Augmented Reality Is Here

Back in August, Coldwell Banker Real Estate launched what it says was the first-ever international home search application for iPhone and Android-powered devices. Since then it’s been “game on” with portals and agencies vying to get their iPhone and Android apps to the public.

Most of us a comfortable with the basic iPhone Apps, but what is Augmented Reality, and how are agents and portals using it?

According to Wikipedia, Augmented reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are merged with (or augmented by) virtual computer-generated imagery – creating a mixed reality. Basically, what you see through the camera in the iPhone or Android phone is supplemented by computer imagery and information.

One of the companies taking the AR world by storm is Layar, which has just released the Layar Reality Browser 2.0 (see below). The big news is that Layar is now available worldwide from the iTunes Store, which many think will lead to an explosion of apps and innovations.

Last week Fast Company Magazine mentioned trulia.com’s Layar augmented reality application as one of the Top 5 to watch. trulia.com’s app uses Layar’s Reality Browser to overlay listings on top of a Google phone’s camera view. Users can scan a neighbourhood’s available properties and even connect to the realtors.

And trulia.com is by no means the only portal involved in AR.

The Netherlands’ market leading property portal, funda.nl, has already partnered with Dutch mobile phone company SPRXmobile to be part of their new “augmented reality” mobile application. And the number two ranked property portal, jaap.nl, has released a free app for the Android market.

Over in France, meilleursagents.com has taken things one step further by releasing a mobile android application that displays the property value of every single building in Paris in price per square meter.

In Portugal casa.sapo.pt has just introduced Layar technology as well for the Android and iPhone markets.

The proof of AR’s potential will be when people – or consumers – really start using it. iPhones are already experiencing massive surges in users. Just this week Redfin revealed some interesting statistics about their iPhone traffic: iPhone traffic is now 10% of Redfin’s site traffic on the weekends.

1. funda.nl to Create Augmented Reality

   funda.nl, the leading property portal in the Netherlands, will reportedly be partnering with Dutch mobile phone company SPRXmobile to be part of their new “augmented reality” mobile application....

2. idealista.it Joins Layar Search Providers

   Italian property portal idealista.it has released a home search application for Android and iPhone 3GS users using Layar’s augmented reality software. ...

3. meilleursagents.com Mobile Android App For Paris

   France's meilleursagents.com has released a mobile android application that displays the property value of every single building in Paris in price per square meter....

4. booli.se Listings on Layar

   Swedish portal booli.se has joined the ranks of property websites offering an “augmented reality” search with the release of its Layar-based application. A booli.se blog post explains that iPhone and Android users will now be able to install Layar and see nearby booli.se listings wherever they point their phone....

5. A Big Week in Mobile

   The past few days have seen a number of developments in the world of mobile property search, with news from nestoria.co.uk, loopnet.com, seloger.com, and immobilienscout24.de. nestoria.co.uk has just announced the release of a property search application using Layar's Augmented Reality (AR) technology, which will be included with Samsung Mobile UK's new Galaxy Portal phone. The UK property search engine says we can expect a full run-down on the application, along with a video demonstration, in the next few days....