Door to door based marketing has been around forever, and has really never lost it's effectiveness. By bypassing mailboxes, and placing advertisements directly on consumers doorsteps, advertisers see a much higher ROI than traditional and much more expensive marketing channels. MoVaAds operates a shared advertising publication that is distributed throughout the city in 13 Missouri markets. Leverage our mass reach in your community to get your message where it counts- in the hands of every consumer in town!

Where we differ, is in the fact that we combine the grassroots effort of door to door distribution with new age technology and mobile marketing techniques. Each advertisement placed is fitted with a QR code and SMS functionality to allow consumers to extend their savings, and remember your brand further by always having your info in their cell phone.

We've already launched our new website located at MoVaAds.com. Come on over and check us out!

Some of the Missouri Cities Served By MoVaAds

• St. Charles, MO Advertising
• St. Peters, MO Advertising
• O'Fallon, MO Advertising
• Chesterfield, MO Advertising
• Wildwood, MO Advertising
• Ballwin, MO Advertising
• Cape Girardeau, MO Advertising
• Joplin, MO Advertising
• Jefferson City, MO Advertising
• Columbia, MO Advertising
• Blue Springs, MO Advertising
• Lees Summit, MO Advertising
• St. Joseph, MO Advertising

We were showing our Bluetooth technology (Servant and bluecode) in conjunction with mBarc scanners, kiosks and turnstiles.

Fonte:press Gear

As he outlines, since the iPhone is connected to the iTunes store at all times, it's perfect for purchasing things, and redeeming directly from the iPhone itself.  As third party application developers get creative with the SDK, apps for barcode recognition and image recoginition will be soon to follow.  He mentions an example where a man at an airport was able to have his ticket barcode scanned directly from his iPhone screen to allow him on the plane, which proves how potent the iPhone can be for such an applicaton.

Products and services can be offered through the itunes store directly on the iPhone.  Things like airplane and mass transit tickets can be purchased and delivered straight to the phone, and redeemed directly from the screen.

Imagine this; you find an interesting article, or product advertisement in a magazine, newspaper, or anything else for that matter, and simply snap a quick photo with your camera phone.  You then use an application on your phone, or text the photo to a shortcode, which will then scan the photo for any and all text present, recognize the text and instantly search several pre-determined databases for relevant content.  If you snap a photo of a new product you deem interesting, the app can instantly recognize the brand name and return tons of relevant content about that product, including how to possibly purchase it.

Beyond the obvious marketing benefits of such a technology, imagine the pure informational benefits users would have.  If you read something about an interesting place half-way across the world or a person you'd like to research further, simply snap a photo of the name of the person or place, and instantly be returned a link to the wikipedia article that explains everything you wanted to know.

I've done some research and kind seem to find anything of the sorts currently available, though I'm sure it's in the works.  With text-extraction already viable as well as image recognition via mobile devices, I don't see why the two can't be combined.  If I'm wrong, please correct me!

Beyond the lead generation aspects for the dealer itself, I had some more thoughts of what else can be done using this new mobile interactivity medium.  By letting users scan a small barcode on the window sticker they can be provided almost any information the dealer chooses.  Photos, virtual tours, pricing information, dealer contact information, etc can all be included via WAP links embedded in a small 2-d barcode.   I began thinking what other unique information can be included in the barcode.

First, let's look at what a 2d barcode is, and what the differences are between them.  A site called "Mobile-Tagging" does a great job of explaining how to use 2d barcodes for the benefit of advertising and "Physical World Connection."  They explain it as...

...the next logical step in the development of internet technologies.  Objects of the real world will be connected with the internet.  By virtue of 2d barcodes, objects and advertising media, which has been very static so far, gain in interactivity and dynamic. The opportunities for the advertising industry which result from this effect are immense.

They go on to explain "private tagging" which is the use of barcodes for private industry and private marketing, i.e, mobile barcodes for the use of helping to sell vehicles.  If you could place a barcode on the sticker of each vehicle that was connected to a single WAP site for that specific vehicle, you could introduce several things.  The WAP site the user is connected to upon scanning the barcode with his or her camera phone could be a menu type site that gives the user several options as to what they would like to do.  Here's an example;

What would you like to do?

The service PayPal Mobile and Mobiqa provided, proved to have numerous advantages over previous attempts. By using your PayPal account, you avoid the security issues of entering your credit card information via your phone. Also, this could be a time consuming and non-user friendly way to buy tickets. Since the tickets were delivered via MMS, and the complete process was carried out on user's mobile phones, it eliminated the need for tickets being sent via postal mail, as well as the need for event-goers to stand in line to recieve their paper ticket. All around, this was a ground-breaking achievment, and a sign of things to come....

