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Today, Denver-based FullContact releases its latest version of Card Reader, a business card transcription mobile app that allows contact information to directly scan into the largest CRM systems, rather than hide under old takeout napkins and chopsticks in a desk drawer. The latest release of Card Reader focuses on the amalgamation with Zapier, which allows for the app to interface with over 250 other applications. This makes Card Reader the No. 1 card scanning application, participating with more services than all of the others combined.
FullContact’s release comes on the heels of last week’s statement from LinkedIn that it is closing its CardMunch product after acquiring it in 2011, opening the door for FullContact’s latest version of Card Reader to reach even higher levels of success. “Even though LinkedIn never really capitalized on its acquisition, it was still a great product,” said Brad McCarty, Content Director at FullContact. “With its closing, FullContact is now the only business card transcription app that uses real people instead of unreliable character recognition.”
The use of real people to scan business cards helps boost the appeal of Card Reader, and also why it enjoys an accuracy rate exponentially higher than its computer-scanning competitors.
McCarty also reminds us that despite some believing the hype behind business cards is waning (much to the chagrin of Patrick Bateman), it’s a multi-dollar business. Anyone who gets slipped a business card is given an opportunity – one that is easily lost if the card is misplaced, or in cases like mine, thrown in the washer with whatever pants I was wearing that day. Card Reader replaces the archaic Rolodex with easily accessible storage through a personal CRM or address book for those who prefer to live in a world where they don’t have to do their own alphabetizing.
Into less formal networking? Card Reader is the only application that doesn’t care if you’re not “business-y” enough. “Someone scribbled their name and email on a napkin? No problem. The card is square and has to be folded in half to be read? We can handle that, too. If it’s on the card, it’s in your contacts,” said McCarty.
FullContact sees Card Reader as a two-fold product. “First, it’s a great way for people to scan business cards and that’s enough to have gotten it some fantastic traction,” said McCarty. “But beyond that… when you download Card Reader, you can also sign up for a FullContact Address Book account. That’s where the real magic happens.”
Once in Address Book, Card Reader can do an Internet search to find out more about your new contact, including finding Twitter handles, LinkedIn pages, personal websites, and even rough geolocation data. “One of our goals is to help people have a more complete picture of the person behind that email address,” said McCarty.
Now live in iOS App Sore and on Google Play, Version 3.1 of Card Reader can be used by both iPhone and Android users. Offering 10 card scans for free, additional card scans can be purchased for $9.99 per month for 100, or $99 per year for 1,200 scans.
FullContact recently acquired Cobook in January and looks forward to growing its capabilities. Also on the horizon is FullContact Address Book for iOS due later this year.
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