(ams AG) announces AS3990 solution to facilitate paperless couponing on smartphone

ams AG (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide designer and manufacturer of sensors for consumer & communication electronics, today releases AS3990 turnkey solution for 1D barcode mobile couponing. Mobile couponing has seen success through 2D barcode and radio frequency identification, but the last blocking wall remains standing as 1D barcode is not guaranteed readable when presented on the smartphone display. Smartphone screen has a polarized surface and results in less reflective IR energy returned to the barcode scanner. But 1D barcode remains dominant in retails POS. In fact, over 350 million paper coupons with 1D barcode are issued every year for use in retails in United States. These paper coupons consume approximately 13 million trees. 99% of them were never redeemed. With AS3990 embedded smartphones, users no longer have to use traditional paper coupons, but can download the coupon through their distributors online. Then simply places the upper front end of the smartphone close to the barcode scanner, the smartphone will transmit the barcode pattern to the barcode scanner.

This novel application does not only replace paper coupons but also eliminates physically carrying membership cards, gift cards and lottery slips that use 1D barcode.

ams achieves this solution through strategic partnership with Mobeam. This solution is a tiny hardware package containing ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, IR emitter led, which are components already needed for most smartphones, and a hardcoded algorithm that emits IR signal pattern readable by any 1D barcode scanner.