That's where I would start. Mobile Image and Barcode recognition applications obviously need an internet connection to function, and since it has to process so much information through connecting to databases, etc. it needs an ultra-fast connection to be fast enough to satisfy every-day consumers. When mobile networks gradually transform into broadband-speed connections, it will allow for more advanced applications to be deployed. Until this happens, and the recognition process is streamlined, user's aren't going to use it.

Second, being able to take a picture on your phone, and text or MMS the photo to a certain number works, but again it adds several unnecessary steps for the end-user. There needs to be a phone with a built-in, or a third-party application that is separate from the camera app, but also brings up the camera image. The user could then snap the shot and instantly be provided with a series of options. Once the option is selected, the app could respond immediately and provide it's content.

Third and most important, the content needs to be very relevant and user-friendly. The user has to actually want to interact or receive the information. There needs to be a system that will allow several different forms of content to be delivered that could include videos, audio, interactive images, and much more.

I know all of this can and will happen in the near future, but until some variables come into place, it will be slow going.

I think with statistics like this, it won’t be long before U.S companies begin offering this exact same service. Mobile carriers themselves could even benefit from providing such a service. They could profit from the SMS usage. Obviously there is huge profit potential in this, 10,000 times any amount of money in one night is a good number. The ease of use, speediness of redemption, and the fact that it’s almost impossible to loose or forget your ticket. Upon simple verification, they could issue you another ticket on the spot at the turn-style. It adds benefits to all parties involved really, and I just can’t understand why this hasn’t caught on like it has in other countries. It amazes me how we’re ahead in so many aspects, but when it comes to mobile usage, and mobile technology, the United States has never been a leader.

An example of this might be when a user sees a movie poster their interested in, while walking down the street.  They could point their camera phone and snap a shot of the movie poster, click a button, and a WAP site would be brought up with more information about when the movie is coming out, where it can be seen and times, as well as options to purchase tickets right there while standing in front of the poster that caught your eye.  By utilizing GPS sensors on the mobile phone, the WAP site the user is directed to can automatically be associated with the nearest theater to the user.  Another example was that a user could snap a picture of the street, and a page would automatically come up with contact information to the nearest cab company.

Here’s what I think.  This technology would definitely be more useful and intuitive than barcode recognition, simply because it wouldn’t rely solely on barcodes for data recognition.   Also, consumers could immediately start using this, instead of waiting for retailers,  and manufacturers to develop mainstream barcoding techniques.  The negatives I see are that mobile phone cameras will have to be high quality to take high resolution images enough for recognition.  Older VGA camera phones might not work as well, or slow down the recognition process by having to take numerous shots of the object.  We’ll have to see what happens as this technology evolves.

An idea we're working on is utilizing barcoding to not only distribute the re-usable coupons, but using the coupons as well. Instead of printing, and handing out bags of individual coupons, you could simply distribute one 11x17 folded paper with all the advertiser's along with a barcode that the consumers could scan with a small piece of free software on their mobile phone and get several re-usable coupons that are redeemable at the merchant. Better yet, just deliver a monthly text message chocked full with money saving coupons that are re-deemable at the merchant by simply scanning the barcode.

The consumer could simply hang the coupon sheet on their fridge, and whenever they get the notion to go out, they could simply scan the sheet for somewhere they like, scan the barcode, and take several coupons with them to save a little money. They're never stuck without coupons, because everyone always has their phone with them. If they'd rather, they could enter a three digit pin on a simple website, and get a long sheet of printable coupons to print and take with them.

This is great for advertiser's because it will bring the consumer in over and over again instead of just when they have that one coupon for the month..

Check back to see new developments....

Mobile dating and networking sites will see a huge rise in users in the coming years, as more and more people become adapted to accessing content via their mobile phones. User's that are in rural areas can benefit from this even more, because they might not have access to traditional broadband internet where they live. Companies like MySpace and FaceBook will obviously develop mobile versions of their communities for access anywhere, like user's have been asking for. With these companies having their content accessed via mobile phones, they'll be able to utilize a position-based marketing platform that can use information such as the mobile user's current location, and preferences to serve very relevant advertisements. As Google is obviously entering this market, all the big competitors will follow, making for a lot of content, and even more relevant ad revenue.....

