Veritec Increases 2D Code Intellectual Property Portfolio

I wonder if this patent covers reading a torn, marked, or other defaced 2D codes.

From Yahoo Biz Major 2 Dimension Code patent granted to Veritec

Veritec is the pioneer and patent holder of two dimensional (2D) matrix coding technology and have been actively licensing their IP to Fortune 1000 companies.

The U.S. Patent Office granted Veritec, Inc., of Golden Valley, MN, U.S. patent number 7,159,780 for an advanced two-dimensional symbology reading system. Chief Design Engineer, Michael Christian is the inventor.
The patented technology overcomes reading and decoding issues prevalent in earlier reader designs, particularly when only a portion of the two-dimensional code is readable.

The newly-granted patent clearly establishes and protects Veritec's proprietary two-dimensional symbology reading and decoding systems and substantially enhances the company's product advantages in several markets.

Abaxia's MobileTag Links With Nokia And Provider

Another physical world connection player, MobileTag makes inroads with a telecom provider.

From M2 MobileTag featured in Nokia N70 Black in France

Abaxia , a leading specialist in embedded mobile software solutions, has today announced that its smart barcode reader application MobileTag , will feature in the Nokia N70 Black in France. The MobileTag application, which has been customised for a major Telecom group, will offer N70 Black users fast and direct access to huge libraries of content that is continually and automatically updated, including online services such as Wap or Web portals, simply by taking a picture of a Tag.

MobileTag is an embedded application that enables camera-phones to read and decipher data matrix prints, known as 'Tags', which appear as a small square symbol that can be inserted into any text on a paper document, on television, or any kind of advertisement.

Cedric Mangaud, CEO of Abaxia says "By linking with Nokia and major operators, we are offering users the ability to use their cameraphone to access a wide variety of mobile content in a fast and efficient way that has not been possible before"

All The World Is Connected

It is being called the "Internet of Things", "everyware", "pervasive computing", I refer to it as "Physical World Connection".

Wired News has a great story about Physical World Connection (PWC) titled All The World's a Tag

The basic idea is that a slew of emerging technologies -- RFID tags, wireless networking, portable devices hooked up to satellites, wearable computing -- will make objects in the real world act like the internet currently does. They'll be labeled, tagged, searchable and traceable, laden with tiny radio stations transmitting information to us, and storing information about us.

Information and environment will meld.


The author Nick Currie, gives some examples of PWC that include QR Codes, a physical world hyperlink.
QR Codes are simple printed labels, one step beyond bar codes

Tripletail Ventures Is A New Physical World Connection Player

I am happy to announce that Tripletail Ventures is being added to the rapidly growing Physical World Connection company list .

These are companies that utilize any type of Physical World Hyperlink to connect the physical world with the Internet.

Tripletail Ventures, Inc. is a Research and Development firm that has some important technologies for the PWC and Mobile Coupon space. Their goal is to collaborate with companies to bring two patented technologies to the marketplace:

1.Tagged Barcodes. By embedding tags (such as XML) into 2D barcodes, data can be efficiently entered and processed by disparate systems through a quick scan.

2.Video Barcodes. Enabling barcodes to be scanned from a cellphone screen, computer, ATM, or TV opens many opportunities for receiving and using coupons or tickets in a purely electronic format.

See their demo videos of real-world applications using Tripletail's application.

Patents around their "Data Without Boundaries" technology include
6,764,009
7,070,103
7,118,040
7,150,400 plus other pending patents.

Tripletail divisions include:
cpn2me.com enabling mobile barcode coupons.

Imagine receiving personally customized coupons on your cell phone and redeeming them with a scan of your phone at the check out counter. Imagine never having to keep track of paper coupons, vouchers, and membership cards again. This is all possible with Video Barcode™ technology

Video Barcode enabling barcodes on video screens.

Video Barcode™ (VBC) technology moves traditional physical barcodes into the digital realm of LCD displays, TVs, cell phones, and PDAs. Applications for VBCs are numerous and include: Mobile Tickets, Mobile Coupons, Mobile Membership, Mobile Vouchers, Point of Sale VBC Catalog, Online VBC Catalog, and Split Barcode Security and Verification. Many of the functions of a physical barcode could be performed by a VBC, but without printing costs, cumbersome updates, or misplaced paper.

tkt2me.com enabling mobile barcode tickets.

