Tesco and Subway exploring the loyalty card enabled smartphone

[slitchfield]

Every store has one, and they want every customer to have one. The loyalty card is one of those inventions where everyone seems to win – the customers get special offers and discounts, while retailers build both brand loyalty and market research on shopping habits. And in the modern world, they’re making the jump from your wallet to your smartphone, as Tesco and Subway join the ranks of virtual loyalty cards.

Read on in the full article.

[alexanderclaus]

applications are in their infancy, and yes they have been spotted on other platforms; Tesco’s Nick Lansley has said that they started with the iPhone “because I have an iPhone so it seemed like a good place to start.” Now that the technology has been proven in the marketplace, it’s time to reach out to other platforms.
alexander claus
austin air

[amwebby]

It would appear this is only available for touch phones. Why?

If he started by developing it for the iPhone, how come it's an Ovi download, and why Java?

[gazza_d]

Just tried this in my local Tesco, not good.

Firstly I was informed that the tills on the normal checkouts were not capable of scanning the barcode on the app, and was directed to Customer Services.

Their scanner fared no better, and the poor girl had to type in the numbers. Only saving grace is that they were legible, unlike my worn-out club card.

Felt a bit of a geek as well, although both assistants said that several had also tried.

[Rafe]

gazza_d - I salute you as a man of progress... impressive geek credentials I feel.

Very nice and beneficial strategy!

Very amazing and beneficial invention!

Dunno if it makes any diff. But the subway app worked flawlessley on my 3GS, scanned it first time and got my points added pretty much straight away, so thumbs up for the Subway app from me. No idea about Tesco though, I'm an Asda man lol

[spaceprobe]

Limited use since surely most Nokia owners shop at Waitrose (whose home shopping service does have an Iphone app)

[lovesign]

I've now tried this at my Tesco store both on self service checkouts and at the petrol pump and it's a massive fail, I'm afraid. The scanners simply refuse to pick up the code.

Just another in that long line of disappointments and let downs with the N97.

[davesmith]

I couldn't get it from the Ovi store as it said it didn't support non touch screen phones and I have a N86. However in Subway store posters say goto m.subway.co.uk, and it installs the app fine. It appears to be working for me.
I've yet to try the tesco's one yet.

This is great news for me as I hate carrying so many loyalty cards around in my wallet.