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Derivative Suit Filed Against Yorkville Advisors

2010-05-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

After years of alleged stock manipulation and legally questionable dilutive practices via "Death Spiral Financing", the NeoMedia shareholders finally had enough.

One courageous shareholder, with the support of the investment community, took action by seeking legal council, which resulted in a letter sent to NeoMedia's Management and Board of Directors on January 27, 2010.

The letter demanded that NeoMedia bring suit against their principle investor and majority debt holder Yorkville Advisors within 60 days in order to recover short-swing profits earned in connection with unreported purchases and sales of NeoMedia's equity securities, pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yorkville was, and continues to be, a statutory insider of the company by virtue of its beneficially owning more than 10% of NeoMedia's common stock. As a statutory insider, Yorkville continues to be subject to the short-swing trading provisions of Section 16(b).

After 60 days passed with no response from NeoMedia, a Derivative Suit was filed last week by a shareholder on behalf of NeoMedia in order to recover the short-swing profits unlawfully made by Yorkville Advisors. The complaint demands Yorkville "disgorge" (pay directly to NeoMedia) all profits made by Yorkville in NeoMedia stock since 2004.

It is important to note that, since this is a derivative suit, NeoMedia is named as a defendant. The company on behalf of which the complaint is brought is always named as a "nominal defendant". But NeoMedia is not a "real" defendant, they are actually the real plaintiff.

Yorkville now has 21 days after being served with this summons to file an answer to the complaint, or a motion under rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Failure to respond will result in a default judgment, which will be entered against Yorkville for the relief demanded in the complaint.

When asked for comment, NeoMedia's CEO Iain McCready, NeoMedia's Board of Directors and Yorkville Advisors all declined to comment.

However Cynthia Artin, Managing Director at Auster Capital Partners, which shares an office suite with Yorkville in Jersey City was quick to counter, "This isn’t going to hold up in court."

Since the filing of the derivative suit last week, current and former NeoMedia employees (which have requested anonymity) have stepped forward offering their support with regards to the complaint.

As the author of this blog and a NeoMedia shareholder since 2006, I personally encourage Iain McCready to prove he is a man of honor & integrity by stepping up to the plate and publicly endorsing this derivative suit against Yorkville. Not only does he owe it to himself, but he owes it to all the shareholders who have stuck by and supported NeoMedia over the years.

NeoMedia QR Code Campaign For Opel Astra

2010-02-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

General Motors has kicked off an innovative QR code campaign with NeoMedia for it's 2010 Opel Astra which is currently running in several Austrian magazines.

Readers of the magazines are encouraged to text "ASRTA" to an SMS short code which will link them to the NeoReader download site.

From there, readers can scan the QR code and instantly connect to rich mobile content. Visitors of the mobile website can fill out the necessary information to schedule a test drive.

Through NeoMedia, traditional advertising is instantly transformed into a multi-media experience when advertisers incorporate 2D barcodes into their marketing mix. Any product, magazine/newspaper, retail display or billboard with a 2D code can provide access to real-time product or service information, downloadable content or mobile commerce transactions.

Neustar & Visa Check Your Balance Contest

2010-02-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

VISA "Check Your Balance" Contest at GSMA Mobile World Congress.

Visa, NeoMedia, and Neustar have joined forces to launch a promotional contest targeted to more than 30,000 attendees at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona during the week of February 15 to the 18.

The contest is targeted to a savvy crowd of telecommunications and mobile marketing professionals to illustrate how easy, simple, and fast barcodes can make financial transactions.

Anyone with a camera phone can scan a barcode on the back of a gift card, for example, that would allow them to check the balance of their card. The contest allows a user to quickly scan a barcode on a faux Visa card that links to a WAP entry form. This contest in itself illustrates the point that a person no longer has to type a long difficult string of characters to get to a web site or a WAP page.

Event attendees receive a mock Visa Gift Card at registration check-in. The card is printed with instructions on how to enter the contest. First, they need to download a free barcode reader application using your mobile browse. Once they have downloaded the barcode reader, they'll just scan the barcode on the back of the card using their mobile phone. To enter the contest, they must enter their mobile phone number and answer the question: "Where will you 'go' with VISA"?. Every 30 minutes a winner of a 50 euro Visa gift card will be selected based on the most creative answer. The winners will be notified by text message and will need to come to the Neustar booth to redeem their prize. Attendees may enter the contest once a day throughout the Mobile World Congress event.

"Establishing standards for the interoperability of barcode technology across global networks is a critical step in making large scale mobile services, like mobile offers, a reality," said Prakash Hariramani, senior business leader at Visa Inc. "As we work to integrate Visa and Neustar technology, this is but one example of the many mobile services we plan to deliver to financial institutions, merchants, consumers and network operators."

The campaign creates a compelling interaction with the Visa brand and quick gratification for the consumer, and illustrates how barcodes can make transactions simple and fast for consumers.

Neustar Announces Mobile Code Interoperability

2010-02-16T12:02:00.000-08:00

Live 2D Barcode Demonstrations at Mobile World Congress Illustrate Financial, Eco-Friendly and Charitable Applications.

At this week's GSMA Mobile World Congress, Neustar, a provider of innovative solutions and directory services enabling trusted communications across networks, applications, and enterprises around the world, announced the debut of its Mobile Barcode Clearinghouse Services. The services will help expand the reach and targeting capabilities of advertisers and enterprises using 2D Barcodes, drive adoption among consumers, and enable interoperability among mobile operators, ad agencies, and application providers.

The clearinghouse is an important component of Neustar's mobile internet solutions strategy, which bridges network operators and enterprises and simplifies their delivery of value to customers. Several of these services have already seen uptake among leading mobile operators.

Neustar's barcode clearinghouse solution provides a method for companies that produce and distribute barcode readers to interoperate with other companies who create barcode campaigns. This cooperation helps establish barcode adoption, which is essential for brands and advertisers to deploy this new mobile marketing medium. A centralized, trusted clearinghouse empowers a scalable, competitive and innovative marketplace, and at the same time ensures that any participating campaign enhances the overall ecosystem and educates consumers. This coordinated approach allows each of the participants to benefit from the efforts of the others, including participation from barcode leaders NeoMedia, 3GVision, Mobile Data Systems, and Mobile Discovery, who are using the Neustar clearinghouse. The clearinghouse is open to other industry players who wish to benefit from the mass market and scale that can be achieved through an open, interoperable approach.

"With our Mobile Barcode Clearinghouse, Neustar can provide both campaign managers and Mobile Network Operators with a rich new approach to accessing mobilized content and services," said Diane Strahan, vice president at Neustar. "Barcodes offer direct response accountability through measurable ROI and enable advertisers to adjust their content based on near real time tracking of each campaign's performance. For consumers, barcodes offer an exciting 'shortcut' to accessing rich content, helpful information and m-commerce."

"Neustar's initiatives and support of interoperability services are a benefit to the mobile industry at large," said Jon Paisner, senior analyst at Yankee Group. 'As we have seen with common short codes and text messaging, ease of use and access across global networks is critical for mass market adoption. Neustar's technology provides marketers and content providers with a way to link physical media directly to mobile content."

Demonstrating its commitment to digital innovation and commerce even further, Neustar is collaborating with Visa at Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona (February 15-18) to showcase the power of 2D barcodes. Using their camera phones, Mobile World Congress attendees will download a barcode reader application from getreader.com using a mobile browser. As part of their Welcome Packets, attendees will receive a faux Visa gift card, and will be invited to scan the 2D barcode on the back each day to enter the "Check Your Balance" contest.

"Establishing standards for the interoperability of barcode technology across global networks is a critical step in making large scale mobile services, like mobile offers, a reality," said Prakash Hariramani, senior business leader at Visa Inc. "As we work to integrate Visa and Neustar technology, this is but one example of the many mobile services we plan to deliver to financial institutions, merchants, consumers and network operators."

Brands and operators interested in exploring the possible applications of 2D Barcodes are invited to participate in Neustar's upcoming commercial pilot program; more details are available at gomocode.com or from barcodes@neustar.biz

Sony Ericsson Preloads NeoReader On Xperia

2010-02-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

Sony Ericsson brings the NeoReader to the Xperia™ platform by preloading the barcode scanning application on both the X10 mini and X10 mini pro.

Sony Ericsson announced at this week's Mobile World Congress the Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro, compact versions of Xperia™ X10, which will deliver powerful and application packed mobile phones to the industry.

By introducing mobile phones that are both compact and clever, Sony Ericsson is challenging the norm and defining a brand new offering that combines high specification features with a version of Sony Ericsson’s powerful UX platform specifically designed for smaller devices.

"There has been an enormous buzz around Xperia™ X10 so it is really exciting to be already unveiling compact versions of this powerful proposition." Said Rikko Sakaguchi, EVP and Chief Creation Officer, Sony Ericsson. "With the X10 mini and X10 mini pro we have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with smaller devices and are giving consumers exactly what they want; two high performance mobile phones with a fully customizable user experience platform and a stunning ultra-compact design."

Last month, NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, announced that Sony Ericsson had selected NeoMedia as its strategic 2D barcode partner.

"Sony Ericsson is very happy to work with NeoMedia as our global provider of barcode scanning solutions. We see great potential in the 2D barcode market and support NeoMedia’s strategy to promote and drive the open 2D barcode standards. We are looking forward to working with NeoMedia to explore all the potential the technology enables," stated Robert Westin, Business Development Manager, with Sony Ericsson.

Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies commented, "The marketplace is ready for 2D barcodes – retailers and brands are already experimenting with them, and the technology has long been validated. The challenge is in creating a scalable pool of mobile users capable of scanning barcodes. This partnership with Sony Ericsson will make mobile barcode scanning a simple, out-of-the-box experience for consumers."

NeoReader is the premier universal barcode scanning application and has set the standard for all other apps like Microsoft Tag, RedLaser & ShopSavvy to follow. The NeoReader reads all standard 1D and 2D barcode symbologies – QR, Data Matrix, Aztec, UPC and EAN – so users won’t need multiple barcode readers installed on their phone.

NeoMedia M-giving For Haiti At Mobile Congress

2010-02-15T11:58:00.000-08:00

Mobile World Congress will witness the dawn of a new era of M-giving: innovative mobile barcode application allows delegates to give "simply" using Neustar's mobile barcode ecosystem.

Paris, France, Atlanta, Georgia, St. Petersberg, Florida and Geneva, Switzerland, In what is believed to be the world’s first M-giving campaign powered by 2D barcode technology, delegates at this week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona will be able to donate money to Haitian relief efforts by simply snapping a barcode with their mobile phones.

The campaign will provide citizens of the earthquake-devastated island with humanitarian relief information through radio such as accessibility to clean drinking water, food, health care and housing.

Haitians who otherwise would have limited access to life-changing information as part of campaign supported Internews relief effort.

Internews is an international not-for-profit media development organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard.

UNOCHA, the United Nations Humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, delegated authority to Internews to coordinate all international efforts to support these essential, on-the-ground communications efforts.

How does the campaign work?

MWC delegates will see a special mobile barcode located on posters at the show; displayed in the halls, at stands and on the lapels of all GSMA staff. Delegates simply need to scan the 2D barcode using their smart-phones, and technology provider NeoMedia will donate $1 to Internews to fund the radio program in Creole ""Enfomasyon nou dwe konnen" – News You Can Use".

Touted as "Everybody Wins," the campaign will also award a $500 US prize to a delegate each day based on a question about the future of m-giving. The best answer will be selected at the close of each day, and the winner will be sent a text message about where to pick up their gift card.

"We are thrilled by this opportunity to support the people of Haiti in their struggle for recovery after the recent earthquake. The mobile industry’s engagement in this campaign brings attention to this striking reality: Information saves lives and even a small donation can make a huge difference", said Mark Harvey, spokesperson and Development director for Paris, France based Internews in Europe.

"We never know where a catastrophic event will occur," said NeoMedia's CEO Iain McCready. "Our team is so pleased to make it possible to raise thousands of dollars to produce hours of quality radio programming, immediately improving the quality of life of the Haitian victims and helping them in the reconstruction process. It’s inspiring to see the world coming together in new ways to help fellow human beings particularly during times of crisis."

Unity Mobile, based in Florida, created the mobile campaign using NeoMedia’s mobile barcode scanning application, NeoReader and NeoSphere campaign manager (which is supported by Neustar’s global clearinghouse). "It is so encouraging to see people giving with 2D campaigns,” said the woman behind this concept for NeoMedia and Internews, Simone Schidlkofer, founder of Cause2Connect, a Geneva, Switzerland based strategy firm that brings together for-profit and non-profit organizations in the mobile technology world. “We’ve made it even easier to give – with a simple scan by a camera phone."

Within the first ten days following the earthquake in Haiti, Americans used their mobile phones to pledge over $30 million for Haitian relief efforts via text message, according to figures released by the Mobile Giving Foundation. According to the PEW Foundation, 14% of all donations to Haiti relief efforts were made by text message.

In the case of the Internews campaign, corporate sponsor NeoMedia is making the donation based on the number of successful scans.

"In the future, we will be developing applications where people can donate individually," Schmidlkofer said. "Our goal is to make it increasingly easy for people to respond to a crisis, with a simple see – scan – donate process, as millions of small donations can add up to significant funding from around the world quickly, simply and efficiently. In the very near future, a person anywhere in the world will be able to scan a 2D barcode and donate to help a fellow human anywhere in the world. It’s a new way to rally support using our mobile phones and networks from wherever we live."

NeoMedia & Neustar Expand Patent Licensing

2010-02-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia and Neustar announced last month that they have expanded their agreement to license NeoMedia’s patented technologies beyond the US into Mexico.

On October 6, 2009, the companies announced that they were working together to provide a “one stop shop” for consumer brands to simply and affordably use the barcode ecosystem to deliver new applications, services and compelling content to mobile consumers.

The addition of Neustar’s central registry and clearinghouse services to NeoMedia’s patented barcode ecosystem technology means that brands can now implement interoperable barcode campaigns for consumers who use any barcode scanner participating in this ecosystem regardless of the mobile service provider. The Neustar/NeoMedia collaboration enables brands to offer more targeted and dynamic communication options to mobile consumers, beyond simply taking them to the company’s website or to special micro-sites developed for specific campaigns.

"With the rapid growth of mobile Internet use in Mexico, and innovation among operators and mobile marketing agencies and the brands they serve, we are excited to bring this reliable solution to this important region," said Diane Strahan, Vice President of Mobile Services at Neustar.

Mexico remains one of the most attractive communications markets in Latin America, according to Pyramid Research. By year-end 2008, it was the second-largest market in the region at $27.1 billion, noted Cesar Jimenez, Senior Analyst at Pyramid Research. "Over the next five years, Pyramid Research expects Mexico's total market revenue to reach $29.9 billion, with mobile services revenue to account for 61 percent of the total market."

"We’ve enjoyed working with the team at Neustar to develop a reliable and scalable barcode ecosystem with all players in the market,” said Iain McCready, CEO, NeoMedia. “Mexico is an exciting market, and we look forward to enabling the mobile operators to create new revenue streams, and enabling mobile marketing firms and their brand clients to attract and serve customers using their camera equipped mobile devices for comparison shopping, to download coupons and special deals, and to take advantage of digital ticketing and other creative applications."

NeoMedia Extends Iain McCready's Contract

2010-02-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, filed a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last month, disclosing that it has extended the employment agreement with its Chief Executive Officer, Iain A. McCready for two years. The amended agreement will expire on May 29, 2012.

Iain McCready, who joined the company as its Chief Executive Officer in spring of 2008, has over two decades experience successfully building both software applications and telecommunications technology companies, will continue to lead NeoMedia as the market for mobile barcode solutions continues to evolve.

"I am proud of what we have accomplished in possibly the most challenging global economic climate in our time, and am committed to supporting our talented team, to seeing our many initiatives through, and to communicating with our shareholders and the general market our progress in this new year and beyond."

Prior to joining NeoMedia, Iain McCready was the CEO of Mobiqa, where he led the business from a start-up to the world leader in mobile ticketing and couponing solutions based on the creation, optimization, delivery and redemption of barcodes to mobile phones.

NeoReader Now Available on Android Platform

2010-01-29T09:53:00.000-08:00

2010: The Year 2D Barcodes Breakthrough - NeoReader now available on Android platform.

