In the Market

Mobile Tagging is emerging as a significant enabler that allows advertisers to reach consumers anywhere at any time, on that most personal of connected devices, their mobile phone.

Some examples of Mobile Tagging using Microsoft Tags or QR Codes in the marketplace include:

ACP Media – Trade A Boat Magazine

Used a Tag on its front page to deliver video of its cover-page multi-million dollar boat.

Amsterdam Transit System

Put Tags at bus stops which riders Snap to get up-to-date bus schedule information.

Hardee’s Restaurant Chain

Used Tags to distribute food coupons that offered free fries and soft drinks with a purchase of the company’s “Thickburgers.”

Microsoft

Plans to incorporate bar codes into its Xbox videogames as part of a broad marketing initiative. “[Bar codes] enable advertisers to continue their conversations with consumers across any media [including] posters, book covers, store displays or screens,” says Mark Kroese, General Manager of Entertainment and Devices Advertising for Microsoft.

Wal-Mart

Held a pilot in early 2009 to publicize the release of a Microsoft Xbox game called “Halo Wars” with the retailer creating Tag-enabled in-store product displays. Consumers who scanned or “Snapped” the Tags with their phones were taken to a special Web site where they could pre-order the game and get freebies such as ringtones. 85% of the people who visited the site ended up downloading content onto their phone.

Volkswagen & Ford

Volkswagen and Ford have used Mobile Tags on posters and magazine advertisements to provide deeper information on newly-released vehicles.

Proctor & Gamble

Launched a “Snap and Get Rid of Dandruff” campaign in Turkey (June 2009), in which consumers could Snap Tags on the company’s Web site to win prizes and access more information on hair care.

The Sun and Kerrang! Magazine

The Sun newspaper ran an eight-page supplement entitled ‘Mobile Mania’ which included QR codes throughout the editorial and advertising along with information about the technology. In the same month, an issue of “Kerrang!” included an advertisement by Warner Music that featured a mobile barcode encouraging users to visit the mobile site of drum & bass act Pendulum.

Kobe Bryant

Fans of the US basketball player Kobe Bryant Snapped his Tag-enabled shirt to learn more about the athlete.

Lionsgate

Used Tags to promote its current release, “The Gamer.” The company distributed tattoos incorporating Tags that people could wear. When the Tags are Snapped, the consumer is taken to more information about the movie.