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Skycore Creates Platform for Passbook Delivery Via MMS

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Skycore, a marketing and developer support firm, has introduced a new feature to its services platform to allow developers to send Passbook passes to users via MMS. The feature should allow more companies to use Passbook because they won't need users to download a dedicated iOS app.

Passbook was a new feature in iOS 6 that allows users to store frequently used items like gift cards or frequent shopper cards, as well as single use items like movie and airline tickets. Developers can have those cards appear right on the lock screen, targeted by time or location.

skycorepassbook.jpg
"As with SMS, the recipient of an MMS is instantly alerted on their home screen. An MMS pass recipient simply has to tap an image to view and install it. While we also deliver passes via mobile-optimized email and mobile landing pages, MMS is very useful for 'anywhere, anytime' delivery," said Rich Eicher, Skycore's CEO.

"A number of clients expressed concerns about relying on just their apps to deliver passes, especially for tickets, coupons, gift cards and IDs. While mobile-optimized email is a good option, MMS is ideal because the recipient instantly knows when they've received it, and they don't need to open their email client to find the pass," said Eicher.
Click to expand...
Skycore supports MMS Passbook delivery to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon customers.

Article Link: Skycore Creates Platform for Passbook Delivery Via MMS
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/05/24/skycore-creates-platform-for-passbook-delivery-via-mms/
street.cory

street.cory

macrumors 6502
Oct 13, 2009
379
168
Hopefully this takes off

I think the requirement to have an app is a detriment to PassBook. I don't fly much but when I do I like to have a digital boarding pass, and PassBook is great but many airlines don't have an app (or a usable app, Frontier for instance).
 
tevion5

tevion5

macrumors 68000
Jul 12, 2011
1,966
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Ireland
I love how MacRumors describes what Passbook is, to remind us that it is still on our devices, somewhere, there way off to the right....
 
Nicky G

Nicky G

macrumors 65816
Mar 24, 2002
1,148
1,284
Baltimore
street.cory said:
I think the requirement to have an app is a detriment to PassBook. I don't fly much but when I do I like to have a digital boarding pass, and PassBook is great but many airlines don't have an app (or a usable app, Frontier for instance).
Click to expand...

You DON;T need an app -- Passbook passes can be delivered via email today -- that's how my Baltimore Orioles tickets came to me after an order through their website. It was very slick.
 
T

Tiger8

macrumors 68020
May 23, 2011
2,479
649
street.cory said:
I think the requirement to have an app is a detriment to PassBook. I don't fly much but when I do I like to have a digital boarding pass, and PassBook is great but many airlines don't have an app (or a usable app, Frontier for instance).
Click to expand...

Says who that you need an App to add cards to your passbook? I was able to add Macys saving pass from their web site
 
M

Mikey7c8

macrumors regular
Sep 15, 2009
185
3
Montreal, Canada
tevion5 said:
I love how MacRumors describes what Passbook is, to remind us that it is still on our devices, somewhere, there way off to the right....
Click to expand...

You know though, I may have used it all of 5 times but it's been a pleasant and hassle free experience each time. ;)

I can see what they're trying to do with it, and I hope it works :)
 
Virtual Steve

Virtual Steve

macrumors member
Jan 24, 2012
58
27
street.cory said:
I think the requirement to have an app is a detriment to PassBook. I don't fly much but when I do I like to have a digital boarding pass, and PassBook is great but many airlines don't have an app (or a usable app, Frontier for instance).
Click to expand...

As others have already stated, there is no requirement to download separate apps to use Passbook.

Here's an excellent source for all kinds of passes (again no apps required).

From your iDevice, just point your mobile browser here:

http://www.passsource.com

Scroll down a bit, and under the "Let's get started" text, just click the big grey Create button.
 
street.cory

street.cory

macrumors 6502
Oct 13, 2009
379
168
Virtual Steve said:
As others have already stated, there is no requirement to download separate apps to use Passbook.

Here's an excellent source for all kinds of passes (again no apps required).

From your iDevice, just point your mobile browser here:

http://www.passsource.com

Scroll down a bit, and under the "Let's get started" text, just click the big grey Create button.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reference! I didn't think one would need to download the app to get a pass but not knowing about this website or experiencing the ability to add any of my other passes outside of an app, I was misinformed.

I guess I should have read the last line of the "Welcome" pass when I first opened passbook. "You can add passes to passbook through apps, emails, and websites..."
 
Parasprite

Parasprite

macrumors 68000
Mar 5, 2013
1,698
144
tevion5 said:
I love how MacRumors describes what Passbook is, to remind us that it is still on our devices, somewhere, there way off to the right....
Click to expand...

I use it for Walgreens, if it wasn't for that I'd probably assume it was some sports thing and leave it in the same folder as "Stocks" and "Voice Memos".
 
F

fishbert

macrumors member
Aug 20, 2009
78
145
All you have to do is attach a .pkpass bundle to an MMS message and give it a MIME type of "application/vnd.apple.pkpass" ... it's not like Skycore has invented anything new here.


The feature should allow more companies to use Passbook because they won't need users to download a dedicated iOS app.
Click to expand...
Again, nothing new here; common misconception that you need an app to use Passbook. (disappointed that Macrumors is perpetuating it here)
 
B

bjordan

macrumors newbie
May 25, 2013
1
0
fishbert said:
All you have to do is attach a .pkpass bundle to an MMS message and give it a MIME type of "application/vnd.apple.pkpass" ... it's not like Skycore has invented anything new here.
Click to expand...

Technically correct, but apparently only recently could pass providers send a .pkpass via all four of the major US Carriers. [It was part of Skycore's announcement.]

The takeaway for me is MMS is yet another way to deliver a pass. The 'best' way depends on the consumer and the pass provider's objectives, I think.
 
L

liavman

macrumors 6502
Sep 22, 2009
462
0
I have never received a pass by email. What is the User Experience? If I read the email in the iOS Mail client, does it know the email contains a pass and it will ask me if I want to add the pass to the passbook or I have to touch a link in the email which will then ask me...

When I flew before passbook was available, the airline sent an email with a link to an image. I used to simply touch and hold that image and save it to my photos. At the airport, I will bring that up at the security check.

Is passbook basically a simplification of the above procedure?
 
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