Tag Archive for NFC Smart Phones

QR Codes and NFC Tags for Smart Posters

June 29, 2011 Business & Finance, Technology, Telecommunications

Typtags Take Digital Marketing to the Masses

QR Codes have recently become the latest marketing craze, the monochromatic matrix barcode box appearing in magazines, on packaging and other marketing materials. When the QR code is snapped or scanned with a Smartphone camera, the user is presented with additional information, such as a text message or a link to product-specific website. As QR Codes have become more common, customers have also become more acquainted with the use of the technology, knowing what the image is for and how to access the data stored in them.

QR codes have successfully breached the mobile marketing market, but in purely technical terms, they are already being superseded. Advances in wireless communication protocols such as Near Field Communications (NFC for short), are allowing digital transmission of marketing data between business and consumer. NFC marketing uses a tiny, inexpensive chip which contains embedded data, and which is affixed to a poster or other surface. When swiped with a compatible NFC Smartphone, the NFC chip automatically transfers the data to the handset screen. NFC remains a relatively new phenomenon however, restricted to owners of the very latest smartphone handsets.

UK startup typtag.com believes they have developed a solution to the obsolescence of QR codes and the scarcity of NFC-enabled smartphones. Typtags combine printed QR codes with embedded NFC  Tags so that the marketing message is accessible by potential customers, regardless of their mobile phone handset. Paul Lakeman, founder of Typtag.com says, ‘Traditionally NFC has been a toy for techies and geeks making it inaccessible to Joe Public. Typtags have been designed from a marketing viewpoint, mixing both technology and simplicity to ensure that anyone with a smart phone can use them.’

Typically Typtags are used in conjunction with an in-store poster for a three way marketing approach. Firstly the Smart Poster features a traditional marketing message in the usual way using product photographs and descriptive text. Also printed prominently on the poster is a QR code which, when photographed or scanned by a client, will direct them to a website for more information. Finally an NFC  Tag is attached to the poster which can be scanned wirelessly by a customer using an NFC-enabled smartphone. They will then be presented with more information on the screen of their handset and redirected to a product website.

The use of NFC Tags or QR codes allows retailers to easily disseminate extra information about products and services. Typtags simplify the process yet further by combining both systems and maximising the potential audience for the digital marketing message. ‘The Typtags approach is unique,’ says Lakeman, ‘there are several companies producing QR codes or NFC smart tags, but none are unifying the technologies to produce a coherent marketing strategy.’

Typtags allow for virtually any kind of information to be encoded, from website addresses, to simple store location details to 3D product models ready for display on a customer’s phone handset. Typetags also provide a useful way for marketers to collect demographic data about their customers and their interactions with the brand. Every time a Typetag is scanned, the retailer is able to collect information about the client which can then be used as the basis for future marketing efforts, and to increase sales to existing customers.

‘We believe Typtags provide the most cost-effective form of digital marketing for our customers,’ concludes Lakeman, ‘The combination of QR Codes and NFC smart tags into a single unit provides support for users of all smart phones, whilst encouraging them to engage with digital marketing methods. The use of NFC Tags allows for future-proofing of the marketing investment thanks to the reusable nature of the technology and its increasingly common use. A typtag can deliver almost any information the marketing company requires the are the pefect solution for Proximity Marketing‘

Typtags are a division of Near Field Communication (Jersey) Ltd, Office 9130 Freight Building, Jersey Airport, St Peter, Jersey, Channel Islands

07797 897 614

Comments Off , , , , , , , ,

Google Wallet for Near Field Communication Payments

May 27, 2011 Misc, Technology

Google announced yesterday details of their NFC Wallet and Near Field Communication Google Offers

Google Offers, launched tyesterday 26-5-2011,  will provide businesses with an unique opportunity to join the Near Field Communications revolutionby implementing the technology both in-store and as part of their marketing efforts using Near Field Communication  Smart Posters. Google Offers allows retailers to advertise special discounts directly to a consumer’s handset through a number of the usual Google routes such as Search, Maps and Shopper; these discount vouchers and offers can then be saved by the customer on their nfc smartphone for  redemption at a later stage

Google Offers with NFC Smart Posters
Smart Posters use the same Near Field Communications Technology as Google Wallet to transfer information to a user’s nfc smartphone where it can then be stored in the same app. The data is “read” by the customer when they pass their NFC-enabled smartphone, such as the Google Nexus S 4G, over a chip embedded in the Smart Poster. The smart poster can contain any information, from discount vouchers to store directions which is then displayed within the Google Wallet app on the customer’s mobile phone.

