Elle will offer Mobot-enabled online wishlists for readers who snap camera phone photos of advertisements in the October, November and December issues of the magazine or send SMS messages, according to the press release.
Readers take a photo of an item in an ad or send an SMS of the brand name to create a “Wireless Wish List.”
Readers who submit items from the October issue will be automatically entered in a contest to receive a $2,500 gift card to purchase items in their list.
Readers will view their wishlists on the Elle Web site, but the URL for the wishlist isn’t available yet. All you see, so far, is the press release.
Reader picks
Carol Smith, the senior vice president and group publisher for Elle, says in the release, “The ELLE reader doesn't make a move without her mobile phone, and she shops the pages of the magazine on the run.
“With our Wireless Wish List service, mobile technology instantly assembles her fall picks wherever she is. When she's ready to purchase or wants to forward her list to friends and family, the where-to-buy information is already gathered.
“What could be better?”
Universal wishlists
Actually, it sounds like a pretty good idea — to create a wishlist by transmitting a camera phone photo or SMS.
But “what could be better” would be if anyone could create such a list from any publication, and also have the option of snapping a photo of a product’s barcode.
However, that would require industry-wide standards for camera phone image recognition and barcoding. That won’t happen for some time, assuming it happens at all.
NeoMedia’s ventures
Mobot specializes in software that recognizes camera phone images and was purchased by NeoMedia Technologies.
NeoMedia offers camera phone barcode technology, telecommunications billing and automobile paint repair.
Mobot’s ventures
Mobot has provided similar services — recognizing products in ads from a camera phone photo — to several other publications including Jane magazine (that I wrote about in August 2004) and Ellegirl (see below).
Dear Mr. Reiter,
I have been following mobile marketing/search for at least three years.
I have sent you an email sometime ago. I like your blog and views on up and coming things.
From what I have found out, Neomedia is planning on launching Qode, formerly Paperclick, in the fall of 2006.
I really am starting to see all kinds of possibilities of turning on every object anytime, and, anywhere.
I think that Qode used thru mobile application, cell phone / PDA /wireless device, to connect, inquire, or search for an item at our finger tips, will replace Google.
An application for a mobile device to query about an object, while interating with that person.
From what I understand is that you will be able to personalize the platform to your personality.
Since I am a big hunter, I could have it let me know when an object is on sale at Bass Pro shop or Gander Mountain. Which one will have the cheapest price, and send me a coupon for the item I am looking for.
What if I am watching FOX network and they start to put a QR code on the TV screen during a 1/2 hour segment about golfing. I think, with the Qode application and our cell phone, we will be able interact with the TV to find out information on the item displayed on the show, additional information on the topic, coupons, etc.
Am I dreaming?
So many possibilities.
No more digging thru papers, phone calls, searching on line.
Mobility at its greatest.
Interested on your thoughts again.
K.D.
Posted by: A fan | Thursday, July 06, 2006 at 11:11 PM