Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Partners With JAGTAG to Deliver First of Its Kind 2D Barcode Initiative

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Sports Illustrated expanded their partnership with JAGTAG to change the way readers enjoy America's largest print media event, the 2010 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. The issue hits newsstands today and will feature JAGTAGs throughout the magazine, providing readers with the opportunity to request and immediately enjoy videos of top Sports Illustrated models on their phones.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100209/NY52077)

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition readers can access the exclusive content by sending a photo of a "mobile beauty" JAGTAG, which will return a video via MMS directly to their phones.  Unlike other 2D barcodes, JAGTAG delivers swimsuit videos to both standard phones and smartphones without requiring the consumer to download an application or have access to the mobile web.

JAGTAG designed custom 2D barcodes for the program featuring a "bikini icon" within the code design (see example). Mobile Beauty videos will showcase Brooklyn Decker from the cover shoot, Olympian Lindsay Vonn, Bar Rafaelli, Jessica White, the 2010 "rookies" and more.

"The 2010 Swimsuit Edition is a mass media event and JAGTAG is the only 2D barcode solution capable of reaching a mass mobile audience," said Charlie Saunders, Executive Director of Integrated Marketing for Sports Illustrated.

JAGTAG's technology works instantly on all major U.S. carriers to reach 90 percent of all mobile users phones.

"We're delighted to provide Sports Illustrated with the opportunity to extend their mobile programs beyond smartphones to share their multimedia content with the other 75 percent of mobile users who don't own a smartphone," said Dudley Fitzpatrick, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of JAGTAG.  "JAGTAGs work with Sports Illustrated is the most ambitious 2D barcode mobile effort ever.  More than 60 million readers will have the opportunity to use their phones to instantly enjoy these videos."

JAGTAGs were featured within the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition's editorial last summer, as well as in advertisements and marketing materials promoting the upcoming 2010 issue that delivered mobile photographs of this year's "rookies." The campaign included magazine ads, transit advertising, phone booths, and Las Vegas hotel key cards.  The magazine first used the technology in July of 2009 for the successful launch of the Swimsuit Issue Archives. The promotional campaign was also broke new ground, as it was the first time a publisher has used 2D barcodes outside of their own magazine.

About JAGTAG

Unlike other 2D barcode systems, JAGTAG delivers multimedia to both smartphones and standard phones, without requiring the consumer to download an application prior to use. As a result, JAGTAG reaches three times more mobile consumers than mobile web dependent media. Anywhere a mobile consumer encounters a JAGTAG, they can use their phone to request and immediately receive multimedia content -- video, audio, pictures, coupons and text -- sent to their phone. To learn more, visit www.JAGTAG.com.

SOURCE JAGTAG