As smartphone users become aware of NFC technology through using Google Wallet, other industries will doubtless begin adoption of similar systems for payments processing and marketing. NFC Smart Posters offer a unique opportunity to tap into the Near Field Communication hype whilst also building and extending their customer base through carefully targeted, reusable advertising.

Smart Posters also offer a number of significant benefits on top of Google Offers thanks to the more targeted nature of the medium. NFC Smart Posters work on the principle of “pull” marketing – a customer has to choose to pull the information from the Smart Tag in the poster, ensuring that they are not bombarded with irrelevant advertising messages as can be the case when relying solely on search engine results. As with native Google Offers, vouchers and information pulled from an NFC Smart Poster are also stored in the user’s Google account ready for use at a later time.

Google Offers is currently undergoing Beta trials in Portland, Oregon, before being rolled out across the US with the rest of the world to follow shortly afterwards. Retailers and brands have therefore a limited window of opportunity to begin planning and testing Near Field Communication systems for sales, marketing and payments processing if they wish to be at the forefront of the roll-out.

What’s in your Wallet?
Google Offers is part of the search giant’s latest attempts to move into the mobile payments market, under the umbrella term “Google Wallet”. Google Wallet allows users of the Google Nexus S 4G nfc smartphone to download an app from the Android Marketplace which then stores encrypted copies of the user’s credit card details securely on the handset, turning the phone into a virtual wallet. Users are then able to make wireless payments via the embedded Near Field Communications system without having to resort to traditional payment cards or cash, by simply waving their smartphone over the terminal at the in-store checkout.

Google’s Vice President of Mobile Payments, Osama Bedier, recently gave a demonstration of the Wallet app by purchasing a pair of American Eagle jean shorts with the encrypted credit card on his phone, and then applying a 20% discount coupon at the checkout. As he pressed his phone against the payment terminal, the transaction was processed wirelessly and his loyalty card details were updated simultaneously.

Back to the Future
As customers become more comfortable with NFC Technology to make payments and manage their loyalty scheme memberships, they will also become more aware of other NFC implementations. Near Field Communication will change the way that data is shared between customers and brands, and customers and their social circle. The use of NFC Smart Posters will become increasingly commonplace as a way of building customer relationships and helping brands spread their message to consumers in way that allows that same message to be passed on with minimum effort.

The window of opportunity to capitalise on NFC technology implementations is growing ever smaller as evidenced by the number of businesses rushing products to market. As has been the case with most technological advances, the earliest adopters reap the greatest benefits and with a system such as NFC Smart Posters which relies initially on a high degree of novelty to encourage uptake, the sooner a business launches their campaign the better the expected return.

Don’t get left behind – call Paul Lakeman at Near Field Communiction on 07797 897 614 to find out more about how Near Field Communications, Smart Posters and Google Wallet could transform your business.

Comments Off , , , ,

Witness the Moment that will Change our World ! NFC Smart Posters

May 24, 2011 Misc, News, Technology, Telecommunications

It was announced yesterday that the new X-Men movie, X-Men First Class is to be promoted using Smart Poster Marketing

The NFC Smart posters will be placed in a dozen locations in london to promote the new film. Paul Lakeman of Near Field Communication (Jersey) Ltd suppliers of Smart Poster Marketing Systems said this ” It’s great to see Smart Posters hitting the streets at last. We are not involved in this initiative but are so pleased to see NFC Technology been trialed in the UK. The level of interest in Near Field Communication and Smart Poster technology has quadrupled over the last few months as marketing companies throughout the UK are starting to see the tremendous value in Smart Poster Marketing Systems. The traditional shotgun approach to marketing doesn’t work any more as consumers become oblivious to the thousands of marketing messages they receive daily. The traditional marketing models are obsolete”

The Smart Poster Marketing System allows NFC enabled phone users to connect and interact with brands when and where they wish. Smart Posters will change the marketing landscape and the consumer will take charge of the process.

