Nokia and Orange bring paperless tickets to Edinburgh

LONDON – Mobile phones are usually a nuisance to theatregoers, at least when they ring during Hamlet's soliloquy, but a new text-based ticketing system being trialled at this year's Edinburgh Festival could change all that.

The system, being used by Festival sponsors Nokia and Orange, will allow customers at selected events to order tickets that will be sent by SMS text message in the form of a barcode. The barcodes can then be scanned at the box office.

The system has been developed by an Edinburgh-based start-up called Mobiqa, which claims that the barcodes work with around 90% of phones.

Michael Anthony Jackson, commercial director of Mobiqa, said: "Mobi-tickets will provide festival-goers with a fast, easy and alternative way to obtain tickets via their own mobile phones. As the tickets are delivered immediately, there is no need to queue at the box office to collect them, so people can spend more time making the most of the festival experience."

Nokia and Orange are marketing the new ticketing system with a special 2-for-1 promotional offer, in conjunction with Beck's, giving festival-goers the chance to mingle with the stars of the festival at the 'Talk Back' sessions, held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights during the festival.

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .

You have

[DAYS_LEFT] Days left

of your free trial

Subscribe now

Get a team licence 

 Give your teams unrestricted access to in-depth editorial analysis, breaking news and premium reports with a bespoke subscription to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10.

Find out more

Market Reports

Get unprecedented new-business intelligence with access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s new Market Reports.

Find out more

Looking for a new job?

Get the latest creative jobs in advertising, media, marketing and digital delivered directly to your inbox each day.

Create an Alert Now