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, is making its barcode scanning application - NeoReader® - available on all camera-equipped Android smartphones. The NeoReader will transform any Android handset into a barcode scanner providing instant access to mobile content by clicking on 2D barcodes.

By the end of last year (2009) there were approximately 18 separate models of Android handsets available worldwide, and by 2012 Gartner anticipates that Android will become the world's second most popular smartphone platform, second only to Symbian (Nokia OS) enabled handsets. At last count there were in excess of 20,000 apps available for the Android showing that it is steadily giving Apple's App Store a run for its money.

Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia, commented: "Bringing the NeoReader to the high growth Android platform brings us ever closer to mass market adoption of 2D barcodes. Android's commitment to the OHA (Open Handset Alliance) matches NeoMedia's own objective of achieving open standards in order to drive rapid market growth and consumer adoption. With the ubiquity of the mobile web and the plethora of emergent mobile technology applications, there has never been a better time to get involved in this exciting marketplace."

The NeoReader is a universal barcode scanning application and has set the standard for other apps like Microsoft Tag, RedLaser & ShopSavvy to follow. The NeoReader reads all standard 1D and 2D barcode symbologies – QR, Data Matrix, Aztec, UPC and EAN – so users won’t need multiple barcode readers installed on their phone.

Enter get.neoreader.com into your mobile browser and the Android version will automatically download to compatible handsets. Coming soon to the Android Market.

Sony Ericsson Preloads NeoReader

2010-01-09T21:38:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, announced that Sony Ericsson has selected NeoMedia as its strategic 2D barcode partner.

Sony Ericsson will begin shipping phones pre-loaded with NeoMedia’s NeoReader barcode scanning application globally in the 1st half of 2010. The NeoReader will be pre-installed across all Sony Ericsson platforms.

"Sony Ericsson is very happy to work with NeoMedia as our global provider of barcode scanning solutions. We see great potential in the 2D barcode market and support NeoMedia’s strategy to promote and drive the open 2D barcode standards. We are looking forward to working with NeoMedia to explore all the potential the technology enables," stated Robert Westin, Business Development Manager, with Sony Ericsson.

Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies commented, "The marketplace is ready for 2D barcodes – retailers and brands are already experimenting with them, and the technology has long been validated. The challenge is in creating a scalable pool of mobile users capable of scanning barcodes. This partnership with Sony Ericsson will make mobile barcode scanning a simple, out-of-the-box experience for consumers."

McCready continued, "NeoMedia’s vision has been to create an open and interoperable 2D barcode ecosystem which would provide a consistent and reliable consumer experience worldwide. This agreement with Sony Ericsson is another important step towards making this vision a reality and is part of NeoMedia’s ongoing strategy to accelerate adoption through relationships with manufacturers, operators and brands alike."

The NeoReader transforms camera phones into mobile barcode scanners which provide easy access to mobile content via 2D barcodes. The simple “one click” action makes the mobile internet much more accessible for mobile users. By scanning 2D barcodes via the phone’s camera, users avoid typing in long URLs and navigating cumbersome mobile menus.

The NeoReader is a universal barcode scanning application and has set the standard for other apps like Microsoft Tag, RedLaser & ShopSavvy to follow. The NeoReader reads all standard 1D and 2D barcode symbologies – QR, Data Matrix, Aztec, UPC and EAN – so users won’t need multiple barcode readers installed on their phone.

Scanbuy Licenses NeoMedia's Patents

2009-12-20T17:05:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies and Scanbuy, leaders in mobile barcode technology, recently announced they have settled all pending litigation between the companies and have granted non-exclusive patent licenses to each other.

NeoMedia and Scanbuy have agreed to terminate all pending litigation brought by NeoMedia against Scanbuy in 2004, and by Scanbuy and Marshall Feature Recognition against NeoMedia in 2008.

In addition, NeoMedia has granted Scanbuy a 10 year royalty bearing, non-exclusive license to a portion of its patent portfolio in the

U.S.

In turn, Scanbuy has granted NeoMedia a fully paid, irrevocable, non-exclusive license of Scanbuy patents and a fully paid, non-exclusive sub-license to all of the patents licensed by MFR to Scanbuy within the

U.S.

This agreement will enable consumer brands, advertising agencies and mobile operators to confidently engage with either company to implement mobile barcode solutions in the

U.S.

The technology has enormous potential to become a viable and widely adopted communication channel.

"The agreement between NeoMedia and Scanbuy removes the final roadblock to rapid commercialization of mobile barcodes in the US,” commented Iain McCready, Chief Executive Officer of NeoMedia. “We are literally dropping the green flag for brands, retailers and mobile operators to join the race towards mobile barcodes becoming a fixture in every consumer’s daily routine."

"We are pleased that Scanbuy has reached a fair agreement with NeoMedia, and look forward to working with our partners to build a vibrant business in the United States," said Jonathan Bulkeley, Chief Executive Officer of Scanbuy. "Both companies have invested a great deal in our intellectual property and we will continue to bring these solutions to leading marketers, wireless operators, and handset manufacturers around the world."

NeoMedia Wins Latin American With Telefonica

2009-10-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Bems, the leading Spanish provider of mobile solutions based on 2D barcodes, has partnered with US-based industry leader NeoMedia Technologies to distribute 2D barcode solutions throughout Latin America.

Earlier today, Bems announced it had been chosen by Telefónica International as its exclusive partner to develop a 2D barcode business in Latin America for the next 4 years.

Bems has chosen NeoMedia as their primary technology and platform vendor for mobile barcode reading and campaign management, with a key focus on the brand marketing and advertising sectors. In addition, Bems will promote NeoMedia hardware solutions related to ticketing and couponing. As a key part of this platform, NeoReader will be the preferred barcode reader for pre-installation on handsets and all code transactions will be routed through the NeoMedia infrastructure. The solution will be distributed to markets including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay.

This initiative to promote 2D barcode technology is part of a wider strategic plan for the operators to introduce cutting edge tools for mobile to the Latin-American market. Operators will leverage the expertise the Bems/NeoMedia partnership provides in areas such as technology, marketing, R+D and an extensive sales force to enable the widespread adoption of this technology.

"The alliance with NeoMedia represents an important step towards delivering the best technology to Bems and providing an advantaged position in the implementation of the agreements with Telefónica for the Latin-American market," commented Javier Mañas, Chairman of Bems.

Based in Madrid, Spain, Bems is known as the go-to company for 2D barcodes and has developed solutions for a wide range of brands, distributors, intermediaries, public and private institutions, retailers and media groups. It has worked with some of the world’s most influential organizations - from Warner Brothers to Yell and Bacardi. Bems strives to unite best of breed technology with creativity to achieve the best results for its clients.

NeoMedia Technologies, based in Atlanta, Georgia is the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions. NeoMedia’s technology allows mobile devices with cameras to read 1D and 2D barcodes and provide “one click” access to mobile content. Combining this technology with advanced analytics and reporting capabilities revolutionizes the way advertisers market to mobile consumers.

"As we’ve consistently maintained, commercialization of barcodes calls for an open and interoperable market that can provide the scale needed for brands and advertisers to exploit the benefits of the mobile marketplace. We feel that our work with Bems and gaining entry to the Latin American market is yet another step closer to global adoption of this powerful technology," commented Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia.

The 2D barcode market is increasingly gathering momentum as its potential as both a valuable marketing tool and the ideal way of delivering services via the mobile web are being realized.

Bems and NeoMedia will implement the interoperable standard of 2D barcodes based on the recommendations of the GSM Association, guaranteeing compatibility with other global operators, not only in Latin America, but also throughout the rest of the world.

To succeed with this new "2D barcode Ecosystem," the active participation of all industry players from operators and manufacturers of mobile devices to developers and mobile marketers is needed. Bems will aim to create models of collaboration with all of them and to generate the scale that is needed for the space to develop to its full potential.

It is expected that operators in Latin America signaling their commitment to an open operating environment via this initiative will lead the way to unifying the marketplace and encourage other operators and brands to invest in mobile barcoding as a marketing channel.

Neustar Becomes NeoMedia's Licensing Agent

2009-10-19T15:30:00.000-07:00

Neustar recently announced a landmark agreement with NeoMedia Technologies to have Neustar act as the exclusive patent licensing agent in the US for NeoMedia’s intellectual property for two-dimensional (2D) barcodes. The agreement creates a “one stop shop” for consumer brands to simply and affordably use barcodes to deliver exciting new applications, services and compelling content to mobile consumers.

The addition of Neustar’s central registry services to NeoMedia’s patented barcode technology also means that brands now will be able to offer barcode marketing to consumers regardless of which mobile service provider or barcode reading software a consumer’s mobile device uses. The Neustar/NeoMedia collaboration enables brands to offer more targeted and dynamic communication options to mobile consumers, beyond simply taking them to a general website.

"Neustar is committed to establishing an open, consistent, and easy opportunity for brands to deploy 2D barcodes that reach the widest audience possible,” said Diane Strahan, Vice President of Mobile Services at Neustar. “This licensing agreement, combined with Neustar’s interoperable 2D barcode pilot launched in March, provides the advertising and mobile operator community confidence for a more rapid commercialization of mobile barcodes."

"Customers and the advertising community can now easily secure a clear and predictable path to licensing and implementing NeoMedia’s patented barcode technology,” said Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia. “Advertisers have been waiting for a reliable and scalable barcode system, and with this agreement, mobile barcode technology can now fulfill its promise of turning mobile devices into ‘point-of-sale’ catalysts for mobile commerce."

Klambt Media Group Selects NeoMedia

2009-10-09T23:34:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, and philipp, an Austrian-based mobile solutions and services company, were selected by Klambt Media Group, to provide 2D barcode services for a contest launched last month in Germany's The Star, Style and In magazines.

Readers were encouraged to text NEO via SMS, which linked them to the NeoReader download site. Once the NeoReader code scanning software was installed on their device, readers can scan the Data Matrix code, which connected them to mobile content and entered them into a raffle.

MIT Technology Review Selects NeoReader

2009-08-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

Technology Review, a magazine published and owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has selected NeoMedia's NeoReader as the preferred QR code reading application for their recently launched mobile code initiative.

Quick-response, or QR, codes are two-dimensional barcodes that provide an easy way to access the Mobile Web. Simply download the NeoReader to a web-enabled phone, snap a picture of one of the QR codes found in Technology Review with the phone’s camera, and you’ll automatically be transported to the relevant page within Technology Review.

To obtain your free QR-code reader, visit NeoReader.com or download it from the iPhone App Store. The NeoReader is also available for the Blackberry and many other web enabled mobile phones.

Look for QR codes in the current and upcoming issues of Technology Review!

Dornbirner Selects NeoMedia For Herbstmesse

2009-08-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, and philipp, an Austrian-based mobile solutions and services company, have been selected by Dornbirner Messe, to provide 2D barcode services for the Fall exhibition Herbstmesse, which will take place September 9th - 13th in Dornbirn, Austria.

Trade fair organizer, Dornbirner Messe used 2D codes from NeoMedia in their Spring promotion campaigns for Frühjahrsmesse. Due to the success of the Spring promotions, Dornbirner Messe has once again selected NeoMedia for their Fall campaign.

Visitors at the Fall exhibition can text MESSE via SMS, which will link them to the NeoReader download site. Once the NeoReader code scanning software was installed on their device, visitors can scan the Data Matrix code, which will connect them to mobile content.

Brown Printing Launches New Mobile Solutions

2009-08-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

Brown Printing Company, in conjunction with Prinovis and NeoMedia Technologies, announced today the launch of B.Mobile.

The new service transforms traditional print advertising into an interactive, multi-media experience. Utilizing 2D mobile barcodes, B.Mobile turns mobile phone cameras into barcode scanners allowing consumers instant access to real-time product or service information, downloadable content, and mobile commerce transactions.

B.Mobile integrates products from Brown’s sister company Prinovis and NeoMedia to provide a total solution package. B.Mobile provides the ability to optimize websites for the mobile phone display, adaptation of content for mobile internet, and statistical reporting on scanning activity. Code management tools provide the ability to change and update content linked to barcodes at any time, so printed pieces become interactive and dynamic. The mobile barcodes provide a reliable response tracking mechanism that helps measure success and allow campaigns to be adapted in real-time.

"B.Mobile’s tool kit makes executing barcode activities easy and intuitive, allowing magazines and catalogs to run smarter, more successful marketing programs," explained Mark Treat, Chief Information officer for Brown Printing Company. "This technology allows consumers to engage with barcodes on their own terms. The self selection yields interested and motivated prospects."

Mobile Tag Licenses NeoMedia's Patents

2009-07-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies and Mobile Tag, leaders in mobile barcode technology, announced a non-exclusive patent licensing agreement for machine readable mobile codes under NeoMedia’s patent portfolio. This is the first contract to be announced under NeoMedia’s recently launched licensing program.

NeoMedia’s objective is to create an open and interoperable 2D barcoding ecosystem which will create lucrative and compelling opportunities for all participants, including brands, advertising agencies and mobile operators. By licensing its technology, NeoMedia aims to foster innovation and competition to create exciting new applications and services that will appeal to consumers. This activity will unlock the potential of mobile barcoding to become an integral part of consumers’ daily lives.

This licensing deal enables Mobile Tag to engage consumer brands, advertising agencies, mobile operators and the OEMs that supply them with NeoMedia’s officially licensed U.S. patents. As a charter licensee, Mobile Tag, Inc. recognizes NeoMedia’s contributions to the industry and efforts to establish real world interoperability in the mobile barcode market. Both companies participated in the NeuStar sponsored interoperability pilot program at CTIA in March 2009, and this commercial licensing agreement shifts the marketplace from trial to practical reality.

NeoMedia and Mobile Tag, Inc. are committed to establishing an open operating environment. Licensing arrangements like this are the foundation needed to unify the marketplace and create the scale needed for consumer brands to invest in mobile barcoding as a key advertising channel. Mobile Tag, Inc. is the first company licensed to operate under NeoMedia’s Intellectual Property for indirect mobile barcoding solutions.

“This deal is a critical milestone for the industry and we’re grateful that Mobile Tag, Inc. stepped forward to work with us. It affirms that the market has realized the importance of creating a legitimate, licensed and open environment for all and I believe it marks the tipping point for rapid commercialization of mobile barcodes in the U.S.,” commented Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia.

“Mobile Tag, Inc. recognizes the innovation and capability enabled by the art captured in NeoMedia’s IP,” stated William J. Hoffman, CEO of Mobile Tag, Inc. “We are pleased to license with NeoMedia and believe it will spur innovation and adaptation of this technology on par with the explosion witnessed by SMS services earlier in this decade. Mobile machine readable codes will be mainstream in the U.S. just as they are in Japan, France and Poland where they are found on nearly 210 million phones. It is time to get on with it!”

“Mobile Tag focuses on delivery of carrier-grade client software and transaction infrastructure,” continued Hoffman, “while insuring brands, businesses and consumers who use that technology are pleased with the experience.”

Hornbach Mobilizes With Prinovis & NeoMedia

2009-06-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, Prinovis announced it had entered into a strategic partnership with NeoMedia Technologies. The cooperation brought together technology leader NeoMedia and innovative print and publishing powerhouse Prinovis.

Based in Germany and the UK, Prinovis provides custom print and communication solutions tailored to their customer’s individual needs and requirements. By incorporating mobile barcoding from NeoMedia, Prinovis can help clients integrate customer touchpoints in a powerful new way.

Jürgen Freier, managing director of sales at Prinovis, this week announced, "The first user of our new mobile services is Hornbach Austria." According to Jürgen, "2D codes can be sent as mobile coupons via SMS to each customer's mobile phone and held over a scanner at the point of sale to be redeemed. The devices - the EXIO barcode scanners from NeoMedia Europe AG - have been placed in all eleven Austrian branches of Hornbach."

Hornbach is the European market leader in the field of Do-It-Yourself megastores with garden centers, and operates around 130 outlets in eight European countries. The company provides a comprehensive range of products at permanently low prices at its megastores across Europe.

"Mobile barcoding is breathing new life into print mediums and NeoMedia is proud to deliver this exciting capability to the marketplace. Prinovis is adding exceptional value to their customers by turning every printed piece they deliver into a measurable, interactive experience. What advertiser doesn’t want this capability?" states Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia.

