One of my first articles as a blogger was called “Mobile Tagging”. The article was mainly about being able to create and scan “barcodes” (one type of code is called QR code) in order to share such things like contact info and web links using your web-enabled smart phone.

I knew this technology was cool (which was why I wrote about it…a brotha loves cool!) and sooner or later SOMEBODY would put it to good use. Well that somebody just happened to be the largest coffee house in the world.

Starbucks has available an iPhone app called “Starbucks Card Mobile App” (the name is GENIUS…/sarcasm) that enables your typical Starbucks junkie to carry around their Starbucks card on their iPhone (or IPod Touch). With the app, you can find out your card balance, add monies to your card, and register for free card rewards.

…bla, bla, bla.

The coolest feature of the app is that you can create your favorite coffee order by creating a barcode that when scanned automatically SUBMITS AND PAYS for your order – provided you do in fact have a balance on your virtual card!

So imagine being able to walk into a Starbucks, walk up to the counter, hold your phone up to the cashier Java Specialist, submit, pay, and pick up your order without having to say anything!

Not having to talk to anybody is my kind of communication!

Right now, the latter feature of the app is currently being tested in Seattle area stores (of course) and a few other Cali locations, but I am pretty sure before long, the feature will be available everywhere.

For more information and to download the FREE app, visit Starbucks Card Mobile App…OR scan this pic with your code reader app on your phone:

Do you get tired of typing long url’s on your web-enabled mobile phone?

There is a relatively new mobile technology that is widely used oversees, and is sure to make it’s way to the states.  Mobile phones are huge now, and many people are finding what they need quickly with the use of mobile “smart” phones.  As a result, many websites are offering mobile versions of their main sites.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes, typing long website addresses can get cumbersome on a tiny mobile phone keypad.  Tiny Url’s are one way of shortening a web page address down to something more managable.

But Brotha Tech is all about cool, so there has to be a cooler way to link to a website, or other mobile content.  Well Mobile tagging is a way of “coding” links that when scanned by a web-enable phone, can automatically take you to a website…without typing the site’s url in your web-enabled phone.

The Lowdown:

It works by utilizing your phone’s camera (what phone nowadays doesn’t have a camera?) to “scan” the barcode-like image, then opening the website that is encoded within the image.  All you need is a code to scan, and code-reader application for your phone, and BOOM, you are set.
Below is an example of a QR-coded image i created that re-directs anybody who scans the image with their phone to my business website (shameless plug!)

I can print this image out and put it in newspapers, flyers, business cards…practically anywhere I want people to see the image.  All people have to do is open their code reader application on their phone, scan the image and their mobile browser will open and it will direct them to my website.  You can also use it to transfer contact information into your phone  I can put an image on the back of my business card, and when somebody scans the image, my contact information that is encoded within the image will automatically import into their phone’s contact list.
Here is a video of this technology in action:

The possibilites are endless ESPECIALLY since more and more people are using their phones for more than just talking!

Below are just some of the sites where you can create the codes, download the mobile code reader application, and learn more about the technology…oh, did I forget to mention IT’S FREE (for now):

Microsoft Tag
Kaywa Reader
BeeTagg
NeoReader

Like I said earlier, Mobile Tagging is growing, if not already huge oversees, but you won’t be able to find too many codes lying around to scan in the states. But if the technology does take off on this side of the pond, remember where you heard it first!