The 2D Barcode industry is increasing on full speed mode. You can notice more and more implementations of 2D Barcode campaigns in the publishing industry, the latest example with Allure. Microsoft Tag is now the leader is this industry. The numbers below speak by themselves: 

• 1 billion Tags have been printed in the past four months, bringing the total to
  2 billion Tags printed since its January 2009 launch.
• The number of Tag users per month increased three fold in the first quarter since emerging from beta in May; the number of Tags scanned per month increased four fold during the same time period.
• To date, more than 100,000 Tag accounts have been set up to add interactive digital experiences to brand advertising and marketing campaigns.
• Since August, Tag has been used in more than 100 million magazine issues.
• In the largest known barcode campaign to date, Allure had 450,000 scans, using Microsoft Tag for its annual Free Stuff Giveaway issue in August

The full press release on the Microsoft website.

Create your own Tag for free here.

Today, Microsoft Tag is announcing Black and White Microsoft Tag. Good news for Tattoo guys :)

Check Microsoft Tag here, it’s free!

What Is Microsoft Recite?

Microsoft Recite is a search technology for your voice that runs on Windows Mobile* devices. With Microsoft Recite, you can use your voice to easily store, search and retrieve the things you want to remember, where and when you need them. Microsoft Recite is available as a free technology preview beginning February 16, 2009.

*Microsoft Recite can be used on devices running Windows Mobile version 6.0 or higher. Not sure what you’re running? A complete list of devices can be found at http://recite.microsoft.com

How Does It Work?

Microsoft Recite’s voice search makes it easy to retrieve your stored thoughts and notes by using voice pattern matching. It analyzes the patterns in your speech and finds matches between two recordings -- the notes you stored on your phone, and the search you do using your voice. With Recite you can store thousands of spoken notes, and then later retrieve the notes you want based on a match with your search term(s). This is different from speech recognition, which has to accurately convert spoken words to application-readable input.

Press “Remember” to record a thought.

Press “Search” to retrieve your thoughts. It’s that simple!

Consumer Use

We can think of countless handy ways that you might use Microsoft Recite… record your shopping list, friends’ birthdays, addresses, school happenings, gift ideas, get togethers, favorite wines… anything you might need or want to remember later. Recite even lets you remember and search in multiple languages.

Here’s an example. Imagine your co-worker, Paul Johnson, tells you about a book that he thinks you might like, Hot, Flat and Crowded, by Thomas Friedman. To start recording a mental note, launch the technology, press the 'Remember' button, then say what you would like to record; in this case, “Book recommendation from Paul Johnson: Hot, Flat and Crowded.” Next, press the “Finished' button to complete the recording and store the note. Later, when you’re ready to buy the book but are unsure of the title, click on the ‘Search’ button and say what you would like to recall. In this case, you might say “book recommendation,” then press ‘Finished’ to begin the search. Recite will then retrieve and play the book recommendation for you.

Or, you might recall that Paul told you something that you wanted to remember, but forgot what it was. In this case, click ‘Search’ and say “Paul Johnson.” Microsoft Recite will retrieve all mental notes that include the sounds “Paul Johnson.” In this case you would hear “Book recommendation from Paul Johnson: Hot, Flat and Crowded.”

Microsoft Recite technology preview information is available at http://recite.microsoft.com

<br/><a href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=1cf330f0-7863-401a-ba91-c3013ed1e03c" target="_new" title="Microsoft Recite">Video: Microsoft Recite</a>

Check it out: http://recite.microsoft.com

I’m not a guy who likes business cards and even more I hate paper! Why? Maybe I try to be “green” but the fact is I want to get everything accessible from anywhere (S+S), I don’t want to waste time with mails...(Ex: I could change my electricity provider if they don’t allow to set up a payment via Internet).

So what will happen If you give me your business card? Will I Destroy it? Humm maybe! No, not yet at least:), I will take a picture of it with my Smartphone and will add you in my Outlook contacts. I won’t collect those in a box. Yes, again I don’t like paper! :)

However today, I received my new Microsoft business cards with a Microsoft Tag on it! What is the difference? I’ve just said that I hate paper!??(you get it now, right?) Now, I just need to show my business card and you’ll snap the Microsoft Tag with your phone and that’s it! I will be in your contacts! No need to keep an additional business card in your pocket, it is already in your contact list! (and synchronized in the cloud if you use Exchange)

I will show you that next week in Barcelona for the 3GSM if you’ll be there!

Should I bring just 1 business card that everyone will Snap?