"Mobile barcoding allows Prinovis customers to run smarter, more successful dialogue and loyalty oriented marketing programs. NeoMedia’s tools make executing barcode activities easy and intuitive. We are able to provide a lot of upside to our customers without a lot of additional effort," commented Thorsten Thiel CEO, from Prinovis.

Jürgen Freier added, "Prinovis is seeking partnerships in Germany and Switzerland for the new mobile services. England is also interested in the enterprise solution."

Prinovis & NeoMedia Form Strategic Partnership

2009-06-05T10:16:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies has entered into a strategic partnership with Prinovis. The cooperation brings together technology leader NeoMedia and innovative print and publishing powerhouse Prinovis.

Mobile services add punch to print - Printed products become interactive thanks to 2D codes.

Prinovis now offers its customers a revolutionary linking of print, online and mobile: its new Mobile Solutions line of business adds interactivity to catalogs, magazines and ads, for innovative new marketing and communication campaigns.

The solutions were developed on the basis of 2D codes also known as Data Matrix or QR codes. These codes can now be sent to any mobile phone as mobile coupons, redeemable by the customer via a scanner at the POS. The content, timing and validity of a promotion can be continually updated as needed, and detailed reporting ensures total transparency throughout the campaign. Possible fields of application include special offers, attractive special promotions and shop openings, as well as targeted customer relationship management based on a CRM system. Another possible application is ‘mobile tagging’, where the camera feature of a mobile phone is used in conjunction with a 2D code for direct access to the mobile Web, where additional content can be presented, along with downloads, prize drawings and many more options.

The core benefit is clear: up-do-date, interactive printed products, along with one-to-one marketing without wastage. This allows Prinovis customers to run smarter, more successful marketing and communication promotions, combining the look-and-feel of printed advertising with the interactivity of mobile sites.

Prinovis was formed in 2005 from the merger of all German gravure-printing operations of the three companies Gruner + Jahr, Axel Springer and arvato. Prinovis offers its customers custom print and communication solutions, tailored to their individual needs and requirements.

Nokia Selects NeoReader For Star Trek QR Code

2009-05-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

Nokia has selected NeoMedia's NeoReader as the preferred QR code reading application for their Star Trek mobile code campaign.

Star Trek fans are encouraged to point their phone's browser to get.neoreader.com which will link them to the NeoReader download site. Once the NeoReader code scanning software is installed on their device, fans can scan the QR code which will connect them to mobile content.

This marks the third mobile code promotion between Nokia and NeoMedia Technologies. Due to the overwhelming success of Nokia's past two campaigns with NeoMedia and IQ mobile, mobile code enthusiasts can expect more promotions like this now and into the future.

Spektacle Selects NeoReader For QR Codes

2009-05-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

Spektacle, a contemporary culture bi-monthly magazine, selected NeoMedia's NeoReader as the preferred QR code reading application for their spring 2009 edition.

Throughout the magazine, readers will be greeted by a series of QR codes that act as a turnstile to another world. Using the NeoReader iPhone application as a first class ticket, readers are encouraged to scan codes from page to page and connect to everything good Spektacle has to offer.

After finishing one article, simply move on to the next one and scan again to experience a new way of interactive reading.

Dornbirner Messe & T-Mobile Select NeoMedia

2009-05-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, and philipp, an Austrian-based mobile solutions and services company, were selected by Dornbirner Messe and T-Mobile, to provide 2D barcode services for the spring exhibition Frühjahrsmesse, which took place in Dornbirn, Austria.

Trade fair organizer, Dornbirner Messe used 2D codes from NeoMedia in their promotion campaigns for Frühjahrsmesse.

Visitors at the spring exhibition were encouraged to text MESSE via SMS over the T-Mobile network, which linked them to the NeoReader download site. Once the NeoReader code scanning software was installed on their device, visitors could scan the Data Matrix code, which connected them to mobile content.

Through NeoMedia, traditional advertising is instantly transformed into a multi-media experience when advertisers incorporate 2D barcodes into their marketing mix. Any product, magazine/newspaper, retail display or billboard with a 2D code can provide access to real-time product or service information, downloadable content or mobile commerce transactions.

tele.ring Partners With NeoMedia & IQ Mobile

2009-05-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, was selected by IQ mobile, the leading mobile marketing company in Central Europe, to provide 2D barcode services for Austrian carrier tele.ring.

With the support of the youth marketers, Young Enterprises will be introducing Mobile Tagging technology at 263 Middle and Secondary schools. For this campaign, mobile advertising tags will be placed on posters with a detailed explanation on how to download the NeoReader code scanning software from NeoMedia Technologies. By scanning the tags with their mobile device, students are directly connected to a campaign site where they can access free content.

"tele.ring is famous for its unconventional form of communication. We have considered a new way to communicate with the youthful target audience to engage in dialog. Young people are mobile, alert and always interested in new things. With our Mobile Tagging campaign, we reach our target audience efficiently and can mobilize. In the first five school days, there were over 250 Reader software downloads, 225 day-scans and page views, as well as 90 content downloads," said Peter Hörlezeder, communications director at tele.ring.

"The tagging campaign by tele.ring is something very special. Mobile tagging is not only part of the campaign, but the main actor. They give a detailed description of how it works. As expected, is precisely the target group of young people very experimental, mobile tagging is perfectly placed here," said Harald Winkelhofer, founder and CEO of mobile marketing agency IQ mobile.

IQ mobile already has numerous campaigns in various sectors (including automotive, cosmetics, telecom) and media (tags on posters, city lights, mail, magazines and newspapers) and the response has always been excellent.

The creation and implementation of this mobile tagging campaign was carried out in cooperation with Young Enterprises and NeoMedia Technologies. IQ mobile was the brainstorming and the complete implementation of mobile, Young Enterprises was responsible for the billboard advertising in schools and NeoMedia provided the code reader software and 2D barcodes.

Mazda & NeoMedia Launch QR Code Campaign

2009-05-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, has been selected by Mazda to power an innovative QR code campaign in Austrian magazines Sport Week and Format to promote the pre-launch of the new Mazda 3.

Readers of the magazines are encouraged to text CODE to 48000 which will link them to the NeoReader download site. Once the NeoReader code scanning software is installed on their device, readers can scan the QR code which will connect them to mobile content.

Through NeoMedia, traditional advertising is instantly transformed into a multi-media experience when advertisers incorporate 2D barcodes into their marketing mix. Any product, magazine/newspaper, retail display or billboard with a 2D code can provide access to real-time product or service information, downloadable content or mobile commerce transactions.

Nokia & NeoMedia Extend 2D Code Campaign

2009-05-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

Due to the overwhelming success of the recently concluded multi-channel Nokia Navigation phone promotion in Austria, Nokia, IQ mobile and NeoMedia Technologies have extended their 2D code campaign to Switzerland.

IQ mobile uses NeoMedia’s patented technologies to provide their customers with mobile advertising campaigns that leverage 2D barcodes. The NeoReader application delivers a fast and accurate scanning experience to consumers and the NeoSphere code management platform provides IQ mobile with a simple but powerful tool to create, track and measure 2D barcode campaigns.

"The performance of the 2D code campaign has far exceeded both ours and Nokia’s expectations. Due to the strong response rates and opt-in interest, Nokia will be incorporating more campaigns with 2D codes in Central Europe. We are currently running a campaign in Switzerland featuring 2D codes to promote the Nokia Music Device 5800 via the Mobilezone^®, a major catalog retailer," said Harald Winkelhofer, Founder & CEO of IQ mobile. "In general, the 2D code technology plays a very important role in all the mobile marketing concepts that we bring to our client base of international brands and agencies."

Alexander Oswald, Head of Marketing - Alps South East Europe for Nokia added, "We are very pleased with the results and being the first one to use this solution. As we are one of the leading mobility brands, using mobile advertising technologies is important as a new and exciting communication channel. And as well part of our brand DNA of connecting people through mobile solutions."

NeoMedia Announces Licensing Program

2009-04-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, has finalized its patent licensing program and begun negotiations with interested vendors.

In response to the successful reexamination by the USPTO of NeoMedia’s "Barcode Lookup Patent", NeoMedia has moved assertively to re-energize the U.S. mobile barcode marketplace by helping lead a pivotal interoperability pilot and initiating a licensing program both designed to unify the marketplace.

"Now that the patent situation has been clarified, we are looking forward to quickly establishing a viable system that provides the critical elements needed to attract advertisers: reliability and scale. Our recent partnership with NeuStar demonstrates that an interoperable infrastructure is deployable now and provides advertisers with a trusted solution that delivers the largest audience in the U.S. mobile barcode marketplace. It was a great success and a real rallying point for the industry," stated Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia.

In keeping with its vision and commitment to developing an interoperable global ecosystem, NeoMedia is licensing its technology to foster innovation and competition in the creation of exciting new mobile barcode applications and services for the advertising industry. NeoMedia’s licensing program is available to all participants who are interested in becoming part of a collaborative ecosystem aligned and committed to growing the mobile barcode marketplace.

"Between the PTO ruling and the NeuStar pilot, the interest in our technology and services is spiking on both the vendor and advertiser fronts. We’ve had some key brand deployments in Europe leveraging NeoSphere, our new code management platform and we’ve had strong initial interest in our licensing program as well," said Dean Wood, VP of Business Development for NeoMedia.

NeoMedia has recently requested the stay be lifted in their pending infringement case against Scanbuy. At a pre-trial hearing on April 17^th, NeoMedia pushed for the case to move forward on an expedited basis.

NeoMedia currently has 30 active patents spanning 13 countries, with 29 additional patents pending. These patents cover various linkage methods including: Barcodes, RFID, Mag Stripe, Voice, and other machine readable and keyed entry identifiers.

NeoMedia & Arvato Reach 120 Million Worldwide

2009-04-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies has entered into a strategic partnership with arvato services. The cooperation brings together innovative technology and leading services in the fields of media service, customer relationship management, data, finance, supply chain management, customer care, mail and IT to create a new and unique service chain.

arvato services is a leading service provider for effective customer communication, customer loyalty and supply chain management solutions both inside and outside of Europe. NeoMedia is a global leader in camera-initiated transactions using mobile phones and offers innovative and service-oriented solutions for targeting consumers with mobile marketing tactics. Using the NeoReader barcode scanning application and a 2D barcode on print products, consumers can connect to the mobile internet. By linking classical “push” media with the barcode as a “pull” instrument the marketing circle is completed. NeoMedia technology effectively turns books, magazines, posters and advertisements into vehicles that create an interactive dialogue with consumers.

In order to provide its customers with targeted, inexpensive marketing campaigns, arvato services is increasingly focusing on mobile marketing, and therefore on mobile code reading, taking advantage of the innovative technologies supplied by NeoMedia Technologies. With NeoReader® a mobile phone camera becomes a barcode reader, giving the user immediate access to content and services available on the World Wide Web. Valuable customer data can also be generated in this way.

Thomas Leitner, Vice President of arvato media GmbH explains: "NeoMedia is enabling us to open up a new dimension of dialogue with the customer. The ability to interact with a consumer via his or her mobile device adds infinite value to the CRM and marketing disciplines. NeoMedia’s system offers an unrivaled level of performance monitoring – way above that of conventional methods, allowing us to precisely tailor future marketing activities for our customers as well as accurately measure feedback."

Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies: "Gaining arvato services as a business partner is very gratifying. This accomplishment underlines our global market leadership and the outstanding quality of NeoMedia solutions. With this partner at our side we believe we will be able to reach new target groups and extend our mobile marketing value chain to the highest level thanks to integrated arvato solutions."

NeoMedia & IQ Mobile Power Nokia Campaign

2009-04-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning solutions, was selected by IQ mobile, the leading mobile marketing company in Central Europe, to provide 2D barcoding services for their advertising campaigns. The first campaign launched using this technology was an interactive advertising campaign to promote Nokia’s new Navigation phones in Austria, which recently concluded.

IQ mobile uses NeoMedia’s patented technologies to provide their customers with mobile advertising campaigns that leverage 2D barcodes. The NeoReader application delivers a fast and accurate scanning experience to consumers and the NeoSphere code management platform provides IQ mobile with a simple but powerful tool to create, track and measure 2D barcode campaigns.

Nokia recently launched their new line of Navigation phones and IQ mobile wanted to provide an innovative campaign that would garner attention and highlight the navigation features of the new phones. Leveraging NeoMedia’s mobile barcoding solutions, IQ mobile developed a multi-channel advertising campaign that enabled mobile consumers to scan a 2D code for a chance to win a Nokia 6210 Navigation phone.

This heavily promoted launch featured a 2D barcode in full-page print ads placed in the high profile Austrian men’s lifestyle magazine “WIENER” as well as “Weekend,” another popular lifestyle magazine. The campaign was further supported with banners, flyers and posters which were placed in bus stations and city lights across Austria. A digital component featured banner ads across 10 different mobile portals.

"IQ mobile was looking for an innovative solution that would help reinforce Nokia’s ‘pioneering’ spirit as well as provide clear value and results. NeoMedia’s 2D barcode solutions created intrigue for consumers, but more importantly, delivered real added-value to Nokia by "turning on" the printed mediums and delivering real-time results for each element of the campaign. The combination of a qualitative interactive consumer experience with a quantifiable and measurable response mechanism makes mobile barcodes a powerful tool for marketers," said Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies. "IQ mobile understands the power of 2D barcodes and works hard to ensure the experience is easy and intuitive for consumers in order to optimize results for their clients."

IQ mobile conducted in-depth response analysis to understand how each element of the Nokia campaign performed. The response rates were similar to that of SMS campaigns which was very compelling when comparing a new technology with a more mature, highly available technology. Additionally, the re-marketing opportunity proved valuable due to the high rate of consumers who opted-in to receive more information. The additional costs required to include the 2D barcodes in the media campaign were minimal but the interactive dialogue with consumers delivered real value.

"The performance of the 2D code campaign has far exceeded both ours and Nokia’s expectations. Due to the strong response rates and opt-in interest, Nokia will be incorporating more campaigns with 2D codes in Central Europe. We are currently running a campaign in Switzerland featuring 2D codes to promote the Nokia Music Device 5800 via the Mobilezone^®, a major catalog retailer," said Harald Winkelhofer, Founder & CEO of IQ mobile. "In general, the 2D code technology plays a very important role in all the mobile marketing concepts that we bring to our client base of international brands and agencies."

Alexander Oswald, Head of Marketing - Alps South East Europe for Nokia added, "We are very pleased with the results and being the first one to use this solution. As we are one of the leading mobility brands, using mobile advertising technologies is important as a new and exciting communication channel. And as well part of our brand DNA of connecting people through mobile solutions."

NeuStar Announces Barcode Interoperability

2009-03-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

NeuStar today unveiled the first successful demonstration and implementation of technology that enables cell phones to scan and process two-dimensional barcodes - regardless of the mobile service provider, type of bar code symbology, or scanning technology used.

NeuStar's pilot program is based on open standards and demonstrates interoperability among the world's most successful barcode campaign managers, symbologies, and code reader technologies through NeuStar's trusted third party central clearinghouse and registry services. Announced at CTIA, the program currently involves industry-leading companies 3GVision, Mobile Discovery, Mobile Tag, and NeoMedia.

"Each of our current partners brings unique values and capabilities to the market," according to Diane Strahan, vice president of Mobile Services at NeuStar. "Consumers can simply click, send, and enjoy immediate access to cool content. This program is a critical step toward linking various barcode readers and players in the marketplace, and toward creating a seamless, open, and scalable solution for brands, consumers, and mobile operators."

Unlike the linear (striped) EAN/UPC barcodes typically used for inventory and point-of-sale transactions, the more advanced two-dimensional (2D) codes provide mobile consumers with a "shortcut" to access rich content and helpful information, as well as to engage in m-commerce. For mobile consumers, barcodes offer the ability to rapidly discover, interact, and transact with brands without typing out a web address or searching for a website.