Imagine entering a movie theater, concert, or sporting event merely by showing your cell phone. Thanks to Video Barcode™ technology, tickets can be bought online, electronically sent to your cell phone, and redeemed with a simple scan at the point of entry.

Tripletail Ventures is looking for collaborators and licensees to incorporate our patented Video Barcode™ technology into the quickly expanding market for Mobile Tickets and Mobile Coupons. If you are interested in using an application for Video Barcodes™, please contact malto:info@tripletailventures.com

Human Physical World Hyperlink Company VeriChip To Go Public

What I find exciting about this company, is they are demonstrating valuable uses for RFID technology, besides the common "track and trace" solution.

There RFID tag is being called the "barcode on steroids", not just because of the environments it can be used, but for the numerous dynamic applications it will offer.


From RFID Update Human RFID Tag Provider VeriChip Announces IPO

Applied Digital Solutions announced yesterday that it will take VeriChip public. Applied Digital manufactures security and identification products based on a number of technologies, including RFID. A subsidiary of Applied Digital, VeriChip manufactures the controversial human-implantable RFID tag of the same name.

Despite the perceptions of privacy advocates, those within the RFID industry itself typically do not see VeriChip as "one of them" but rather as a fringe company with an unusal offering that happens to be based on RFID technology. Furthermore, VeriChip targets non-traditional areas in which most RFID companies do not compete, like patient identification, infant protection, and wander prevention

Physical World Connection Billboards

The latest step will be seen Monday in four cities when Mini USA begins delivering custom messages to Mini Cooper owners on digital signs the company calls "talking" billboards.

The boards, which usually carry typical advertising, are programmed to identify approaching Mini drivers through a coded signal from a radio chip embedded in their key fob. The messages are personal, based on questionnaires that owners filled out.(permission is granted) Filling out the questionnaire is giving Mini USA permission to advertise.

Physical world connection: A RFID tag (or any physical world hyperlink PWH) is scanned, verifies the user/product in a database, and delivers a message/info to a display (billboard, cell phone)

In this case the user/driver is being scanned and info is being delivered to him. The big opportunity is when physical objects with a PWH are scanned and info is provided. By scanning a 2d code, barcode, the user is effectively giving a brand permission to deliver relevant info/advertising to the scanner.

The technology is now widely used in chips implanted in pets and livestock, in cards that control access to buildings, and in devices for automated payments of highway tolls. Major retailers and manufacturers are investing in systems to tag and follow products as they move through the supply chain.

Imagine what interesting applications will be delivered when you register (only with permission) your RFID enabled cell phone. Who will be in control of this data? Who will be in charge of getting permission, phone manuf or providers?

If done properly, this could be a very powerful tool for mobile marketing.

RuBee An Alternative Protocol To RFID

There's a new type of physical world hyperlink to add the list, the RuBee radio tag .

RuBee, also known as IEEE 1902.1. The emerging standard is expected to give retailers and manufacturers an alternative to RFID for many applications.

Proponents say RuBee networks would operate at long-wavelengths and accommodate low-cost radio tags at ranges between 10 to 50 feet. The standard will allow for networks encompassing thousands of radio tags operating below 450 kHz and target real-time inventory under harsh environments (key feature), even near metal and water and in the presence of electromagnetic noise.

While RuBee's similar transmission range and cost would make it seem like a replacement for current RFID applications, its relatively slow speed makes it unsuitable for tracking the numerous, moving products in a typical warehouse. RuBee-enabled devices will also have the advantage of transmitting data directly to the Internet.

Mobile Codes Consortium..A Consortium Or a Conundrum?

A group of Physical World Connection (PWC) companies are getting together to create a "standard" 2d code physical world hyperlink. A standard 2d code would allow quicker adoption of this industry.

By having a "standard" mobile code, it would make it easier for mobile phone manufacturers, wireless carriers and mobile marketing companies to implement this technology.

I agree 100% with this idea, but I question the motives, the companies, and the timing of this effort.

