[youtube]sTERI1s-UyA[/youtube]Well, Stella Artois has just launched an AR iPhone app dubbed Le Bar Guide that is, so the company says, the "first global 3D augmented reality iPhone bar guide." Essentially it's an AR app that tells you where you can sink a glass of Stella's finest beer nearby to your present location, wherever that may be on the planet. And it therefore neatly wraps up AR's potential fun factor, usefulness, and commercial viability in one tiny app.
The blurb says the app is "for beer connoisseurs and lovers of fine bars around the world"--mostly that involves highlighting bars that serve Stella. But by letting you find bars that serve the brand by locality or rating, the app is promoting both Stella Artois' products and the establishments that actually sell it--damn clever. Thanks to the convenience of AR-assisted navigation to said bars (handy if you're already a little under the influence) it'll probably drive plenty of new foot traffic there. And with the words "Stella Artois" ringing in the mind of the app's users, it'll also likely be responsible for a healthy chunk of sales too.
Stella Artois tries AR with iPhone App
Stella Artois tries AR with iPhone App
Though I wouldnt really call it AR, but Stella does. They have an iPhone App that tells you where ever in the world you are, if there is Stella Artois available nearby.