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Blog: July Archive
NeoMedia's qode® Rocks Compilation 2007
NeoMedia's patented qode® technology, which links users via cell phones to the Mobile Internet, will be used by Mobalis and Modelo Light to promote the The Annual compilation 2007 on the Warner Music label. This compilation is a six CD box set of the most popular club and electronica hits in Latin music markets over the last year.
This is where qode® comes into the mix (see how cool I am using music jargon): Within each box set is a special card insert, inviting users to download qode onto their cell phone and click on the interactive 2D code to access mobile web content, such as free wallpapers, video clips, and music samples. Users may also enter the keyword "ML" into their qode®window for similar connection.
Modelo Light is a latin beer (cerveza) which is trendy enough to have its own blog.
This news comes courtesy of the streetstylz blog. Thanks for the tip.
CSR Sees Bluetooth Demand Strong For '07
From the I-could-have-told-you-that category, U.K. based electronics company CSR --which specializes in Bluetooth technology--Wednesday reported a 6% rise in net profit and said it expected strong growth in the market over the remainder of the year as the technology appears in more games consoles and other devices.
"We continue to see numerous future growth opportunities for Bluetooth as well as for the broader range of short range wireless technologies that are part of our portfolio," said Chief Executive John Scarisbrick.
CSR derives more than 50% of its revenues from devices other than mobile handsets, including Sony Corp.'s (SNE) PlayStation 3 computer games console and Samsung MP3 players. More recently CSR has provided Bluetooth technology in Apple's iPhone--perhaps you've heard of this product?
Link at CNNMoney.com.
NeoMedia To Co-market with Mobalis In Mexico
Although it is not in Spanish, I had to read the title of this post twice to figure it out. NeoMedia Technologies, a global leader in mobile enterprise and marketing technology, announced that it has signed a co- marketing agreement with Mobalis, a mobile marketing agency and its partner in Latin America. According to the agreement, NeoMedia will enable camera phones with its patented qode(R) technology during REVENTOUR, a traveling music festival which visits 20 cities throughout Mexico from June through November. Attendance at REVENTOUR is estimated to be in excess of 200,000 participants.
Article link courtesy of TMCNet.
NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. "is the global leader in camera initiated transactions for mobile device." website
Mobalis (Mexico) "is a leader in the transition of traditional methodology of marketing to new dynamics of mobile and proximity marketing, having developed strategies based on SMS, blogs, WAP, Web, Bluetooth(R) and 2D code technology."
website which is in Spanish, but rather nifty looking, so it is worth a look si tu hablas.
Apple iPhone Bluetooth Headset Arrives
Up to now I have resisted commenting on the iPhone. Nothing against it--I am just quite happy with my Blackjack, and also there are roughly 109 other blogs and websites already discussing the phenomenon. However, when I heard that Apple's version of a Bluetooth wireless headset is now available, I figured it was time to take a look.
It is small and stylish enough (this is Apple after all), but it seems like it may not be Insanely Greattm. According to this article on Slashgear, for example, the sound quality leaves a lot to be desired.
So although I'm sure iPhonians will embrace it, warts and all, it doesn't seem like it will be a threat to the truly Insanely Greattm Jawbone.
Proximity Marketing Equals Spam?
Appearing recently at gizmocafe is this article entitled "Bluetooth Proximity Marketing - Cell Phone Spam Alert".
It is not unusual, nor is it surprising, for discussion of Bluetooth Proximity Marketing to consider its capability for spam-like abuse. It is a bit surprising how often what I consider (imho) to be an interesting new information channel is casually dismissed as just another form of spam. The gizmocafe article does offer some counterpoints, but having the expression "a sign of the coming apocalypse" in the first line of post doesn't exactly set the stage for optimism.
One aspect of Prox Marketing that is problematic at this stage of the game is the rather interruptive nature of push protocols on current bluetooth phones. People accept "TV spam" (commercials) more readily because they don't have to do anything--just sit there and be mildy annoyed if they so wish. It should be the same on phones: the user should be able to easily ignore marketing and advertising.
Brandscape revs BP’s marketing
As lead sponsor for automotive event MPH ’07 in Joburg (that's the way cool people refer to Johannesburg, South Africa), BP was looking for an exceptional way to leave their mark and create consumer awareness for its new BP Ultimate high-performance fuels.
