NeoMedia Adds To Strategic Advisory Board

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated transactions for mobile devices, recently announced the induction of new Board of Advisors member Joe Gilbride, who brings with him extensive industry experience and is dedicated to the growth and expansion of NeoMedia Technologies.

Joe Gilbride is a senior financial executive who began his career at Ernst and Young. He is a CPA, and has a MBA in Finance from NYU. He has been the VP Corporate Controller of the Interpublic Group of Companies, which trades on the NYSE. Joe was the VP CFO of the Lowe Group, a Global Advertising Company which had offices around the world. He oversaw budgeting, reporting, IT, treasury, accounting and planning. He has also helped take a company through its IPO, and has significant M&A experience, having completed over 100 transactions around the world. Joe has also worked for MDC and Partners expanding its brand in North America, and acquiring Crispin Porter for MDC. He then went on to Euro RSCG, Saatchi & Saatchi, and the digital Marketing agency Avenue A/ Razorfish, which was recently acquired by Microsoft.

"The development of the NeoMedia Technologies Advisory Board has combined many talented and highly qualified executives with much to offer in the technology and telecommunication fields," states William J. Hoffman, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies. "All the members bring extensive knowledge of the wireless and telecom industries. We are happy to have their commitment to NeoMedia Technologies."

Joe Gilbride joins Rich Cremona from Open Wave, Marc Lefar from AT&T, and Clarence Wesley from Xerox Mobile Solutions.

NeoReader Upgrade Available For Download

NeoMedia Technologies and Gavitec AG - mobile digit, recently released an upgrade to their co-developed code-reading application – NeoReader – designed to turn a camera phone into a universal 1D and 2D barcode scanner that provides one-click access to mobile content.

Based off the award winning Lavasphere technology developed in Germany by Gavitec, the NeoReader features NeoMedia's patented resolution technology combined with Gavitec's ultra-small footprint and platform independent algorithms. It is able to read and decipher all common non-proprietary 2D codes (Data Matrix, QR, Aztec, Maxi) as well as URL embedded 2D codes and all 1D UPC/EAN/Code 128 open source codes. The NeoReader supports direct and indirect code linking, which guarantees maximum interoperability with already existing platforms like 2D Data Matrix Semacodes, and Japanese QR links. This allows the user to click on a variety of codes with a single application installed on their mobile device.

The updated version includes new features and improvements for issues observed just after the release of the previous version of the NeoReader. The new version is free and immediately downloadable for all available handsets. If you already have a former Java version of the NeoReader on your mobile phone, please uninstall it before you download and install the new version.

The NeoReader ushers in and inaugurates a brand new era of innovative mobile enterprise and optical code reading solutions for the wireless industry. Visit get.neoreader.com to download the free application, and instantly transform your mobile phone into a universal code reader.

Gavitec Powers Mobile Ticketing For Spanair

Spanair and Vodafone Spain have joined forces with NeoMedia's Gavitec to save their customers time with a new mobile boarding card service.

At the beginning of November, Spanair launched its new mobile boarding card service, thus becoming the first airline to offer its passengers this type of mobile ticketing service. The Madrid-Bilbao route will deploy this service up to the end of the year, at which point the company will begin rolling out the mobile boarding card on all of its domestic routes.

Focusing primarily on business passengers, this innovative system facilitates receiving a Spanair boarding card via a multimedia message (MMS) sent to a mobile phone. The multimedia message contains an image with a two-dimensional barcode, which transmits all the information necessary to execute automated boarding, as well as a text information section with all travel details. Thus, to obtain their boarding cards, passengers will just need to proceed to the special check-in desks and pass the 2D code over a Gavitec EXIO scanner.

To obtain their mobile boarding card, passengers will be required to check-in using the web-based check-in service at spanair.com, or by connecting to the internet via their mobiles via the new mobile check-in service at spanair.mobi, which will be launched in tandem with the mobile boarding card service. At the end of the process, the passenger is asked for his or her mobile number, to which Spanair will send the corresponding multimedia message (MMS) free of charge.

