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Cambridge-Based Letting Agent Employs Barcode Technology for Mobiles in UK FIRST Scheme
14 January 2010, Cambridge, UK - Forward-Thinking Letting Agent Martin & Co launches a UK-first scheme to help tenants search for their perfect property using the latest phone technology.
Martin & Co’s new initiative uses quick response graphics, known as QR codes, which when scanned using a barcode reader application installed on a camera phone take users to a website encoded in the image. The codes can be used to access a variety of information available through the Martin & Co Cambridge website www.cambridge-martinco.co.uk (and on Martin & Co’s optimised mobile website www.mobile.martinco.com) including property details, maps, images and contact information. The technology also enables users to contact the Martin & Co office by email, phone or text at the touch of a button.
Julian Diggle, IT director, and one of three local brothers and landlords that own and run Martin & Co in Cambridge, said: “We believe we’re the first letting agent, not only in Cambridge, but in the whole of the UK to promote and implement the use of QR codes in this way. In years to come this technology will be everywhere!”
Bar codes can be scanned from the Martin & Co website where they are displayed alongside standard property photographs. They are also available in the agency's Mill Road office in Cambridge, and on the agency's printed property listings. Martin & Co plans to roll out the use of QR codes in a number of areas to support its property marketing efforts, and to ultimately speed up the time in which suitable tenants are found.
Nick Diggle, director, wrote: “We wanted to enable our prospective tenants to get more from our website, and to be able use our property details, maps, local info and other web-based features to better effect. Now tenants can store and access a wealth of property information on their phones ahead of viewings, and easily share them with one another. We hope our prospective tenants will feel better informed and will enjoy a more interactive experience.”
Many new mobile phone handsets now come with bar code readers pre-installed, and there are a variety of bar code reader applications available free of charge from the iphone app store and other mobile application marketplaces. The software is fast becoming one of the most frequently downloaded mobile apps. In October 2009, The Times newspaper listed a bar code reader as the number 1 iPhone (News - Alert) app that saves users money (Top 10 iPhone Apps to Save You Money, October 11, 2009).
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Notes to Editors: About Martin & Co Cambridge
Martin & Co Cambridge is owned and run by local brothers and landlords, Charlie, Julian and Nick Diggle. They set up the agency in 2007 with a mission to combine best practice lettings, local market knowledge, top quality customer service, and a refreshingly-different proactive approach. Martin & Co’s Cambridge office is based at 191 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN. Telephone: 01223 275 150. Email: cambridge@martinco.com. Website: www.cambridge-martinco.co.uk.
Martin & Co is a franchise organisation and is recognised as the UK’s Number 1 Letting Agent, with over 170 offices spread across all four countries in the UK. The Cambridge branch is a licensed member of the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS), a government-backed organisation set up to maintain proper standards of professionalism, best practice and compliance in the UK lettings industry.
The Cambridge office is also registered with The Property Ombudsman and uses the government-appointed Deposit Protection Service (DPS) for all tenant deposits, and the agency is also audited for best practice every 6 months and holds all client monies in a bonded client account.
Martin & Co UK Ltd holds Investor in People status, and runs a year-long internal training academy for all Martin & Co staff, with internal consultants and external trainers from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). Started in Yeovil in 1986 by Chairman Richard Martin (News - Alert) the company was franchised in 1995 and is a full member of the British Franchise Association.
Press Contact:
Nick Diggle
Director
Martin & Co Cambridge
nick.diggle@martinco.com
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Thrupoint is committed to providing unsurpassed technology and consulting services to leaders in the networked economy. We deliver value to our partners by giving them access to our award winning Ubiquity communications platform and NGIC Applications. Our ecosystem is at the ready to help propel the sales of our partners with best-in-class technology solutions, combining strategic resources to deliver high-value competitive advantage to our clients.
