR Code’s Advertising Success
From ODM Group
A recent study reveals that QR code occurrence increased by 493% in 2011, and advertising is responsible. By capitalizing on the constant innovations of the smartphone, marketers utilized the code as a convenient tool to achieve marketing objectives, such as: branding and demonstrations, data capturing, list building, commerce, and sharing through social media.
Marketers argue that these codes satisfy people’s curiosity during their “moment of interest.” In other words, they provide people with information immediately upon discovery, without the hassle of typing a URL into their phone or waiting to get to their desktop.
Through the public’s infatuation with mobile devices, QR code providers have found an effective way to generate brand interest in an economy where consumer attention is brief. As smart phone sales continue to rise, marketers will continue to explore the code’s uses.
USPS Looks to Reinvent Successful QR Code Campaign
Posted in Mobile Barcodes
The USPS’ summer QR code campaign was a huge success… will they be able to expand upon their success in 2012?
Over the summer, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) used QR codes on mailers to give a discount on Standard and First-Class mail items. The program was so successful, that the USPS board insists that a similar promotion be done in 2012.
While the details of the promotion are still TBA, the USPS is looking to expand upon their campaign from last year, engaging consumers and creating lasting success for the mail.
It’s refreshing to see that even a large, government run institution such as the USPS is using QR codes to their advantage. In an age where e-mails are sent instantaneously, automatically and on-the-go, the USPS needs to keep mail alive, and QR codes may just be that solution.
Advertisers to use QR codes during Super Bowl
During this Sunday’s airing of the 46th Super Bowl some advertisers will be using QR codes in the commercial that will be played to help reach consumers on a deeper level.
For example, Go Daddy will be showing an ad that is 30 seconds long and will star Danica Patrick, the auto racing driver, as well as a lineup of the Pussycat Dolls pop girl group, who will be accompanied by a QR code that will be displayed onscreen.
These advertisers are hoping to take advantage of what many people believe to be the most important television advertising event of the year. In fact, many people watch the Super Bowl for the ads alone.
The Communications Director from the School of Information Studies at SU, J.D. Ross, explained that “It’s just another way to get customers’ foot in the door, if you will.”
It is estimated that approximately 60 percent of the viewers of the game will have a smartphone handy that will be capable of scanning the codes that have attracted their interest when they are displayed on the Super Bowl Sunday television screen.
Mia Breitkopf, SU graduate student said that by showing the codes it is as though there is a secret that the viewers will want to be told. She explained that when the viewer sees the code, they will wonder what it will have to say and that he or she will “wonder where it will bring you.”
Currently, approximately six percent of the population uses the codes, and advertisers feel that this trend will grow, bringing consumers to their websites to log on.
The Future Looks Bright For QR Codes
2d code
QR code and two dimensional bar codes, news, views and analysis
Econsultancy’s Marketing Budgets report for 2012 based on discussions with companies and agencies shows some interesting data on the future of QR Codes. When asked “Which of the following mobile channels or technologies do you plan to invest in during 2012” 48% of companies said QR Codes. When asked “Which of the following mobile channels or technologies do your clients plan to invest in during 2012” 44% of agencies said QR Codes. “Mobile Applications” had a higher percentage in both groups but QR Codes were second even coming ahead of “Mobile Commerce” and “Mobile Advertising”.
Sticking With Good Ship NeoMedia Technologies
Unlike the captain of the doomed Costa Concordia, Francesco Schettino, I am not abandoning ship. I am staying for the ride. Yes, I know about the looming default crisis and suffocating dilution. But do you know how long us longs waited for this technology to go mainstream? Every year we heard the familiar cry, “ Wait Until next year.” Well next year is here. QR codes are everywhere. It’s now or never for us. I am in the minority on this board; I believe we’re going to have success in 2012.
I was going to type Good Luck To Us All, but I remembered the words of one of my professors who told us she doesn’t believe in luck. She said success comes from hard work. Let’s hope Laura and her co-workers are heeding this advice.
