2D Barcode Discussed by Mobile Execs Today

Sometimes, 2D is better.

The 2D in this case is the barcode, and it might soon be the target of a world's worth of mobile phone cameras, if the stated goal of a London meeting of mobile executives is achieved. That meeting is to take place today, and representatives from Nokia, Vodafone, Sony Ericsson, Deutsche Telekom, and other industry leaders are slated to attend.

We have this technology already, of course, if the we we're talking about is South Korea and Japan. Customers in those countries certainly can use their mobiles to scan barcodes and find out all manner of pricing and manufacturing information about a host of products. But the we that is North America and Europe lags in that department. Common software is a big reason for this, but disagreements on implementation have held up such cooperations in the past as well. It is hoped that the London meeting will change all that.

Basic agreements on how to catalog and report barcode information are vital, as are manufacturers committed to the technology. DuPont has been up-front in its desire to affix 2D barcodes to cans, bottles, and other types of packaging for its products. Other companies seem poised to follow DuPont's lead. With any luck, all of this will come together at roughly the same time and we won't be kept waiting, again.

Cell phones could soon turn into sell phones

Comparison shopping could be the next big thing for the multi-use devices

In an age where cell phones have become the ultimate multitasking device, a handful of entrepreneurs are hoping to add another use: comparison shopping.

Manhattan-based Scanbuy offers a similar application for cell-phone users who have an unlimited data plan.

The niche of people using these services is still small, but the companies are eyeing an ever-growing population of cell-phone users who are becoming increasingly accustomed to accessing the Internet on their phones. In a December survey by the NPD Group, a Port Washington, N.Y., market-research company, 40 percent of subscribers had some form of data plan, and of those browsing the Internet on their cell phones, 75 percent visited either eBay or Amazon.com.

Scanbuy's 2D barcode technology to be embedded in MediaTek's global mobile phone platform

Scanbuy Inc., a global provider of wireless commerce solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with MediaTek Inc., a global leader in consumer and communications IC solutions, to embed Scanbuy 2D barcode technology in MediaTek's platform marketed to handset manufacturers globally.

MediaTek, a global supplier of wireless communication chipsets and the leading supplier in the greater China market, will offer the Scanbuy barcode technology to all its handset customers throughout the world.

Several key customers are already in testing phase with the technology.

"MediaTek's global handset customer base makes them an ideal partner," said Jonathan Bulkeley, CEO, Scanbuy. "We're pleased MediaTek is committed to bringing the advanced functionality of our proven barcode-capture technology to their handset partners worldwide."

Serving as a cooperative partner with mainland China's largest cell phone brands, JiChang Hsu, VP, Wireless Communications BU, MediaTek, said: "We have seen increasing demand from our handset customers barcode-capture technology and we chose Scanbuy because of their state-of-the-art technology and commitment to customer support."