From the document:

To enable the simple experience for marketers and consumers, the industry needs standards.

This document is a mission statement for the mobile industry, to create a consortium for a new mobile marketing ecosystem based around camera phones and 2D barcodes. A market-driven, open-standards approach will allow 2D barcodes to act as a catalyst in mobile internet adoption, mirroring the growth of web adoption over the last ten years.

Let me make a few suggestions.

1. Analyze all the mobile codes available from all of the physical world connection (PWC) companies.

You can find a list of the PWC players here . Determine what code is best suited for the MOBILE today and going forward. While the QR code may be considered the most common 2d code, it was initially designed for industrial use and will have limitations going forward for other upcoming Web 2.0 applications.

Look forward to see what codes are being designed for camera phones. There are better options than the QR code or Data Matrix code.

2. Analyze any patent issues that are present, or could develop. One of the companies within this consortium has a pattern of suing (and is still in the middle of a suit) other PWC players and has done a fantastic job of slowing PWC adoption in the U.S. . Now they want quicker adoption?

Is there a questionable motive here?

If this company is eager to see PWC get adopted, do their lawsuits impede this progress?

A PWC company not part of this consortium, has been licensing one of these proposed codes. If they are not included, could this present a problem with this "standard".

I would ask all participants to leave their intellectual property (IP) at the front door when they enter. I suspect this would change how "willing" some of these participants really are for a standard.

3. Outside of this consortium, things are happening rapdidly. Because of this, one could question the timing for this consortium and a "standard". Once again, I agree there should be a standard, but why are these companies proposing it now?

In the last couple months there have been 2 major PWC events (1. 2 ) from 2 different companies with proprietary mobile codes. They were no obstacles landing a major brand or getting a wireless carrier adopt their platform.

Has a major Asian carrier just shown us there is a better mobile code option than the QR code by adopting Nextcode's proprietary mobile code platform .

OP3 , Nextcode , BeeTagg and SemaCode haven't had any problems getting their proprietary mobile codes adopted, why not ask them how they did it. Or at least include them in this consortium for their input.

You can read the MC2's entire statement and the companies associated with it here (pdf)
The html version

If you're on the Physical World Connection list, or if you're a stealth PWC player, I suggest you email these guys and voice your opinion.

Comments and suggestions encouraged.

TellMe Disrupts The Mobile Search Space With Speech Recognition 411 For Mobile

The first thing I thought is TellMe could disrupt the mobile search and info space pretty quickly with this application.

I see a couple opportunities for TellMe with this mobile application.

First off TellMe gets into the advertising business and creates a division selling "Voice Words"

TellMe could start a domain registry for specific words Sell specific words, that companies can use in various mobile applications (advertising, commerce) that when said over the TellMe network, would direct the mobile user to a specific site or content.
TellMe develops a direct to connect mobile application.

Advertisers incorporate "TellMe" words into all forms of advertising similar to SMS shortcodes and keywords today.

Would TellMe's voice platform be a great acquisition for Google (voicewords for advertising) or Verisign (offer voicewords with domain registration)?

TechCrunch has the scoop on TellMe launching a Killer Mobile Product

If you have a cell phone that supports the new TellMe mobile application, you will never use 411 again to find a business. It launches today at 5 AM PST.

TellMe mobile is a free Java application that you install on your phone. You can then find normal 411 information via a voice activated menu. Just hold the talk button and say the city and state you are searching in. Then say the business name. Phone and address information comes up on the screen. You can then call the business, see a map and/or get driving directions, and send the information to a friend via SMS. The best part is that the service is completely free.

For now the service is only available to Sprint and Cingular customers.

Would you download this application for this service?

Chances are you have probably used TellMe without knowing it when you used a voice recognition service to get a stock quote, track a package or find flight info.

How much longer before we see a speech recognition browser? Or a combination of GPS and search functions with voice?

Thoughts comments?

Smart Communications Licenses Nextcode's Physical World Connection Platform

I think Nextcode is the first U.S. based Physical World Connection company to have their platform incorporated by a wireless carrier.