Orange were one of the first companies to embrace Pull marketing strategies and in 2004 used a mobile marketing campaign to cature data and acquire new customers. They were one of the pioneers of permission based opt in marketing.

Mass Marketing is a mistake

Smart Poster are all about establishing a relationship with the consumer on their terms. With the Smart Poster Marketing System you are not pushing product at the consumer you are enabling them to buy through a number of channels.

Near Field communiaction (Jersey) Ltd have just released a  report on Smart Poster Marketing, Igniting conversations between brand and consumers.

Smart Poster Marketing

Near Field communication (Jersey) Ltd -Office 9130 Freight Building-Jersey Airport-St Peter-Jersey-JE3-7BY-07797 897 614

http://www.near-fieldcommunication.co.uk

http://www.smart-poster.co.uk

Comments Off , , , , ,

How Near Field Communication will affect our Daily lives

May 7, 2011 Technology, Telecommunications

Near Field Communication technology is being rolled out in different formats and throughout many industries.
In its simplest form NFC Technology allows an NFC Smart Phone to gather data from an NFC Tag or a similar enable device. Google are embracing this near field communication technology (they have recently joined the NFC Forum an organisation founded in 2004) and major players in the payments business are supporting a number of NFC initiatives. The successes of the Oyster card in London and the Octopus card in Hong Kong has moved this technology fast forward. Most of the big players in the mobile phone industry have announced that they will be including Near Field Communication Technology in their forthcoming Smart Phones. The 2012 Olympics will see a big push in the UK where it has been estimated that 60,000 retailers will offer NFC payments. Samsung have announced that they will produce a special branded NFC Smart Phone for this prestigious event.
How will Near Field Communication affect our daily lives?
Contactless Payments using NFC Smart Phones
One of the major implications for Near Field Communication Technology is the introduction of contactless payments by using electronic wallets. The NFC Smart phone owner can top up his electronic wallet can make micro payments for items under 15 Euros. No need to wait in a long queue to pay for your newspaper of purchase your morning cup of coffee, a simple swipe of your NFC phone and the cost will be deducted from your electronic wallet.
Marketing to Near Field Communication Devices
By 2012 we will see a proliferation of NFC Smart Posters appearing in thousands of locations. Near Field Communication Smart Phones will be able to ‘Pull’ information from the NFC Smart Posters when and where they wish. As NFC tags are both readable and writeable the information the marketing company wishes the consumer to access can be effortlessly changed. This will make the Near Field Communication Smart Poster an ideal tool to engage the consumer and get them to participate in loyalty programmes, to offer them on the spot discounts and special deals and to deliver product information. The retailer of the future will allow the consumer to contact them 24/7, the shop will never be closed as NFC Smart Poster will deliver information from shop windows.
Near Field Communication in the Security Industry

NFC enabled Smart Phones are ideally suited to play a massive part in the security industry as all information and date is delivered in real time. This will make the NFC Smart Phone the device of choice for security patrols. UK based Near Field Communication (Jersey) Ltd has recently announced a partnership with Voto Communication ltd to deliver NFC Security Systems

Near Field Communication in Heath Care

Numerous Health Care initiatives are been put in place in the Health industry. In its simplest form Health Care companies will be better positioned to monitor staff. Advanced NFC applications are already being developed to monitor patient’s conditions.Near Field Communication to Prevent Counterfeit Goods

For high priced fashion companies NFC will be a godsend to ensure all their products are genuine by placing NFC tags in their items. A NFC Smart Phone owner will be able to interact with the product, gather information about it from the brand and ensure it is the real deal