QR Code Use Jumped 617% From January to December in Top 100 Magazines, New Nellymoser Study Reveals
A Record 4468 Mobile Action Codes Appeared in Ads and Editorial Pages. QR Code Market Share Reaches 80%.
ShareThis Email PDF Print . .Number of QR Codes in 2011 increases monthly.
The average number of codes per magazine issue grew – from 2.33 in Q1 to 6.50 in Q4 2011. Arlington, MA (PRWEB) January 26, 2012
QR codes and other mobile action codes, including Microsoft Tags and 2D barcodes, grew a dramatic 617% from January to December 2011 in the Top 100 U.S. magazines, according to an in-depth study released today by Massachusetts-based Nellymoser, a mobile marketing and technology company. Advertisers drove the majority of QR and action code growth. From January to December, the percent of ad pages containing a code jumped from 3.6% to 8.36%.
For its latest study, Nellymoser analyzed the top 100 U.S. magazines by circulation and analyzed the published issues from January to December 2011, covering 164,255 pages. The company scanned every QR and action code, activated every campaign, ran every video and visited every web page. Findings showed significant growth in many areas including:
The monthly count of codes printed in the top 100 magazines grew from 88 in January to 631 in December.
Advertisers contributed heavily to the growth. The monthly percentage of codes from advertising increased from 87% in January to 96% in Q4.
The average number of codes per issue grew – from 2.33 in Q1 to 6.50 in Q4.
QR market share increased from 66% in January to 80% in December.
Almost all codes in Q4 led to product demonstrations, branding videos, sweepstakes, e-commerce and/or social sharing sites.
“The remarkable growth of mobile action codes in 2011 signals that this technology has moved from an experimental phase to becoming an integral part of a brand’s print marketing strategy,” said Roger Matus, Executive Vice President of Nellymoser and study co-author. “QR codes bring a magazine to life with engaging content that is delivered when and where it’s convenient for the reader. Unlike a static advertisement, print-to-mobile campaigns let brands pursue many marketing goals at once – from branding, product demonstrations and list building to m-commerce and social media sharing.”
QR Codes Lead Action Code Market
In 2011, advertisers overwhelmingly preferred QR codes (72%) and Microsoft Tag (25%) to other types of action codes (3%). While advertisers preferred QR codes, editors and integrated marketers favored Microsoft Tags, which made up 93% of codes that appeared in editorial content.
Video, Data Capture, Social Media and E-Commerce Are Biggest Uses for Action Codes
More than half of all QR codes and Microsoft Tags led to a video (54%), which usually was a product demo, behind the scenes look or an entertaining clip. Data capture and list building for opt-in communications, usually with a sweepstakes, were also very popular with 30% of action codes leading to this type of engagement. Social media sharing, where action codes enable Facebook, Twitter and email sharing, represented 23% of mobile engagements. E-commerce was also popular with 19% of mobile engagements leading to an online-store for instant product purchases, brick-and-mortar store locators and/or coupons.
A copy of the QR in advertising study is available at no charge at http://www.nellymoser.com/qr-in-advertising.
About Nellymoser
Nellymoser, Inc. (http://www.nellymoser.com), a mobile marketing and technology company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Arlington, MA, creates instant, interactive consumer “engagements” on mobile phones. These range from contests and product videos to interactive multimedia engagements that can be shared on social media (e.g. Facebook and Twitter) and include e-commerce for instant product purchases. Nellymoser’s customers include leading publishers, advertisers, retailers, and consumer packages goods companies. All companies and products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
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11:00AM (ET).
Wild week! Setting up huge value play!
StockRead.com:
Ourhotstockpicks.com: NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (NEOM) - Gearing up for a wild week
Today 8:49
NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (NEOM) - Gearing up for a wild week! NEOM is on high alert as indication of a major push this week may draw some major buying into the company. With prices at super undervalued levels, expect a quick and big turnaround to bullish trends. NEON is setting up for a huge value play.
NEOM is breaking through this multi-billion dollar mobile market with their revolutionary technology.
barcodelink.net Everyone has already seen something like this by now - may look Klingon but actually contains a wealth of knowledge with a Mobile Bar Code reader, and NEOM has the technology and more to go viral.
