Location-Based Services » mobilegroove

Mobile 2D barcode scanning is paving the way for a range of exciting and lucrative schemes hyperlinking our physical world of things (all objects including product packaging, printed media, TV, billboards, equipment – the works!) with a digital world or websites and destinations filled with information, advertising, applications downloads, coupons, processes and special offers.

The last weeks have seen a slew of announcements in this space, heralding a new phase in market development, new thinking about the business models (particularly the value to the enterprise) and new urgency in the race among companies across the emerging business ecosystem to get barcode strategies in place – fast (!).

Until now much of the discussion around app store platforms and developer communities has been a technical one focused on primarily on APIs (which ones to open to third-party developers when and why), toolchains and toolkits (the optimal level of integration and how to achieve it) and development costs (value for money and how to

Next week MSG's new contributor Eliza Dashwood takes the helm to summarize the industry stats and reports that matter most. In the meantime, Smaato, mobile ad optimizer and mobile advertising agency, has given MSG exclusive access to latest

Mobile advertising, location services couponing and crowd-sourcing are just a few of the hot topics we cover in exclusive interviews with the CEOs of Aloqa, Waze, and Yoose, companies that won the prestigious Smaato Mobile Advertising Award 2009.

In this series – a collaboration between MSG and Smaato, a mobile ad optimizer and mobile advertising company – the companies speak out on key mobile advertising trends and what we can likely expect from MWC this week. They also comment on the meetings with eight top-notch VCs – introductions that are a big part of the Smaato Award.

Thanks to all the cool companies for reaching out to me over the last weeks with briefings and product demos. Keep those emails coming and I'll pick the best to feature on MSG. A company that has been high on my radar is Nimbuzz, a mobile social messaging app that

Local focused mobile advertising is shaping up to be more than a revenue opportunity. There is every indication that it will be one the few channels to buck the downward trend in advertising spend over the next few years. Where's the money?