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dlethe01, On November 14th, I was informed by a very reliable source that Andreas Weyer was no longer with Neom. No explanation has been given as to why he left the Company.
ss9173
DaleBenny, Welcome to the NEOM Ihub board. There is a lot of great information in the board header that will provide excellent background information on NEOM. You will also find that this board does a good job contributing DD articles regarding NEOM and the related mobile marketing industry.
ss9173
Assistant Moderator
I have been hearing on CNBC and have read a lot about Yahoo restructuring their business model to be more competitive with Google. Wouldn’t the timing be right to have Neom's sales and marketing guys directly target qode to them? You would think “mobile find” would have huge long-term profitable growth potential for their restructuring program.
We know that Microsoft and Google have previously met with Neom per TS. Neither came to agreement with Neom perhaps because Neom was not interested in offering an exclusive agreement.
But times are different now for both Neom and Yahoo. Neom finally has a product ready for market, and desperately needs cash flow. Yahoo needs a new killer application to regain some or all of the market share they have lost to Google.
So what if Neom offered Yahoo an exclusive license for qode for 1 to 2 years? The definition of “exclusive license” in this case being Neom couldn’t market it to Yahoo’s direct competitors: Microsoft, Google and other internet search companies. That would give Yahoo a 1 to 2 year lead over their competition for “mobile find” via qode. After the agreed upon time frame, Neom would have the option to either sign another 1 to 2 year exclusive contract with Yahoo or begin marketing qode to their direct competitors. This type of arrangement could be a win-win for both companies…Neom wins in that they get a major search player to license qode and prove out all that it is capable of, and Yahoo wins in that they get a head start over their competition.
Thoughts???
ss9173
P.S. Below is just one of many articles discussing Yahoo’s restructuring program.
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?Feed=BCOM&Date=20061206&ID=62...
S_R_M, *****5 Star Post***** Ever since Motorola acquired Symbol they have been on my watch list for all the reasons you mentioned. I became especially intrigued when I found the Airclic and Symbol relationship from 2000 as you pointed out.
Here is my previous post on that relationship: http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?Message_id=13456171&txt2find=airclic
In addition, below are a couple of other interesting articles, which mention how Motorola and Symbol may work together in the future.
http://mobileenterprise.typepad.com/weblog/2006/09/motorolasymbol_.html
Motorola/Symbol: It's About The Channel
Motorola's acquisition of Symbol Technologies is a smart move for a company that has been working hard to figure out a way into the enterprise mobility market. It's a concession to the most basic fact that there's more to the enterprise than smartphones and consumer cross-over.
Today, only about 2% of the mobile workforce has mobile computing capabilities. What about the remaining 98%? Clearly they're not the "power users" that have made BlackBerry a household name.
And then there's this company called Symbol Technologies that sells barcode scanners, wireless infrastructure, RFID and ruggedized handhelds. Walk into just about any retail store in the U.S. and take a look around. You'll see Symbol devices everywhere.
Now retail is just one market category. And research firm IDC has identified some 800 million mobile workers around the globe. So there are plenty of opportunities.
Over the past several years, the enterprise mobility industry has learned one hard lesson after another. The most important of which is that wireless operators are one channel to market for mobile enterprise solutions. The other distribution approach is the three-tier model so common in IT solutions. Symbol has worked hard to develop three-tier distribution, and that's a major acquisition for Motorola.
At a product level, Motorola gets a competitive line of ready-for-the-enterprise handheld devices, some of which are ruggedized. All of these devices are designed for verticalized business applications and not as consumer products. Also in the toolbox is enterprise-class wireless infrastructure that makes Motorola competitive with the likes of Cisco on the WLAN side of the business. Throw in some barcode scanners, RFID equipment and a few other pieces, and Motorola will be the first vendor to have mobile enterprise solutions for everything from the shop floor to the checkout counter and all the way to the executive boardroom.
From an IT management perspective, this complete product suite will be available through more traditional IT channels and will be manageable from a single enterprise mobility platform.
http://www.zdnetindia.com/news/communication/stories/163445.html
Extracts from above link:
That humble mobile phone could soon become an indispensable tool for a range of business applications, thanks to a new wireless technology. Near-field communication (NFC), the short-range wireless standard based on having a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip embedded in the handset, is being tested extensively in many countries.
In Japan, for example, the technology has been successfully employed by wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo to allow customers to use their cell phone as a mobile wallet.
US-based Motorola signaled its intentions for the mobile market after the company's acquisition of Symbol Technologies in September. Though it has yet to announce any detailed plans, according to a Motorola spokesperson, the company regards NFC as an "extremely powerful proposition and are actively investigating the area."
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Again, thanks for your detailed DD on this subject. You've done a great job researching all these possible connections. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Your theory on Motorola's interest in Neomedia certainly seems plausible IMO.
Regards,
ss9173
Steelers_Fan, Sorry to hear of this decision, although I do understand your frustration. You’ve done a great job as Moderator. I also appreciate the help you provided to me as I started my Moderator duties a few months ago. Good luck to you! And stay in touch.
Best regards,
ss9173
Wooger, It doesn't surprise me at all. Neom's pps will not increase until Neom announces (1) the closing of the Micropaint sale, (2) new agreements with the remaining subs, and (3) substantial material news - greater than 7 figures in scope - related to either a license agreement of qode by a major entity and/or a major entity taking an equity stake in Neomedia. I believe the pps will be stagnant or even fall further until all 3 of these events have been announced. JMHO.
ss9173
Industry DD: P&G, Others Build Mobile-Marketing Budgets
http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2006/12/01/pg-others-build-mobile-marketing-budgets/
Procter & Gamble, Microsoft and other major marketers have set aside a piece of their ad budgets, albeit a small piece, for mobile marketing, signifying that the medium is moving out of trial mode.
Major marketers are beginning to take third-screen media seriously as a potential advertising venue, reports AdAge. P&G, which won the Mobile Marketing Association's first Overall Excellence award, has developed the Ad Lab, a program where key marketing executives on more than a dozen brands have been educated in mobile opportunities such as mobile video and text messaging.
Wireless carriers led by Sprint have begun to warm up to providing marketers with targeted mobile advertising opportunities; however, it's a move than may not find fans among privacy advocates. Marketers and agencies are also demanding better measurement tools and the ability of marketers and media buyers to buy ads across carriers.
A study this month from JupiterResearch found 22 percent of companies advertising online also are doing mobile marketing. Overall, the study predicted, mobile ad spending would more than double - from an anticipated $1.4 billion this year to $2.9 billion in 2011.
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ss9173
DD Cell phone-to-Web marketing inching forward for papers
by Marcelo Duran
Associate Editor
http://www.newsandtech.com/issues/2006/12-06/pt/12-06_cell-marketing.htm
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Vendors are beginning to roll out technologies aimed at helping newspaper advertisers close the gap between the information displayed in print ads and the content posted on their Web sites.
Case in point: Vaasa, Finland-based UpCode Ltd., which showed off its mobile marketing technology, UpCode, at this year’s IfraExpo in Amsterdam.
UpCode is an optical code reader that allows users to automatically access Web content by merely pointing camera-equipped cell phones or PDAs at print ads containing a special code, according to Sture Udd, UpCode president.