Neo Media Inc Apple`s iPhone provides us with the means, NEOM`s application provides the purpose.
NEOM closed Friday at $0.015 and is starting to push of historic lows, the perfect opportunity to scoop super under valued shares.
We are seeing major accumulation over the last few weeks which is an indication of a major push in the works. With solid technology and the infancy of the market, NEOM stands to gain monster returns in the long term.
NEOM Chart The future of marketing Mobile barcode reading is the next step in innovative mobile marketing.. Printed mediums – including product packaging, outdoor advertising, magazines and newspapers, posters and hangtags - are no longer passive. They can become interactive consumer experiences with the simple and inexpensive addition of a 2D barcode.
NeoReader gives you – in conjunction with NeoMedia’s barcode management service NeoSphere – a new way to connect your brand with consumers on the go, and interact with them in a relevant and compelling way. Supporting limitless mobile phone application scenarios, the NeoReader enhances the full range of mobile marketing efforts.
Universal reader NeoReader is a universal reader, which means that it scans all major standard 2D matrix code types (Data Matrix, QR, Aztec) as well as 1D barcodes (EAN, UPC and Code 128), operating on a wide variety of handsets (literally hundreds of different models).
Reader distribution NeoMedia currently offers NeoReader barcode reading software for free to endusers for noncommercial purposes. On some phones NeoReader comes preinstalled (e.g. on recent Sony-Ericsson phones in most regions). If NeoReader is not installed on your phone, yet, visit www.neoreader.com to download your copy or search for “NeoReader” in the application store that is linked to your phone model.
NeoReader | Turn your phone into a mobile barcode scannerEXIO II | Provide your customers with mobile coupons and mobile vouchers via their mobile phoneXELIA | Versatile scanner that reads 2D barcodes from mobile phone displaysMSS | Cutting-edge scanning technology provides customers with ticketing and coupon solutions immediately redeemable through the mobile phone NEOM Recent News:
Nutrimix Labs Adds Muscle to Advertising with NeoMedia Mobile Barcodes - 1/19/2012 NeoMedia Partners with the National Crime Prevention Council and The CauseWay Agency to Deliver Groundbreaking Public Service Campaign About Intellectual Property Theft - 1/9/2012 NeoMedia Launches Upgraded NeoReader for Apple App Store - 1/5/2012 About NEOM Today, the world is mobile and NeoMedia is at the forefront of the industry! NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. is the global market leader in 2D mobile barcode technology and infrastructure solutions that enable the mobile barcode ecosystem world-wide. Its technology platform transforms mobile devices with cameras into barcode scanners, enabling a range of practical and engaging applications including consumer oriented advertising, mobile ticketing and couponing, and business-to-business commercial track and trace solutions.
NeoMedia’s suite of products, services and extensive IP portfolio means it is the only provider able to offer customers a comprehensive end-to-end mobile code solution. NeoMedia’s current customers include handset manufacturers, platform providers and brands and agencies looking to offer pioneering mobile barcode solutions to their customer base NeoMedia’s product portfolio includes: mobile barcode management & infrastructure solutions, barcode reader solutions, mobile couponing, mobile ticketing & POS integration and IP licensing.
Compensation: Ourhotstockpicks has not been compensated for the profile of NEOM.
"NEOM stands to gain monster returns long term."
Go Neomedia in 2012!!!!!!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I am also.
QR Code as Secure Log-in Courtesy Google
From marketingvox.com
More consumers might become more comfortable–or even just familiar with–QR codes if a new security option by Google gains traction.
To circumvent keyloggers and security flaws on public computers, Google has introduced a new log-in that enables a QR code to gain entry to your account, WebProNews reports. The feature generates a QR code that the user scans with his or her smartphone. By following this URL the user is presented with a page that displays only a QR code. After the QR code is scanned, the user is prompted to open a URL via the scanner app, from which you are able to open your account.
No Verification Codes
The security method has the potential to catch on, GigaOm writes. "There are no verification codes to manually type; it’s a simpler process that still combines 'what you know with what you have.' And if you add in passcode security on the phone itself, there’s another layer of security with either approach to help out in case you lose your handset."