In order to use this system, passengers simply need to pass the 2D code sent to their mobile phone over the scanners at Madrid and Bilbao airports. In doing so, they will obtain a paper receipt with which they will be able to pass through security and proceed to boarding.

Vodafone's director of innovation and business development, Pedro Fuertes, commented that, "The mobile boarding card and, in general terms, ticketing systems based on mobile handsets, are further evidence that mobile telephones, in addition to facilitating voice-based communication, are making life easier for us by allowing for secure access to endless services, at any time and from anywhere."

Spanair piloted this system in June during the Vodafone innovation show, which also served as the launch for this new service. Pablo Sánchez, Director of E-Commerce at Spanair, stated that, "With this advance, Spanair is laying the foundations for implementation of a boarding card system in the near future that will be 100% paper-less; thereby ensuring greater passenger comfort and a substantial saving of time."

NeoMedia Adds To Strategic Advisory Board

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated transactions for mobile devices, announced today the induction of new Board of Advisors member Rich Cremona, who brings with him extensive industry experience and is dedicated to the growth and expansion of NeoMedia Technologies.

Rich Cremona will be a new member on the Board of Advisors for NeoMedia Technologies. He is a well-rounded and talented telecommunications and sales executive. He has had P&L experience and international exposure, as well as comprehensive operational stints in field services and human resources. Mr. Cremona brings 18 years of management experience from AT&T as Sales Manager, GM, International Development Director, and GM of National Sales and Service division. Following AT&T, Cremona was Field Services VP and Region Sales VP of Lucent Technologies in, St. Louis Missouri. In 2000, he became President of Business Sales for Sprint PCS Wireless division where he was accountable for leading Sprint PCS' combined business sales channel distribution and marketing organizations for advanced wireless technology applications. Next, he became executive VP for McLeodUSA where Cremona developed, deployed, and led the strategic sales organization. Prior to NeoMedia Technologies, he was Sales VP of Openwave Systems where he was a member of the sales management team of Openwave and responsible for the sales of advanced software applications, hardware configurations, and professional services engagements.

"NeoMedia Technologies is proud to develop a team with experienced individuals like Mr. Cremona. I believe that with his background knowledge and strategic leadership ability, NeoMedia Technologies will continue to be the global leader in optically initiated transactions and lead the way to interoperability in the industry. We are proud to have him," stated William Hoffman, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies.

Rich Cremona joins Marc Lefar from AT&T and Clarence Wesley from Xerox Mobile Solutions who joined NeoMedia's Strategic Advisory Board last month.

NeoMedia Hires New VP Of Marketing

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated transactions for mobile devices, is pleased to announce that it has hired Terry Griffin as the company's new Vice President of Marketing.

Terry Griffin is a multi-dimensional marketing expert who brings over 18 years of diverse industry experience to NeoMedia. Before joining the company, Terry was the Vice President of Marketing for EarthLink and was responsible for the stewardship of the EarthLink brand, and the development and execution of all consumer facing communications and programs designed to increase EarthLink’s overall awareness and profitably through the acquisition of new subscribers. Terry was also the Group Director of National Consumer Promotions for the Coca-Cola Company where he was responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership for a team of 40 marketing professionals who developed and executed world class, strategically integrated national consumer marketing programs for Coca-Cola North America.

A results-oriented senior marketing executive with a successful career in leading change, building and directing organizations, developing innovative marketing strategies and executing programs with distinction to deliver bottom-line results for blue-chip brands, Terry Griffin is looking to jump right in and get her feet wet.

"I am thrilled to be part of the NeoMedia team and think you'll see major progress over the next 6 months as we clarify our vision and begin operationalizing this technology in the marketplace in a meaningful way," Terry exclaimed. "The team that Chip has brought together are aligned and ready for the good fight. I am immersing myself in the many facets of the NeoMedia world to enable a running start when I come on board."

