Layar pioneers new augmented reality experience on mobile platforms such as the iPhone and Android.
Publishers on the Layar platform now have the option to offer priced augmented reality experiences on multiple mobile platforms such as iPhone and Android.
The content store will be seamlessly integrated into the Layar Reality Browser, which is already used on more than 1.6 million mobile devices globally.
The Layar Payment Platform will support multiple payment providers and multiple currencies to serve various local markets.
The initial payment provider is PayPal, which will support payments to residents of United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
More countries, currencies, payment methods and payment providers will be added regularly.
Any publisher ready to start exploring the medium and monetising their content can go to the Layar website to check out how it will function.
First publishers to use the Layar augmented reality platform
• Berlitz City Guides: Berlitz helps people experience the city’s highlights.
• eTicketapp for Disney World and Disneyland: Helps find and navigate all attractions in Disneyland and Disney World.
• Eyetours: Allows people to explore Puerto Rico’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage through video content.
• UK sold prices: Find out for what price that house was sold.
At the announcement, Hubert Haarmann, director eBusiness of Berlitz, said: “For Berlitz Publishing, this is a great opportunity to forge ahead in the new medium of augmented reality using Layar. It helps us sell products successfully, now and in the future.”
How Layar will work with publishers
Layar will facilitate payments between the end-user and the publisher. Publishers receive 60pc of the net proceeds.
Android users who are residents of the US, the UK, Canada or Australia can start buying layers as of now, after installing the new version of the Layar Augmented Reality Browser. The iPhone update is soon to follow.
About Layar
The Layar Reality Browser currently has more than 1.6 million users.
The free Layar Reality Browser is available on Android devices and iPhone 3GS. The Layar Platform is available for anyone to create their own augmented reality experiences.
More than 500 layers are published on the Layar Platform with more than 2,000 in development. These layers are developed by the global community of 3,000 Layar publishers and producers, and by brands and agencies. Layar is located in Amsterdam.
For more information and screen shots, go to Layar’s website.
By Carmel Doyle
Photo: Screenshot of how the Layar augmented reality platform will look to the end user. View of the Palais de l’Isle Hotel in Annecy, France