NeuStar anticipates that two-dimensional bar codes will be of particular relevance to advertisers and brands, which can immediately leverage their traditional packaging and print - as well as interactive media buys - to reach consumers on the move. More than simply providing mobile consumers with a link to an Internet address, indirect 2D barcode systems can use location, language, or other information shared by the consumer, allowing advertisers to deliver dynamic, individually tailored content. Barcodes offer direct response accountability through measurable ROI, and enable advertisers to adjust their content based on real-time tracking of each campaign's performance.

"Whether the call to action is a short code or a barcode, NeuStar is enabling consumers to opt in to and connect directly with their desired mobile content and interactive experiences," continued Strahan. "The current industry partners in this program are highly successful players in mobile marketing and bar code scanning solutions, as well as intellectual property leaders. These partners have the widest deployment of barcode solutions and penetration in Japan, France, Australia, and other countries. The strength of the open interoperable service we are demonstrating is that it provides the underlying infrastructure needed for brands to confidently deliver a consistent, high-quality customer experience across mobile operators for maximum reach and return."

Interview With NeoMedia CEO Iain McCready

2009-03-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies' CEO Iain McCready talks to bnetTV.com's Michelle Sklar at GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009.

Who Will Be First To License NeoMedia's Patents

2009-03-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

The mobile code ecosystem has been a buzz ever since NeoMedia Technologies announced last month that the United States Patent and Trademark Office had ruled in favor of NeoMedia in the reexamination of its U.S. Patent No. 6,199,048 -- System And Method For Automatic Access Of A Remote Computer Over A Network.

NeoMedia currently has 30 active patents spanning 13 countries, with 29 additional patents pending. These patents cover various linkage methods including: Barcodes, RFID, Mag Stripe, Voice, and other machine readable and keyed entry identifiers.

According to NeoMedia's CEO Iain McCready, "A couple of competitors in the USA have already asked us for a free license but we can’t accept that. We are a business and so are they. In a reasonable manner, and at a fair price, we want to move forward with this. I am open to discussion and we want to be seen as fair. We want the whole mobile barcode market to succeed and the license fee model is tried and tested and it works. It can be as simple or as difficult as people want it to be and we aim to keep it simple. We have been working very very closely with both the GSMA and the OMA, and by being connected, the introduction of a license model can and will only succeed."

With the Google backed ShopSavvy and CompareEverywhere barcode applications making strong headway, and the recently launched Microsoft Tag reader carving out its niche, the mobile code ecosystem is quickly attracting major industry players.

Last week France's Mobile Tag announced that former NeoMedia CEO William "Chip" Hoffman had joined the company to head up their US operations. Mobile Tag uses mobile barcode technology patented by NeoMedia, and makes for a very likely patent licensee. Likewise with Google, Microsoft, Scanbuy and Upcode.

In keeping with its vision and commitment to developing an interoperable global ecosystem, NeoMedia is licensing its technology to foster innovation in the creation of exciting new mobile barcode applications and services.

NeoMedia Featured In Mobile Entertainment

2009-03-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Aims To Save Old Media

2009-03-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

Dean Wood To Lead NeoMedia Sales Efforts

2009-03-05T15:31:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, today announced that Dean Wood, former Commercial Vice President at ShoZu Ltd, has joined the company as Vice President of Business Development.

Wood brings a wealth of internet, service provider and mobile sector experience to NeoMedia, having spent the last 10 years specializing in converged web/mobile software and services. He will be responsible for driving business development and sales activities at the company, helping educate the market and drive interest in 2D barcoding solutions within the mobile operator, handset manufacturer, and advertising communities across the globe.

"I am thrilled to be joining NeoMedia at such an exciting time for the company and the mobile barcoding industry in general,” said Wood. “Now that the ambiguity related to our patent situation has been resolved, the industry can move forward and I am sure we will begin to see 2D barcodes appearing everywhere on a daily basis. NeoMedia gives brands a fast, accurate and measurable form of interaction with consumers and I cannot wait to get started to help position the company as the leader in mobile barcode solutions."

Most recently, Wood was responsible for securing strategic partnership and licensing deals with social media sites, media companies, mobile operators and handset manufacturers at ShoZu, the leading mobile social media service. Prior to this, Wood was Director of Mobile and Devices at Macromedia, where he was responsible for driving sales and strategic partnerships within the operator, handset manufacturer and consumer electronics sectors.

Commenting on Woods’ appointment, Iain McCready, CEO at NeoMedia Technologies said: "I have no doubt that Dean’s enthusiasm, dedication and in-depth knowledge of our industry will help NeoMedia develop a rich partner ecosystem and open new revenue opportunities for brands, operators, handset manufacturers and advertising agencies. We are delighted to have him on board and I look forward to working closely with him as our business develops."

VW QR Campaign With NeoMedia & DIMOCO

2009-02-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

Volkswagen has kicked off an innovative QR code campaign with NeoMedia Technologies and DIMOCO which is currently running in several Austrian magazines.

Readers of the magazines are linked to the NeoReader download site and will receive a VW-Scirocco Video when they scan the printed QR code.

This is the first mobile code campaign worldwide where the reader download and the content download are free for operators T-Mobile and Mobilkom Austria covering 2/3 of all Austrian subscribers.

NeoMedia Presents Case Study On Patent Win

2009-02-26T13:33:00.000-08:00

Case Study by Barkume and Associates

Barkume Wins Patent Reexam For NeoMedia

2009-02-21T00:32:00.000-08:00

Barkume and Associates has successfully defended the ex parte reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 6,199,048, System and Method for Automatic Access of a Remote Computer Over a Network. All pending claims of the patent under reexamination have been indicated to be patentable by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) in its decision issued earlier this week.

Reexamination is a process in which any member of the public may request the PTO to reconsider if a patent should have been granted, in view of new information that was not considered when the PTO first examined the patent. In an ex parte reexamination the requesting party submits this "newly-discovered prior art" to the PTO, which decides if it justifies reexamining the patent. In this case the PTO decided to reexamine the '048 patent, but ultimately agreed with us that that the patent was not invalid.

In 2001, the PTO granted the '048 patent to Neomedia Technologies, Inc. The '048 patent covers the use of machine readable indicia to access a database in which a pointer to an information resource (such as a URL) is extracted and used to establish communication with the resource. For example, a bar code such as a UPC code may be imaged and decoded by a client device, and the bar code data is then transmitted over the Internet to a web server that looks up a URL associated with that UPC bar code data. The extracted URL is then returned to the client device, which then uses that URL to communicate with the associated web site via its browser. Several other embodiments are disclosed and claimed in the '048 patent such as the use of audible signals and RF identification.

In 2007, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a request for the PTO to reexamine the '048 patent based on numerous prior art references it submitted that allegedly rendered the '048 patent claims invalid. The reexamination request was filed as part of EFF's "Patent Busting" project, a sensationalist effort to invalidate patents it deems to be "bogus" and a "crime against the public domain". The PTO granted the request, which is not unusual given its mandate to ensure that patents it issues are in fact valid. In July 2008, the PTO issued an Office action in which the '048 claims were rejected based on the prior art submitted.

Our office went to work immediately by reviewing the PTO's rejections and the newly-submitted prior art. We summarily concluded that the prior art simply did not bear on the inventions in the '048 patent. We then proceeded to conduct an in person interview with a three-Examiner panel at the PTO in August 2008. At the conference, we explained the inventions of the '048 patent and how the newly discovered prior art had no relevance. We then submitted a written amendment to clarify the language of the claims and consolidate them. Ultimately, the PTO agreed with our position regarding the patentability of the '048 inventions.

On February 17, 2009, the PTO publicly announced its complete agreement with our position regarding the inventions in the '048 patent by issuing a "Notice of Intent to Issue Ex-Parte Reexamination Certificate". This terminates the reexamination completely in favor of Neomedia, since it provides that all pending claims are patentable and will publish shortly in a Reexamination Certificate. This decision cannot be appealed by EFF or any other third party.

As a result, we have successfully defended the challenge brought by EFF against the'048 patent as part of its "Patent Busting" project. The '048 patent has withstood the intense scrutiny of the reexamination process, in which the Examiners reviewed not only the numerous prior art references submitted by EFF, but also those that it may have uncovered in its own follow-up searches. The claims of the '048 patent as clarified once again will enjoy the presumption of validity and have been strengthened as a result of the process.

NeoMedia Wins Patent Reexamination

2009-02-18T08:55:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has ruled in favor of NeoMedia in the reexamination of its U.S. Patent No. 6,199,048, System And Method For Automatic Access Of A Remote Computer Over A Network. All ninety-five claims of this Barcode Look up Patent have been confirmed as being patentable by the PTO.

The PTO’s re-validation of this patent provides tremendous opportunities for companies in the mobile advertising space, allowing them to unify and quickly move forward to implement new applications and services.

“This is excellent news for NeoMedia as it allows us to move forward with our vision to create strong partnerships and synergies to align all companies for the next growth phase,” said Iain McCready, chief executive officer of NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. “We are committed to building a fully involved and collaborative ecosystem of agencies, mobile operators, and vendors who recognize the potential of mobile barcode advertising.”

"We are pleased that this patent has withstood the intense scrutiny of the PTO's re-examination process, in which numerous additional prior art references were considered in detail by the PTO Examiners before confirming all ninety-five claims as being patentable", said Tony Barkume of Barkume & Associates, P.C., patent counsel for NeoMedia. "The approval indicated by the PTO in its Notice of Intent to Issue a Re-examination Certificate has confirmed the strength and validity of the '048 patent in the face of such a heightened challenge."

In keeping with its vision and commitment to developing an interoperable global ecosystem, NeoMedia is licensing its technology to foster innovation in the creation of exciting new mobile barcode applications and services for the advertising industry.

NeoMedia embraces the development of open standards for 1D and 2D barcode technologies, and provides a global infrastructure to resolve these barcodes across multiple carriers. The company’s ecosystem ensures that all parties involved in the transaction are accurately compensated by pre-defined business rules. Through NeoMedia’s complete solution, media & advertising companies, consumers, businesses, mobile operators and OEMs can harness wireless networks to perform commerce more easily and securely, and ensure monetization can occur reliably and accurately.

NeoMedia Launches Innovative New Website

2009-02-14T21:52:00.000-08:00

Click here to visit the new website

NeoMedia Participating In Mobile World Congress

2009-02-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, will be attending this years GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain from February 16th through the 19th.

The Mobile World Congress features the very latest in technology, services, and developments, bringing to life the promise of mobile broadband for all and defining the industry's path to continued growth. The Congress brings together the eminent leaders and personalities from mobile operators and equipment vendors, as well as those from the Internet and the world of entertainment. The Mobile World Congress provides a one-stop-shop for everyone looking to understand what will drive the success of the mobile industry over the next year.

NeoMedia's CEO Iain McCready will be participating in a four hour session at the Mobile World Congress on Thursday February 19th in Hall 5, Auditorium 3. The session, Mobile Advertising - Moving to the Strategic Level, will include speakers from JumpTap, Turkcell, Telstra, BMW, and QUALCOMM. This innovative session will examine the hurdles the industry faces regarding privacy and permission, metrics and measurement and integrating new technologies into the mobile portfolio. Views from operators, agencies, publishers and brands will give attendees an unrivaled insight into the mobile advertising industry today.

NeoMedia offers the tools and infrastructure for wireless carriers, mobile phone manufactures, brands and media companies to make optical messaging and its associated commerce easy, universal, and reliable - worldwide.

NeoMedia Partners With Texas Nameplate

2009-02-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, has been selected by Texas Nameplate, a leading manufacturer of specialized metal nameplates for a wide range of industries, to help launch its new range of fully customizable, digitally-enabled products.

Texas Nameplate has chosen NeoMedia’s NeoReader® 2D barcode scanning solution to power its new Digital Nameplate™ products. Digital Nameplate is a brand-new product that allows users to electronically download information from a metal nameplate via a mobile device. It uses the chemical etch process to embed customizable data in a 2D matrix format, allowing users to read data quickly and easily, through any mobile device enabled with the downloadable NeoReader software.

"We are very excited to partner with NeoMedia Technologies and bring this ground-breaking capability to the market," says Dale Crownover, President of Texas Nameplate. "NeoMedia Technologies and Texas Nameplate will co-develop standards and identify new markets for this technology. Our collaborative efforts will propel a traditional manufacturing product into the twenty first century, where information can be accessed and shared anywhere, at any time. New applications of this technology will have a significant impact on customer care, asset tracking, inventory control, compliance, and many more."

Digital Nameplates can dramatically reduce reading errors, enhance traceability of products, and make long term data storage and retrieval possible. This new technology is currently patent-pending, and delivers an industry first into what is becoming an increasingly popular market.

"The partnership with Texas Nameplate is a fantastic opportunity for NeoMedia Technologies and represents another significant commercial application of our barcode scanning solutions,” said Iain McCready, Chief Executive Officer at NeoMedia Technologies. "It is yet another exciting and innovative integration of 2D barcoding and further demonstrates just how adaptable our technology can be. In this case, we will provide customers instant access to significant information in an intuitive and easy-to-use method - speeding up business processes and delivering significant efficiency gains to all parties involved."

The NeoReader application can be easily downloaded onto any camera-enabled mobile device. Users can then scan barcodes and access mobile content in one easy click. This enables the mobile to link directly to a specific web page, access new services, retrieve real-time information, or place orders by bypassing long URLs, search engines, and cumbersome menus.

TecCom Selects NeoReader For TecIdentify

2009-01-20T08:59:00.000-08:00

Last October, NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, announced that they had been selected by TecCom, the leading B2B platform for the automotive replacement part market, to help identify if security coded automotive parts are genuine.

The first IT platform to check the authenticity of auto parts is now fully available in Version 1.2. Many well-known manufacturers will add this new security feature in the form of a 2D barcode to their packaging. Any person anywhere in the world can now check products bearing the CLEPA security code at any time of day or night. TecCom supports the European automotive suppliers' association (CLEPA) in the fight against product piracy.

The first to use the production system is Continental Teves, Federal Mogul and TRW will soon follow with their first product lines. Each product will carry a worldwide unique identification number in the form of a data matrix barcode. With this it can be unmistakably authenticated. Other security measures like holograms, seals or color codes depend on immediate recognition. It is necessary for the user to know in advance how to recognize the features. CLEPA follows a different method with its security code: identification using an IT solution: TecIdentify. Checking is based on intelligent test algorithms that cannot be copied and a standard database that is protected from unallowed access.

To use TecIdentify a customer needs an Internet PC with a scanner or a camera phone equipped with the NeoReader to check auto parts and get an immediate answer. The research of visible security features needed to achieve the same level of security is no longer needed.

The TecCom solution TecIdentify serves as the central authentication service for all who want to check a part's authenticity: manufacturers, customs, traders, garages or drivers. “Many of our first movers used this year's Automechanika in Frankfurt to explain the problems of product piracy to their customers. TecIdentify is a natural fit. That TecIdentify won the Automechanika Innovation Prize in the Category IT & Management shows the high visibility of this topic,” says Jürgen Buchert, CEO of TecCom GmbH.

"NeoMedia’s mission is to enable the global market to realize the ease, convenience and simplicity of 2D barcode technology," said Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. "By extending the reach of our technology to the mobile handset, we are able to add increased flexibility and portability to our 2D barcode offering, while reducing the cost of existing fixed location scanning solutions. Our work with TecCom reflects the practicality and adaptability of our technology and demonstrates the vast range of commercial applications for 2D barcode systems."

Spanair Celebrates First Year With NeoMedia

2009-01-19T11:27:00.000-08:00

Mobile check-in has landed in airports across Spain following the introduction of a paperless ticketing service by Spanish carrier Spanair Airlines. Paper boarding passes can now be replaced by an electronic 2D barcode received via MMS and stored by the passenger’s mobile phone. The system is enabled by NeoMedia Technologies, which has to date installed its EXIO scanners in eleven Spanish airports. The scanners read the 2D codes on the phones at the airport terminal check-in desks and security points.

With the widespread installation of the streamlined and convenient service across Spanish airports, Spanair has forecast that 800,000 2D barcode mobile tickets will be issued in 2009 – some ten per cent of its total ticketing transactions.

Spanair was the first airline in Spain to offer its passengers mobile check-in, following the publication by IATA of a mobile boarding standard based on two-dimensional codes. The technology was piloted in the airports of Bilbao, Madrid and Barcelona, initiating a service that could save the airline industry up to $500 million each year.