William Hoffman Presents At Mobile Summit

Presentation by William J. Hoffman, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies at the October 22nd Mobile Entertainment Summit, in which he discusses how to enable reliable, secure wireless transactions in the mobile environment.

NeoMedia Confident About Patent Reexamination

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated transactions for mobile devices, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted the Ex-Parte Re-examination of U.S. Patent No. 6,199,048.

NeoMedia has a large portfolio consisting of U.S. and foreign patents and pending applications relating to various inventions surrounding the processing of "machine readable codes over wireless networks." NeoMedia expects the '048 patent will be confirmed by the USPTO in course of the re-examination. According to publicly available statistics, only about 10% of patents that are re-examined have all their claims declared invalid.

NeoMedia's CEO, William J. Hoffman, states, "Regardless of the outcome of the re-examination, NeoMedia's inventions and the patent portfolio that protects them will continue to effectively serve the creation of a global and interoperable infrastructure that enables large scale adoption of mobile codes as triggers of optically initiated transactions." He added, "NeoMedia's main motivation is to use its inventions to make this wireless ecosystem a reality and create advantages for the global value chain."

Additionally, in an effort to focus its energy on building a profitable ecosystem, and not to be distracted by time-consuming and costly patent litigation, NeoMedia has agreed to stay the current patent litigation against Scanbuy pending the re-examination's outcome.

NeoMedia's CEO affirms, "NeoMedia will use the 'stay period' to develop and to deploy our turn-key solutions for reading and processing a multitude of barcode formats that are ISO certified. Our patents have been reviewed and granted by appropriate government agencies, subsequently challenged, then licensed by numerous multinational companies deeply versed in Intellectual Property Rights. At the appropriate time, NeoMedia will move forward vigorously with the litigation and protect the rights we have been granted by patent offices worldwide."

Gavitec Powers Mobile Ticketing For O2

A new service delivered by O2 for the West End hit, The Lord of the Rings, brings the latest in mobile technology to the theater world.

It is the first major commercial launch of a full scale mobile ticketing service in Europe, which allows customers to buy, receive, and access a show, all using their mobile phone.

The service will allow O2 customers to purchase up to 10 tickets for The Lord of the Rings production, at a preferential rate of £25, compared to the normal price of £60, using a secured credit card transaction over O2's Active Portal.

The virtual ticket will exist in the "my tickets" section of The Lord of the Rings mobile box office, accessed via your phone. The tickets, all for Tuesday night performances, will let you know your seat numbers, opening times, and has a unique 2D barcode which can be scanned in and redeemed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

The mobile ticketing initiative is a collaborative effort between Telefonica O2 Europe, Trinity Mobile, and NeoMedia's Gavitec. Trinity's integrated FoneScan™ utilizes Gavitec's MD20 code scanning technology and can be embedded within an existing point-of-sale, kiosk, entry control system, desk/bar top, or other hardware.

Telefonica O2 Europe comprises mobile network operators in the UK, Ireland and Slovakia, along with integrated fixed/mobile businesses in Germany and the Czech Republic - all of which use O2 as their consumer brand. In addition, O2 has established the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses in the UK and Germany respectively.

To access the service, O2 customers can text LOTR to 2020.

Mobile Barcode Camp A Tremendous Success

Saturday November 10th was the highly anticipated Mobile Barcode Camp in New York City. The event was a tremendous success and brought together over 200 participants including industry giant Google, European carrier Orange, handset manufacturer Nokia, mobile marketing powerhouse m-Blox, mobile code-reading companies Nextcode, Scanbuy, Shotcode, and many more.

The event's organizer, David Harper, is the founder of Winksite and the co-founder of Mobile Monday NY. According to Mr. Harper, "Mobile Barcode Camp brings together mobile enthusiasts, explorers, authors, designers, architects, producers and professionals in North America to share the current state and their visions for the future direction of mobile barcodes and other cellphone-readable physical hyperlinks. Mobile Barcode Camp hopes to support the many voices helping to unlock the potential of a truly digital life."

