There were more than 12,000 hits on the ZapCode by readers hoping to win a Sony Ericsson mobile phone. The contest was featured in The Straits Times, The New Paper, Lianhe Zaobao, My Paper and Berita Harian.
To zap the code and participate in the contest, readers need to have compliant camera phones, ensure that their phones have the correct GPRS or WLAN (wireless data transfer technologies) settings and download the free ZapCode reader called ColorCam.
ZapCode i s a 3D colour barcode encoded with an Internet address for a WAP site (a webpage optimised for the mobile phone). SPH NewMedia is the master distributor and licensee in Singapore for the code developed in Korea.
Bringing interactivity to print, ZapCode is a hit with readers. Ms Joanna Chan, a 32- year-old homemaker, says: "It has a personal touch and you feel that you are involved in the advertisement."
Polytechnic student Ong Chong Ern, 17, agrees. He says that the code enables him to go beyond passive reading. "It really engages young people and sparks our interest."
ZapCode is easy to use. Both Ms Chan and Mr Ong find it a breeze to zap the code. Mr Ong says: "The interface was very intuitive and very fast. It's quite cool actually - very creative and out of the box."
ZapCode also saves readers from having to memorise Internet addresses and type them into their phones. Database admini s t rator Gavin Wong, 27, who surfs the net on the phone regularly, feels that the code makes it easier for him to navigate to WAP sites.
With its ease of use, interactivity and popularity with readers, ZapCode is here to stay. As financial adviser Daniel Chua, 34, says: "If the code is very common, like SMS, then why not? I'll use it, especially if I really need the information behind it."
To use ZapCode
Ensure that your mobile phone has the correct GPRS or WLAN settings. Visit www.zapcode.com.sg for help on configuring the phone or call your service provider. You'll need a camera phone that supports Java, Symbian or Windows Mobile with GPRS/WLAN, and at least 35kb of free memory.
Next, download ColorCam by sending an SMS with the word 'Zap' to 73300 for post-paid users and 9741-9401 for prepaid users or via WAP at zapcode.sg.
To zap, open ColorCam in your phone, point the camera at ZapCode and shoot a picture. Almost instantly, information from the WAP site will be transferred to your phone. You can also get movie trailers and music files via ZapCode. GPRS charges for accessing online content on the mobile phone will apply.
