News

New SMS and kiosk marketing scheme to use Zytronic touch tech

July 27, 2009

U.K.-based Zytronic has announced the incorporation of its Projected Capacitive Technology for touchscreens in an innovative new marketing scheme from Australia-based bCODE.

According to a news release from Zytronic, bCODE has created a concept that allows marketers to interact with customers via SMS messaging and an integrated MediaPlane self-service kiosk:

The bCODE concept allows marketers to communicate with customers via their mobile phones by sending a unique encrypted code (or bCODE) via the normal short message service (SMS). This enables owners of standard handsets to access services that would usually require a Smart Card, RFID, or near-field communication device. The compact MediaPlane terminal, which incorporates the bCODE scanner, a printer and a touchscreen interface based around a 10.4-inch ZYPOS PCT sensor, is deployed either in-store or on-location. Customers who have received a bCOEDE on their phone can instantly access the service provided by placing the phone's display in front of the optical reader and making selections using the stylish touch-enabled display.

The companies say the system also provides valuable marketing data by feeding information on consumer choices (e.g., a free download or printed discount voucher) to the service provider.

Michael, Mack, bCODE's CEO, says the flexibility of Zytronic's ZYPOS product helped close the deal:

MediaPlane is designed for use in public spaces, and we needed a cost-effective touch-interactive display that not only offered our industrial designers unlimited styling flexibility, but also the high level of durability necessary for deployment of the terminals — in frequently unsupervised areas — with total confidence. The ability of ZYPOS to operate through our purposely designed protected printed-cover glass, coupled with drift-free operation, contributes significantly to bCODE's customer return on investment. Using ZYPOS has also allowed to write our own customer touchscreen driver software. This compelling combination has enabled us to meet all our performance and functionality goals for MediaPlane.