The Rise of QR Codes.
From AaramShop.com
As QR code reader apps are added as standard with every mobile (or are available for free download across all app stores) these will increasingly enable last mile digital connectivity to advertising and marketing content.
•QR code uptake has increased 4589% from early 2010 to early 2011
•56% of QR codes appear on product packaging
•The majority of users expect to receive a coupon or deal from scanning a QR code
•11 out of 50 Fortune companies are incorporating QR codes into their marketing strategy
•68% of QR codes are scanned via an iPhone
Press Releases- NEOM What will Tuesday bring $$$$$
Nutrimix Labs Adds Muscle to Advertising with NeoMedia Mobile Barcodes
8:34 a.m. Jan. 19, 2012
- BusinessWire
NeoMedia Partners with the National Crime Prevention Council and The CauseWay Agency to Deliver Groundbreaking Public Service Campaign About Intellectual Property Theft
8:00 a.m. Jan. 10, 2012
- BusinessWire
NeoMedia Appoints New Chief Financial Officer; Relocates Headquarters to Boulder, Colorado
8:00 a.m. Jan. 5, 2012
- BusinessWire
NeoMedia Shareholder Conference Call Information Released
3:58 p.m. Nov. 22, 2011
- BusinessWire
NeoMedia Technologies and Sky-mobi Poised for Staggering Revenue Growth
8:16 a.m. Nov. 14, 2011
- Marketwire
Top Penny Stocks for Monday, January 23rd NeoMedia
From Stocks To Buy Forum
Shares of NeoMedia Technologies Inc. (OTC BB: NEOM) gained 1300% after the company last week reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has confirmed again its barcode lookup patent. The stock closed May 27, 2011 session at $0.21, up from $0.015 on May 25, 2011. Approximately 82.6 million shares changed hands on May 16, 2011 a 35000% increase over the 90-day average volume.
May 31, 2011
Marriott at Mobile FirstLook Strategy 2012 conference yesterday
By Rachel Lamb/Luxury Daily newsletter
NEW YORK – A panel of CEOs at the Mobile FirstLook: Strategy 2012 conference yesterday touched on everything that marketers will need to know this year, running the gamut from security to emerging platforms.
Marketers that are not on mobile are missing out on customer retention and transactions as well as opportunities to connect with a group of customers literally in the palms of their hands. Security, measurement, competition and fragmentation are expected to be huge components of mobile in 2012.
“The mobile channel has proven itself thousand-fold,” said Erik McMillan, CEO of BestFit Mobile, Austin, TX. “A really interesting thing that I’ve seen across retailers is that the mobile users are loyal users.
“They spend more money than ever before,” he said. “They are spending more money than you think they are because, for them, mobile is a loyalty program and focusing on that is key.”
Mr. McMillan was on a panel with Jeff Haynie, CEO of Appcelerator, Mountainview, CA; Siva Kumar, CEO of The Find, Mountain View, CA; Laura Marriott, Victoria, British Columbia-based CEO of NeoMedia Technologies; Marci Troutman, CEO of SiteMinis, Atlanta; and Konny Zsigo, CEO of WDA, East Lansing, MI. Mickey Alam Khan, editor in chief of Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily, moderated the panel.
Privacy issues
A hot topic in the panel was the idea of security and how it will affect mobile marketers and consumers in 2012.
Some of the panelists thought that viruses within mobile tactics such as bar codes, SMS and Web could trick consumers into giving up personal information.
This is because the mobile Web is still the Web, just on a mobile device, per SiteMinis’ Ms. Troutman.
“They are incredibly lax in the app stores,” WDA’s Mr. Zsigo said. “I’m just waiting here with baited breath for there to be one huge virus app that will make real news and scare everyone.”
However, most panelists agreed that they did not want to scare mobile users by putting up a bunch of red flags.
Instead, brands should work with their service providers to ensure that they are taking as many precautions as possible to avoid any kind of security breech.
