May 10
30
Microsoft Tag out of beta
There are some things that Microsoft (Google as well) seems to keep in beta for the longest time. Microsoft Tag was one of those betas, and as of May 27, it’s finally an official released version.
In the 18 months since being introduced, more than 1 billion Tags have been printed by people and businesses all over the world. In the month of April alone, more than 20 million magazines with Tags were in the hands of U.S. consumers. That’s pretty significant, particularly for a beta.
This is the Tag for MyMobileVille
The basic use of Tag will be free. This means you will be able to generate and use Tags that link to standard scenarios, such as linking directly to Web pages, and use the reader application at no cost. Microsoft intends to create “value-added services”, such as advanced reporting and analytics and real-time location services.
Microsoft Tag is already compatible with BlackBerry, Android, iPhone, Symbian and Windows Mobile phones.
Other IT companies have recognized the benefits of integrating real-world barcodes and tags into their online services. In December 2009, Google announced a “Favorite Places on Google” initiative that lets business owners place a barcode, or QR code, on their storefronts. Those codes can then be scanned with an iPhone, Android device or BlackBerry in order to receive information such as menus or a coupon.
“It’s important to give more people access to Tag because there’s huge demand for reliable mobile barcoding—businesses and consumers are eager to find creative ways to use their phone and hyperlink to the real world,” Benjamin Gauthey, a member of the Microsoft Tag team, wrote March 3 on the official Microsoft Tag blog.
Microsoft’s decision to spread the technology as widely as possible, including to rival smartphone operating systems, is suggestive of its hopes for Tag in the future. Check out Tag’s website here.