So, BP commissioned Brandscape Proximity Marketing to build a promotional campaign around interactive mobile phone content. The challenge for Brandscape was to come up with a concept mechanism that would drive awareness and activation of the BP Ultimate brand and reinforce company’s commitment to motorsport sponsorship. Brandscape created compelling digital content and an "instant win" promotion that was delivered to visitors’ mobile handsets, downloaded using Hypertag propriety wireless technology.
For more details and pictures on the campaign, browse on over to this link.
NEC Pen Computer
NEC has developed a pen-style concept personal computer named P-ISM, which somehow stands for "Pen-style Personal Networking Gadget Package". This was apparently announced a few years ago and I somehow missed it, but it is still cool and hasn't been obsoleted by any means.
The different pens work like this: one pen acts as a cellular phone with handwriting data input capability, the second pen is a camera scanner, the third pen projects a virtual keyboard, the fourth pen projects a display screen, and the fifth can function as a peronal ID key with cashless pass function. The pens are connected using Bluetooth (that must be fun to coordinate), and the whole set is connected to the Internet via the cellular phone function.
Link courtesy of slashgear.com.
Podcast: Best of Bluetooth Headsets
At Gearlog Radio: "The Best of Bluetooth Headsets, Geek Politics, and More".
Interesting podcast at Gearlog including (among other things) a review of Bluetooth headsets (yeah, I know--you know that already from the title). According to the post: "We dive into the world of Bluetooth headsets and which ones are the sexiest and most stylish." With an intro like that, how can you resist?
Unilabplus UK Releases Latest Proximity Marketing Software
Unilabplus UK today announced the latest release of BlueDar, their Bluetooth Proximity Marketing software.
BlueDar supports proximity push of many different types of content to mobile phones, including video clips, images, mp3 files, evouchers, ebusiness cards, event reminders, ebrochures, and java games
According to Managing Director, Stefanos Cunning: "There are a number of ways our products can be used to benefit your business - by delivering content directly to consumers' mobile phones. You can increase the impact of any outdoor advertising campaign or add an interactive element to your exhibition or event."
Link courtesy of goarticles.com.
Bluetooth with 1km range
In a move I can only describe as a blatant attempt to mess with Bluetooth proximity marketers everywhere, wireless chip specialist Ezurio has pushed out the boundaries of Bluetooth with a module that gives the short-range wireless protocol a range of 1 km.
Kidding aside, this could be beneficial in a couple of ways:
- Extending the physical reach of proximity marketing
- Improving the quality of short range connections
Although Bluetooth is typically viewed as a very short range technology, the standard supports a high-power opton. According to the article, Ezurio has already supplied "hundreds of thousands" of Bluetooth modules to customers using the protocol over these distances.
Via Techworld .
In Search Of Transcend
On or about October 12 of last year (2006), the Bluetooth SIG introduced its TransSend client/server application at the Digital Life consumer electronics tradeshow in New York. TransSend is an application which allows Internet content such as maps, addresses, phone numbers and images to be wirelessly transferred from a Bluetooth enabled PC to a Bluetooth phone or PDA. By providing this technology free of charge, the Bluetooth SIG hopes to help increase customer awareness and usage of Bluetooth-enabled devices and drive visitors to TransSend enabled web sites.
In the words of Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG: "TransSend reinforces the Bluetooth SIG’s commitment to our member companies to find new, exciting ways for their customers to use Bluetooth enabled devices and to consumers to make their lives simpler and more convenient. TransSend is a simple solution with obvious value for the consumer that will increase usage and familiarity with Bluetooth object push applications."
More of the announcement and details at this link.
At the time, the announcement received healthy coverage by a wide variety of blogs and sites such as Gizmodo. So I recently decided to take a look around to see where I could find examples of TransSend being used on websites. Unfortunately, at least with the quick search I did, I was able to find lots of blog postings on TransSend, but the only site I could find with an actual transcend button was the Bluetooth SIG site.
For example, here .
This doesn't mean they aren't out there--it could just mean my Google skillz are not what I think they are. Maybe the buttons aren't easily showing up on Google, or the blog postings are obscuring them. In any case, I might do some further research and report back at a later date.