- Vodafone Spain's 5th Mobility Fair showcases more than 120 solutions that incorporate cutting-edge technology, designed to afford customers a far more efficient service.
- Vodafone Spain launches a pilot scheme for NFC technology-based mobile payment
- Otello is an image search engine that lets you make a correlation with a database from photo taken from a mobile device
Madrid, 23rd April 2008. Visitors to Vodafone Spain's 5th Business Mobility Fair, MOVE’08, will enjoy a genuine mobile experience because, from the moment they enter the fair site (devised as a hotel that represents the concept of service: "We handle your communications so that you can focus on your business"), it will be their own mobile devices that play the lead role, through innovative mobility solutions. For instance, Vodafone Spain will be unveiling Otello, an application that lets you search visually for images, as well as the latest breakthroughs in NFC contact payment technology.
Mobile boarding cards or 2D access codes are some of the star attractions at this year's fair, where there will be 42 stands and more than 120 applications for mobile environments tailored specifically to meet each customer's needs.
NFC: Payment by contact
NFC (Near Field Communications) technology provides a convenient and easy way of accessing countless services of different kinds- proximity payments, transport, ticketing, loyalty-building, etc. This technology has plenty of potential for giving users simple and intuitive services. By just putting two devices together, you can make small payments or send information, services or personalized adverts.
So by just placing their mobile near the reader, this technology lets users make payments at a point of sale or virtually, buy tickets, identify themselves or automatically log onto websites to download information. In the solution that Vodafone is promoting, the SIM serves as the security module that houses the applications.
At MOVE’08, visitors will get the opportunity to try out this simple system in vending machines equipped with a prototype of the final solution. To pay, you just place the mobile, which is fitted with an application developed by G&D that emulates an e-purse, near the vending machine and then make your choice. The vending machines are supplied by Selecta, one of the project's partners, together with Impulsa, which has fitted with the NFC readers.
NFC is an ETSI standards-based technology that will start developing from 2009, when the first NFC-compatible devices begin to penetrate the market. Vodafone Spain's aim with this pilot scheme is to analyse users' experience.
Otello: Looking for images over your mobile
Otello is Vodafone's new image-based search engine. The picture taken with the mobile device is sent to this search engine, which compares it with other pictures already stored in the database and is capable of recognising and facilitating information about it.
The search engine also provides additional information about the picture sent. For instance, if it's the cover of a single, the system sends a link where you can download the song from the Vodafone music download service. Or, if it's an emblematic building, the system can send a link to the Wikipedia page that talks about it.
The pictures that are sent to the search engine do not necessarily have to be high quality, and as long as they are in VGA format, the engine will recognise them. The angle, shadows or lighting of the picture do not matter either. The service costs the price of an MMS and the answer is sent to the user at no extra charge.
If the engine fails to find any content related to the photo, users can choose to save it as a reference in the database and include their own comments. They can also create and update personal profiles if they want to upload photos and make comments or join clubs.
Corporate customers can make the most of Otello through the programme's built-in B2B platform, where advertisers can place their interactive campaigns or announce contests with prizes for participants who send certain pictures.
Other innovative solutions at MOVE'08
2D codes: convenience and speed over the mobile
2D code is an innovative tool that serves as an electronic ticket or entry key, among others, that lets companies cut overheads in services such as public transport or as a marketing tool for sending out publicity or keeping a check on who attends an event, among other applications.
At MOVE, visitors will have the chance to see the Vodafone 2D-Factory solution for 2D (BIDI) codes, developed in collaboration with Canary Soft and IT SOFT and that includes 4 applications: BIDI Advertising, that lets companies carry out advertising actions to interact with their target audience. BIDI Events, which allows people to register for an event by photographing a BIDI code that optimises participant management with a simple system. BIDI Fairs, which provides fair exhibitors with information about who has visited their stand. Last but not least, BIDI Accesses, which lets companies keep tabs on who enters and leaves their premises.
Like it did at last year's fair, at MOVE'08 Vodafone has set up an innovative 2D credential system, and any visitors who register on http://www.movevodafone.com/formulario.cfm will avoid long queues by passing the barcode they receive on their mobile in a text or multimedia message over a barcode reader located at the fair entrance.
MOVE’08 visitors can also get their Spanair boarding card at the fair. This system developed by Spanair and Vodafone Spain will let passengers use the bar code received in an MMS as their boarding card, and so save a lot of time.
To enjoy this service, passengers will only have to check in from www.Spanair.mobi on their mobile, or else via www.Spanair.com (where they have to key in their phone number, brand and model), and choose to receive their boarding card on their mobile (as a 2D bar code). At the airport, passengers simply need to pass their mobile boarding card over the exclusive barcode and they will get a paper receipt with which they will be able to pass through security and board the plane at Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, La Coruña, Palma de Mallorca and Vigo airports.
Connectivity and applications for taxis
Vodafone Spain and Interfacom have launched several innovative applications for taxi passengers by developing a system that is built into the vehicles. The system includes a Vodafone SIM and lets passengers stay connected and perform several tasks or actions from inside the taxi. MOVE’08 visitors will get the chance to see some of these solutions in action, such as the hearing aid, which has adapted taxi meters to the needs of visually impaired passengers.
Vodafone for Leisure application
Vodafone for Leisure is a solution that facilitates communications between local administrations and members of the public. This system, combined with Vodafone's Mensared product, will let members of the public use text or media messages to express their opinions or send photographs to a screen installed by local councils during local festivals or other events. Pubs or discos can also use this IT SOFT-developed application to create a complete and interactive mobile leisure experience.
Vodafone mobile guide in Tenerife
The Tenerife Mobile application, which Vodafone and Rigel have developed for the Tenerife Board of Tourism, gives Tenerife's inhabitants and visitors all the most relevant information about the island, such as events, listings, maps and useful addresses. The Guide affords a new, immediate and interactive channel of communication with visitors.
About Vodafone Spain
Vodafone Spain is part of the Vodafone Group, the mobile communications world leader with presence in 25 countries and agreements with another 41 countries on all five continents. Vodafone provides a full range of mobile telecommunications services, including voice and data communications, for access by more than 252.3 million proportional customers. Vodafone Spain's 15,810,000 million customers benefit every day from the knowledge and experience of this world leader, which helps its customers - whether private, corporate or public - to be better connected to the mobile world.
For further information, please contact:
Vodafone Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +34 607133455
E-Mail: gabinetedeprensa@corp.vodafone.es