Ecrio(TM) launches MoBeam(TM) bridges mobile phone, Internet redemption gap

At the DEMO 08 conference today, Ecrio unveiled a Bluetooth-enabled version of
its MoBeam(TM) digital barcode solution. The enhancement lets users receive
offers on their phone via SMS, WAP, or email, and redeem them via a small
light emitting diode (LED) on the MoBeam device. In addition, retailers can
install simple Bluetooth ‘transponders’ in their retail outlets to transfer
offers directly to the MoBeam device.

“Ecrio’s MoBeam technology links today’s mobile consumers with their
retailers of choice, creating new revenue opportunities for retailers,
newspapers, traditional coupon ‘ecosystem’ vendors, and Web portals,” says
Chris Shipley, executive producer of the DEMO conferences. “MoBeam
eliminates the need for paper, making it a very timely ‘green’ solution,
without requiring any infrastructure change by the retailer.”

Ecrio’s MoBeam technology uses a light source on a small keychain-based
device to originate the long-and-short sequencing of a standard barcode. A
standard laser scanner — like those in use in over 35 million
brick-and-mortar retail locations in the US — interprets those light beams
exactly as it would the reflection of a printed barcode.

Traditional attempts to send barcode-enabled values to mobile phones –
with POS systems then scanning those barcodes off the mobile display –
have failed. Issues with reflection, resolution, and more prevent the
predictable scanning of a barcode from a mobile phone screen. MoBeam solves
this problem by pairing its small keychain-based device with the user’s
mobile phone via Bluetooth.

“MoBeam bridges the gap between today’s mobile consumer and a worldwide
commerce infrastructure based on barcodes,” said Nagesh Challa, Ecrio CEO.
“We look forward to helping retailers, financial services companies,
carriers, handset makers and other barcode partners take advantage of an
ecosystem that delivers coupons, loyalty and gift cards, tickets and more
directly into the hands of consumers.”

About Ecrio
Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Ecrio is the leading vendor of
real time communication and mobile commerce software for mobile phones.
Ecrio provides interoperable and standard compliant software to mobile
phone manufacturers and mobile operators. Solutions include IMS based
applications, such as Instant Messaging (IM), VideoShare, Voice over IP
(VoIP), and Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC); and mobile commerce
applications, including NFC and MoBeam(TM) mobile barcode redemption.
Ecrio’s customers include industry leaders such as NTT DoCoMo, Visa, NEC,
Panasonic, Sharp, Fujitsu, Sony Ericsson, Mitsubishi, ASUSTeK and Pantech.
Visit http://www.ecrio.com.

About DEMO
Produced by Network World Events and Executive Forums, the semi-annual
DEMO conferences focus on emerging technologies and new products, which are
hand-selected from across the spectrum of the technology marketplace. The
DEMO conferences have earned their reputation for consistently identifying
tomorrow’s cutting-edge technologies, and have served as launch pad events
for companies such as Palm, E*Trade, Handspring, and U.S. Robotics, helping
them to secure venture funding, establish critical business relationships,
and influence early adopters. Each DEMO conference features approximately
70 new companies, products and technologies. For more information, visit

http://www.demo.com.