“A lot of agencies that have been around for three to four years know how to help you, they feel a lot more comfortable stepping in,” SiteMinis’ Ms. Troutman said. “However, you still have to listen to your clients.
“You don’t want them to come back and say that you didn’t pay attention to them,” she said.
Other hitches
The CEOs also expected there to be some other hitches in mobile this year.
“An issue that we’ve been grappling with has been measurement and I think that it’s going to continue to rear its ugly head,” said Laura Marriott, Victoria, British Columbia-based CEO of NeoMedia Technologies.
“The problem is that mobile is very complex and fragmented and the ability to easily manage the analytics data you’re getting across mobile marketing, whether its SMS or QR codes, is marrying them together so that you’re getting them together and in one dashboard you’re able to see the success of the campaign,” she said.
Another issue is the competition. The amount of application downloads in 2011, and especially around the holidays, was staggering.
Therefore, brands need to be even more innovative to deal with the competition.
Moreover, luxury brands that have not moved into mobile yet have to be even more interesting and creative with their campaigns since they are the least innovative in the space and are, quite frankly, late to the game.
“[Brands] all heard the message about getting into mobile and you all launched at once,” WDA’s Mr. Zsigo said. “But what we’re seeing is real competiion in the marketplace and brands are becoming more innovative with options.
“However, this is the year that when you launch, the real shocker is that you got real competition,” he said. “Another team built a better product, they got it out faster, they have more marketing and you’re underperforming because you’re not the only one that heard that message.
“Just because you launched a campaign this year does not mean that you’re innovative.”
Cubs, your 100% correct. 2012 will be a great year for us shareholders!
Remember the 1988 commercial for Oldsmobile: “Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile.”
Well I say as a long, this is not your "father's" Neomedia. I predict that 2012 will be a big year for NeoMedia and a profitable one for us longs.
Go Neomedia!!!!!
Mobile barcode usage to explode in 2012
From Mobile squared
Mobile barcode usage is expected to explode this year as burgeoning smartphone penetration drives businesses, individuals and social media platforms to increasingly use scanning applications and technology.
NeoMedia Technologies, the 2D mobile barcode technology and infrastructure solutions company, expects mobile QR codes to be integrated into more mobile marketing applications in 2012, as brands and retailers increasingly recognise the greater consumer participation and loyalty they produce.
NeoMedia says that QR codes usage is being driven by rising smartphone penetration and mobile Internet usage, along with growing consumer understanding and brand awareness of the technology. According to mobileSQUARED’s Mobile Consumer Trends database, smartphone ownership in the UK is forecast to rise almost 33% from 32.44 million end-2011 to 43.12 million end-2012, while the US will increase 32% from 117.87 million to 155.59 million over the same period.
Mobile Consumer Trends also forecasts mobile internet users in the UK will rise from 23.94 million end-11 to 29.19 million end-12, with US mobile internet users up from 111.32 million to 139.11 million.
The use of mobile barcodes is not just restricted to big brands and businesses, however, with ScanMe.com claiming to have developed QR technology for a new social media platform by allowing users to create personalised barcodes, with over 350,000 accounts creating over 750,000 barcodes to date.
Over 75% of ScanMe.com members have created a barcode specifically for business use, of which half have added their barcode to businesses marketing material. A further 20% have added their barcode to a website, and 30% to business cards.
A survey of 2000 of ScanMe.com members revealed that 80% were aware of QR barcodes from print media prior to creating their own QR code, while 10% had also seen barcodes on television advertising. Approximately 88% of respondents had scanned someone else’s barcode, while 97% of users would recommend QR technology to others. More than 80% of users said that they believed the personal barcode would be the next big thing in social interaction technology.
ScanMe.com added that 75% of personalised barcode users were doing so from an Apple device, just over half of users were male, while the majority of users were within the 21-30 years age bracket.
According to ScanBuy UK, Japan is the leading market for barcode usage, followed by the US and Canada. However, the company predicts Europe will see explosive growth this year, and catch up with the US, as more operators encourage the software to be embedded on their devices, while brands are also adopting more stylish, high-resolution codes.