Covered during the Mobile Barcode Camp included such topics as:

* Is Mainstream America Ready for Barcodes? The Convergence of "Realspace" and "Mobilespace. Discussion led by David Harper, Founder, Winksite.

* Android's open source barcode reader, with Sean Owen from Google.

* Barcoding at Orange and partnership opportunities: an overview of what Orange does in barcodes, and information about programs they have set up to help developers get their apps to work in the hands of users. Lecture lead by Benoit de Boursetty, Direct Wireless Business Developer, France Telecom, North America.

* Moving Code Scanning from Potential to Profit. Standards to Build a New Industry, led by Jim Levinger, CEO, Nextcode.

Special thanks to JP for attending Saturday's Mobile Barcode Camp in New York City and for providing the great pictures.

Gavitec Forms Alliance With Ryanair & Ticket Text

Gavitec AG - mobile digit; a leading provider of mobile technologies and marketing solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of NeoMedia Technologies; the global leader in camera initiated transactions for mobile devices, today announced that together with Ryanair; Europe's largest low fares airline, and Ticket Text; a Dublin-based provider of one of the world's first mobile event ticket services, formed a strong alliance to bring mobile ticketing to the European market and offer a clear solution to existing expensive and ineffective paper ticketing systems.

The principle is simple; both websites of Ryanair and Ticket Text are linked to each other. About 52 million Ryanair passengers can access a whole range of low cost event tickets provided by Ticket Text all over Europe. NeoMedia's Gavitec scanners then read the mobile tickets at the event site.

Mobile ticketing is becoming increasingly popular world-wide. Fans and concert goers buy their ticket on the internet and receive a text message with a two-dimensional code (e.g. Data Matrix codes) on their mobile phone display. NeoMedia's Gavitec scanners then read and validate the code at the entry point to the venue.

Dr. Christian Steinborn, President and COO of NeoMedia Technologies commented: "The future belongs to mobile ticketing. Our cooperation with Ryanair and Ticket Text creates a compelling offering which will push forward mobile ticketing enormously using Gavitec's code-reading systems and software for mobile applications."

Tim Delaney, Ticket Text's chairman added, "We are delighted to announce this alliance with Gavitec AG - mobile digit. Our combined solution presents a clear and compelling offering to both venue managers and event customers. Ryanair's 50 million customers will be offered low-cost tickets for concerts, sports, theaters, galleries, and exhibitions in Ireland, UK, and the rest of Europe."

NeoMedia's Gavitec offers full-service solutions for the application of mobile ticketing, ranging from scanners to corresponding software with their technology offering various opportunities for innovative and cost-effective marketing campaigns, such as using new channels of distribution and a more targeted and well directed sales approach with precise response evaluation.

William Hoffman To Attend Monaco Media Forum

NeoMedia Technologies' CEO William J. Hoffman will be in attendance at this years Monaco Media Forum. The 2007 edition of the Forum will be held in Monte Carlo from November 8th through the 10th.

The Monaco Media Forum brings together leaders of old and new media for high-level discussions about the future of print, broadcast and online communications. Hosted by HSH Prince Albert II, the invitation-only event focuses on opportunities in emerging media, as well as the implications for marketing, advertising and finance. Aggressively global in outlook, The Monaco Media Forum provides essential perspective for strategic leadership in the digital revolution.

By turning "old" media into "new" media, NeoMedia enables print and broadcast media to become interactive with their target audience using 2D bar codes and mobile networks, by-passing search engines and long URLs, avoiding cumbersome menus, replacing toll-free service and delivering real-time content that can be carried away with the consumer on the mobile. NeoMedia offers the tools and infrastructure for wireless carriers, brands, mobile phone manufactures and media companies to make optical messaging (OMS) and its associated commerce easy, universal, and reliable – worldwide.

William Hoffman joins Maurice Levy of Publicis Groupe, and Rishad Tobaccowala, Nick Pahade, Tim Hanlon, and Tim Harris of Denuo – Among others who will also be in attendance.