“(With a) smart phone, you point your camera at an UpCode and (users) will receive the (advertiser’s Web) content on their phone either through the Web browser or directly on the screen,” Udd said. Users without the necessary camera connection can tap in a number and receive the same content, he said.
“UpCode offers readers interactive information and gives advertisers the ability to communicate with customers,” Udd said, adding that the technology is suitable for supporting updated news, multimedia apps and other services such as ticket booking.
Udd said UpCodes can be printed on any printing surface, ranging from newsprint and a candy bag to outdoor advertising displays.
Udd said that Upcode is cooperating with Goss International Corp. to develop additional capabilities. He declined to provide further details about the venture.
Another firm, Fort Myers, Fla.-based NeoMedia Technologies Inc., is touting another direct-to-Web service, called qode, which also relies on a series of codes that transmit Web information to users’ cell phones.
In September, NeoMedia tested the technology with The News-Press in Fort Myers, which ran a print ad with embedded codes.
NeoMedia said it hopes to launch qode “in the very near future,” according to the firm’s Web site.
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ss9173
Cjzak, FWIW...I know for a fact that a bunch of us jumped down Management's throat yesterday - some very significant shareholders - me included!
And, I agree with you that they need to find a way to keep Gavitec.
ss9173
Streetstylz, Good idea! If you haven't already done so, please email Management as well with this suggestion.
Thanks,
ss9173
NY Times artice per Dr. Mike request:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/23/technology/23pogue.html
Free Services to Inspire Your Cellphone
By DAVID POGUE
Published: November 23, 2006
Thanksgiving, is it? Well, despite occasional headaches, technology has also brought us plenty to be thankful for: safety, convenience and entertainment on the go. Next time you’re running late, lost or lonely, ask yourself: aren’t you grateful for your cellphone?
Actually, don’t answer yet. With every passing month, cellphones are becoming even more useful. Sure, it’s nice that they let you call people from the road. But lately, their reach has grown, thanks to clever programmers making links between the cellular world and the Internet.
Here, for your gratitude-generating pleasure, is a rundown of some of the most exciting and powerful services awaiting your cellphone at this very moment. Better yet, at the moment, they’re all free.
FREE DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE By this time, it’s quite clear that nobody with a “$50 a month” calling plan actually pays only $50 a month. The cellphone companies will do anything to puff up your bill — like charging you $1.50 or $2 every time you dial 411 to find a phone number.
Try 800-FREE-411 (800-373-3411) instead. A computer or human being looks up a number for you at no charge, once you’ve listened to a 20-second ad. It’s a classic time-for-money swap.
Or, for an ad-free option, there is a little-known Google service. Send a text message to 46645 (that’s “Google”; leave off the last E for efficiency). In the body of the message, type what you’re looking for, like “Roger McBride 10025” or “chiropractor dallas tx.” Seconds later, you get a return message from Google, complete with the name, address, and phone number.
FREE ANSWERS Google’s 46645 text-messaging service can fetch much more than phone numbers. It can also send you the weather report (in the body, type, for example, “weather sacramento”), stock quotes (“amzn”), where a movie is showing nearby (type “flushed away 44120”), what a word means (“define schadenfreude”), driving directions (“miami fl to 60609”), unit conversions (“liters in 5 gallons”), currency conversions (“25 usd in euros”), and so on.
Every cell carrier charges for text messages — about 10 cents each, unless you have a plan that includes them. But Google itself doesn’t charge for any of this. It’s not only ad-free, it’s free free.
If you prefer conducting your research missions by voice, call 800-555-TELL (800-555-8355). A cheerful recorded voice invites you to say “Travel,” “Traffic,” “News Center,” “Stock Quotes,” and so on. The system is smart enough to know your location, which pays off when you say “Movies,” “Restaurants,” “Driving directions” or “Taxi.” (This service, run by Tellme Networks as a showcase for its corporate voice-recognition technology, also lets you say “Time” when you’re setting your watch — a blast from phone companies past.)
FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS You can now call any of 50 countries from the United States, free. Talk as long as you like. You pay only for a call to the access number in Iowa, which is 712-858-8883; if you use your cellphone on nights or weekends, even that’s a free call.
There’s no contract, no ads, nothing to sign up for. At the prompt, press 1 for English. Then punch in 011, the country code and the phone number. The call rings through immediately.
Fine print: In some countries, you can reach only landlines, not cellphones. And in part because FuturePhone’s lines have been flooded, its success at placing calls is not, ahem, 100 percent.
But it’s hard to argue with “free,” which, according to the company, it will be until at least 2010.
FREE ‘PINGS’ Pinger is a new way to reach someone: a method that combines the immediacy of a text message with the personality of voice mail. (You can sign up at Pinger.com.) You call one of Pinger’s access numbers, say the name of the person you’re calling, and then speak a message.
Suppose you’ve just pinged your sister. She receives a text message to let her know. With one keystroke, she can hear your message — and with another, send a voice reply. There’s no waiting to roll over to voice mail, no listening to instructions, no outbound greetings.
Because Pinger is much faster and more direct than voice mail, it’s great for sending quick voice notes when you’re driving or walking between meetings. It’s also ideal when you can’t risk being stuck in a 20-minute conversation with no polite way out.
Skip to next paragraph
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Google allows for simplified Internet searches for weather, movie times and other information over cellphones.
Bonus features: You can broadcast a message to a whole group at once (“Baby girl, seven pounds — mom doing well!”), forward a message to a third party (any cellphone carrier), or retrieve and manage your messages on the Web.
Pinger is free until the new year. Even then, you’ll get 10 or 20 free pings a month (details aren’t complete); additional pings will cost a few cents each. Pinger says it’s working to fix the biggest downside, which is that you can’t ping someone’s phone (only the person’s e-mail address) until they’ve signed up for a free account.
FREE FUN YouMail, also in beta testing, is also dissatisfied with traditional voice mail. Its solution, though, is a complete surgical replacement of your carrier’s voice mail system. When you sign up at youmail.com, you’re instructed to reprogram your cellphone by typing in a series of codes. When it’s over, YouMail is your voice-mail service — not your cell carrier.
Why bother? First, because you can record a separate greeting for everyone you know. Your boss will hear you say: “This is Casey Robin, systems manager at Globodyne Technology. I’ll get back to you promptly. After all — your business is our business.”
Your love interest, however, will hear: “Hey there, huggalump. Miss you. Leave me a massage.”
(Hint: Don’t mix them up.)
You can even treat certain callers to something called Ditchmail. That’s when they hear, “This user is currently not accepting new messages. Goodbye!” (Disgruntled exes come to mind.)
For everyone else, you just record a generic greeting. You can also check your messages from the Web or any phone, save memorable ones to your computer, and forward messages to other people.
The Web site is still glitchy — for starters, a fix for Macs is in the works — and switching back to your old voice mail if you don’t care for YouMail isn’t exactly a one-click operation. But over all, YouMail is fun, and it has real uses; for example, you can let your friends know that you’re away on vacation, but not people who don’t need to know.
YouMail, too, is free during its testing phase; after the new year, it will be free if you’re willing to endure ads, and a few dollars a month otherwise. Note that YouMail isn’t ideal if you have Sprint, which charges you for “conditional forwarding” — a feature that YouMail requires.
