Microsoft brought Tag out of beta today. I’ve written several posts about Microsoft Tag in the past for any explanation of what it is.
- NEWS: General Mills leveraging Microsoft Tag as part of their Brand Marketing Strategy
http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DA410C7F7E038D!5124.entry - BETA: Microsoft Tag – Using camera-readable barcodes
http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DA410C7F7E038D!4534.entry
One journalist noted that, “The fact that you can use custom images makes it leaps and bounds ahead of QR-style codes.”
Here’s a few examples of it’s use:
- Retail Store Product Tagging & Newspaper Ads
Microsoft Tag works in black & white as well as in color, while still maintaining that great durability. For example, take a look at the in-store tagging for Halo Wars to the right. - Billboards, Posters, & Magazines
Tag is extremely useful for allowing consumers to grab information close up or from a distance and letting their phone do all the work. No memorization… no clarity needed. Just a phone with Tag software. This is a production example of using Tags on billboards, magazines, and promotional materials like posters.
- Custom Imagery
Tag doesn’t have to be triangles. As long as the right locations contain the right colors, Tag can take on any image. Powerpoint can be used to modify Tags to conform to images and there’s even a tutorial on how to make that happen.
Here’s the details on the release:
Due to significantly increased adoption of Microsoft Tag, we are pleased to announce the official V1 release of Microsoft Tag on May 27th, 2010. Several new features and updates have been made to the product, including improvements to the Tag Reader, a new Heat Map report, and availability of the Tag Reader in Italian, French, Spanish, Turkish and Simplified Chinese. Also, Tag’s basic services will now be offered free of charge. Tag’s ending of the "Beta" program requires an update to the Microsoft Tag Terms of Use that you initially accepted when establishing your web service account and/or completing the Microsoft Tag API application.
Microsoft Tag Web Service customers will be prompted to review the new Microsoft Tag Terms Of Use when next signing into the Tag Manager to create or manage their Tags. By clicking accept at login, you agree that any new Tags created after the "Beta" program ended on May 27th, 2010, will be governed by the new Microsoft Tag Terms Of Use. At your option, Tags created during the Microsoft Tag "Beta" program can continue to be governed under the Microsoft Tag Beta Terms of Use or these new Microsoft Tag Terms of Use. You will still have access to Tags and their related reports that were created during the "Beta" program, even if you decide not to create new Tags using the new Microsoft Tag Terms of Use.
Users of the Microsoft Tag API will not need to reapply for a new API key due to these updates. By your creation of Tags using the Microsoft Tag API after May 27th, 2010, you agree that your use will be governed under the new Microsoft Tag Terms of Use. Any Tags created prior to this date can continue to be governed under the Microsoft Tag API Beta Terms of Use or the new Microsoft Tag Terms of Use at your discretion.
For more information, visit:
Kurt Shintaku's Blog 