Barcodes on the move

Mobicode managing director Ian Burgess says with over 20 million cell phones already in use in South Africa, he anticipates strong uptake of this service (mobi-ticket, mobi-coupons, mobi-rewardcard and mobi-pass) by ticketing companies, event organisers, brand owners, retailers, and direct marketing companies.

"Mobicode is a great example of the new type of easy-to-use, convenient and timesaving services becoming available from your mobile phone. Sending a mobicode to a mobile phone offers many benefits, it is hassle-free with no paper to handle or misplace. It is also cheaper than printing or mailing tickets and coupons and it allows the precise tracking of usage," Burgess explains.

Independent research shows that the next stage for mobile telephony involves ticketing through mobile phones and is currently valued at over US $95 million worldwide. It is expected to increase to US $40 billion by 2009. Burgess sees ticketing as one of the key applications in South Africa. "If one considers the vast distances that people must travel and especially the cost involved collecting tickets for events, Mobicode is the ideal solution."

According to Mobiqa chief executive Iain McCready, Mobiqa technology is fast becoming the de facto standard in mobile barcodes worldwide. "With the addition of Mobicode in South Africa, we now have a presence in more than 28 countries on six continents across the globe."

"Our mobi-ticket and mobi-coupon products deliver immediate benefits in terms of cost saving and improved service to the businesses using them and get great user acceptance from the end consumer," he adds.

In the retail sector, organisations can drive footfall and increase revenue through the use of vouchers and discount coupons delivered as mobicodes to the customer's mobile phone, with all of the promotional benefits of paper coupons, combined with the immediacy and efficiencies of the mobile channel.

Burgess says customers recognise the value in embracing this technology in order to meet their marketing and performance goals. "It is all about gaining an edge. Mobicode provide a comprehensive suite of applications that enables that competitive advantage."