Frankly, it is worth a few dollars to escape the minutes-burning, recorded instructions of cellular voice mail systems: “To leave a message, speak at the tone. When you’re finished, you may hang up ... .”
FREE PRICE COMPARISONS As you head out to the seething malls for holiday shopping, your cellphone can do more than tell your family you’re stuck in traffic. It can also save you money.
As you inspect something you’re tempted to buy, dial 888-Do-Frucall (888-363-7822; leave off the last two L’s for — well, for now). When prompted, plug in the bar code on the package. After a 10-second ad, a voice is usually successful in identifying the item by name (“Luv’s Diapers Value Pack, 208 Diapers Variation — not available used”), and provides the prices from three sample online stores.
It’s a disruptive little technology — doomsday, really, to a “we’ll beat any price” retailer. Frankly, the whole comparison concept seems a little unfair: How is a physical store supposed to match the prices of online outfits with much lower expenses for rent, clerks, taxes and so on?
Still, Frucall may let you know when you’re about to make an expensive mistake, and occasionally provide ammo for negotiating.
All right, it’s a stretch to think that you’ll be making free services like these part of your official, solemn, dinnertime thanksgiving. But it’s entirely possible that they may one day get you out of a pinch or save you a little time or money. Surely that will merit at least a little “Hey, thanks!” in your head.
E-mail: pogue@nytimes.com
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ss9173
OT I agree. EOM
OT Board clean-up in progress and will continue for those that violate TOS rules.
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=15006117
ss9173
Assistant Moderator
Beam11, Kudos for your well written and helpful post.
ss9173
DD QR Codes - the next big internet trend?
http://www.rl-digital.com/2006/qr-codes/ (see link for graphics)
November 22nd, 2006 by Robert
A QR Code (QR = Quick Response) is a two-dimensional bar code introduced by the Japanese company Denso-Wave in 1994. QR Codes were originally developed for inventory tracking in auto manufacturing. They are the most popular type of two-dimensional code in Japan. Many business persons in Japan include QR Codes on their business cards. This simplifies exchanging and entering data for new business contacts.
Recently, mobile telephone operators in Japan began including QR code reading software on camera phones. This move has paved the way for consumer-oriented applications of QR Codes. Users photograph QR codes. Then, their camera phone decodes the embedded text, displays, manipulates, and stores the information. This capability eliminates the need to enter data manually into a mobile phones or PDA. QR Codes for storing URLs are becoming increasingly common in advertisements and in magazines in Japan.
What about patent issues? According to Wikipedia, “QR Code is open in the sense that the specification of QR Code is disclosed and that the patent right owned by Denso Wave is not exercised.” — from the Denso-Wave website.
For this convenience to catch on outside Japan, QR-enabled phones need to become widely available. There are code reader add-on apps such as the one offered for free by Kaywa. However, only a limited number of phone models are supported.
Microsoft Windows Live Service has an online tool for generating QR Codes. (The site has been down for the last few days.)
Competition is already on the scene outside Japan. MobileTag, developed by the French company Abaxia, and ShotCode, created by a Dutch-Swedish company called OP3 are hoping to preempt QR codes in Europe. In North America, Semacode is pushing 2-D barcodes that looks amazingly similar to QR Codes.
Elecom Co. Ltd. has introduced a USB mouse with a built-in optical QR reader that can handle both the traditional black and white versions of QR Codes as well as the newer color versions. No, it’s not cordless and it doesn’t look very ergonomic. No price or availability information yet either.
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ss9173
DD Physical World Hyperlinks-- The Next Big Internet Trend?
A 2d code represents a physical world hyperlink(PWH).
http://theponderingprimate.blogspot.com/2006/11/physical-world-hyperlinks-next-big.html
A physical world hyperlink provides the ability to link a physical object (magazine, can of Coke) with information or a Web address when the camera on a mobile phone resolves the image.
Clicking or scanning the image acts like clicking a hyperlink with your computer mouse.
Using a PWH, every object can be "connected" to the Internet, and this will lead to the Internet of Things
RL Digital has a nice summary about how QR Codes could be the next big Internet trend
A QR Code (QR = Quick Response) is a two-dimensional bar code introduced by the Japanese company Denso-Wave in 1994. QR Codes were originally developed for inventory tracking in auto manufacturing. They are the most popular type of two-dimensional code in Japan.
Some of the more popular 2d code providers
Recently, mobile telephone operators in Japan began including QR code reading software on camera phones. This move has paved the way for consumer-oriented applications of QR Codes. Users photograph QR codes. Then, their camera phone decodes the embedded text, displays, manipulates, and stores the information. This capability eliminates the need to enter data manually into a mobile phones or PDA.
According to Wikipedia , “QR Code is open in the sense that the specification of QR Code is disclosed and that the patent right owned by Denso Wave is not exercised.” — from the Denso-Wave website.
A complete listing of the companies that have technologies for the "Next Internet".
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ss9173
DD About Ewan (Author of SMStextnews blog who has become interested in Neomedia)
http://www.smstextnews.com/2006/08/about_ewan.html
August 10, 2006 at 8:49 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I’m Ewan MacLeod and I write SMS Text News.
I’m 28. I’ve made a lot of money and, rather crucially, I’ve lost a lot of money too — or, if you’re after a different perspective: I’ve invested in a substantial amount of direct experience. Much, much better than an MBA in my opinion and I avoided the long essays too.
At 24, I got my childhood dream sorted: My secret aim was to own a company and sit behind a big desk in the middle of a big office working with some of the best and the brightest. Phenomenal! I’ve now set rather more substantial aims
Three times I’ve sat at a board table and had someone ask to buy my company. Once was a complete surprise. The other two, I had a handle on the situation, but each time was thoroughly exciting.
I’ve worked at almost every level of the interactive business — running companies out of my bedrooms and running them from gorgeous board rooms. I’m fascinated by how we interact via technology and how that translates to commercial advantage. This fascination has prompted me to launch a plethora of websites, communities, services and organisations — most have generally been successful.
I’ve experience raising funding — my colleague Serena and I raised $1m from an American venture firm in 1999. While she led and supervised the process, I learnt a lot.
I have an obsessive need to eventually view business concepts and ideas in cold, hard reality. While I’m pretty good at bluesky thinking, I relish the challenge of rooting them with a sensible and profitable business model. I can generally spot a good business idea at 50 paces. In this context, I never fail to be excited at hearing about new startup companies.
My affinity with the mobile industry is underpinned, I think, by the Bill Gates book, ‘Business At The Speed of Thought’. Most, if not all of his points echoed my own. I want to be able to press a button on my mobile device and have 10 different taxi firms bid for the business to take me from Green Park to Liverpool Street for less than £10. I want some enterprising chap to be able to say upsell me and offer to take me home all the way home for £45. I want the ability to hit ‘yes’ and have the cash debited from my account. I want to see if there’s space at the cinema. Now. I want to send flowers to my friend as she’s had a pretty bad day. Even though I’m in a cab, I want those flowers sorted. Now, and quickly. I don’t want to spend 10 minutes on the phone to a directory services firm trying to find someone to complete the order, nor do I want to spend minutes reading out credit card details. I just want to press three buttons and have it fixed. I want to know where my friends are. I want to be connected to them on demand and without demand. I want to dip into what’s going on in the world — and I want my device to know when to interrupt me and when to give me space. Away for a break, I want to sit on the beach on the Isle of Lewis, gazing out at the awesome Atlantic Ocean with pellets of rain about to fall — and, whilst I let my mind drift to imagine what life was like there 800 years ago, I want to bring out my mobile device and read a mail from my work colleague. Then order Pizza so that when I get back to the cottage, it’s waiting — and paid for.
