On Thursday, AT&T rolled out Mobile Barcode Services, a new platform that the mobile carrier says will allow brands to a static advertisement into an “immersive experience.”
This program, which gives companies the ability to create, publish and manage their own 1D (UPC) and 2D (QR and Data Matrix) barcodes, helps both new and established brands reach consumers directly on their smartphones, delivering information, promotions, coupons, etc.
By the carrier’s own admission, this program reflects AT&T’s desire to become a bigger player in the mobile internet realm. As AT&T noted in its announcement today, Forrester Research Inc. has predicted that more than 75 million cell phone users will access the mobile internet this year.
According to details made available this morning in a press release from AT&T announcing the program, AT&T Mobile Barcode Services includes the following:
AT&T Code Scanner, a free mobile application preloaded on many AT&T mobile devices, uses smartphone cameras to scan barcodes found in magazines, stores, websites and billboards. This fun, easy-to-use app unlocks new ways for consumers to experience their favorite brands, automatically launching companies’ mobile websites or offering sneak peeks into the latest products and deals. Compatible with all of the major smartphone OS platforms, AT&T Code Scanner gives people the incentive they need to start exploring the world of mobile barcodes.
AT&T Code Management Platform provides businesses with a secure tool for creating mobile barcodes and managing the associated content, which can range from videos to coupons to sweepstakes to mobile websites. After creating their first mobile barcodes, companies can use AT&T Code Management Platform’s powerful reporting capabilities to gauge the effectiveness of mobile marketing campaigns.
“Wherever people engage with traditional media – in newspapers or magazines, on signs or storefront displays – they can experience more with a mobile barcode,” says Chris Hill, Vice President of Advanced Mobility Solutions at AT&T Business Solutions. “After trialing the technology with top companies in industries such as entertainment, retail, marketing and hospitality, we’re confident that this solution will help our business customers to market more effectively and to immerse consumers in their brands, anytime and anywhere.”
For more information about AT&T’s new offering, check out AT&T Mobile Barcode Services.