The 2012 Olympics in London is also expected to have a massive impact on European barcode usage, according to Dave Marutiak, managing director of Scanbuy UK. “We will see the same kind of bend in the growth curve here in the UK as we’ve seen in the US because of the Olympics,” states Marutiak. “There will be a lot of barcode activity around the Olympics.”
In the UK, Marutiak says Marks & Spencer and B&Q are “hot on the barcode technology”, while the publishing industry has also embraced scanning, with the Metro including up to five barcodes per issue, while The Sunday Times has contain up to 25 different codes per issue. “Our server sees multiple codes being used in over 130 countries - it’s a full, mix and match environment,” adds Marutiak.
I think it will move up.
I say a big run.
,0143-starting to move north!
"I feel anyone who bought NEOM at .30 or less will see their break even day, not anytime soon but I believe it will happen."
I agree with you. I predict it will happen this year.
GOOG,NEOM,and MFON leaders in respective categories!
I like when our NeoMedia is mentioned in th same sentence as Google.
Mobile Marketing Getting Defragmented, Better Defined: MFON, NEOM, & GOOG Are Prototypical
by By Matthew Briar/SmallCapNetwork
Published: January 11, 2012
For as much progress as the mobile marketing industry made in 2011, it's still fragmented... and investors are still trying to get a bead on how to play it. Good news though - NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (OTC:NEOM), CommerceTel Corporation (OTC:MFON), and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) provide the bigger-picture framework investors need to grasp where it's all going.
Here's a look at the three legs of mobile marketing that are emerging as clear and sustainable themes; most of the other touted 'big' aspects were more bark than bite. And yes, GOOG, NEOM, and MFON are positioned to become or remain leaders in their respective categories.
Mobile Payments/GOOG
When Google first introduced its mobile wallet in September of last year, it came with a lot of fanfare. The hype lost its luster pretty quickly though, suggesting onlookers were curious about the novelty, but ultimately didn't care to actually use it. Still, Google's digital payment system that allows smartphone users to make at-store payments just using their mobile device has been getting traction;
While the adoption has been slow, industry experts still expect the mobile phone payment industry to transact $1 trillion worth of sales - annually - beginning in 2014.
Engagement/MFON
This may be the trickiest aspect of the mobile marketing business, as it also requires the most creativity and business acumen... more than just mere technology. But, it's right up CommerceTel Corporation's alley.
As too many companies learned in the late 90's and early 2000's, just having a website isn't enough - companies have to do something with it. Anything. Just get the user engaged. (This was previously - and broadly - referred to as Web 2.0). Though the idea has migrated from the web to mobile phones, the challenge remains... how can organizations use the platform to truly engage a browser/surfer/watcher to convert them into paying customers or participants? A company like MFON can make it happen. In fact, it has.
CommerceTel created a virtual world that immersed fans of TV's 'Heroes' into the dram itself, by allowing them to dial up one of the show's fictitious companies, and garnering smartphone users who wanted info and updates on the show (like schedules or reminders) via SMS. CommerceTel can also handle the text-in voting process you see on TV contest shows like 'Dancing With the Stars'. Most recently, the company announced it would be doing mobile-couponing work for select Hooters restaurants in South Africa. A website may be the storefront, but engagement pays the bills.
Barcode Advertisement/NEOM
This is the technology that turns a smartphone (the camera inside it, actually) into a barcode reader that retrieves more detailed information about a particular product on that handheld device. These barcodes are found on product boxes and magazine pages just to name a few. Much like Google Wallet, the technology - primarily offered by NeoMedia Technologies for now - was written off as an interesting curiosity, but ultimately a fad that didn't have a real meaningful revenue-bearing future. Dan Frommer's commentary "Death To The QR Code" really hammers it.
A funny thing happened on the way to the barcode's funeral though - usage of them continued to swell. As it turns out, 28% of smartphone users have scanned these barcodes to pull up more information about a product... a number that's impressive considering most smartphone users don't even realize the application is valuable, and that most product packaging and advertising still doesn't offer such a barcode. So no, it's not going away. As it stands right now though, NeoMedia Technologies is the only major name offering the technology that connects products with consumers in a way that wasn't available prior to web-enabled phones.