Earlier this year industry analysts Juniper Research estimated that transport-based mobile ticketing will grow from 37.4 million transactions in 2007 to just over 1.8 billion by 2011, with some 2.6 billion mobile tickets in total being issued by 2011 to 208 million mobile phone users.

“Our mobile check-in system is proving to be the fastest way to get on the plane in Spain. It’s innovative, efficient and offers great benefits in terms of both time and convenience – advantages that are particularly appreciated by our business customers,” said Sergio Allard, Chief Commercial Officer, Spanair.

"This is a fantastic success story that underlines the simplicity and elegance of the mobile 2D barcode,” said Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia. “Implementing mobile ticketing expands Spanair’s customer service offering in an innovative way and increases customer convenience significantly – it’s a win/win scenario. NeoMedia’s scanners can be integrated into many different systems and used for a wide variety of mobile CRM solutions (ticketing, couponing, loyalty) and payment systems. With the mobile device increasingly used as a tool for business, it makes absolute sense to utilize it in as many ways as possible to streamline services for both business and consumer users."

Laura Marriott Joins NeoMedia Board of Directors

2009-01-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, today announced that Laura Marriott, former president of the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), has joined its Board of Directors. Marriott brings a wealth of expertise in mobile marketing to NeoMedia that will contribute to the company’s growth and help strengthen its leadership position as a provider of 2D barcode scanning solutions, enabling new revenue opportunities for brand agencies, mobile operators and handset manufacturers.

As a board member, Marriott will bring an unrivaled knowledge of mobile marketing to help NeoMedia clear obstacles to market development and establish best practices for sustainable growth.

“I am a strong believer that the 2D mobile barcode industry is at a tipping point and I am excited to be joining NeoMedia at such an important time,” said Laura Marriott. “Advertisers have a ground breaking opportunity ahead of them as 2D mobile barcoding becomes ubiquitous, enabling powerful, easy to use new forms of customer interaction never experienced through traditional media.”

“We are honored to have such a prestigious mobile marketing authority as Laura join our Board,” said Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies. “With her proven track record of leadership, dedication and the ability to create and execute on programs with measurable results, Laura’s contribution will help to position NeoMedia at the forefront of this exciting industry as it gears up for rapid growth.”

Laura Marriott served as president of the MMA, where she led the global association in its charter to drive the adoption of the mobile channel for marketing purposes. During her tenure, the MMA membership experienced astounding growth, established global headquarters and regional chapters throughout the world, and developed guidelines for the industry. Earlier this year, Marriott was named one of the industry’s Top 10 Women in Wireless by FierceMarkets. Marriott has more than seventeen years of experience in the high-tech industry in the areas of business development, product management and marketing.

Neustar, NeoMedia & Mobile Discovery Video

2008-12-09T11:46:00.000-08:00

Diane Strahan of Neustar, Robert Danish of NeoMedia & David Miller of Mobile Discovery discuss the 2D barcode ecosystem and what role each of their companies play in making this technology standard practice.

In September, NeoMedia and Mobile Discovery announced that they had formed a strategic alliance to fast-track 2D code proliferation.

An interview with NeoMedia's CEO Iain McCready and Mobile Discovery's President and CEO David Miller was conducted by Bena Roberts and can be found on GoMo News.

Nokia & NeoMedia Team For 2D Codes

2008-12-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, and Nokia, the world leader in mobility, teamed together with IQ-Mobile to launch an interactive 2D barcode campaign in the popular German Men's magazine, Wiener.

Readers of the magazine are invited to text the word "code" to a short code, which will return a link allowing them to download and install the NeoReader onto their mobile device.

Once downloaded and installed, readers can launch the NeoReader application to scan the 2D Data Matrix code, which will connect them to a Nokia mobile website.

From there, readers can register to be entered into a special drawing to become a mobile phone tester for one of three Nokia Navigation devices: The 6210, 6220, or E71.

NeoMedia offers the tools and infrastructure for wireless carriers, mobile phone manufactures, brands and media companies to make optical messaging and its associated commerce easy, universal, and reliable - worldwide.

NeoMedia Adds To Strategic Advisory Board

2008-11-19T10:04:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, announced this morning during the company's shareholder conference call the induction of new Board of Advisors member Ian Maxwell, who brings with him extensive industry experience and is dedicated to the growth and expansion of NeoMedia Technologies.

Ian Maxwell, a well respected industry veteran, has been a director at Vodafone for the past 21 years. In 2003, Ian was instrumental in Vodafone's strategic partnership with Microsoft in which both companies came together to implement plans to help create mobile web services standards that would enable new business opportunities for application developers and mobile network operators across fixed (wired) and wireless networks. As a global leader in the mobile telecommunications market, Vodafone has over 300 million customers in 25 markets across 5 continents.

The development of NeoMedia Technologies' Strategic Advisory Board has combined many talented and highly qualified executives with much to offer in the technology and telecommunication fields. All the members bring extensive knowledge of the wireless and telecom industries, and NeoMedia is happy to have their commitment.

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

NeoMedia At DMVÖ MMA Mobile Innovation

2008-11-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, was in attendance at the November 11th DMVÖ MMA Mobile Innovation event in Vienna Austria.

The event, held in cooperation with DMVÖ Mobile Innovation Working Group and the Mobile Marketing Association of Austria was sponsored by m4c, DIMOCO and Nokia, and featured representatives from Ericsson, Bertelsmann-Arvato, T-Mobile, and Orange.

Thomas Hinterleithner, head of linking solutions and global sales at NeoMedia conducted an informative lecture and question and answer session on mobile code reading using various examples from Asia, Europe, and the United States. He demonstrated the many exciting communication channels and business models that are achievable through code reading.

"Innovative tools such as mobile code reading allow direct and easy communication with the consumer. The consumer has a quick, precise and even controlled access to the desired information and advertising is measurable, stated Thomas Hinterleithner, "The software is, for example, here in Europe but not yet preinstalled on the phone. But that will soon change. A global standard comes in early 2009."

Margit Anglmaier of DIMOCO and director of the Working Group DMVÖ Mobile Innovations prepared a white paper on the topic, "Use of mobile codes in marketing" that gives insights and views on mobile code reading and answers relevant questions for the Austrian advertising industry on the subject.

Custom Fit Realty Launches NeoSign

2008-11-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

Custom Fit Realty, a Wisconsin based real estate company, recently announced the launch of their NeoSign Technology using 2D barcodes and mobile code reading technology from NeoMedia.

Continuing to push the frontiers of real estate innovation, Custom Fit Realty has added a new marketing feature called NeoSigns to their fee-based home selling service. NeoSigns allow direct access to a property’s web site using 2D barcodes, code reading technology, and the internet right from a consumer's mobile device.

In order to use the application, house hunters can direct their mobile phone’s web browser to get.neoreader.com in order to download the free NeoReader application to their iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia or other camera enabled cell phone. Once downloaded, the NeoReader can be used to take a picture of a 2D barcode which will directly connect the consumer to that property listings' mobile website.

"This is called mobile tagging and is a terrific new application. I think you’ll find these codes all over in the very near future, but Custom Fit Realty is the first to outfit our real estate yard signs with new NeoSign technology," said a representative at Custom Fit.

"All of our listings have a NeoSign code and in the next few weeks we’ll be installing new NeoSigns on our properties as well as on our printed material. We’re moving away from dead-tree based marketing and the NeoSign continues to move us in that direction."

Pepsi Launches Major UK QR Code Initiative

2008-11-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

Thirsty tech-savvy UK consumers will be able to access music, games and other entertainment from their mobile phones now that Pepsi has introduced QR codes to its drink packs.

PepsiCo and Britvic are rolling out 400 million packs with quick response (QR) codes across Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Max variants in the UK.

QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes that act as a conduit between print and web through the use of mobile phone camera technology.

With the help of a QR code reader, consumers can take a picture of the on-pack code, which will then direct them to great mobile entertainment courtesy of Pepsi via WAP. The QR codes will enable consumers to gain access to content, such as games, ringtones, wallpapers and more.

Chris Owen, Brand Manager for Pepsi at Britvic, said: “Yet again, Pepsi is at the forefront of consumer trends, providing great entertainment to people when and where they want it through their mobile phone. With the content being constantly updated, consumers will have more reason than ever to purchase Pepsi, to see what we’ve got to give them next. Pepsi has always led the way in providing consumers with entertainment. Now we’re using the newest technology to give people a kick in the right direction and really drive sales of the UK’s fastest growing cola in take-home grocery.”

Ahmed Abdel-Karim, Marketing Manager for Pepsi UK, said: “Pepsi is using QR codes to connect with, and engage consumers in a new and exciting way wherever they are. We're finding innovative ways to communicate with Pepsi drinkers and to reward their loyalty with entertaining and interesting content, ensuring Pepsi remains front of mind.”

Consumers can download the NeoReader to their iPhone, BlackBerry, or to their camera enabled cell phone in order to scan the 2D codes, which will direct them to a phone-friendly version of Pepsi's website.

The NeoReader is a free universal code reading application developed by NeoMedia Technologies and Gavitec AG - mobile digit.

NeoMedia Partners With Costa Rican Carrier ICE

2008-10-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, has partnered with ICE, the leading mobile network operator in Costa Rica, to create a new measurable mobile marketing platform using 2D barcode technology.

The NeoMedia platform will enable retailers, banks and other organizations to build a mobile marketing ecosystem that will drive innovative mobile-based marketing applications that, for the first time, can track, trace and measure consumer activity.

ICE, the only telecom operator at this time in the Costa Rican market, will deploy NeoMedia's NeoReader® on camera phones, transforming the phones into barcode readers that provide immediate access to Internet-based content and services.

Consumers use the phones to scan 2D barcodes on product packaging, advertisements, retail displays and publications. The codes open up a vast range of potential for product marketing, incentive-driven promotions, and value-added benefits to be offered to the consumer.

Each scan that triggers a visit to a promotional site can be traced and tracked, enabling 100 percent measurable activity and feedback on the performance of the promotion, and therefore 100 percent measurable ROI on the mobile marketing spend.

NeoMedia representative Agilos will provide in-country support for ICE, and will work with both NeoMedia and ICE to sign up agencies, companies and customers to the mobile marketing ecosystem.

"Using the mobile as an effective and efficient marketing tool is the goal of every mobile operator," said Orlando Cascante Moranga, MBA Director Customers Division - Telecomunicaciones, ICE. "The NeoMedia platform will catalyze individual, interactive dialogue between our customers and companies in Costa Rica, strengthening customer loyalty and adding massive value to the mobile device as a marketing tool."

"The mobile industry can now deliver the solution that is at the top of every marketeer's wish list -- and provide a new revenue stream for the mobile operators," said Iain McCready, Chief Executive Officer of NeoMedia. "This solution is the real deal -- a traceable mechanism that delivers the message directly to potential customers, can evaluate feedback and capture demographic data for future use and doesn't waste one cent of the investment made in the technology."

Iusacell & NeoMedia Bring 2D Codes To Mexico

2008-10-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, has partnered with Iusacell to bring 2D codes to Mexico.

Iusacell, Mexico's 3rd largest mobile operator, has more than 4.3 million subscribers and provides cellular services to 90% of Mexico's population, including Mexico City. The company also offers local and long-distance telephony, messaging services, mobile television and wireless broadband services over the only 3G nation-wide network in Mexico.

In order to leverage its mobile code reading technology in Mexico, NeoMedia and Iusacell will deploy NeoSphere, NeoMedia’s Code Management Platform. This suite of tools has been designed to easily develop, launch and manage mobile marketing campaigns based upon 2D codes and camera phones. NeoSphere provides a simple way to interact with consumers and offers an enriched mobile experience with brands. Moreover, it allows advertisers, marketing agencies and publishers to better monetize their traditional ad placements, and boost their marketing return-on-investment by providing detailed response metrics for traditional media as well as rich reporting and analytical information.

To interact with 2D codes, Iusacell subscribers can download the NeoReader, which is a free universal mobile code reading application developed by NeoMedia Technologies and Gavitec AG - mobile digit. By installing the NeoReader, Iusacell subscribers will enjoy the value and convenience of a rich and relevant interactive experience whenever they encounter a mobile code.

In combination with NeoSphere and NeoReader, the mobile channel has become a viable new media platform in Mexico for brands, advertisers, marketing agencies and publishers looking for a new and innovative way to interact with their audience.

NeoMedia Partners With TecCom

2008-10-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, has been selected by TecCom, the leading B2B platform for the automotive replacement part market, to help identify if security coded automotive parts are genuine.

TecCom has chosen NeoMedia’s NeoReader® 2D barcode scanning solution to launch its new TecIdentify product. The system enables the camera in a mobile device to scan and read 2D CLEPA security barcodes on automotive parts and immediately check, via the internet, if that part is genuine – significantly reducing the risk of counterfeit parts making their way onto the market.

Commenting on the deal, Jurgen Buchert, CEO of TecCom said: "Our TecIdentify system is an especially efficient and convenient system that traces goods within the logistics chain. In rolling out NeoMedia’s NeoReader enterprise scanning solution, we are able to offer a new level of convenience to our customers. By employing the NeoReader solution, suppliers of automotive parts and traders can simply use their everyday mobile phone to scan a barcode and determine the validity of automotive parts."

Codes were previously only able to be captured and recorded using high-end, expensive scanners or by suppliers and traders manually inputting barcode numbers. NeoMedia’s technology introduces a convenient, low cost and ubiquitous option which enables information to be read courtesy of the camera function installed in a mobile phone.

"NeoMedia’s mission is to enable the global market to realize the ease, convenience and simplicity of 2D barcode technology," said Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. "By extending the reach of our technology to the mobile handset, we are able to add increased flexibility and portability to our 2D barcode offering, while reducing the cost of existing fixed location scanning solutions. Our work with TecCom reflects the practicality and adaptability of our technology and demonstrates the vast range of commercial applications for 2D barcode systems."

To take advantage of the system, users simply install the NeoReader application onto their mobile phone and launch it to scan the part’s 2D security code. Once scanned, users are automatically directed to the TecIdentify website, where the code is checked for authenticity against its database. There is no adaptation or customization needed for the NeoReader application to work, nor does a user need to purchase a special mobile phone.

Arvato Showcases Mobile Tagging & Couponing

2008-10-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Arvato AG, a Bertelsmann company, and a leading internationally networked media and communication services provider, showcased NeoMedia's Mobile Tagging and Mobile Couponing technology at Mail Order World 2008 on October 2nd in Germany.

Mail Order World Germany is the largest trade fair for the entire spectrum of mail and provides information and business platforms in parallel with the German Mail Order Congress. The Mail Order World is characterized by a diversified portfolio of exhibitors. At the congress, discussed topics visualize and thus illustrate the theory and practice combined. The exhibition parallels to the Congress of German mail industry gathering for decision-makers from mail order, e-commerce and direct marketing.

Hubert Peter, Head of New Business Development at Arvato Services attended the event and participated in Trade Conference 4: E-Commerce and New Business Models where he presented, Mobile Couponing & Mobile Tagging: New Business Approaches for Steering Customers in Target Groups.

For his presentation, Mr. Peter showcased Mobile Tagging and Mobile Couponing using NeoReader and EXIO technology from NeoMedia.

This past August Arvato teamed up with NeoMedia to launch an innovative mobile marketing campaign in Germany using 2D barcodes with INFOBON International and Deutsche Post.

NeoMedia & Format Dynamics Join Forces

2008-09-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, and Format Dynamics, an innovator in online print and ad optimization, recently announced a strategic alliance designed to accelerate innovation in both online and offline advertising.

NeoMedia develops technology that connects 2D barcodes to interactive content served via mobile networks. Format Dynamics has defined a new advertising category by creating ad inventory served only to the printed Web page. Together, NeoMedia and Format Dynamics will provide the publishing and advertising communities with new ways to increase the value of traditional advertising vehicles, both individually and in a strategic alliance.

"Advertisers are demanding more accountability from their media investments as overall ad budgets shrink," said Ethan Holien, CEO, Format Dynamics. "By teaming up with NeoMedia, we are providing advertisers with a unique channel for targeting consumers, yielding precise ROI metrics. At the same time, we're providing Web publishers with net-new, measurable inventory for incremental revenue."

