I Am Spartacus! Starz Conquers Mobile Barcodes

AT&T’s Mobile Barcode Service is out to conquer the world with the help of Starz and their new series “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.”

The cable network has signed on to do a test campaign between now and June that will include AT&T barcodes on everything from print ads to bus posters. Scanning the code with a compatible phone will unlock hidden entertainment treasures such as exclusive videos, special offers and of course, a quick link to sign up for Starz service.

A nifty idea, but will consumers play along? According to AT&T’s press release, “80% of respondents in a March 2010 survey indicated interest in scanning barcodes with their mobile phone. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed want to scan barcodes to capture and redeem coupons and discounts.”

Really? 80% of the people I surveyed, didn’t even understand what I meant when I asked them if they were interested in using barcode technology.

The upside of this type of campaign is that it’s like looking for hidden Easter Eggs on a DVD. The downside is that, the thrill of the hunt is usually greater than the eventual prize, but if you’re bored at the bus stop, why not scan and watch a trailer or two?

Right now, barcode technology succeeds because it’s new and fun. People with smartphones like to use them to do things they could as easily have done by hand. For example, my new fascination with IntoNow. Using this app, you point your phone at the TV and the app tells you what show you’re watching. I could locate that information faster by opening the cable guide on my TV but it’s not nearly as much fun.

Mobile barcode marketing could be the big push of the near future. Before that happens though, more people have to be aware of the technology and the rewards for scanning have to be more than just a video you could find on YouTube.

What do you think of mobile barcode marketing?
Info from AT&T’s press release and thanks to MediaPost for the tip.

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Bumps And Starts in The Tech World and Getting the Cart Before the Horse

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Reading about the lightning speed the tech world evolves at can sometimes be deceiving. The latest trend about smartphones and tablets that are forecast to take over from PCs as the number one selling devices this year doesn’t tell the whole  story.

Experts who watch these things like Deloitte are telling us in their most recent technology forecasts that although the PC isn’t the only kid on the block anymore, it’s a little premature to expect that speed and capacity will be one of those factors that will improve simultaneously with availability when it comes to wireless capability for smartphones.

Deloitte’s Telecommunications Predictions 2011 report also suggests that there will be fewer than 30 LTE ( 4G) carriers in six countries that are likely to offer commercial service by the end of 2011. This has a few insiders scratching their heads since it seemed like a logical progression from the current 3G networks what with the proliferation of all the smartphones and tablets that are currently taking a huge dent out of the more traditional computing markets.

There are two reasons for the lag:

• many mobile companies haven’t fully utilized their existing 3G spectrums.
• as it exists today, 4G isn’t offering the quantum leap in features and speeds that other upgrades have been traditionally able to supply.

In the end it really looks like the cart is moving faster than the horse here or , put another way, technology is getting ahead of itself. This kind of news couldn’t come at a worse time  considering that the pundits at Deloitte are also predicting that there will be a big spike in the volume of data that’s going to be uploaded and downloaded from the newer devices on the market ( like the Androids ) and the variations on the existing platforms ( like the PlayBook, Research In Motion’s answer to the iPad).

Smartphones And Video Calling

Here’s another point to add to the argument. In 2011, there’s another prediction that video calling will have ironed all the bugs out and become less expensive and more widely available than ever before. However, the experts still don’t see a big boom on the horizon in sales. Bluntly put, most consumers still don’t see a need for video calling so audio will still be the favorite for at least the time being.

However there are some bright spots predicted for this year and they include the fact that the pundits see more free Wi-Fi in-store access to shoppers. It seems that retailers are now seeing that in store comparison shopping in not something to be feared after all; in fact, recent studies have shown that shoppers who can make necessary comparisons right away often make their purchases right in the location they happen to be in.

Maybe writing that the tech world is getting the cart before the horse is a little harsh but having all these new devices ready without a faster better way to deliver the information that they all promise is a little like selling somebody a plasma television when they live in an area that can’t even get HD TV, isn’t it?

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