The Philippines generate more SMS traffic than any other country and it says a lot that an innovative mobile provider like SMART chose Nextcode's platform for the next generation of mobile marketing and mobile commerce.

"SMART is recognized around the world as a leader in advanced mobile applications offerings," said Jim Levinger, CEO of Nextcode Corporation.

Nextcode Corporation, a worldwide leader in optical bar code scanning technology, announced today that Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART), the leading Philippine wireless services provider with 22.9 million subscribers, is the first major carrier to license Nextcode's ConnexTo(TM) for Carriers platform.


The ConnexTo carrier package enables carriers to deploy sophisticated barcode scanning-based services to subscribers. The carrier platform provides software that allows camera phones to read codes, and tools to create and manage code-based programs for content discovery and merchandising, mobile marketing, commerce, community and other subscriber services.

Nextcode's technology is designed to be cost effectively deployed and managed easily. It operates on standard camera phones without requiring modification to phone hardware or optics. It provides unmatched flexibility and usability for subscribers, advertisers and content providers.

The mCode:
1. uses much less space than a QR code
2. is much more reliable
3. provides more security than a QR code
4. can offer more applications than a QR code

Based on the size of the code, the size of data is most efficient with an mCode.

Some mCode examples

"The code scanning platform that Nextcode provides significantly enhances our ability to bring innovative new services to our customers," said Napoleon L. Nazareno, president and CEO of SMART.

More information about Nextcode and their ConnexTo platform.

Physical World Connection A Top Trend

The Institute for Global Futures came out with their 2007 Global Trends Report.

In the top 10 trends, 2 of the trends are based on, or use, Physical World Connection.

3. Always-On Connectivity - The pervasive Internet is coming in 2007 and will connect everyone—business, customers—everywhere, and all the time, across borders, supply chains and industries. WiFi will be everywhere. Entirely new supply chains, markets and industries will be born from this always-on connectivity. New business models that deliver real-time value all the time anywhere and everywhere will redefine industry—get ready now for this shift. Business must embrace this trend and customers will expect it.

5. Get Smart: Products That Think - Talking, thinking, sensing products are coming. Biometrics, GPS, RFID chips in products, always-on Internet devices, clothes and connected cars. Every product will be online, chatting and sensing us. A new world of smart products will provide features, upgrades, connections, memory, information, diagnostics to enhance customer and enterprise value. There is a dark side--privacy advocates beware.

From more info visit Global Futurist

A list of companies that can play a role in this upcoming trend is here

Physical World Connection Implementation Next Week

There will be an announcement next week about a major carrier implementing a Physical World Connection platform.

They are a U.S. based company, and they are on the list .

Mobile Marketing 101 Permission Comes First

When Sprint announced they were laying off 5000 employees, and Apple unveiled their iPhone in the same week, it got me thinking.

I did a piece called We Interrupt This Broadcast a couple years ago that explained where mobile marketing would be going. These same issues exist today.

Are we seeing another industry, another commodity business, that can't change.
They, along with the other carriers are trying to find a way to tap into mobile advertising and increase ARPU.

Wireless carriers are in a sense, able to place their own "toolbar" or home page, on the mobile, why aren't they monetizing this?

What happens to wireless carriers when VOIP and WiMax aren't just concepts? What happens when voice is free?

With all of the upcoming mobile applications, shouldn't this be an exciting time for a mobile operator?

Advertising is about to encounter a significant obstacle with the mobile phone. Will mobile carriers be able to figure out how to get permission from consumers in order to reach them at anytime and anywhere?

It all boils down to permission and creativity.

Advertisers can't just slap a 30 second ad on the highest rated TV shows/channels anymore. The consumer has Tivo and DVRS which allow the consumer to retrieve, or be in control of "permission"

Satellite radio has taken the advertiser out of the picture.

Internet pop ups and banners didn't get permission from the consumer and that advertising method ultimately failed. That won't happen with mobile advertising, permission must be granted first.

When and how did Internet advertising take off? When a free application (search engine) was introduced that provided relevant information, advertisers could place advertising along side of that information. It's a give and take relationship. I will give you permission to advertise to me when I get/take relevant information from you.