NeoMedia focuses on improving advertising effectiveness via 2D barcodes that "hyperlink" printed materials to interactive mobile web content. Format Dynamics' CleanPrint™ technology reformats the printed Web page into a magazine-like format and digitally serves a targeted ad within each page. In addition, PrintTracker™ from Format Dynamics tracks all browser-based Web printing behavior, helping Web publishers to analyze campaign metrics and identify monetization opportunities.

Format Dynamics will extend NeoMedia's barcode technology to the ads it serves, providing marketers with additional analytics through a new measurable response mechanism with little incremental cost above their initial media investment.

"By working together with Format Dynamics to provide a broader range of media options in the unique niche of integrating offline and online advertising, we hope to draw more attention to our offerings while extending real value and innovation to our advertising clients," said Iain McCready, CEO, NeoMedia Technologies. "Advertisers are still trying to find effective and scalable opportunities in the mobile arena. NeoMedia's mobile barcode scanning solutions deliver engaging, consumer-initiated interactions with brands that leverage existing media investments."

NeoReader Available For The Blackberry

2008-09-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, is excited to announce that their mobile code reading application -- NeoReader® -- is now available for the Blackberry Curve and Pearl. The NeoReader transforms the Blackberry into a barcode scanner, which provides instant access to mobile content by clicking on 2D barcodes.

The NeoReader application turns the Blackberry into a mobile conduit to interactive content and information. The simple "one click" access makes the mobile internet much more accessible for Blackberry users -- by scanning 2D barcodes via the Blackberry's camera, users avoid typing in long URLs and navigating cumbersome menus. 2D barcodes serve as "hyperlinks" from printed mediums to mobile web content and are activated when and where users choose.

The use cases for mobile barcodes are virtually endless, from advertising or editorial content (e.g. movie trailer, product coupon or video content to accompany a print article) to public service information (e.g. bus schedules or prescription drug information) and personal information (e.g. interactive business card). Blackberry users can even promote themselves with mobile barcodes. By creating personal codes users can link their website to a business card, a t-shirt, a social networking profile or any other creative place a barcode can be printed.

The NeoReader is a universal barcode scanning application that reads all standard 2D barcode symbologies -- QR, Data Matrix, Aztec -- so Blackberry users won't need multiple barcode readers. Many companies are beginning to utilize 2D barcodes in their marketing and communication efforts. By installing the NeoReader, Blackberry users will enjoy the value and convenience of a rich and relevant interactive experience wherever they encounter a mobile barcode.

AT&T & Papa John's Team Up With NeoMedia

2008-09-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, has teamed up with AT&T and Papa John's to launch a commercial trial in the US using 2D barcodes and mobile code reading software from NeoMedia.

Building on its continued online success, Papa John’s, the world's third largest pizza company and the industry leader in online ordering, recently launched mobile web ordering, a system that enables pizza lovers to set-up an account or place an order right from their mobile phone.

For the commercial trial, 90,000 mailers were sent out to AT&T subscribers in selected markets inviting them to be among the first to use their AT&T phone in a brand new way. Those interested in participating could text PIZZA to 7316, which would deliver instructions on how to download and install the NeoReader onto their iPhone or other AT&T supported device.

Once installed, the 2D barcode could be scanned using the NeoReader, which would provide a link with a built-in promotion code to Papa John's mobile website. Users would then login with their existing Papa John's account information or create a new account to redeem the offer.

"Mobile web ordering is another major step in giving our customers convenient ways to experience the great taste of Papa John's," said Bob Ford, director of online marketing for Papa John's. "The addition of a 2D barcode promotion continues our tradition of industry firsts and creates a new way for customers to engage with Papa John's."

"We were delighted to work with an industry innovator like Papa John's to launch this program," said Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia. "They understand the consumer desire for convenience and mobile barcode scanning is a new way to provide a simple but compelling consumer experience via the mobile phone. NeoMedia makes sure those experiences are secure, fast and reliable. The NeoReader scanning application helps partners like Papa John's deliver an easy and accessible mobile internet experience to their customers."

As the US continues to embrace 2D barcodes, Papa John's looks forward to staying ahead of new and emerging technologies and positioning itself as a leader in the emerging mobile code ecosystem.

NeoMedia & Gavitec To Attend CTIA Wireless

2008-09-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, and Gavitec AG - mobile digit, the leading provider of mobile ticketing technologies and marketing solutions, are excited to showcase their innovative optical code reading technology at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2008 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA from September 10 - 12.

CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment, the largest wireless data event in the industry, embodies the ever-changing, dynamic, and innovative world of wireless data in enterprise and in entertainment. CTIA Wireless is the one show that brings key audiences such as enterprise users, solution providers, content owners, and mobile distribution channels together to form strategic partnerships, service industry needs, and create new innovations in wireless data. With over 300 exhibitors and special technology pavilions in mobile entertainment, enterprise mobility, M2M and application development, CTIA Wireless is the most comprehensive expo in wireless data showcasing ground-breaking innovations and creative solutions for enterprise and entertainment.

NeoMedia's flagship optical messaging and code reading platform, along with Gavitec's mobile ticketing technologies and marketing solutions will be on display at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment in booth #229.

In order to create a global ecosystem for mobile codes, NeoMedia is collaborating with recognized leaders in telecommunication infrastructure management to create a worldwide infrastructure for the processing of optically initiated transactions - called the Optical Messaging Interchange. This interchange would provide the mass reach required by brands and advertisers to invest in the technology, while enabling operators to leverage their investments in networks and subscribers. By embracing open standards, full interoperability, and by being barcode symbology agnostic, NeoMedia Technologies wants to provide a global infrastructure to insure that all transactions requested by end users “work” as intended, all parties are compensated correctly, and that the technology achieves mass adoption globally. In doing so, NeoMedia enables a seamless, secure, and reliable platform for mobile commerce using 1D and 2D barcodes and mobile devices. NeoMedia’s mission is to offer new ways to make mobile internet transactions effortless and more accessible while enhancing customer value and convenience.

Quattroruote Selects NeoReader For QR Codes

2008-08-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, and Gavitec AG - mobile digit, the leading provider of mobile ticketing and marketing solutions, are proud to announce that their mobile code reading application, NeoReader, was selected by Quattroruote Magazine for the Mini Experience QR code campaign in Italy.

Quattroruote is a popular monthly Italian automobile magazine that began publication in 1956.

Readers of the magazine can now use their mobile phones to scan printed QR codes to access specialized mobile content and view rich multimedia.

In order to scan QR codes, readers can download the NeoReader, which is a free mobile code reading application developed by NeoMedia Technologies and Gavitec AG - mobile digit.

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) 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 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.

INFOBON & Deutsche Post Adopt 2D Codes

2008-08-18T18:03:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, and Gavitec AG - mobile digit, the leading provider of mobile ticketing and marketing solutions, partnered with INFOBON International and Deutsche Post to launch an innovative mobile marketing campaign in Germany using 2D barcodes.

INFOBON is a high quality print medium reaching annually more than 100 million households in the following European countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary. The Infobon group has over 15 years of experience in the field of household-advertisement and coupon marketing.

Consumers who receive the unique mailing advertisement can now use their mobile phones to scan the printed 2D barcode to access specialized mobile content and view rich multimedia.

To scan these barcodes, consumers can download the NeoReader, which is a free mobile code reading application developed by NeoMedia Technologies and Gavitec AG - mobile digit.

In order to create 2D barcodes and link them to the mobile Web, INFOBON used NeoSphere, NeoMedia’s Code Management Platform. This suite of tools has been designed to easily develop, launch and manage mobile marketing campaigns based upon 2D codes and camera phones. NeoSphere provides a simple way to interact with consumers and offers an enriched mobile experience with brands. Moreover, it allows advertisers, marketing agencies and publishers to better monetize their traditional ad placements, and boost their marketing return-on-investment by providing detailed response metrics for traditional media as well as rich reporting and analytical information.

In combination with NeoSphere and NeoReader, the mobile channel has become a viable new media platform for brands, advertisers, marketing agencies and publishers looking for a new and innovative way to interact with their audience.

Ralph Lauren Launches US QR Code Initiative

2008-08-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

Are tech-savvy fashion forward consumers ready to shop by mobile phone? Ralph Lauren hopes so.

Polo is the first luxury retailer to launch a mobile commerce site, hoping to stay ahead of a trend that is making its way from Asia to the United States, said David Lauren, senior vice president of advertising and son of designer and Chief Executive Ralph Lauren.

Using phones to buy items such as train tickets or products in vending machines is commonplace in Japan, but the trend has yet to catch on in the United States.

"We recognize that in America this is going after somebody who is more comfortable with technology," Lauren told Reuters. "The truth is that in other countries, it's becoming a part of their culture. The trend is coming, and as a fashion company it's very important to identify trends and get ahead of them."

While early adopters of new technologies are often young, Lauren said the move is not aimed at a specific age group.

"This is about someone who's interested in our brand and interested in technology, and wherever the two meet, that's what's appropriate," Lauren said.

The apparel maker will begin placing special 2D codes in print ads, mailings and store windows along with its sponsorship of the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, which begins later this month.

Shoppers can download the NeoReader to their iPhone, or to their camera enabled cell phone in order to scan the 2D codes, which will direct them to a phone-friendly version of Ralph Lauren's website, where they can shop, watch tennis videos and read company content.

The NeoReader is a free universal code reading application developed by NeoMedia Technologies and Gavitec AG - mobile digit.

McDonalds Finds Success With 12Snap & Gavitec

2008-08-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

Gavitec AG - mobile digit, a NeoMedia Technologies company and the leading provider of mobile ticketing and marketing solutions, in conjunction with 12Snap, an innovative market leader specializing in mobile marketing and customer loyalty solutions for advertisers, partnered with McDonalds to launch a mobile couponing initiative in Germany.

What do 99% of all people have in common? Besides their love for good food, they love to get something for free! With the SMS Lounge, McDonald’s invited customers to save money with their mobile phone. One text message was enough to register at their favorite restaurant for the service. In the following months, people received a mobile voucher directly from the restaurant onto their phone every two weeks. The coupons – embedded in a 2D barcode - could be redeemed by scanning them at the restaurant using Gavitec's EXIO readers.

By establishing a long-term dialogue that drives people to the restaurant and increases sales, not only does it offer people a service that gives them a real value, but it also helps build awareness by using a mechanic that presents McDonald’s as an innovative brand.

"Mobile Couponing continues to develop the idea of the bonus program, by tying to learned consumer behavior, but at the same time, the cost for suppliers and customers is drastically reduced", explained Stefanie Krebs, managing director of 12snap Germany. "The phone is always there and thus the ideal platform for timely actions and coupon offers. Regular Incentives and a clear use promise are the best starting point for a permanent emotional customer connection."

Since its initial launch in July 2007, more than 10,000 participants have used this McDonald’s service. Being the first of its kind mobile couponing initiative throughout Germany, the brand achieved response rates up to 29%.

Nokia and Vodafone assisted 12Snap and Gavitec and helped make this mobile couponing initiative a great success.

NeoReader Available For Apple's iPhone

2008-07-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, announced today that their mobile barcode scanning application -- NeoReader® -- is now available for the iPhone and free to download from Apple's App Store. The NeoReader transforms the iPhone into a barcode scanner which provides instant access to mobile content by clicking on 2D barcodes.

Available immediately for free download, iPhone users simply install the NeoReader barcode scanning application onto their iPhone via Apple's App Store, either over a cell network or using Wi-Fi. The application is also accessible via iTunes.

The NeoReader application turns the iPhone into a mobile conduit to interactive content and information. The simple "one click" access makes the mobile internet much more accessible for iPhone users -- by scanning 2D barcodes via the iPhone's camera, users avoid typing in long URLs and navigating cumbersome menus. The 2D barcodes serve as "hyperlinks" from printed mediums to mobile web content and are activated when and where users choose.

The use cases for mobile barcodes are virtually endless, from advertising or editorial content (e.g. movie trailer, product coupon or video content to accompany a print article) to public service information (e.g. bus schedules or prescription drug information) and personal information (e.g. interactive business card). iPhone users can even promote themselves with mobile barcodes. By creating personal codes users can link their website to a business card, a t-shirt, a social networking profile or any other creative place a barcode can be printed.

"We are very exited the NeoReader for iPhone has been approved by Apple -- the superior web experience of iPhone translates to an enhanced experience with the NeoReader as well. iPhone users are exactly the type of consumers that can propel mobile barcode usage into the mainstream," stated Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies. "We know the mobile handset is sacred ground for iPhone users and we respect that. The NeoReader empowers consumers to 'take control' of the content that reaches their iPhone -- they choose when and where they want to engage with a mobile barcode. NeoMedia makes sure the experience is secure, fast and reliable. I believe the NeoReader can be the breakthrough needed to deliver the promise of an easy and accessible mobile internet experience."

The NeoReader is a universal barcode scanning application that reads all standard 2D barcode symbologies -- QR, Data Matrix, Aztec -- so iPhone users won't need multiple barcode readers. Many companies are beginning to utilize 2D barcodes in their marketing and communications efforts. By installing the NeoReader, iPhone users will enjoy the value and convenience of a rich and relevant interactive experience wherever they encounter a mobile barcode.

Gavitec Scanners Used By T-Mobile & Vodafone

2008-07-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Gavitec AG - mobile digit, a leading provider of mobile technologies and marketing solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of NeoMedia Technologies, today announced that its mobile ticketing scanners were deployed last week at the T-Mobile Street Gigs and Vodafone Music Unlimited events. Since the first Street Gig in June 2007, more than 10,000 music fans received access to these unique events by having their mobile tickets redeemed by the Gavitec scanners. In addition, Vodafone Germany adopted mobile ticketing to distribute exclusive tickets for their July 13th event in Leipzig.

Last Summer, T-Mobile put on a series of spontaneous live music events known as Street Gigs in surprising and unexpected locations across Germany. Tickets for the concerts were available to winners of a “mobile ticket lottery” running on the T-Mobile Street Gigs website. All those registering free of charge as a member of the new T-Mobile Street Gigs community at www.t-mobile-streetgigs.de simply gave their mobile phone numbers. The lottery winners were then sent a pair of mobile tickets in the form of a 2D barcode directly to their mobile phone on the day of the concert. At the gig venue, winners had their mobile ticket scanned by the Gavitec scanner linked into a live database. Once the tickets were validated and redeemed, the winners could enter the venue and enjoy a great night in an exclusive location. Since the first gig in July 2007, more than 10,000 winners have attended the T-Mobile events using mobile tickets.

In order to strengthen its commitment to music products, Vodafone Germany sponsored a live concert featuring one of Germany's most popular bands, Ich + Ich, free of charge in Leipzig, Germany. The tickets for this live concert on July 13 in Leipzig's Kohlrabizirkus were available to all-comers registering at www.vodafone.de/music and taking part in a mobile ticketing lottery. The winners received a mobile ticket for 2 persons in the form of a 2D barcode to be redeemed at the concert venue by the Gavitec scanners.

"We are really pleased that music fans can now take advantage of a more convenient ticketing procedure. Our easy-to-use and versatile scanners are already used successfully in other European countries. It is great to bring this fantastic technology to Germany”, says Dr. Christian Steinborn, CEO at Gavitec AG - mobile digit, and continues “Gavitec’s scanners bring not only enormous advantages for mobile phone users, such as improved customer service, reduced queue times, reliable access control, but also provide event promoters with an easy way to collect data and build a personalized customer database. Therefore, it is a remarkable tool to open new distribution channels and to realize mobile marketing campaigns".

Data Matrix Inventor Joins NeoMedia

2008-07-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologie s, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, announced today that Dennis G. Priddy, inventor of the Data Matrix symbology, has been appointed to the position of Senior Vice President of Operations. As an innovator in the 2D barcode industry and a pioneer of 2D imaging, Dennis’ global business insights and technological acumen further solidify NeoMedia’s position as a thought leader in the burgeoning mobile barcode scanning industry.

In his new role, Dennis will oversee all technical operations of the business. Since joining NeoMedia in March 2008, he has been working closely with NeoMedia’s Chief Strategist, Dr. Frank Müller, to promote unified standards in mobile barcode reading technology and cooperate globally with the GSM Association (GSMA) and the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), two of the mobile phone industry’s most influential representative bodies. Establishing unified standards to enable global interoperability is a critical milestone to driving worldwide adoption of mobile marketing utilizing 2D barcodes.