Near Field Communication in Transport and Ticketing
Near Field Communication Technology for transport and ticketing has a ready been accepted and embraced in many countries by embedding NFC chips in credit cards and credit card sized devices.
Near Field Communication for Tourism
The city of Nice in France has carried out extensive trials of Near Field Communication using Near Field Communication Smart Posters to guide tourist around the city and deliver information on demand.
Near field Communication in Social Media
Consumers will soon be able to interact with others they have met and share special offers and deals using an NFC enabled low Poken device or an NFC Smart Phone that will also allow them to access information from NFC smart posters. We expect that thousands of Near Field Communication applications will hit the app stores in the next few months.
What needs to be done?
Paul Lakeman of Near Field Communication (Jersey) Ltd was recently questioned about Near Field Communication. He was asked what he thought needs to be done to advance the acceptance of NFC Technologies throughout different industries.
“At the moment there are few NFC Smart Phones in the Market Place but that is set to dramatically change in over the next year. RIM producers of Blackberry devices announced yesterday 5-5-2011 that their bold range of Smart phones will be NFC enabled and Nokia will have NFC in all of their Smart Phones. As more and more Smart Phones become NFC enabled the general public’s acceptance will exponentially grow and they will demand NFC in their Smart Phones. Whether Apple will include NFC in the iPhone 5 remains debatable but Google’s Android OS platform is rapidly gaining momentum on Smart Phones (the superb Samsung Nexus S is NFC enabled) Apple face danger of missing out and losing greater market share. Near Field communication is coming, too many heavyweights across many industries are investing billions of dollars in Near Field Communication for it to fail. Everyone involved in the Near Field Communication industry need to evaluate what applications of NFC Technology are valued by the consumer and how this emerging technology can be used to make people’s lives simpler and easier. The Near Field Communication industry should inform, educate and make the public aware of how Near Field Communication can improve lives.”

Near Field Communication (Jersey) Ltd-Office 9130 Freight Building,-Jersey Airport-St Peter-Jersey JE3 7BY

07797 897 614

Comments Off , , ,

Near Field Communication Proximity Permission Based Marketing

April 30, 2011 Technology, Telecommunications

Smarter Marketing using NFC Technology

Are you listening to your customers or will you continue to interrupt them and annoy them with your marketing blurb?


“Hi, will you speak to me now, I’m ready to listen. Tell me about your brand and what you can offer me. Tell me some engaging facts about your product offering, what’s your back story, your heritage? Show me where and how I can effortlessly purchase your product. Can you deliver, can I trust you? Give me a deal, reward my loyalty, treat me impeccably and I’ll do business with you”.

•    Will this be the consumer of the future connecting with you?
•    Is your website coded for mobile devices?
•    Do you have a mobile application?
•    Will your brand or organisation use wireless Near Field Communication technology and NFC Smart Posters in your marketing mix?
•    Will you install NFC contactless payment terminals in your store?

Savvy brands and Marketing companies will use Near Field Communication and Smart Poster Technology to connect brands with consumers and delivery information on demand. Using less intrusive ‘Pull’ rather than ‘Push’ strategies the consumer will request marketing messages when and where they wish to receive them.

Permission Marketing

Do you really think that blasting customers with bland marketing messages still works?
Permission marketing was a term coined by marketing ‘guru’ Seth Godin in his 1999 book Permission Marketing: Turning strangers in Friends and Friends into Customers. In his book Godin argued that the best way to engage your targets is to encourage dialogue and get their permission to market to them.  The Internet has made it possible to know more about your intended targets and the use of Near Field Communication Technologies and Smart Phone applications will deliver greater insights into customer behavioural patterns than ever before. The data collected by Smart Marketing companies will allow for more intelligent targeted marketing.

This is Proximity Permission Marketing and the consumers will opt in only where and when they wish to communicate with brands.
The author of this article Paul Lakeman is a director of Near Field Communication (Jersey) Ltd

Near Field Communication (Jersey)Ltd-Office 9130 Freight Building-Jersey Airport-St Peter-Jersey JE3 7BY

07797 897 614

Comments Off , , , ,
« Older Entries