I want the ability to sit in Bar des Celebrities in Hotel Carlton, Cannes, reading the IHT and all of a sudden, bring out my device and locate the top 3 letting agents in the area and fire off a requirement for a month’s extended stay. Then I want to call my colleague in Australia, just before he leaves work to head for the beach — and check on the company status. Prior to hanging up, I want to receive a quick video he’s taken of his 5 year old surfing in the sun. I want to then watch a bit of Blackadder. I don’t want to carry around my data. I want it all ‘in the sky’ — ready to on demand whenever I want it. Then, I want to check out 5 minutes of Lost or 24, before heading for a stroll along the Cannes sea front. While I’m sat on the balcony at about 11pm, I want to bring out my device and dip into my communications folder and see a template proposal my brother’s working on. Though I’m on holiday, I might feel like taking a look — so I’ll bring it out virtually, mark it up with some ideas, and whack it over to him. Then, since she’s five hours behind, I might flick to see that Natasha’s presence indicator says she’s out having steak in Manhattan — I’ll ping her a ‘hi’ and get a quick video and some pictures in return. Then, I’ll go to sleep.
I very much want — and believe — that a mobile device of sorts will be central to our everyday lives shortly. Right now it’s very much centred around a one or two way communications medium, but we’re getting there.
I invite you to contact me. Say hi and feel free to make a point, a business proposal or tell me about what you’re doing with the mobile industry.
If you’ve got a mobile related company, service or the like that you’d like to tell me about, don’t hesitate as to whether I might be interested. I’m automatically interested I’m happy to hear from public relations and marketing professionals too.
You can call me direct on +44 7733 200 113. Don’t be surprised if it goes to voicemail though as I can’t always answer. Email on ewan@smstextnews.com — it comes straight through to the Blackberry.
There’s more background to SMS Text News here.
Permalink
3 Responses to “About Ewan”
GuinchoGuy Says:
August 11th, 2006 at 10:26 am
Would this post have been spurred by my set of questions to you yesterday?
If so, I can’t believe you didn’t credit me with the question lol
Anywho, great post, a good read as always!
GuinchoGuy.com
Geoff Says:
August 24th, 2006 at 10:18 am
Many thanks for your email Ewan, Will be interesting to see if http:\\newsrivers.com and associated sites captures the imagination. I love all your ideas above.
Geoff Jones
TEBoccuzzi Says:
September 15th, 2006 at 6:05 am
Hi Ewan, you did a terrific job explaining your vision or dream of the future, with your hope that your “device”, as you refer to it, will expand your connectivity to the entire world, facilitating everything you think and do. How far away that vision is from reality we can only guess, but to expand on that theme, try to imagine what visions or dreams your children will conjure up, having only experienced a digital world. Now that is way over my head, how about yours?
This whole technology business really facinates me. Coincidentally I’m researching a company right now which should promote your vision. NeoMedia Technologies, have you heard of them? Check out qode.com if you are inclined and let me know what you think. Best of luck to you, Tim
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ss9173
DD What exactly is going on with Neomedia?
http://www.smstextnews.com/2006/11/what_exactly_is_going_on_with_neomedia.html
November 21, 2006 at 3:04 pm · Filed under Mobile, Anonymous Tips
I’ve getting loads of anonymous tips that I just can’t publish regarding Neomedia (check out the Investors’ Hub topics flying left right and centre). I’ve no idea of the veracity of some of the claims being made.
Can anyone explain to me in a non-actionable manner, what exactly is happening with Neomedia?
Permalink
2 Responses to “What exactly is going on with Neomedia?”
Tim Boccuzzi Says:
November 21st, 2006 at 6:39 pm
ewan, NeoMedia is preparing a large scale launch of their QODE software platform. If successful it will take mobile marketing up to the next level. In so doing, some businesses will be hurt, (hence, the negativity that has been floated). At the same time it will create new opportunities for others.
The only way to perceive the value of QODE is to download it and take it for a spin. As you know mobile marketing is in it’s infancy, crawling if you will. Qode has the features to get it up and running. That is my understanding having researched all of NeoMedias filings and patents. As with all businesses, the market will decide it’s value.
Terry Says:
November 21st, 2006 at 11:01 pm
Larry, Moe & Curly! Wherever I find a blog post about Neomedia I always find two things: 1. Blogger asking: so what’s the deal with Neomedia? or something pretty much similar. 2. “Commenter” cheering about how Neomedia will kick ass. As far as I’m concerned, Neomedia is somewhat behind their competitors in the “barcode reading” field and their patent claims are so bogus that EFF is already looking for a way to avoid them succeeding on the matter.
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ss9173
YJ, I agree that it might be best to sell off Neomedia's Telecom business unit (aka BSDS Triton). That move combined with ridding ourselves of Micropaint will make us more attractive for a buyout situation or at least a sizable equity investment by one of the big boys playing in the mobile marketing space.
I really hope Neom's BOD will reconsider "going it alone". I believe we once had offers from Microsoft and perhaps others on the table that we turned down. It's no secret that we met with them. IMO, we really need a "big gorilla" to either acquire or take an equity interest in Neom to enable a successful world-wide qode launch.
We just don't have the Management competence, the resources, and the financial wherewithal to pull this off without a major backer's assistance.
JMHO
ss9173
Personalizit, the quarter isn't over until its over. Look for a qode-related announcement soon in the UK.
ss9173
Based on the 8K, Sponge had $1.536MM SG&A expense for the first 9 months of the year. So we just reduced our cash burn rate by at least $170K per month.
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OT for Dr. Myke - How to Find Those Gifts in a Flash
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/business/18money.html?_r=1&oref=login
By DAMON DARLIN
Published: November 18, 2006
You would not think of driving into an unfamiliar neighborhood without first downloading directions from the Internet or programming the G.P.S. receiver.
You would not dream of setting up meetings or lunch dates without e-mail, instant messaging or text messaging.
Then you should not even consider compiling a holiday gift list without using some of the indispensable tools of the modern shopper: the latest Internet shopping sites and a cellphone.
The market analysts at Jupiter say that 75 percent of shoppers already begin their endeavors online. But if shoppers blithely start with an old-school shopping comparison site like Google’s Froogle they often find themselves staring at a dog’s breakfast of undifferentiated and unsorted data. Typing in “T.M.X. Elmo,” the hard-to-find dancing doll, yields no fewer than 1,075 listings (in 0.11 seconds, Google tells us helpfully).
Don’t even think of putting in a general term like jeans or soccer shoes. But enough chit-chat. Let’s grab our shopping lists and a few computer scientists and get started. We are looking for a new video game machine, the new Elmo, jeans and maybe some shoes.
A good place to start is TheFind.com. The site pops up on the screen with a search box and a simple question: What can we find for you? Start typing and it finishes your query.
