^{By Dirk Groten, CTO of Layar}

This week, in collaboration with Metaio and Wikitude, we here at Layar are very excited to announce that we are adding cross-platform interoperability into our mobile Augmented Reality apps. This will allow location based content (like Geo Layers) to be viewed on any of three AR browser platforms – The Layar App, Metaio’s junaio browser and the Wikitude app – regardless of which platform the content was created for.

Back in February at Mobile World Congress, we came together with Metaio and Wikitude to demonstrate cross-platform interoperability during an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) workshop. As of today, these capabilities are now supported by all three platforms. We will include interoperability in version 8.3 of the Layar App which is coming soon.

Publishers of location-based AR experiences can now use a single platform to create and publish their content and can use the new “ar://” scheme to promote their work. Users can open these experiences on any of the three AR browsers.

Right now, interoperability supports simple location-based points of interest (POIs) with a title, description and image. They can have basic actions with custom labels, including link to a website, get directions, make a call or SMS, play video or audio and send an email.

Features not supported include 3D models, complex interactions (scripting, server calls) and animations. The format used to exchange AR content is CARIF (PDF), which is based on ARML 2.0.

This is a huge step towards interoperability between the various AR platforms. We view this as only a first step, as a lot of work still needs to be done to get full interoperability between the various AR browsers.

We’re happy to see that our three companies were able to work together in such a constructive way to alleviate the pain of developers of AR experiences that have to work with so many different platforms. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey, and hoping that more companies can join this effort.

^{This following is from Arjen de Vries, Director of Creative Services at Layar.}

Today at Layar, we’re launching a whole new way for brands, advertisers, publishers and agencies to plan, create and execute Augmented Reality and Interactive Print solutions. We call it Layar Creative Studio, but before I get into the details, let me tell you a bit about myself.

My name is Arjen de Vries, and I’m relatively new to the Layar Team as the Director of Creative Services. I’ve previously worked in marketing, communications and advertising at various types of companies, including digital and creative agencies and leading publishers. I have years of experience developing strategies and concepts, as well as brand activation projects, often with strong digital components present.

In the current fragmented media landscape, the consumer has become an active communication recipient and initiator, and we have 24/7 access to information, social relationships and purchases. In order to properly connect with your audience in this new landscape, an approach completely different from that of 10 years ago is needed.

I joined Layar and the exciting world of Augmented Reality because I truly believe that AR has the power to add value to all kinds of businesses and industries, fundamentally changing the way consumers interact with brands in ways unlike anything seen before. Thanks to the growing adoption of smartphones, tablets and technological innovations like Google Glass, AR has quickly grown from something very technical to a basic technology of the masses. The “science fiction” future of AR is becoming more and more real each day.

With AR, it’s possible to instantly activate and engage with your audience. By making the most of the possibilities of their most personal device (camera, GPS, motion sensors, etc.), you can connect with your audience for branding, advertising, marketing and m-commerce purposes.

I joined Layar in March to head up a team dedicated to providing end-to-end service for companies looking to benefit from the possibilities AR has to offer. After a few months of preparation, we’re very proud to introduce the Layar Creative Studio today. The team is based in Amsterdam, but we will likely be expanding it to our offices in the U.S. and Canada soon.

The Layar Creative Studio team is here to help businesses create marketing and advertising solutions based in Augmented Reality to achieve clear objectives. We take the hassles and complications away with end-to-end service, advanced solutions, as well as professional consulting and training to help you get the most out of our tools.

Starting from your needs and objectives, our team of expert strategists, marketers, developers, designers and project managers will work with you to create the best possible AR experience and results. Whether it’s for magazine or newspaper content, print or outdoor advertisements, promotions, packaging or any other marketing and advertising venture – we’ve got you covered.

As founders of the world’s leading mobile AR platform, we know how to get the most out of our technology in order to create and execute outstanding solutions. With the insights we’ve gained from hundreds of thousands of AR campaigns, we’ve developed a deep, fact-based understanding of what does and does not work with AR.

Many of the world’s biggest names – Jaguar, Heineken, Vogue, Reebok, Elle, BMW, Inc., Glamour, Kraft, Walmart, Pepsi – are already making use of AR with Layar, so why not join them?

Let’s talk! If you’re looking for a distinctive way to activate and engage your audience while standing out from your competitors, contact the Layar Creative Studio today or reach out to me directly at arjen@layar.com.

Read our Layar Creative Studio press release.

The Vlaams Radio Koor (Flemish Radio Choir) from Belgium has created a series of 3D postage stamp videos for a new line of stamps, and the results are incredible!

As you can see in the video above, scanning one of the stamps with the Layar App displays a video playing inside a 3D model of a concert stage. The experience is incredibly immersive, as you can move in and out and look around inside the stage as a video message plays as the backdrop.

The video and Interactive Print campaign were produced and created by Havas Worldwide, one of the world’s largest marketing agencies. To promote a concert series of music based on letters sent by Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann, Havas created the idea for a “singing stamp” that comes to life.

How did they achieve this effect? It’s built from two basic components of the Layar Creator: a 3D model (using the HOTSPOT button in the Creator) placed on top of a video button. The resulting effect of being inside the concert hall is terrific!

Read Havas’ press release about the “singing stamp” for more information, including how to order your own set of the stamps!