Enter: The QR Code Condom (Video)

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Rick Mathieson

How are you getting laid this summer?

As Bangstyle reports, that’s the question posed by the Stockholm County AIDS prevention program in a summer campaign, aimed at young singles, that makes sex a lot more social.

As part of the effort, 50,000 condoms were given way, each with a wrapper that featured a QR code leading to an app website called The Sex Profile.

Couples were invited to turn on the app and place the phone on the bed. The app then measure things like rhythm, sound, duration, cuddling and so on, to determine the partners’ sexual style and preferences, which were then posted to the website where users could measure how they compare. Essentially, a score for your score, so to speak – with the added bonus of encouraging safety.

Very creative – not to mention, er, viral.

But what’s your view – too salacious by half? Or a new way to make fornicating more fun?

Heineken Personalized QR Code Stickers Become Ice Breakers At Music Festival (Video)

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Rick Mathieson

Hat’s off to Heineken.

We’re digging this this very cool initiative from Leo Burnett Warsaw for the Heineken Open’er Music Festival: A special system that enabled concertgoers to create customized QR code stickers that other attendees could then scan to spark up conversation.

It’s just one of the ways Heineken’s been using innovation (digital and otherwise) over the last year – from the Occasionally Perfect Billboard, to Starvision personalized club signage to augmented reality advertising.

In this particular effort, QR codes (or”U-Codes,” as they call them here) become social lubricants to make the concert-going experience more social and fun.

And isn’t that that great music is all about?

‘The Voice’: Print Ads That Speak To You (Video)

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Rick Mathieson

Love this print series from Publicis for Reporters without Borders, promoting freedom of the press.

Scanning a QR code and placing your phone on the print ad creates the effect shown here.

It reminds me of the “UN Voices Campaign” from a couple years back that enabled a similar experience. Here, the physical engagement of placing the phone on the ad – and the fact that it’s initiated through QR codes – has a nice impact for an important effort.

Is Aurasma A QR Code Killer? (Video)

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Rick Mathieson

Who knows. In a mobile marketing roundtable I recently ran with execs from Ford, Mozes and Crispin, Porter+Bogusky, we debated the pros and cons of QR Codes.

Here, a company called Autonomy (the second largest software company in Europe, according to 2d-code.go.uk), a new app called Aurasma (in beta) seems to use image recognition to activate print in fun new ways.

Still, if you have to turn on the app and focus it, it may not bring much added value. While it clearly does away with weird little icons, unless it’s always on, the app still needs to be turned on and focused, just as in the case with QR Codes.

And another question arises: How will readers/users know when something is Aurasma enabled? Probably an icon of some sort – begging the question of why it’s better than QR codes.

Still, this video offers an impressive look at possibilities.

What’s your opinion? We’d love to hear from you.

Mobile Roundtable (Concl): The QR Code Debate – Got Game or Just Lame?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Rick Mathieson

The conclusion of our exclusive roundtable with Scott Kelly, digital marketing manger, Ford Motor Company, Dorrian Porter, CEO of Mozes, and Winston Binch, partner & managing director of interactive, Crispin, Porter+Bogusky.

In our final installment, a look at the great QR codes debate of 2011: In the US, are QR codes not ready for prime time, or been-there-already-bored-with-that? Now that Apple’s bypassing QR codes for Near Field Communication (NFC), inquiring minds want to know.

Plus: Is mobile advertising really all that interesting – or will mobile’s real power come from activating traditional?

MOBILE ROUNDTABLE CONCLUSION: DEBATING QR CODES

(Approx 6:40)

Audio link:

Mobile Roundtable Conclusion: QR Codes – Got Game, or Just Lame?

Mobile Roundtable (Pt 2): Deutsch LA’s Winston Binch on Mobile+Social+Local

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Rick Mathieson

Our exclusive mobile roundtable continues: Last week, we heard from Scott Kelly, digital marketing manager for Ford Motor Company, describing Ford’s new focus on mobile and what that means for the year ahead.

In part two, Winston Binch (pictured here), former partner and managing director of interactive for Crispin, Porter + Bogusky, gives us the inside story on one of my favorite social mobile apps, Epic Mix for Vail Resorts (see video below), just days before his move to Deutsch LA.

He also gives us the scoop on new research into what’s working and what’s not in iPad advertising – and how CPB Group is helping to shape the future of advertising on tablets.

MOBILE ROUNDTABLE PT 2: CONQUERING MOBILE + SOCIAL + LOCATION – AND THE NEW WORLD OF TABLET ADVERTISING

(Approx 9:43)

Audio link:

Mobile Roundtable: Crispin Conquers Mobile w

Roundtable: Mozes’ Dorrian Porter Joins Execs From Ford, Crispin To Talk Mobile Marketing

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Rick Mathieson

It’s not often you get top execs from one of the world’s most powerful brands, one of our most celebrated ad agencies, and one of the most cutting edge digital platform providers in one place.

I did it today (virtually, anyway), in an exclusive roundtable discussion with:

• Scott Kelly, digital marketing manager, Ford Motor Company (pictured here)

• Winston Binch, Partner & managing director, interactive, Crispin, Porter + Bogusky

• Dorrian Porter, CEO, Mozes, Inc

The topic: Mobile marketing – what’s hot, hip and happening (and what’s not), from QR codes to mobile apps to augmented reality to social media and more.

This is a roundtable you won’t want to miss – and you won’t, thanks to the excerpts I’ll post over the next few days.

First up: How mobile has helped Ford leap ahead of GM in domestic sales for the first time since 1998 – and how the brand plans on using this amazing medium to connect with consumers in the year ahead.

MOBILE ROUNDTABLE PART ONE: FORD’S MOBILE MARKETING ROADMAP

(Approx 4:35)

Audio link:

Roundtable with Ford, Crispin & Mozes on The State of Mobile Marketing