Silicon Valley-based contactless payments outfit Vivotech has launched a mobile marketing package that enables merchants to broadcast advertisements and promotions to consumers via 'smart posters' featuring NFC tags.
The ViVOplatform Smart Poster Management Software (VpSPm) allows merchants to broadcast promotions, offer products and make coupons directly to consumers' NFC-capable mobile phones through interaction with 'smart posters', which are like normal billboards but with NFC (Near Field Communication) tags mounted on the back.
When an NFC mobile phone is waved at the poster it communicates with the poster's tag to receive a message, connecting to the VpSPm system using a wireless data network. Customers can then download personalised incentives and promotions that can be redeemed at participating merchants that have Vivotech contactless terminals and readers.
Vivotech says the software allows merchants to personalise offers based on a consumer's profile and purchasing behaviour, as well as track and accumulate the level of customer usage.
Michael Mullagh, CEO, Vivotech, says: "VpSPm-based NFC smart posters represent this next level of consumer opt-in marketing, delivering a very high touch approach to consumer marketing."
The commercial roll out of the product follows field trials in Hong Kong, New York and Singapore that began last year.
American mobile phone handset vendor Motorola revealed today that it has made an equity investment in Vivotech. This follows an investment in the business in August by ATM vendor NCR. Vivotech also completed a series C funding round led by First Data in May.