Message #83 From:
NewsBot Date: December 14, 2006 06:00:00 AM
NEOM News NeoMedia's qode to be Introduced in U.K. by News Group Newspapers
FORT MYERS, Fla. & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB: NEOM), an innovator in
market-driven technologies, today announced that it was partnering with
News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its market-leading Sunday newspaper,
the News of the World® (www.newsoftheworld.co.uk),
to introduce its patented qode®
direct-to-mobile-web technology (www.qode.com)
in the U.K.
Charles W. Fritz, founder, chairman and interim CEO of NeoMedia, said
that the qode introduction was announced by Mike Anderson,
managing director of News Group Newspapers to Media Week magazine
in London earlier this week.
“Effectively, qode is the same thing as
the interactive red button on the television, but in a newspaper,”
Mr. Anderson said, referring to the interactive service on NewsCorp’s
BSkyB satellite TV. “NGN is keen to develop
mobile as a digital distribution method. This is all part of News Group
changing from a newspaper company to a media company,”
he said.
Mr. Anderson added that the News of the World -- with a
readership of 8.2 million (source: National Readership Survey of Great
Britain, January-July 2006) -- will use qode mainly to bring TV
clips of English Premier League football (soccer) to its readers via
their cell phones over the Mobile Internet, as News Group has won the
rights to broadcast league games to mobile phones in a joint bid with
BSkyB. He said qode technology could also be used by News of
the World advertisers to offer readers discount vouchers, or
additional product information via their handsets.
‘qode is Brilliant’
“qode is brilliant,”
said Mr. Anderson, “in allowing readers to
bypass Web addresses or search engines and go straight to the Mobile
Internet.” He observed that although the
software is not yet pre-embedded in mobile phones and must be
downloaded, his hope is that “in the future,
it should be pre-embedded.”News of the
World readers will be instructed how to get free over-the-air
downloads of qode mobile software, either by entering http://get.qode.com
in their handset’s browser, or by texting to
a shortcode for the link to the qode download mobile website.
‘First Step, Big Step’
“This is a first step and a big step for
NeoMedia and our vision for qode,” Mr.
Fritz said. “NGN comprises two of the
most-read English-language newspapers in the world, and is renowned for
innovation. NeoMedia is understandably delighted to be partnering with
News Group on this introduction of qode, especially with our
recently announced plans and actions to refocus our corporate resources
on qode,” he said.
NeoMedia’s patented qode technology is
an easy-to-use set of applications - qode®reader
and qode®window - which provide One
Click to Content™ connectivity for products,
print, packaging and other physical objects to link directly to specific
desired content on the Mobile Internet. qode®reader
works with camera phones, letting users “click”
on two-dimensional “smart codes”
to access the Mobile Web site to which the code is linked, while qode®window
lets users reach the same destination by entering a keyword, slogan, or
product barcode number.
NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (www.neom.com),
is a diversified global company offering leading edge, technologically
advanced products and solutions for companies and consumers, built upon
its solid family of patented products and processes, and management
experience and expertise. Its NeoMedia Mobile group of companies offers
end-to-end mobile enterprise and mobile marketing solutions through its
flagship qode direct-to-mobile-web technology and ground-breaking
products and services from four of the leading mobile marketing
providers in the U.S. and Europe. By linking consumers and companies to
the interactive electronic world, NeoMedia delivers one-to-one,
permission-based, personalized and profiled dialogue -- anytime and
anywhere.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. With the exception of historical
information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press
release involve risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ
materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.
qode is a registered trademark, and qode®reader,
qode®window and One Click to Content are
trademarks of NeoMedia Technologies, Inc.Other trademarks are
properties of their respective owners.