The company in Mountain View, Calif., that developed this search engine says that its software crawls over 500,000 online stores to locate 150 million products. But is also uses some proprietary algorithms to rank and order the searches so they present the results that are more likely relevant. It located an obscure Disney video, “Dr. Syn,” also known as “The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh,” (hint) with as much ease as it found a Cuisinart ICE-50BC ice cream maker (hint hint).
Still, TheFind remains the technological version of traipsing through every store in every mall in the country. That is one way to shop, but the usefulness of this method is limited by how much information about the product is on display. The Web crawling search engines cannot find the best deals if the online merchants do not post prices or if they game their site so crawlers pick up discounted prices that are not actually offered.
Likewise, crawlers usually cannot discover product availability. Just locating a store with a Nintendo Wii or Sony PlayStation 3 game machine is the main challenge. Chris Lambert, a computer science major at Northeastern University, has created a clever program that pulls the store inventory data off Target.com to help people find the new Nintendo Wii that goes on sale Sunday.
His site at http://wii.clambert.org is similar to one he created last year to find the then hot machine, Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Mr. Lambert, a college senior, was scraping data off Best Buy’s sites and the company’s lawyers sent him a cease and desist letter. He ceased even though he received e-mails from 1,200 people who said it helped them find systems — at Best Buy. “It was unfortunate because it was really boosting their launch-day traffic,” he said.
Others have used similar technology to locate the new Sony PS3, like PS3seeker.com. It would not be hard for someone to compile data from merchants’ sites for our Elmo, but we couldn’t find such a site. “They aren’t a lot of work to create and they have a lot of utility,” said Mr. Lambert, who has accepted a job from Google.
A pit stop at Mpire.com offered great promise. Along with listings from stores, it will search Craigslist entries, by city, for any product you want. But the search engine is temperamental. Inconceivably, it could not find a single T.M.X. Elmo in Los Angeles, but when just the word Elmo was entered, dozens of them popped up, alas, usually selling for almost three times the original retail price.
Still looking for that Elmo doll, we tried ShopLocal.com, which promises to find local merchants selling a particular product, but the results are too often confused. The local merchants it found included the MDE Electric Company, an electrical supply company. Why? Probably because it is at 135 St. Elmo Way in San Francisco. The site does better locating local newspaper ads and store circulars.
Yokel.com did a better job. Type in a ZIP code as well as the product you are seeking and this site locates the nearby stores selling it. It usually comes up with the price at the store too.
While in one of those stores, it is inevitable you’ll see something you want. How will you know if you can get it cheaper elsewhere? Whip out your cellphone and dial 888-363-7822. That connects to Frucall.com. Punch in the Universal Product Code number that appears beneath the barcode and it will locate lower prices. The service is free. CNET, which runs shopper.com, offers a similar comparison service, called m.cnet.com, that works through a cellphone’s text messaging.
Back home, Wii-less and Elmo-less, old-fashioned eBay auctions look more attractive. Bidnearby.com and Mapcreature.com display data from eBay auctions on a Google map so you can locate people near your home selling things you want. It will save you money on shipping, especially when buying bulky items.
Another way to shop is to confine your search to just the stores selling what you want. Zappos.com, for instance, devotes itself just to shoes. But it is not a search engine. Extensive as Zappos is, and it boasts of 3.28 million different shoes, it cannot find any pumps or penny loafers anywhere but on its own site.
Zafu.com has an innovation that narrows the search for a pair of women’s jeans while broadening the pool of targets. Zafu created a search engine that located one thing, the perfect-fitting woman’s jeans, before it bothered to find the best price. “The Internet brought massive reach — you can see everything,” said Rob Holloway, the site’s chief executive. “But the problem with seeing everything is that you see nothing.”
Zafu asks about how jeans gap at the waist and about what parts of the anatomy you want to emphasize or de-emphasize. It knows how the denim’s fading or the stitching makes the thighs look slimmer because Mr. Holloway runs a consulting company that advises retailers how to make clothes fit better. It asks fewer than a dozen questions and never asks for a measurement to find the perfect jeans. “Most women don’t want to take the SATs to get a pair of jeans,” he said.
The search engine technology could be used to find jewelry, eyeglasses or even home furnishings, Mr. Holloway said. But Zafu will stick to clothing as it expands to other hard-to-fit items for both sexes.
If you aren’t exhausted from all the shopping yet, here are a few other sites that could save you some time and money this holiday season. By the way, the biggest online shopping day is not the Monday after Thanksgiving, so-called CyberMonday. That is a gimmick made up by online merchants’ public relations hirelings. Last year, 20 percent of all holiday shopping was done two weeks later, on Monday, Dec. 12, according to an online commerce trade group, Shop.org.
Ugenie.com: Can you get a better deal by buying more than one item from an online store? This site’s value-added feature is a search engine that locates bundles of products that cost less together than separately. So far, it concentrates on movies, music, books and games.
Wize.com: The bell and whistle welded onto this site is a product rating system that purports to synthesize hundreds of product reviews from experts and regular consumers. It is not clear how useful that is because the site compares apples to oranges. Expensive single lens reflex cameras, for instance, get Wize ratings in the 90s, while the compact cameras popular with the average consumers rate in the 70s.
Sprenzy.com: This site garners a lot of buzz because it taps into the mood of Silicon Valley. It is a shopping comparison site that is also a blog. It would be really hot if it mixed in some MySpace-style social networking.
Kaboodle.com: Too late. This site finds that social aspect. It inserts a little button in the tool bar of your browser, so every time you see a product you want on a Web site, you click it. Then you can find out about the product and share the results of your search with others. Why? For the same reason you share pictures taken in the mirror on MySpace.
EarlyMiser.com: Great name, but it doesn’t do much more than what other older sites do.
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Here is the NY Times article per Dr. Myke's request:
Cellphone as Tracker: X Marks Your Doubts
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/business/yourmoney/19digi.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
By RANDALL STROSS
Published: November 19, 2006
THE diminutive cellphone is turning out to be the most clever of devices. As it connects to more networks, stores more kinds of data, delivers more kinds of entertainment — wherever we happen to be — it effectively becomes the most personal computer we own.
Now, as more of the handsets are equipped to use the Global Positioning System, the satellite-based navigation network, we are on the verge of enjoying services made possible only when information is matched automatically to location. Maps on our phones will always know where we are. Our children can’t go missing. Movie listings will always be for the closest theaters; restaurant suggestions, organized by proximity. We will even have the option of choosing free cellphone service if we agree to accept ads focused on nearby businesses.
None of this entails anything exotic. The technology has been ready for a while, but not the customers. Prospective benefits have seemed paltry when placed against privacy concerns. Who will have access to our location information — present and past? Can carriers assure us that their systems are impervious to threats from stalkers and other malicious intruders or neglectful employees — or from government snoops without search warrants? Contemplating worst-case scenarios, our hands holding these very mobile devices have been frozen, hesitant to turn the location beacon on. Are we finally ready to flip the switch?
Two wireless providers recently made separate announcements about new positioning services, betting that the time has arrived. Two weeks ago, Helio — a wireless service owned jointly by SK Telecom, a South Korean cellphone company, and EarthLink, the American Internet service provider — introduced the Buddy Beacon in its new phone, the Drift, which costs $225. With the press of a button, the Drift shows on a map the location of up to 25 friends — if each is also carrying a $225 Drift.
