We mentioned it previously, but we have decided to license our barcode scanning libraries for iPhone and Android at no cost. There is no fee. Users of the library agree to our simple license agreement whereby they agree to three primary terms. First they agree to provide us with any source data – i.e. data that is called by the client scanning app (in our case it is product and pricing data) – and resulting data – i.e. data that is generated by the client app (in our case it is the location data). Companies that license the library agree to provide the data for the life of the application (even if the application stops using our library for any reason). Second they agree to keep the ‘powered by ShopSavvy’ branding and link provided inside of the library. Third they agree NOT to redistribute our scanning library without permission.
If you are interested please complete the following and email to sales@biggu.com:
- Name of Company:
- Address of Company:
- Name of Company Representative:
- Email of Representative:
- Phone of Representative:
- Name of App:
- Platform(s):
- Description of App:
- Source Data Description/Sample:
- Result Data Description/Sample:
Our current platform supports Android and iPhone 3GS (and slow 2G/3G scanning). Our next release should support Android, iPhone 2G/3G/3GS, Windows Mobile and Blackberry. Here is an example of the branding inside the scanning library:
Since the launch of ShopSavvy in 2008, we have had two primary competitors – Google and Amazon. Last week Google launched their THIRD barcode scanning shopping app (1st was Barcode Scanner (open source project by Google folks and 2nd was Google Goggles) called Google Shopper. All three are great apps. Lots of people have asked me, “So is this the end of ShopSavvy?”
The simple answer is, “I hope not.” Google and Amazon are NOT the sort of competitors a startup should take lightly, but I do think their (repeated) entrance into our space is good news. We really stumbled onto something when we our app first won Google’s Android Developer Challenge and (obviously) they didn’t over look this fact.
100% of our focus is on making ShopSavvy the BEST shopping application on the market. Our goals are simple:
- No. 1 INFORM the user
- No. 2 EMPOWER the user
- No. 3 INSPIRE the user
We have been doing No. 1 for about 18 months. We are just about to offer No. 2 with our payments integration. Finally, we hope to complete No. 3 by the end of the second quarter. Earlier this month I wrote about focusing on what your competitors are doing in a post titled, “Negative Target Acquisition“. We will keep trying to make ShopSavvy the BEST shopping application on the market. Ironically, Google’s new app has DRAMATICALLY increased our download volume. We are adding new users at a level we have NEVER seen before. Google’s PR effort is amazing, but interestingly my Google Alert’s for ‘ShopSavvy’ have been going off every hour as a new stories mentions both Google’s new app AND ShopSavvy. It is insane. So, I just wanted to thank Google for all the PR. We will continue to attempt to innovate and users will decide the ultimate winner(s).
Holy cow! 21.9 million Android handsets per year! Greg Kumparak has the stats in a post titled, “Google: Android now shipping on 60,000 handsets per day.”
We have talked about our QR Code program before, but I thought it was worth a second post. The adoption of two-dimensional barcodes in marketing and advertising has been hampered by proprietary standards. Too many companies have spent too much time attempting to monetize a very simple, but powerful feature. Ironically, there has always been an alternative, open standard called a Quick Response or QR Code. Anyone can generate a two-dimensional QR Code pointing to any website for free. Additionally, millions of mobile phone users already have QR Code capable readers like ShopSavvy®.
The biggest problem with QR Codes is that American consumers don’t know what a 2D barcode is. They need some help understanding how to react to a QR Code printed on a billboard or in a magazine advertisement. Our ‘Scan with ShopSavvy’ program was designed to solve this problem. Millions of ShopSavvy users already use the application to scan 1D barcodes, but many of them have no idea that ShopSavvy will scan open standard 2D barcodes (i.e. QR Code), but they do understand the concept of scanning.
Our ‘Scan with ShopSavvy’ program allows brands to leverage our ‘trained’ user base by including our ‘Scan with ShopSavvy’ badge anywhere they print a 2D barcode. Consumers can use ANY QR-capable scanner (50+ today), but the program attempts to short circuit the call to action by showing the user he can use an application he already has on his smartphone.
The program is free for almost all brands. Our goal is to promote QR Codes, ShopSavvy and build great relationships with brands. Interested? Brands simply need to email sales@biggu.com and explain the planned usage of our badge prior to use. Permission will be granted to almost all brands. Camera-ready art of the badge is available for download:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/109866/scanwithshopsavvy.zip
Basic tracking is included for FREE as part of the QR code generator and includes:
- Total click tracking
- Click tracking (today, past week, past month, total)
- Referrer tracking (today, past week, past month, total)
- Location tracking (today, past week, past month, total)
- Conversation tracking (number of tweets, shares, comments)
Enhanced programs area available including geo-targeted content. Use the consumers location as a trigger for alternative content. Show a user in a specific store or city a different experience. Please contact our sales department for more information.
ShopSavvy is current available on Android (Droid, Hero, Nexus, Eris, G1, MyTouch) and iPhone 3GS. We are currently working on versions for:
- Android (all AF camera versions) – Launched!
- Android (Devour, Tattoo, Lancaster – i.e. non-AF cameras) – June 2010
- iPhone (2G/3G – i.e. non-AF cameras) – Launched!
- Windows Mobile – July 2010
- Blackberry – Nov 2010
- Symbian/Nokia – Launched!
- PalmOS – June 2010
Based on our current workload and staff these dates seem reasonable. Of course, our iPhone version took us almost three months longer than we expected (and we still don’t have the 2G/3G working well). We get LOTS of emails each day, hopefully this update will help.
Got this email from a user who just got back from Haiti and thought I would share it.
Alex,
I was in Haiti a couple of weeks ago rescuing people after the earthquake when I was looking for a way to make the donation money that was tricking in go further to buy more shovels and water for the rescue efforts. I pulled out my iphone and used ShopSavvy to find a great deal at the local Target on rope and a torch blower. It helpd us save 4 peoples lives.
Chad
Of course I am confident Chad would have been able to save those four lives without ShopSavvy, we appreciate the story.
