Price: FREE Score: 8/10 Category: Lifestyle
1Card, developed by tracknose, attempts to combine rewards cards and mobile coupons in one single iPhone app. It’s a smart, convenient idea whose time has definitely come.
Granted, the current version has aspects that are only supported in Italian, but that doesn’t diminish the potential that 1Card could have in the coming years. Let’s be honest: who wouldn’t love to ditch all those stupid plastic keychain fobs and loyalty cards for a streamlined virtual wallet that’s housed right on your phone?
It’s surprisingly easy to transfer your card info: any physical card showing either a barcode or a regular number can be inputted, and then scanned at the register.
Even cooler is the ability to collect and collate mobile coupons: Get yourself to one of the locations marked on the coupon map and collect mobile coupons to be used at the checkout. Display the barcodes for the coupon on your smartphone and have them scanned to use at the checkout, as you would with a loyalty card.
Now, to deal with that pesky language barrier. As the English language support and features are fleshed out a bit more, this iPhone app could really take off. In our conversations with the developers, we learned that while the company has Italian origins, tracknose will be based out of San Francisco.
For shoppers, the 1Card is a no-brainer. For retailers, getting onboard now makes good sense for future dividends. Retailers can join when they go to www.tracknose.com, activate their Loyalty program, and monitor Stats & Analytics. Whether you’re buying or selling, this iPhone app is one to watch in the coming months.
1Card is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.