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&amp;playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:533e05d2-9f12-4a86-bdda-efd0455fcd36&amp;showPlaylist=true&amp;from=msnvideo" target="_new" title="Kylie uses Windows Live Photo Gallery">Video: Kylie uses Windows Live Photo Gallery</a>

I really like this video! and I love even more Live Photo Gallery, it worth trying it to organize your life memories!

Yesterday, I told you that Microsoft will announce a new product. Here we are! This one is called Microsoft Tag!

What Is Microsoft Tag?

Microsoft Tag is a marketing solution that enables consumers to access and share useful and fun content in a simple way. It also helps marketers engage with consumers in meaningful and creative ways, and to measure effectiveness.

The Microsoft Tag application lets people use the camera of their Internet-capable mobile phone to snap a tag, which will quickly and easily connect them to mobile content such as videos, music, product information, ring tones, free text and other promotions.

Designed with ease of use in mind, it enables users to easily bring information such as business card contact details to their cell phone, without having to type anything.

Colorful two-dimensional tags can be used to transform traditional marketing media (for example, print advertising, billboards, packaging and merchandising in stores or on LCDs) into live links for accessing information and entertainment online. Tags can be included on all kinds of material: paper handouts, vCards, T-shirts, magnets, online displays and even dog tags.

Microsoft Tag is available via a free beta download for commercial publishers and the general public in the United States starting Jan. 7, 2009; it will roll out in other countries at a later date.

Consumer Use: Users can download the free Microsoft Tag reader application to their Internet-capable mobile device with camera, launch the reader and read a tag using their phone’s camera. Depending on the scenario, this triggers the intended content to be displayed, data to be integrated, e-mail to be sent and so on.

· Users can instantly connect to related content, such as a movie trailer, mobile TV and video clips, event details, exclusive discounts, or a map with directions — automatically downloaded to their cell phone. There is no longer a need to remember and type out long URLs.

· With a tag on a business card, others can automatically upload contact details on their phone just by reading the tag.

· Anyone can create a tag using a PC. Adding a tag to a vCard automatically links information to a site, blog or profile on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn or other social networks.

Publisher Use: Microsoft Tag helps publishers connect with customers in new ways and gives access to analytics that can inform marketing strategies. With Microsoft Tag, marketers can create unique brand experiences and enable more effective and efficient decisions about marketing spending, in ways that include the following:

• Broad applicability of the Microsoft Tag solution. Microsoft Tag can link to multiple content types, including the Web, vCards, SMS, e-mail, calendars, mapping, social applications, coupons and promotions.
• Create viral buzz. Content exposed to the customer through the use of Microsoft Tag can be shared easily with others.
• Analytics. Microsoft Tag allows publishers to see which tags are being read when and where, with detailed impression activity via the Microsoft Tag campaign management site at http://www.microsoft.com/tag.
• Size. Artwork can be as small as a 5/8-inch square, no matter what content the tag links to.
• Reliability. Publishers can feel confident that Microsoft Tag has implemented a technology that gives a dependable lock and decode rate.
• Visual appeal. Tags are colorful and integrate well with the majority of color collateral.

To get more information on Tag, go on http://www.microsoft.com/tag.

“Benjamin Gauthey |Microsoft | Startup Business Accelerator | Marketing Technopologist “ is my signature. Many people inside and outside Microsoft ask me to explain it… Here is the explanation from the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122884677205091919-lMyQjAxMDI5MjA4MzgwNDM2Wj.html

Find a 'marketing technopologist.'

So who should direct a company's forays into Web 2.0 marketing? A number of managers identified an ideal set of skills for an executive that go beyond those of a typical M.B.A. holder or tech expert. We coined the term marketing technopologist for a person who brings together strengths in marketing, technology and social interaction. A manager said, "I'd want to see someone with the usual M.B.A. consultant's background, strong interest in psychology and sociology, and good social-networking skills throughout the organization."

Foot soldiers need to be carefully selected as well. One large technology company weighs employees' proven skills to choose writers for blogs that are read by consumers. The company has long used blogs internally to help employees discuss technical issues, products, and company and industry topics. When it decided to use blogs to raise its profile online, it recruited those who had shown the most skill at blogging within the company. The company currently has about 15 employees who blog publicly, mostly on technology trends, and is recruiting more the same way. Meanwhile, the bloggers plan to meet occasionally to share the lessons learned from their experiences.

Officially, I’m a digital marketing manager at Microsoft but as my background is not marketing but about technology, I really think Marketing Technopologist is more accurate to me, a good mix of Marketing and technology…. it seems perfect in a software company, no :)