Last week, Boost Mobile, a unit of Sprint, and its technology partner, Loopt, unveiled Boost Loopt, a similar offering described as a “social mapping service.”
Both Helio and Boost Mobile market exclusively and unapologetically to a young clientele. “We’re not going after soccer moms and businesspeople,” Helio’s C.E.O., the veteran entrepreneur Sky Dayton, said last week. Freedom — to be a hedonist — is the leitmotif in its materials. “Have a party,” Helio’s Web site says invitingly, “not a search party.”
The Buddy Beacon serves at your pleasure, for your pleasure. “Turn it on when you’re up for a party;” turn it off when you need “a night of privacy.” A press release anticipates your feeling the urge to “slip out the back of the club into the V.I.P. room.” (Yes! All the time!) In such instances, the beacon goes off.
Social mapping on cellphones is not all that new; it is just the next stage in social networking. Dodgeball.com, which has been operating since 2004, should be credited as a predecessor: a Dodgeball member uses a cellphone to send in a text message about his or her whereabouts, and notifications are then sent automatically to the member’s circle of friends. ( Google acquired the company last year.)
But Dodgeball can’t update a change of location automatically. With G.P.S.-equipped handsets, the Beacon Buddy could remedy this shortcoming, but Helio elected not to enable automatic updates: a user must push a button to refresh the phone’s location. “We didn’t want a situation where someone left their Buddy Beacon on and didn’t know it,” Mr. Dayton said. When the marketplace is more familiar with the service, he added, it may introduce an auto-updating option.
Boost Loopt’s service has offered its first-generation users an option to automatically send current coordinates every 15 to 20 minutes. Anticipating potential security problems, it urges its users to admit only “good and trusted friends” into the closed circle that can follow their movements.
Loopt suggests that all prospective invitees pass a number of tests of trustworthiness: Do you have their phone numbers? Do you know where they live and where they grew up? Would you lend them your car? Would you give them your house keys to feed your dog?
Verizon Wireless has decided to hold off on social mapping. The only G.P.S.-based program it now offers is a navigation service. Jeffrey Nelson, a company spokesman, said Verizon was interested in social networks but felt the need to “give a lot of thought to privacy and safety issues.”
Using a hypothetical 16-year-old customer to illustrate risks, Mr. Nelson said it was one thing for the customer to imprudently send out her e-mail address to a stranger, and still another for her phone to reveal her home’s location. “If suddenly a bright light goes on above your house, saying, ‘This is me; this is where I am,’ you’ve lost privacy and anonymity in your home,” he said.
The tattered condition of the wireless industry’s reputation for privacy protection — which was not helped by the recent Hewlett-Packard pretexting scandal involving phone logs — is not entirely the industry’s doing. Not so long ago, industry players acted together to try to secure the Federal Communications Commission’s help to tighten — yes, tighten — rules governing the privacy of location information. It was the F.C.C. that let us all down, then and now.
Six years ago, the business potential of so-called mobile commerce was making investors swoon the way online social networks bedazzle them today. To many, this m-commerce — from on-the-go “concierge services” to location-specific ads — was poised to exceed PC-based e-commerce. And that was when there were 106 million cellphones in use in the United States, versus 227 million today, according to CTIA-The Wireless Association, a trade group.
But the potential of m-commerce could be realized only if consumers had ironclad assurance that, except in emergencies, the service provider would never use location information unless they expressly gave consent. The industry acknowledged that customers who received unsolicited ads keyed to their movements would have perfectly legitimate privacy concerns.
CTIA-The Wireless Association petitioned the F.C.C. to draft rules guaranteeing basic privacy protections, like requiring that customers give explicit consent before any information was disclosed to third parties and that all location information be protected from unauthorized access. When the F.C.C. considered the request in 2002, it declined to act, arguing that existing legislation was enough.
One commissioner, Michael J. Copps, dissented. He pointed out the rarity of a group in this industry seeking stricter rules for its members. That it would do so, he said, showed that the statutory language had not resolved all questions relating to the handling of customers’ location information.
The Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999, known as the 911 Act, requires that customers deliberately choose to have location information collected. But some wondered whether customers gave “implied consent” just by using the service.
Even the definition of what constituted “location information” was in dispute. Cingular maintained that the location of the nearest cell tower was not, strictly speaking, the customer’s location information, and so was not encompassed by the 911 Act.
Mr. Copps pleaded that the commission “put in some sweat now” to create the clarifying rules “before consumers make up their minds about whether they trust location practices.” His plea went unheeded; the F.C.C. has remained inert.
LEGISLATION that provides stronger protection of location information will come, said David M. Mark, a professor of geography at the State University of New York, Buffalo. But, he added, it would probably take a “horrific incident involving a celebrity” before legislators paid attention.
The Video Privacy Protection Act of 1988 was passed after the video rental records of the Supreme Court nominee Robert H. Bork were made public. Let us hope that no one, famous or not, will be hurt because a cellphone’s location was improperly leaked; one famous person in one headline, however, could lead to swift passage of a Location Privacy Protection Act of 2007.
The stronger the protection of cellphone location data, the faster the public will accept the new positioning services. The best policy would be to require by statute that carriers continually purge location data. If location history is never stored, the possibility of mishandling or theft of that information is removed.
When families adopt positioning cellphone services, a new problem will likely emerge, Professor Mark said. The very act of turning off one’s location beacon may itself be seen as suspicious. “If you don’t want your location known,” he asked, “does that mean you intend to do something improper?”
Randall Stross is an author based in Silicon Valley and a professor of business at San Jose State University. E-mail: digitaldomain@nytimes.com
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OT Beam11, It was removed per ct24's request. I believe ct24 may repost it - this time edited from the original post.
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Elliot1234, That doesn't make sense to me considering AutoXperience is being sold off. We don't need a COO over the Mobile and Telecom business units as Copus is already COO and President of the Mobile business unit, and the Telecom business unit leadership has maintained profitabity with positive cash flow. Lord knows we don't need any additional unnecessary overhead expense.
Perhaps Humbleinvestor was confused. Perhaps he is referring to the same individual being referred to in the recent blog posts: http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=14919401
I hope Humbeinvestor responds...
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Humbleinvestor, you said "Not until the new COO comes onboard..." Are you implying Martin Copus is leaving or taking a different responsibility?
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I have re-reviewed the last 3 10Q filings in regards to Sponge financials.
Sponge was profitable when Neomedia acquired them. For the first 3 months of 2006, Sponge had revenues of $811,000 and net income of $151,000. In fact, there were clauses in the original agreement that Sponge would be entitled to an additional $4.35MM if they met pre-determined earnings targets over the next two years.
Sponge financials have gotten steadily worse each quarter thereafter.
For Q2, Sponge had revenues of $420,000 and a net loss of ($156,000).
For the most recent quarter, Q3, Sponge had even worse revenues and profitabiliy...revenues were $265,000 and net loss was ($420,000).
Clearly Sponge has performed far below expectations since Neomedia first acquired them. It would be reasonable to assume that Neom would have projected Sponge to be cash flow positive with financials improving more so over time. Something is awry now. Only those on the inside can know why Sponge has performed so poorly over the last 6 months.
