Mobeam’s light-based beaming technology is the first solution that will enable laser scanners to read barcode-based coupons from consumer packaged goods companies on shoppers’ smartphones
PALO ALTO, Calif. – June 7, 2016 – Mobeam, the unique global leader in mobile barcode beaming technology, today announced that its mobile beaming solution is the first to enable consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers to issue and redeem mobile coupons not associated with a specific retailer’s loyalty card, based on a newly adopted GS1 applications standards modification. This new standard follows previously established industry best practices such as not displaying the coupon’s barcode or offer code in a user visible fashion on screen. The barcodes are transmitted to the laser scanners via infrared beams invisible to the human eye.
GS1 is the information standards organization that brings industry communities together to solve supply-chain problems through the adoption and implementation of GS1 Standards.
Historically, only retailer coupons, redeemable exclusively at issuing retailers, were available in mobile digital format; manufacturer coupons, redeemable anywhere the products are sold, were limited to printed paper format. Following the new GS1 standards modification, CPG manufacturers can now issue barcoded, mobile coupons that consumers can easily and securely redeem using their smartphones at the retailer checkout.
Mobeam’s patented light-based beaming technology overcomes historical technological barriers and enables point of sale (POS) laser scanners to read barcodes on Android mobile devices. Popular and emerging mobile payment apps rely on NFC or other technologies that communicate with credit card payment terminals, but not with scanners. Mobeam enables true mobile “wallets,” meaning payment apps can now carry loyalty cards, membership cards, gift cards, retailer coupons and – now – manufacturer coupons, providing them with universal POS access at retailers.
Mobeam worked closely with industry leaders for the past several months to facilitate this GS1 initiative.
“The successful modification of this GS1 standard is of landmark significance for brands, retailers, mobile device manufacturers, payment app developers and, of course, shoppers everywhere,” said George Garrick, CEO of Mobeam. “Brands and retailers can now greatly expand their marketing capabilities, while more effectively reaching mobile-centric millennials and staying ahead of today’s evolving shopper expectations.
Mobile device makers and payment app developers can now offer true mobile wallets, and consumers are finally able to take advantage of full mobile payment capabilities at the checkout.”
Mr. Garrick added: “The paper coupon is one of the last archaic components of an industry that has digitally evolved in almost every other way,” he said. “Mobile manufacturer coupons are secure and fraud resistant, and the antiquated process of shipping coupons out of the country to be manually counted and cleared can be replaced with fast, accurate, secure digital processing.”
Mobeam’s popular Beep’nGo app will soon be the first mobile app able to process manufacturer coupons at the retail checkout. The company is now working with multiple CPG brands, retailers and mobile device manufacturers to speed their ability to make use of the updated standards.
“The only current way for a smartphone to communicate a barcoded coupon to a laser scanner is with Mobeam’s beaming technology, which pulses the proximity sensor LED to invisibly emulate the reflection of a barcode,” Mr. Garrick said. “We are talking with retailers, brands and other companies across multiple industry segments about taking advantage of our technology so they can quickly be up and running with mobile manufacturer coupons.”
Mobeam currently operates with more than 400 million Samsung phones, and the company is in talks with other manufacturers to expand the technology to other market leading devices. Mobeam technology has been used for 45 million beaming transactions since its launch.
The Mobeam Beaming SDK for Android provides APIs for developers to generate and beam a variety of barcodes including UPC, EAN, Code 128, Codabar, GS1 Databar and others. Developers can download the free SDK and access documentation at Mobeam’s developer portal at https://developer.mobeam.com.