Mobile application developers can develop new ad-serving platforms that will enable new ways of serving un-obtrusive and non-annoying relevant advertising that will garner more revenue because of a higher click probability.

Mobile barcode recognition technology can easily be incorporated into social networking, as well as business networking. Imagine meeting someone, and needing to copy down all their info, be it a social situation, or business and being able to just scan a barcode on their business card, or something along those lines, and have all the person's information automatically stored in your phone as a new contact.

Imagine using free Google Cellular service, without the hassles of credit checks, monthly bills, overages, etc. while using a cellular network that is so much stronger than normal cellular networks like AT&T, that being inside buildings or underground, for example, will no longer block your cellular signal. This being achieved because the purposed network that Google would use was originally a television frequency, therefore much stronger. Did I mention, all this is free...

Then, if GoogleTalk VoiP is truly available on the gPhone, you could use it to make free local and long distance phone calls while connected to the WiFi network at your home or office. This means that you would no longer have to pay a cell phone bill, a home phone bill, or an office phone bill (in theory) because there are many "virtual phone number" software titles out there that will route all your free calls to your shiny new gPhone. This could save virtually every consumer hundreds of dollars a month in phone bills, not to mention make all this great new technology available to everyone without the credit limitations of most traditional services today. All this while Google gets a bevy of fresh new content, and users to find and use that content, using their stuff! Genius.

In terms of competing with Apple's iPhone, the gPhone will most likely have all the functions and features of the iPhone but with much more enhancement and openness. And don't forget, it could only cost a hundred bucks brand new if the rumors are true....It's no competition at all, unless your a die-hard Apple fan. (or die hard Google-hater.)

Siemens is already filling the void overseas by testing several new technologies that will become available for airports. Other than the barcoding and M-Ticketing technologies, Siemens is also working on some other awesome ideas. An automated parking garage system is in the works for the parking garages at the Munich airport. The more than 15,000 spaces are tied into a central database, and ultrasound sensors detect free and used spaces. As you enter, LED screens direct you along the shortest route to an open spot. Genius. An automated luggage system has already garnered Siemens over $500 Million in secured contracts to install the technology. It involves a set of decentralized software brains and hundreds of routers and switches along more than 1.2 miles of moving track to guide RFID-enabled trays that hold bags. Luggage whizzes by at up to 30 feet per second, and it's all automatically screened for explosives on its way.

Gift certificates could be sent via text message instead of a card that could be lost easily. Western Union style money transfers could be sent directly to the stranded person 3,000 miles away within 2 minutes.

Imagine having a college student in the family, and instead of giving them a credit card that they can purchase whatever nonsense that they want, you could send them a barcode that can only be used at a certain place such as the college bookstore, or walmart for essential supplies.

Imagine standing in line at a movie theater or concert, and scanning a barcode of a movie poster and instantly seeing the trailer for the movie through your video ipod. Or sampling an artist's new album via instant podcasts or music tracks.

What about Christmas time. Knowing what all your friends and family want, you can slowly take photos of barcodes on products you see, and compile a list of stores for you Christmas shopping run. With the iPhone, you could automatically have a plotted map with directions from home in Google Maps, and have it all available with a new icon right on the home screen.

All this and more can be read in an article by Gregory Ng, on www.iPhoneMatters.com 

*With the barcode located on the sticker of a vehicle, a customer interested in a certain vehicle can take a photo with his or her phone and instantly be sent a text message with a customized page about that certain vehicle. This would include more detailed photos of the vehicle for future use, pricing information, mileage information, possible recalls or problems, reviews on the vehicle, options to request a test drive, options to reserve the vehicle, etc. Several options would be available to enhance the experience.

*The service would also include a simple to use web application that would auto-populate forms about a certain vehicle depending on the vehicles VIN number, and other vehicle specific information. This would make it easy for dealerships to keep their database of vehicle sites updated easily and efficiently. Once a new vehicle site is established and published, and barcode will become available to include on the vehicles sticker or somewhere else.

*The dealership would benefit greatly with this service simply because of the lead generation and sales potential. When a visitor visits the dealership and scans a barcode for more information, especially after hours and on the weekends, that information is timestamped along with other vital information about that customer and their interests. This info includes time they stopped by, their mobile phone number for follow up, the exact vehicle their interested in, etc. This info can easily be auto inserted into the dealerships CRM software for easy lead follow-up and customer files.

The overall service would both increase dealership revenue, organization, and reputation, as well as the customer's satisfaction, and piece of mind.