Based on Q3 performance, Sponge would lose $1.6MM over the next 12 months. Neom has its own challenges to get qode launched and accepted by the market. It doesn't have time nor the financial wherewithal to deal with a subsidiary that isn't performing and essential to its qode launch.
Now, we do need to bear in mind that the Q2-10Q stated In June, Sponge also reached agreement to supply marketing solutions to Vodafone for their customers. This Vodafone agreement may have the potential for large future revenues. This development, and perhaps others unknown to us, were most likely taken into account when we agreed to only a 7.5% ownership for the $6 million payment. IMO, there would have to be some sizable future revenues projected for Neom to agree to these terms; otherwise, Neom would have paid too much for that level of ownership.
In summary, it appears both Sponge and Neom are pleased that the acquisition will not proceed to completion. I believe, with all things taken into consideration, Neom made a wise move.
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Steelers_Fan, dlethe01: I sent Jason an email and it came back as undeliverable...not a good sign.
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OT Great minds think alike. EOM
Here is another interesting post by Jason Guskos - similar, but slightly different - and on the same day - November 9th:
http://206.106.174.250/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=739
posted by Jason Guskos Nov 9 2006 at 10:04
I here that Neomedia hired a real heavy hitter (svp) for the qode division last week that should really make things take off
ss9173
dlethe01, I am not sure how relevant this is - when you click on Jason Guskos' link it goes to ibm.com.
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Just a reminder, personal attacks will not be tolerated on this board.
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Assistant Moderator
Jonesieatl, I think your post to YJ answered your own question.
ss9173
The 33 million shares returned are worth approximately $2.3 million.
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Reminder of original PR to acquire Sponge:
http://www.neom.com/press_releases/2006/20060222.jsp
London-Based Mobile Marketing Leader Sponge is Latest Acquisition by NeoMedia
Fort Myers, FL, & London, February 22, 2006 -- NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB: NEOM), an innovator in wireless services and patented technologies that provide automatic links to content on the Mobile Internet, continued to build its worldwide mobile marketing competency today by signing a share purchase agreement to acquire Sponge, a London-based leader in developing and implementing mobile applications and delivering content to U.K. and international customers.
Charles T. Jensen, president and CEO of NeoMedia, said the agreement with Sponge signed earlier this week calls for an aggregate of $17.4 million consideration, including $6 million in cash and the remainder in NeoMedia shares, with an additional $4.35 million available under an earn-out if Sponge meets pre-determined earnings targets over the next two years.
‘What a Month!’
"Wow! What a month it has been," said Mr. Jensen, as the acquisition of Sponge completed a "very hectic and very exciting" three-week period.
In the U.S., NeoMedia completed the acquisition of Mobot®, Inc, (www.mobot.com) of Boston and announced the signing of a Letter of Intent to acquire of HipCricket, Inc. (www.HipCricket.com), of Essex, Connecticut. And in Europe, NeoMedia announced and completed the acquisition of Munich-based pan-European mobile services provider and developer 12snap (www.12snap.com), and announced the acquisitions of Gavitec-mobile digit (www.gavitec.com) of Wurselen, Germany, and now London-based Sponge (www.SpongeGroup.com). In addition, NeoMedia began the month by announcing it had been awarded a U.S. patent covering the capture and processing of bar codes explicitly from camera cell phones.
Mr. Jensen said the acquisition of Sponge "gives NeoMedia a range of multinational world-class capabilities we believe to be unmatched in mobile marketing. Our plan is to become a mobile marketing supercompany in Europe as the industry matures, and in the U.S. where market development is now well under way," he said.
‘Putting the Pieces in Place’
Sponge has become recognized as one of Europe's top independent developers of mobile applications and content. Rapidly-growing and profitable, it is positioned as a premier provider of mobile services. From its London headquarters, Sponge runs innovative, high quality premium and non-premium mobile solutions in the U.S., Europe and Australia.
Sponge focuses on tools that its customers deploy in an extensive range of SMS- and MMS-based entertainment and mobile marketing applications. Sponge also develops handset software solutions for marketing and promotional agencies, and for media groups.
Sponge recently engineered and implemented Europe's largest-ever on-pack promotion for its Walkers® Crisps (Frito-Lay®) client, with more than 5% of the population of the U.K. participating. Sponge is now rolling out this promotion in other European markets, and it has also licensed its platform to Bertelsmann in the U.S. - where it is used by clients including Cingular®, Univision®, Universal Music® and Lifetime TV®. Other major clients served by Sponge include NEC®, Diageo®, Vodafone®, Endemol® and News International®.
"The founders and key personnel at Sponge have extensive senior level experience of profitably delivering mass-market communications and interactive services on behalf of blue chip clients and large media groups," said Mr. Jensen. "They know and have prospered in IVR and SMS, on premium as well as standard rate."
21,000 Messaging Applications!
"We are delighted to welcome the talented team at Sponge - the U.K. market leader in mobile marketing and media applications - to our rapidly expanding wireless solutions group," said Martin Copus, NeoMedia COO and chief executive of its PaperClick® wireless business unit.
"Sponge has the most battle-hardened platform in the mobile marketing industry - which has run more than 21,000 messaging applications, with 600 campaigns running simultaneously at present - from voting to reverse auctions to m-coupons and many, many more. Now," he said, "as part of NeoMedia, those applications will be able to be accessed on the Mobile Internet via our PaperClick code-reader, GoWindow(™) and CodeWindow(™).
"The acquisition of Sponge exponentially expands NeoMedia's one-stop offering for direct-to-mobile-web interactivity, and further reinforces our position in mobile marketing."
‘Delighted to Join the NeoMedia Family’
Alex Meisl, chief executive of Sponge, said that "our whole team is delighted to be joining the NeoMedia family.
"The breadth of resources which the combined group can now offer will allow us to serve our client base even better and improve our hard-won reputation even further," he said.
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ss9173
Wow! That's one development I didn't expect, but appears to be a very good move!
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coogoo0, the Firethorn and Cingular posts you questioned were both labeled as OT DD (off topic due diligence). The Firethorn post discusses mobile banking and payments. One of the Neomedia subsidiaries, Gavitec, is involved in mobile payment. The Cingular article discusses Navio, which is the leading provider of direct-to-consumer solutions for mobile and web-based commerce. Potentially Neomedia could target Navio as a potential customer someday. In addition, both articles are just further evidence that the Mobile Marketing space is growing exponentially right now.
Hope that helps.
ss9173
"POS" is the key phrase in that paragraph. That's exactly what the Valley Group will be doing with qode.
Additional Nintendo Wii DD posted by YJ
http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/en/GB/news/article.do?elementId=PiZZDC6hfLfsmweeIriLDWgabTBKRKum
"In-store activity and POS will also follow the same direction as the ad campaign to ensure creative cut-through. Sampling Wii will also be a key element in the overall marketing strategy and brand new bespoke Wii interactive units have been created with over 1,000 of these eye-catching units placed in select stores across the UK before launch, meaning people can easily get to sample Wii, to see and feel it for themselves!"
http://www.neom.com/press_releases/2006/20060612.jsp
NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB: NEOM) an innovator in market-driven technologies, and new co-marketing partner The Valley Group, a leading POP (point-of-purchase) specialist based in the U.K., today announced the launch of iPOS(™) -- interactive point-of-sale -- via the introduction of the patented PaperClick® technology -- delivering direct-to-mobile Web connectivity -- to the world of retail
"The creation of iPOS represents a leap forward in retail advertising and promotions," said Martin Copus, COO of NeoMedia and head of the mobile business unit. "Now PaperClick provides the ability for any piece of POS/POP to link directly to the mobile Internet, with all the multimedia possibilities the Web offers."
