Hasta La Gadget!

If it isn’t bad enough that we’re being bombarded with advertisements in every form possible, some Japanese companies devised another way to directly send ads to cell phones. Using nothing but light as a form of data transmission, the process works through the use of blinking LED lights.

The new system allows advertisers to place LED-containing ad stations around an area to interact with the LED lights on the phones. A user as far as five meters or more (depending on the size of the ad station) can receive advertisements instantly. As with other legitimate types of ads though, users can choose which ads to download by pointing the cell phones towards the ad station – advertisers only have to change sending frequencies to alter the ad sent to the user. Aside from the ads, users can get coupons from advertisers for freebies and discounts.

According to MobileCrunch, two of the companies from the roster of those involved in the development of the new system are huge corporations, Toshiba and NEC. It will take a few more years before the system makes its way into the market though, because cell phones equipped with LED light receivers are needed to make it work. Target year of commercial release is 2013.