Encryption
One of the early criticisms of Google Wallet is that it fails to encrypt all of a user's personal data. The concern underscores the need for an effective and secure NFC (near field communication) chip, which surprisingly isn't one of the defragmented standards being applied to the mobile ecosystem yet. Samsung has made strides on this front, but the fog here is still much thicker than it is for mobile payments, barcode advertising, and user engagement.
Bottom Line
To be fair, Google, CommerceTel, and NeoMedia Technologies aren't the only game in town in these three arenas. They're clear frontrunners though, and the mobile marketing space has room for all three of them to be successful.
Some investors may be quick to conclude that the only name of the three - and the only aspect of the three - that truly falls into the 'mobile marketing engagement' category is MFON. But, these three distinct technologies are more related than they would appear to be on the surface. Barcodes lead users to web pages or contests, which leads to engagement (like mobile couponing), which leads to a purchase. Mobile marketing is on the verge of driving a customer into a store where they learn more about a particular product, so much so that they end up buying it with a near-field communication transaction; they're all connected, and in more than one way. The biggest beneficiaries of the almost-revolution are going to be driving in one of these three lanes... and GOOG, MFON, and NEOM are at the front of the line.
NeoMedia 2012 best year PPS will rise dramatically!
“2011 has seen enormous growth in the penetration and usage of mobile barcodes. Brand owners, retailers and consumers are all becoming more familiar with 2D codes and the value they can offer,” said Laura Marriott, CEO of NeoMedia. “2012 promises to be another big year for mobile barcodes, and we expect to be in the middle of it.”
1. NeoMedia Partners with the National Crime Prevention Council and The CauseWay Agency to Deliver Groundbreaking Public Service Campaign About Intellectual Property Theft
2. NeoMedia Launches Upgraded NeoReader for Apple App Store
3. NeoMedia Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
4. Relocates Headquarters to Boulder,Colorado (Boulder is among the country’s up-and-coming tech centers.)
5. NeoMedia Sees 240% Increase In Scan Traffic On Black Friday
6. NeoMedia Launches Upgraded NeoReader For BlackBerry
7. NeoMedia partners with Global IP Law Group for Patent Monetization
Marriott speaking Thursday conference: Macy’s, Sears, Coca-Cola, MTV, Walgreens
The annual Mobile FirstLook: Strategy 2012 conference Thursday, Jan. 19 featuring speakers from Macy’s, InsightExpress, Coca-Cola, MTV, Walgreens and Sears. This day-long New York event is a must-attend for brands, retailers, ad agencies and publishers looking to plan effective mobile strategy and tactics in 2012, a year where strong customer ties will matter more than ever.
2 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
CEO Tips
What every marketer should know about mobile in 2012
The face of mobile advertising, marketing, media and commerce in 2012 will be unrecognizable from efforts as recent as 2009, such is the progress made on the device, software, data plans, marketing and retail fronts. With such evolution comes the natural corollary: empowered and demanding consumers, an even more fragmented media planning and buying experience, lack of standards, performance measurement issues, privacy concerns and data-traffic strain on wireless carrier networks. What do these CEOs know that others in the marketing and retail ecosystem do not? The spirited discussion will focus on:
? The thorniest mobile issues that brands, retailers, agencies and publishers should prepare to face
? Lessons learned from mobile marketing and commerce over the 2011 holidays
? Which mobile channels are proving themselves generators of ROI and traffic drivers to retail stores and why
? Is mobile getting the budget it deserves and from which other marketing channels and why sitting on the fence in 2012 may not work for all
? Who is shaping mobile the most: Apple, Google, Research In Motion, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, LG, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon or eBay?
Panelists:
Jeff Haynie, CEO, Appcelerator
Siva Kumar, CEO, The Find
Laura Marriott, CEO, NeoMedia Technologies
Erik McMillan, CEO, BestFit Mobile
Marci Troutman, CEO, SiteMinis
Konny Zsigo, CEO, WDA Mobile Marketing
From Mobile Commerce Daily newsletter.