"PaperClick represents one click connectivity to unlimited marketing and promotional possibilities, right when the consumer is at the point-of-purchase," said Mr. Copus. "And, PaperClick can make any piece of POS material interactive."
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DD The Art of Mobile Marketing
http://www.mobilemonday.it/
Mobile marketing is moving forward in Europe/US, and fast-forward in Korea and Japan. A year ago this medium was at its infancy, today it has learnt creative approaches for reaching the customer abound.
No longer it is just SMS and slow WAP sites: the device in your pocket is becoming your iPod, your radio, your TV, your portal to the Internet, as well as your phone, so the opportunities for brand marketers to make the most of this channel are plenty.
During the next MoMo Milan on 13th November we will not only set out to introduce the possibilities and practicalities of this medium, but will also pick up where it left off and bring new ideas, successful campaigns and lessons learnt along the way from those early and not so adopters.
Proximity is becoming a significant part of mobile marketing: Near Field Communication (NFC) and bidimensional barcodes have already been used to deliver multimedia content to your mobile phone, together with other ubiquitous devices, supposing you want it of course. As of now, the mobile phone is the best positioned device for mobile marketing campaigns for it's multifunctional use and it's market penetration.
Since their introduction in late 2002, QR (Quick Response) codes have become widely used in Japan (the reader is embedded in any Japanese mobile phone), with consumers using them "to click on physical objects" by reading bidimensional barcodes, to access more information on everything from trees in parks to nutritional information for their MacDonalds hamburgers. According to recent research by DoCoMo, 70% of Japanese mobile owners have used them.
But a new development in Japan threatens to make QR codes disappear completely and soon!
Last month, Tokyo's annual CEATEC show (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) was once again a showcase for some of the coolest mobile technology on Planet Earth.
The new invisible "FP Codes" (from Fujitsu) and "audio QR" (from DoCoMo) stand for a pretty good chance of fast adoption - thanks to the Japanese mobile operators that will embed the technologies in their new phone line.
Fujitsu has dreamed up an invisible way to slap bar codes on products. It's called FP (Fine Picture) code, consisting of thin yellow lines that you can't see but your cell phone can. FP can contain any kind of data such as pricing information and will be able to also link you to websites for more details.
Fujitsu is naturally tight-lipped about how they do this – all they reveal is that the system was inspired by the fact that the sensitivity of human vision alters according to size and colour. Sounds complicated. The big draw of the system is, like blacklight QR codes, that the codes don't compromise the design of printed material. In the future will all printed pictures contain embedded codes?
DoCoMo has announced and demonstrated "audio QR" which enables mobiles phones to capture data transparentely embedded in music and jingles.
An audio QR code is simply broadcast as metadata in an audio signal, such that the browser displays text, a clickable URL or other advertising message while you listen to a radio or tv program on a suitably enabled mobile phone.
In US and Europe mobile barcode scanning has never been introduced on a large scale and those campaigns are now ready to emerge...
This month, Mobile Monday will bring you some of the most recognised pioneers on Proximity and Mobile Marketing in Italy.
Do not miss this opportunity! Be part of the MoMo global network that today consists of 45.000 members, over 400 events a year and chapters in 34 cities in Europe, Asia and North America.
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ss9173
DD Hold the Phone: Visa’s Mobile Strategy Offers New Ways to Pay, More Rewards and Services
New Visa Pilot Tests Delivery of Mobile Coupons and Rewards
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20061115005...
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Visa USA today advanced its mobile strategy through the launch of a new pilot at its California headquarters. Following the successful completion of the industry’s first large-scale U.S. mobile payment trial at Philips Arena in Atlanta earlier this year, Visa is now testing the delivery of mobile payment coupons and rewards via text message, graphic and bar code images direct to consumers’ mobile devices.
The pilot, which is scheduled to launch in November with approximately 500 Visa employees in California, is expected to expand to public trials over the next year. Pilot participants will receive payment coupons and rewards that can be redeemed at on-site cafes located at Visa’s corporate campus.
“With more than 225 million mobile phone users in the United States alone, it’s only natural for consumer payments to extend to the mobile device,” said Elizabeth Buse, Executive Vice President at Visa USA. “Visa is at the forefront of developing mobile payments and services – we’re committed to delivering innovative products and functionality that bring greater convenience and payment choice to consumers.”
A recent online survey conducted by Visa found that 61 percent of respondents between the ages of 25 and 34 are interested in making mobile phone purchases. Additionally, the survey revealed that more than half of U.S. consumers carry their mobile phones at least 75 percent of the time. The survey also showed that 64 percent of consumers are interested in receiving coupons via their mobile device.
Mobile: More than Just a Payment Option
Visa’s mobile strategy takes advantage of the scale and flexibility of its global network to deliver both payment and value-added mobile services that drive value to consumers, merchants, and issuers. Visa’s vision for mobile payment includes the secure, over-the-air delivery of payment account information to the mobile device, access to point-of-sale mobile payments using Visa Contactless and Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, as well as remote payments delivered through secure mobile messaging and the mobile Internet. Visa continues to evaluate mobile solutions that enhance consumers’ payment experience, including real-time payment notifications and security alerts, mobile coupons and rewards, relevant content downloads that allow consumers to make informed purchases, as well as applications that enable consumers to transfer funds to a friend or family member.
“Combining Visa’s global network with advanced wireless technology creates a powerful delivery channel for payments and information services from Visa,” said Elizabeth Buse. “We are excited to take this next step and lead the way in the development of mobile applications.”
Visa expects to conduct larger scale trials over the next 12-18 months to test both mobile payment and value-added applications that enhance consumer’s mobile payment experience. Visa’s mobile coupon trial comes after a successful Near Field Communications (NFC) pilot for mobile phones at Philips Arena in Atlanta, which concluded in May 2006. During the pilot, which was the first large-scale NFC payment pilot in the U.S., Atlanta Thrashers and Hawks season ticket holders enjoyed the speed and convenience of using their mobile phones to purchase refreshments and download digital content from “smart” posters embedded with NFC tags.
About Visa USA
Visa USA is the nation's leading payment brand and largest payment system, enabling banks to provide their consumers and business customers with a wide variety of payment alternatives tailored to meet their evolving needs. Visa USA is committed to increasing the choice, convenience, acceptance and security of Visa payments for all stakeholders in the payment system — members, cardholders and merchants. Through its 13,369 member financial institutions, more than 500 million Visa-branded cards have been issued to cardholders in the United States. Worldwide, cardholders in more than 150 countries carry more than 1 billion Visa-branded cards, accounting for more than $3 trillion in annual transaction volume. VisaNet, Visa’s global processing system and the world’s largest financial network, processes transactions with unparalleled reliability. Visa offers a trusted, reliable and convenient way to access and mobilize financial resources — anytime, anywhere, anyway.
Contacts
For Visa USA:
Fleishman-Hillard
Emily Tzinberg, 314-982-7722
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