“Most people know the name Dennis Priddy as the father of the Data Matrix symbology, but those in the auto-ID industry associate the name with strong operational leadership,” says Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies. “NeoMedia Technologies is proud to have a visionary like Dennis in the organization to help us develop compelling business solutions that leverage barcode scanning technology and navigate the complex global interoperability challenges that lie ahead. It’s great to have someone with his vast experience on board.”

Dennis is world renowned in industry circles for having introduced and led the adoption of the Data Matrix 2D symbology. As a result of Dennis’ efforts, Data Matrix has been established as a national and international identification standard in the aerospace, automotive, electronics, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, health care, and postal industries, as well as the US Department of Defense, NASA, and the FDA. He was a featured speaker at government and industry forums in the United States, Europe, Japan, and The People’s Republic of China.

He has developed and introduced new technology and established worldwide sales and distribution channels in China and Japan. While serving as Chairman of International Data Matrix, Inc., Dennis coordinated the corporate merger of I.D. Matrix with Robotic Vision Systems, Inc (RVSI) and became CEO of that industry-leading conglomerate. He also participated in the acquisition of Computer Identics Corporation and the subsequent consolidation of Computer Identics with I.D. Matrix to form CiMatrix.

Dennis has served more than 20 years contracting with the federal government with extensive expertise in government contract law and regulation, and is considered a subject matter expert in intellectual property law cases. He is the named inventor on 13 US patents and one patent pending.

NeoMedia's Patent Review Moves To Next Phase

2008-07-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in mobile barcode scanning, announced today that it will respond to the Office Action recently issued by The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) by vigorously defending a patent that has been undergoing re-examination since July 26, 2007. NeoMedia believes the patent to be valid and will provide the USPTO with the necessary documentation to substantiate that validity.

The USPTO recently issued an Office Action regarding the re-examination of NeoMedia's U.S. Patent number 6,199,048. The re-examination procedure is a standard legal process that occurs in the natural course of business -- this is not an "out of the ordinary" event. It is not unusual for the USPTO to preliminarily reject claims during the re-examination process. This initial action is non-final and will be subject to a review process. The '048 patent is presumed to be valid, intact and enforceable during the re-examination process.

While NeoMedia respects the USPTO's finding, it will leverage the due process opportunity to respond to the ruling and defend the patent that it believes valid under patent law. The company has been requested to respond to the Office Action by providing clarification and comment on the cited prior art references by September 3, 2008. Based on prior successful patent defenses, NeoMedia is optimistic that the single patent in question will be confirmed and the re-examination effort will have served to verify the strength of the patent.

"This is a standard patent process and we simply have to let it run its course. We have successfully defended this type of allegation in the past; it's the challenge NeoMedia faces for being an innovator. Our focus is on enabling interoperability and a viable ecosystem of players needed to support a vibrant and growing mobile barcode scanning business," states Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia. "Our willingness to share our expertise and license our IP are important factors in helping the industry gain momentum right now. We have developed flexible and creative IP licensing models that respond to the varying needs in the marketplace. The opportunity is huge...we just need to get the ecosystem running."

NeoMedia has a strong and valuable patent portfolio in the arena of connecting barcodes to content over networks that has been successfully defended in the past. This re-examination was limited to only one of NeoMedia's many patents, and none of its other patents are affected by the re-examination.

OMA Publishes Mobile Code White Paper

2008-07-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

The OMA recently published a comprehensive white paper addressing important components of the mobile code ecosystem, such as different symbologies, usage scenarios, and direct versus indirect encoding,

The white paper aims to stimulate a global market in which barcodes act as enablers for camera-equipped handsets to access content and services. Some technologies already exist; for example, in Japan, 2D barcode scanning is in widespread use.

However there is fragmentation in the worldwide market currently, due to the variety of approaches to the questions of which barcode symbologies should be supported, what format of data they should contain, and how reader software should behave when barcodes are read.

The Open Mobile Alliance aims to halt fragmentation by providing guidelines on existing standards as well as creating specifications to address interoperability needs as they arise. Once enough mobile code readers that follow those guidelines are deployed on consumer handsets, marketing organizations and publishers will be able to include mobile codes as links to online content and services with confidence, in advertising and promotional campaigns, and in printed and displayed media of many kinds.

Last December the Mobile Codes Consortium (MC2) announced it had carried out initiatives which lead to GSM Association (GSMA) and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) activities to accelerate mass mobile marketing using 2D barcodes.

Mobile Ticketing From Omniprime & Gavitec

2008-07-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Brings 2D Codes To Hong Kong

2008-07-14T01:02:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, has teamed up with leading wireless carrier Hutchison Whampoa and New Media Group, to bring mobile codes to Hong Kong.

Hutchison Whampoa, one of the worlds leading telecommunications operators running it's network under the 3 brand, and New Media Group, a leading Hong Kong publisher principally engaged in the publishing and marketing of Chinese language weekly magazines, have deployed NeoMedia's 2D barcodes in New Media's Weekend Weekly and New Monday publications.

Readers of the magazines can now use their mobile phones to scan printed 2D barcodes to access specialized mobile content and view rich multimedia, such as photos, wallpapers, songs, and video clips.

To scan these barcodes, readers can download the NeoReader, which is a free mobile code reading application developed by NeoMedia Technologies and Gavitec AG - mobile digit.

In order to create 2D barcodes and link them to the mobile Web, New Media Group used NeoSphere, NeoMedia’s Code Management Platform. This suite of tools has been designed to easily develop, launch and manage mobile marketing campaigns based upon 2D codes and camera phones. NeoSphere provides a simple way to interact with consumers and offers an enriched mobile experience with brands. Moreover, it allows advertisers, marketing agencies and publishers to better monetize their traditional ad placements, and boost their marketing return-on-investment by providing detailed response metrics for traditional media as well as rich reporting and analytical information.

In combination with NeoSphere and NeoReader, the mobile channel has become a viable new media platform for brands, advertisers, marketing agencies and publishers looking for a new and innovative way to interact with their audience.

Companies Transition To 2D Barcodes

2008-07-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

By the end of this year, consumers may notice a new type of barcode printed on popular product packaging. In addition to the traditional one-dimensional UPC codes found on everything, two-dimensional Data Matrix codes are now beginning to emerge.

Colgate Palmolive, an American diversified multinational corporation focused on the production, distribution and provision of household, health care and personal products, and Unilever, a multinational corporation owning many of the world's leading consumer product brands, are two such companies that are making the transition to two-dimensional Data Matrix codes.

Speed Stick and Soft Soap are two brands owned by Colgate Palmolive that have begun printing Data Matrix codes on their product packaging.

As seen in the picture to the left, the barcode contains a unique identifier, 9838450, which is used for tracking the product, collecting data, improving production capabilities and anti-counterfeiting measures.

The second picture displays the bottle of Soft Soap with a two-dimensional Data Matrix code printed on the back. It also contains a unique identifier, 9841645, which is used for product tracking and informational purposes.

In addition to product tracking, data collection, production improvements and anti-counterfeiting measures, Data Matrix codes can open up an entirely new revenue stream for brands and advertisers by utilizing the two-dimensional barcode and the ever popular mobile channel.

One such company, NeoMedia Technologies, has a patented technology that enables print and static media to become interactive with target audiences using two-dimensional barcodes and mobile networks by delivering real-time content that can be carried away with the consumer on their mobile device.

In order to link two-dimensional Data Matrix codes to the mobile Web, Colgate Palmolive and Unilever can deploy NeoMedia's NeoSphere Code Management Platform. This suite of tools has been designed to easily develop, launch and manage mobile marketing campaigns based upon two-dimensional barcodes and camera phones. NeoSphere provides a simple way to interact with consumers and offers an enriched mobile experience for brands. Moreover, it allows advertisers, marketing agencies and publishers to better monetize their traditional ad placements, and boost their marketing return-on-investment by providing detailed response metrics for traditional media as well as rich reporting and analytical information.

The barcode's unique identifier, can now be linked to a mobile website using the NeoSphere Code Management Platform.

Consumers can then use their mobile phones to scan printed Data Matrix codes to access specialized mobile content and rich multimedia, such as product information, special offers, coupons, ring tones, and videos. In order to scan Data matrix codes, consumers can download the NeoReader, which is a free mobile code reading application developed by NeoMedia Technologies and Gavitec AG - mobile digit.

OMA Update On Mobile Code Standards

2008-07-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

The OMA recently published a June 2008 Technical Plenary Summary stating that good progress was being made on mobile code standards requirements, and that a consensus has been reached on the definition of an Indirect Mode Ecosystem. The summary also noted that a candidate release was scheduled for second quarter 2009.

Last December the Mobile Codes Consortium (MC2) announced it had carried out initiatives which lead to GSM Association (GSMA) and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) activities to accelerate mass mobile marketing using 2D barcodes.

The Mobile Codes Consortium, the cross-industry group created to promote unified standards in camera cell-phone barcode reading technology, in conjunction with the GSM Association and the Open Mobile Alliance, continues to bring large scale adoption of mobile codes closer to reality.

The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) delivers open specifications for creating interoperable services that work across countries, operators, fixed and mobile terminals. Driven by users’ needs and the expanding market for data services, the member companies of the Open Mobile Alliance stimulate the adoption of new and enhanced information, communication and entertainment services. The Open Mobile Alliance includes contributors from all key elements of the wireless value chain, and contributes to the timely and efficient introduction of services and applications.

Mobile Ticketing Used At Luxembourg Air Show

2008-07-06T22:30:00.000-07:00

Gavitec AG - mobile digit, a leading provider of mobile technologies and marketing solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of NeoMedia Technologies, announced that its mobile ticketing solution was used for the air show in Bitburg, Germany last weekend. Mocom, a Luxembourg-based provider of electronic tickets, offered this innovative ticketing service using Gavitec technology. It was a tremendous success and 15,000 mobile tickets were scanned and redeemed over one weekend.

Prior to the air show, which took place from the 28th to the 29th of June, visitors purchased their tickets online via the Mocom web portal and received them as a unique and encrypted 2D barcode directly to their mobile phone.

At the entrance, visitors simply held their mobile phone to the Gavitec scanners to gain quick and easy access to the event. The mobile tickets were redeemed by 6 Gavitec scanners working in parallel. This service offers visitors an easy and convenient alternative to conventional printed tickets or vouchers.

The Gavitec technology offers visitors and event promoters enormous advantages: with an easy and reliable admission solution, queuing time is reduced and direct access to the event is possible.
Moreover, this service supplies event organizers with detailed response statistics and rich reporting and analytical information on mobile activities. This allows event organizers to improve and optimize their events. Furthermore, customers can be individually addressed with information, promotion materials, offers of other services and marketing activities. For example, vouchers and coupons can be created according to the customer’s individual needs and be validated using the Gavitec solution. The scanners are specifically designed for cost-effective mobile marketing applications and a targeted customer approach with precise response measurement. Therefore, new sales and distribution channels open up for event promoters.

Gavitec AG - mobile digit is one of the leading providers of mobile solutions worldwide. Its code reading technology is an integral part of a large number of mobile ticket and voucher systems in Europe.

OgilvyOne Adopts NeoReader and NeoSphere

2008-07-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, today announced that OgilvyOne Worldwide has deployed two of NeoMedia’s innovative mobile products: NeoReader (barcode scanning application) and NeoSphere (code management platform) for the launch of neo@ogilvy, its integrated digital and direct media company in Malaysia. The launch has been planned and managed by Rezonanze, NeoMedia’s strategic partner in Asia and a leading interactive branding and marketing consultancy.

For the launch of its new division neo@ogilvy in Malaysia, OgilvyOne Worldwide invited brands and advertisers to attend a special reception. The OgilvyOne invitation featured a 2D barcode that linked to neo@ogilvy WAP pages. By scanning the code with their camera phones, attendees were able to preview the neo@ogilvy profile on their mobile phones. The NeoReader, NeoMedia’s 2D barcode scanning application, was used to capture the codes and instantly deliver the multimedia information about OgilvyOne’s new division on mobile phone displays.

“This project clearly points out the significant advantages our technology brings to the advertising and marketing industry” says Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies, and continues “with the NeoReader, marketers are able to address specific targeted audience segments with precise response measurement”.

To create the 2D barcode and link it to the mobile Web, Rezonanze deployed NeoSphere, NeoMedia’s Code Management Platform. This suite of tools has been designed to easily develop, launch and manage mobile marketing campaigns based upon 2D codes and camera phones. NeoSphere provides a simple way to interact with consumers and offers an enriched mobile experience with brands. Moreover, it allows advertisers, marketing agencies and publishers to better monetize their traditional ad placements, and boost their marketing return-on-investment by providing detailed response metrics for traditional media as well as rich reporting and analytics information.

Rezonanze Uses 2D Codes From NeoMedia

2008-07-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, and Rezonanze, a Kuala Lumpur based leading interactive branding and marketing consultancy, today announced that they have entered into a partnership to enhance the brand user experience in the Asian market.

Under the cooperation agreement, Rezonanze will deploy NeoMedia’s Code Management Platform “NeoSphere” to extend its clients’ brand value by providing them with a simple way to interact with valuable mobile customers while establishing an ROI metric for traditional media. The NeoSphere Code Management Platform is a suite of tools designed to easily develop, launch and manage mobile marketing campaigns based upon 2D codes and mobile phones.

Rezonanze is very enthusiastic about this new branding and marketing medium because it offers a new level of interactivity with consumers. Print ads (or any static medium) are transformed into interactive experiences for mobile customers by simply adding a 2D code and linking it directly to the multimedia capability of the mobile Web.

“We are excited by the possibilities gained from the NeoSphere Code Management Platform”, says Anna Chew, Director of Rezonanze. “It takes interactivity to another level, enhancing the traditional media experience, while it also acts as a CRM tool, providing valuable insights into the consumer usage patterns. It will help us to deliver the right offer and right experience to the right customer at the right time.”

In combination with the NeoReader, NeoMedia’s barcode scanning application for camera phones, the interactive channel has become a viable new media platform. This is why Rezonanze intends to roll out NeoMedia’s products and technology to timely and effectively manage and control marketing campaigns for their clients and provide a unique mobile user experience with brands. Rezonanze has a wide variety of clients in key industries, including automotive, banking, insurance and FMCGs.

“The wireless market in Asia is significantly ahead of the U.S. and we believe this partnership with Rezonanze will help establish NeoSphere and NeoReader as an outstanding service solution in Malaysia and the greater region,” said Iain McCready, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies.

OgilvyOne Worldwide Malaysia, the global leader in customer relationship management and interactive marketing, is the first Rezonanze client to use NeoSphere in its new digital and direct media division, neo@ogilvy. Rezonanze is planning future trials with cinema operators, movie distributors and media companies. As a result, movie fans should have the opportunity to watch trailers via mobile phone.

Is NeoMedia Technologies For Sale?

2008-06-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, released an 8-K SEC filing last Monday which alluded to the potential sale of the company.

The filing states that during the next 18 months NeoMedia's CEO Iain McCready can earn a commission of up to 2.5% of sales proceeds for selling the company if the sale price is not less than $45M, with a commission cap set at a $200M sale price.

However, that's not to say that Iain can't sell NeoMedia for more than $200M. He can. Especially with a favorable patent review by the USPTO anticipated later this year.

NeoMedia Technologies has a suite of twelve issued patents covering the core concepts behind linking the physical world to the electronic world dating back to 1995. These patents cover various linkage methods including: Barcodes, RFID, Mag Stripe, Voice, and Other machine readable and keyed entry identifiers.

These patents were first licensed by Digital Convergence for $100M in 2000 to facilitate the launch of the :CueCat.

In 2001, NeoMedia Technologies formed a strategic alliance with Symbol, now owned by Motorola, and signed a worldwide agreement which gave Symbol the right to grant licenses to itself and third parties under NeoMedia's intellectual property. Symbol would later offer to buy NeoMedia's valuable patent portfolio in 2002 for $150M. The offer was declined however in favor of further developing the IP and growing the patent portfolio as a core component of NeoMedia's long-term growth and market strategy.

