Not that it makes me the prognosticator of prognosticators, but I called it:
Important Notice to our Microsoft Tag Customers
To our valued Microsoft Tag Customer,
This August 19, 2013 notice is to inform you that the Microsoft Tag service will 
terminate in two years, on August 19, 2015. We are providing this two year termination notice in accordance with our Terms of Use for the Microsoft Tag Service located at this link: http://tag.microsoft.com/tag-terms-of-use.aspx See Section 2 – Availability of Service; Changes to the Agreement & Service, paragraph 2.1.
Through August 19, 2015, you will be able to continue to log into your existing Microsoft Tag service account, use existing Microsoft Tag codes, generate new Microsoft Tags, and run reports as usual.
To help you prepare for the termination of the Microsoft Tag service on August 19, 2015, Scanbuy has been selected to support Microsoft Tag technology on the ScanLife platform beginning no later than September 18th, 2013, and to offer transition and migration services to Microsoft TAG customers who choose to migrate to the ScanLife platform. This transition path will help you to continue running your campaigns using Microsoft Tags on the ScanLife platform.
Scanbuy is the largest provider of QR codes and runs ScanLife, a cloud-based mobile engagement platform for creating personalized, uniquely tailored experiences for consumers to digitally engage with brands in their everyday surroundings through smartphones.
If you wish to learn more about the ScanLife platform you may contact Adam Gold, VP of Sales at adam.gold@scanbuy.com or call 212-278-0178 x 400.
We thank you for allowing us to serve you as our Microsoft Tag customer. If you have questions that Microsoft can assist you with please contact taginfo@microsoft.com.
Respectfully,
Eric Engstrom,
General Manager, Microsoft
Given Microsoft’s product launch track records (now where did I put my Zune?) it didn’t take a genius to know that Microsoft Tag probably wouldn’t be around for long. Unfortunately when you’re up against an open source solution (QR codes) that has a higher adoption rate you’re starting an uphill climb. QR codes haven’t reached consumer mainstream conscience in the U.S. just yet, but part of that is the fault of marketers and business owners who slap QR codes on things and don’t provide any value to those who take the time to scan them. Taking someone to the Home page of your non-mobile-friendly website after they just scanned your QR isn’t going to earn you any brownie points, and it’s going to train consumers to ignore QR’s.
How long do you think before Microsoft gives Windows 8 the axe? It couldn’t be a moment too soon….