In 2005, Virgin Entertainment and NeoMedia Technologies entered into an extended licensing agreement, which saw Virgin license NeoMedia's patents through 2016.

There were even strong rumors that Microsoft was interested in purchasing NeoMedia back in 2005.

Flash forward to today, mobile barcode reading is an everyday part of the popular culture in Japan and Korea. The technology is just now beginning to emerge in Europe with North America not too far behind. With so many companies entering the mobile code reading space, and looking to carve out their niche, NeoMedia has positioned itself well with it's extensive patent portfolio and barcode technology, and will bring tremendous value to anyone interested in acquiring the company.

2D Code Technology Demonstrated At Cal Poly

2008-06-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

A delegation of officials from Shandong, China, visited Cal Poly's College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences May 23 during a tour of California's agricultural areas.

The delegation arrived in California to study the state's agricultural practices and produce tracking technology and applications.

In San Luis Obispo, the group listened to a presentation from Associate Dean Mark Shelton, and toured Cal Poly's organic farm. They also visited Cal Poly's Radio Frequency Identification lab, PolyGait, for a presentation from Engineering Professor Tali Freed.

The Chinese government is interested in produce supply chain security from the small family farms to the market place. Rapid I.D., of San Luis Obispo, is working with the Chinese Government on a tracking system that uses camera phones and two-dimensional barcode labels to track food identification information. The goal of the tracking system is to provide the Chinese citizen assurance that the produce came from an inspected and authorized field, and supply chain.

During the City of King field trip, Rapid I.D. demonstrated the tracking technology using the barcode labels with supporting on-line information. Camera phones were equipped with NeoMedia's NeoReader technology and used to look up produce information. Rapid I.D. Managing Director Rick May was one of the guides for the delegation during their week in-country.

"We have actually patented and created tracking technology to track codes that are created, two dimensional bar codes, and we are doing this in China where it's important to the government to make sure the produce is protected," explained Rick May, project promoter.

The program, pioneered by the university's Global Automatic Identification Technology Center, is revolutionizing the way everything from passports to produce are tracked.

NeoMedia Appoints New CEO Iain McCready

2008-05-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated barcode transactions for mobile devices, is pleased to announce the appointment of Iain McCready as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Iain joins to take NeoMedia into the next phase of its growth and to be responsible for day-to-day operations and business strategy.

Outgoing CEO Chip Hoffman, who is moving on to new activities, will help Iain during the transition period.

Iain was previously employed as a consultant for NeoMedia and has extensive experience in successfully growing relevant technology businesses. Most recently, Iain spent three years driving the growth of Mobiqa, the world leader in mobile ticketing and mobile couponing solutions based on the creation, optimization, delivery and redemption of barcodes to mobile phones, from a start-up to the world leader in their field. As CEO, he rolled out the company's strategy worldwide, entered new markets and struck major deals with the biggest companies in their field, including Ticketmaster, Major League Baseball and Nokia.

Previously, Iain was Non-Executive Chairman of Scolocate Limited, a provider of co-location and managed services to the IT marketplace, specializing in IT architecture, design and planning, project management and implementation services. Prior to this, Iain was the Non-Executive Director of Concept Systems Limited, a leading supplier of advanced IT systems, solutions and service to the oil exploration and production industry, appointed to manage the business to a successful exit, which he achieved.

In 2003 Iain served as the Interim Chief Operating Officer at Hanon Solution Limited. Before that, he had an almost 20 year career at KSCL, which was Scotland's largest software house and developed customer care and billing applications for the world's leading mobile phone operators, now part of Convergys. Iain had held a number of roles at KSCL including Chief Operating Officer and Customer Services Director.

George O'Leary, board member said, "We are delighted to welcome Iain on board. Iain comes with direct experience and the proven ability to develop and execute business plans, establish companies internationally and build and lead teams. He was the natural choice for CEO. We have been particularly impressed with his ability to assess and assimilate business issues quickly. His extensive experience leading a top barcode and technology company will provide key direction in developing NeoMedia's strategy and driving the company forward."

Iain McCready said, "Having already worked with NeoMedia, I am looking forward to taking the reins and being operational from day one. At the forefront of a rapidly growing sector, the company's innovative products, exciting solutions and its intellectual property for the mobile market in particular offer impressive potential. I look forward to contributing to its future success."

OMA Update On Mobile Code Standards

2008-05-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

The OMA recently published an April 2008 Technical Plenary Summary stating that a 2D barcode white paper has been completed and is currently in consistency review. The summary also noted that a requirements document has been started with initial sections populated.

Last December the Mobile Codes Consortium (MC2) announced it had carried out initiatives which lead to GSM Association (GSMA) and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) activities to accelerate mass mobile marketing using 2D barcodes.

The Mobile Codes Consortium, the cross-industry group created to promote unified standards in camera cell-phone barcode reading technology, in conjunction with the GSM Association and the Open Mobile Alliance, continues to bring large scale adoption of mobile codes closer to reality.

Dr. Frank Müller, Director of Intellectual Property and Strategy at NeoMedia Technologies, said: "The commitment of GSMA and OMA gives important impetus for the worldwide development of mobile marketing based on using 2D barcodes. The barcode reading technology, enabling people with mobile phones to read mobile codes and immediately connect to content and services, makes the mobile Internet much more accessible for consumers and likewise offers advertisers various opportunities for innovative, well-directed and cost-effective marketing approaches with precise response evaluation."

William "Chip" Hoffman, CEO of NeoMedia Technologies, said: "We are creating the mobile equivalent of 'hyper-text' for broadcast and print media. Like SMS, a standard technology used by all carriers world-wide, mobile barcodes allow Brands and Consumers to interact on static media the same way they do on the web; cross-country and cross-carrier. With this wireless technology and the associated systems supporting it, old-media becomes new-media."

Thomas Curwen of Publicis Dialog and co-chairman of the Mobile Codes Consortium, added: "Now that we are making real progress, we will now start work with the marketing industry to ensure that their needs are taken into consideration in the developing standards."

The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) delivers open specifications for creating interoperable services that work across countries, operators, fixed and mobile terminals. Driven by users’ needs and the expanding market for data services, the member companies of the Open Mobile Alliance stimulate the adoption of new and enhanced information, communication and entertainment services. The Open Mobile Alliance includes contributors from all key elements of the wireless value chain, and contributes to the timely and efficient introduction of services and applications.

William Hoffman & Tim Kindberg To Attend I3A

2008-05-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies' CEO William "Chip" Hoffman, and co-chairman of the Mobile Codes Consortium (MC2) Tim Kindberg will both be in attendance at this years Imaging Innovation, the 62nd Annual Conference of the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A). The 2008 edition of the conference will be held at the Vancouver Marriott in Vancouver BC Canada from June 4th through the 6th.

Imaging Innovation ‘08 is an extraordinary two-day conference featuring thought-provoking discussions on hot industry topics and valuable networking opportunities. The event will provide:

* An in-depth look at emerging technologies such as holographics and color matching by phone.

* Exploration of new and existing challenges within the imaging industry on metadata, security, mobile commerce, and global markets.

* Interactive discussions leading to action plans that will turn industry challenges into success.

* The opportunity to make valuable networking contacts that can translate to deals.

Chip Hoffman and Tim Kindberg will both be participating in an I3A panel discussion on June 5th from 4:00pm to 6:30pm. The panel discussion, Beyond Snapshots - Advanced Mobile Imaging Technology, takes a look at making money using the imaging capabilities of camera phones for everything from visual search to purchasing goods and services.

In the past few years mobile phone imaging capabilities have gone beyond picture taking. Mobile phones are now capable of connecting a barcode, watermark or even an ordinary image to timely and pertinent information relevant to the camera phone user. In many places, the handset can now be used as an electronic wallet, capable of purchasing goods and services such as transportation and point of sale payment for consumer goods. The panel will discuss current worldwide applications and future technologies that will allow users to get information or make purchases by simply pointing a camera phone.

In order to create a global ecosystem for mobile codes, NeoMedia is collaborating with recognized leaders in telecommunication infrastructure management to create a worldwide infrastructure for the processing of optically initiated transactions - called the Optical Messaging Interchange. This interchange would provide the mass reach required by brands and advertisers to invest in the technology, while enabling operators to leverage their investments in networks and subscribers. By embracing open standards, full interoperability, and by being barcode symbology agnostic, NeoMedia Technologies wants to provide a global infrastructure to insure that all transactions requested by end users “work” as intended, all parties are compensated correctly, and that the technology achieves mass adoption globally. In doing so, NeoMedia enables a seamless, secure, and reliable platform for mobile commerce using 1D and 2D barcodes and mobile devices. NeoMedia’s mission is to offer new ways to make mobile internet transactions effortless and more accessible while enhancing customer value and convenience.

La Gazzetta Dello Sport Adopts QR Codes

2008-05-13T17:24:00.000-07:00

La Gazzetta dello Sport, a popular Italian newspaper dedicated to the coverage of various sports, has launched a QR code initiative to make print interactive.

The newspaper, published on distinctive pink paper, sells over 400,000 copies daily, with an impressive readership in excess of three million.

Readers of the newspaper can now use their mobile phones to scan printed QR codes to access specialized mobile content, such as sports related video clips.

In order to scan QR codes, users can download the NeoReader, which is a free mobile code reading application.

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) 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 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.

Another Step Closer To Mobile Code Standards

2008-05-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

Last December the Mobile Codes Consortium (MC2) announced it had carried out initiatives which lead to GSM Association (GSMA) and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) activities to accelerate mass mobile marketing using 2D barcodes.

The Mobile Codes Consortium, the cross-industry group created to promote unified standards in camera cell-phone barcode reading technology, in conjunction with the GSM Association and the Open Mobile Alliance, continues to bring large scale adoption of mobile codes closer to reality.

A work item document entitled "Mobile 2D Bar codes" was created last year by the Mobile Codes Consortium and approved by the OMA Board of Directors.

The approved work item included the following recommendations: (1) Choice of 2D barcode symbologies (2) The data stored in the barcodes and (3) The terminal behaviors in response to reading barcodes, including behaviors with respect to some existing (1D and 2D) barcodes standards. Prime candidates include the industrial standards for barcode symbologies QR and Datamatrix, and the NFC Forum NDEF data structure. The normative specifications to be developed shall ensure backward compatibility with relevant 2D barcode systems, so that mobile devices that are compliant to the specifications to be developed shall be able to recognize and process such existing 2D barcode print-outs or images.

The work item also concluded that, barcode reading software needs to be included in devices supporting mobile codes, and the interface towards back-end servers also needs to be agreed.

The OMA recently published a February 2008 Technical Plenary Summary stating that a 2D barcode white paper has been completed. The summary also noted that work was about to commence on formal standards.

According to Tim Kindberg of HP Laboratories and co-chairman of the MC2, "Barcode reading technology makes it much easier for people with mobile phones to click straight from paper or displays to content and services. You just point the camera and click to connect. This will make the mobile internet much more accessible."

Thomas Curwen of Publicis Dialog and co-chairman of MC2, said: "Mobile barcodes will make advertising much more efficient. Customers clicking straight from, say a poster, to the Internet on their mobile device – will make traditional display advertising as interactive as banner ads. With the added advantage that advertisers can track and measure which ads create the highest click-through rates." Curwen added, "It is unique for an ad agency to be leading technological change on such a scale – and we are doing this because it will help make us more efficient."

The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) delivers open specifications for creating interoperable services that work across countries, operators, fixed and mobile terminals. Driven by users’ needs and the expanding market for data services, the member companies of the Open Mobile Alliance stimulate the adoption of new and enhanced information, communication and entertainment services. The Open Mobile Alliance includes contributors from all key elements of the wireless value chain, and contributes to the timely and efficient introduction of services and applications.

Turn Your iPhone Into A Mobile Code Reader

2008-04-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated transactions for mobile devices, and Gavitec, the leading provider of mobile ticketing technologies and marketing solutions, have brought their flagship mobile code-reading application NeoReader to the iPhone.

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) 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.

NeoMedia was demoing the newly developed iPhone application at CTIA Wireless this past week. According to a representative at NeoMedia, "We are extremely pleased with the new NeoReader iPhone application. In addition to making phone calls, playing videos, and listening to music, your iPhone can now scan 1D and 2D barcodes to connect directly to the mobile web. Mobile codes allow users to by-pass search engines and long URLs to deliver real-time content that can be carried away with the consumer on the mobile phone."

Currently in Beta, a public release of the NeoReader iPhone application is anticipated soon.

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.

NeoMedia Brings NeoReader To The iPhone

2008-04-05T01:04:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia Makes Strong Showing At CTIA

2008-04-05T00:55:00.001-07:00

NeoMedia Technologies, the global leader in camera-initiated transactions for mobile devices, and Gavitec, the leading provider of mobile ticketing technologies and marketing solutions, showcased their innovative optical code reading technology and mobile ticketing solutions at CTIA Wireless 2008 in Las Vegas this past week.

NeoMedia's flagship optical messaging and code reading platform, along with Gavitec's mobile ticketing technologies and marketing solutions were on display in booth #1259.

In addition to ShowStoppers, NeoMedia's CEO Chip Hoffman participated in a CTIA educational session. The panel discussion, Cameraphone Code Scanning Technologies: A Survey, was focused on the devices, software, applications, etc., that enable code scanning via a mobile phone’s camera functionality.

By turning "old" media into "new" media, NeoMedia enables print and broadcast media to become interactive with their target audience using 2D barcodes 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. To provide a robust high-performance infrastructure for the processing of optical codes, NeoMedia extends their offering with award-winning Gavitec technology. Located in Germany, Gavitec AG - mobile digit is an industry leader in the development and distribution of mobile scanners and software for mobile applications. In addition, Gavitec provides standardized and individual solutions for mobile marketing, couponing, ticketing and payment systems.

NeoMedia & Gavitec Ready For CTIA Wireless

2008-03-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

NeoMedia, the global leader in camera-initiated transactions for mobile devices, and Gavitec, the leading provider of mobile ticketing technologies and marketing solutions, are excited to showcase their innovative optical code reading technology and mobile ticketing solutions at CTIA Wireless 2008 in Las Vegas from April 1 - 3.

CTIA Wireless, the largest wireless data event in the industry, embodies the ever-changing, dynamic, and innovative world of wireless data in enterprise and in entertainment. CTIA Wireless is the one show that brings key audiences such as enterprise users, solution providers, content owners, and mobile distribution channels together to form strategic partnerships, service industry needs, and create new innovations in wireless data. With over 300 exhibitors and special technology pavilions in mobile entertainment, enterprise mobility, M2M and application development, CTIA Wireless is the most comprehensive expo in wireless data showcasing ground-breaking innovations and creative solutions for enterprise and entertainment.

NeoMedia's flagship optical messaging and code reading platform, along with Gavitec's mobile ticketing technologies and marketing solutions will be on display at CTIA Wireless in booth #1259.

In addition, NeoMedia's CEO Chip Hoffman will be participating in a CTIA educational session on April 1st, from 3:30pm to 5:00pm at the Las Vegas Convention Center in room: North 107. The panel discussion, Cameraphone Code Scanning Technologies: A Survey, will be focused on the devices, software, applications, etc., that enable code scanning via a mobile phone’s camera functionality. While cameraphone code scanning has the potential to revolutionize the way users access information, content, and advertising, questions still remain. What is the current state of the technologies? What are the main obstacles to mass adoption and what are the strategies to overcome them?

In order to create a global ecosystem for mobile codes, NeoMedia is collaborating with recognized leaders in telecommunication infrastructure management to create a worldwide infrastructure for the processing of optically initiated transactions - called the Optical Messaging Interchange. This interchange would provide the mass reach required by brands and advertisers to invest in the technology, while enabling operators to leverage their investments in networks and subscribers. By embracing open standards, full interoperability, and by being barcode symbology agnostic, NeoMedia Technologies wants to provide a global infrastructure to insure that all transactions requested by end users “work” as intended, all parties are compensated correctly, and that the technology achieves mass adoption globally. In doing so, NeoMedia enables a seamless, secure, and reliable platform for mobile commerce using 1D and 2D barcodes and mobile devices. NeoMedia’s mission is to offer new ways to make mobile internet transactions effortless and more accessible while enhancing customer value and convenience.