If the latest text message campaigns from NBC's TV shows are any indication of how advertisers should implement mobile marketing, then there is HUGE opportunity for anybody with any creative thinking. Send a text (and get charged a fee) for a chance to win $10,000. They are building a huge database that can't be used because they are not getting permission.

This is the best they can do?

A company that seems to be doing everything right in mobile marketing is Qtags.

Qtags is doing a great job of landing big clients that are using their short code 78247 for various campaigns. Brands are using a keyword and the Qtag shortcode on various forms of medium to get interested consumers to initiate a relationship (ie permission). Take a look at some of the big brands they have landed and their latest campaigns

For now I see two methods or approaches to mobile marketing, direct and indirect. Each has their own method of gaining permission from the consumer.

Companies like 4INFO will provide ads along side of text message info queries (phone number listings, sports scores, stock quotes, weather etc). They are provided advertising next to info you are searching for (indirect mobile marketing)

The other method, like Qtags, is direct mobile marketing. A magazine ad, radio spot or TV commercial will invite people to send a text message to a specific shortcode for more info.

Eventually the shortcode will be replaced by a 2d code that users can click on with a camera phone for more info or to be directed to a specific website.

A common complaint I hear from mobile marketing guys is the length of time to get a short code. Imagine if it took close to two months to get a domain name.

Here are some of the variables I see for mobile marketing.

The amount of time to register a shortcode may force advertisers to use a shortcode "portal".

Major short code owners (Yahoo, Google 4INFO) offering LINK words, become SMS portals.

Percentage of mobile phones with cameras and increased resolution of the camera.

2d code generating sites...could replace the shortcode/keyword method when people can create their own physical world hyperlink .

RFID Has Infinite Potential

I think it's a safe bet that the market for using various forms of RFID to monitor items (dynamic) will be significantly larger than using RFID to identifying items (static).


From TUV Product RFID has infinite potential, panelists say
Radio frequency identification (RFID) could have "infinite potential" for advertising and retail sectors, a panel of experts has claimed. (Don't forget industrial use).

According to panellists at New York City's National Retail Federation, 2007 could be the year in which RFID application methods are advanced, after 2005 was the year of "hype" and 2006 the year of "validation", Electronics Supply & Manufacturing reports

Mobivity Offers Do It Yourself Mobile Marketing

Add Mobivity to the Mobile Marketing company list

Whether you want to send coupons, a simple text message response, or connect to an elaborate SMS application or API, with Mobivity you'll be connected instantly! Their shared short code service is simply the easiest and most inexpensive way to integrate text messaging into your business


You simply choose a KEYWORD that identifies your company. Your customers, and prospects then send a text message with your keyword to our short code (95495).

Take the free trial

Take a tour of how easy it is to build your own mobile marketing platform.

Ode To The BarCode

Angel has a great summary of the various types of codes (barcode, 2d codes etc) and their origins.

Physical world connection companies mentioned include:
Cobblestone Software
Semacode
ShotCode
Veritec

An extensive list of companies that using barcodes, 2d codes and other physical world hyperlinks to connect physical objects to the Net can be found here .

meshBee Offers More Than Mobile Coupons

Imagine a world where businesses can send real-time information, coupons, ads or other messages directly to consumers who are interested and near. That same world would allow consumers to receive this type of information in a friendly, reliable and personalized way.

Outermesh's flagship product called meshBee is a patent pending proximity-based mobile coupon and direct marketing solution based on new innovative technologies.

The solution creates a powerful new touchpoint between advertisers, retailers and consumers.

The vision of Outermesh is to empower people with real-time information about people, places and things in the physical world.

Advertisers create and manage targeted marketing campaigns, while shoppers receive relevant, personalized and contextual deals through a fast and friendly medium. Unlike conventional mobile marketing solutions that use text messaging or WAP, meshBee offers a very unique delivery mechanism that shoppers are eager to use

Microsoft's Barcode Scanning A.U.R.A. Called A Powerful Tool

Scanning any barcode (or 2d code) with a camera phone and connecting to targeted websites, (Physical World Connection) will indeed create power to those that recognize this next-generation Internet opportunity.


Ryan Stewart over at ZDNet discusses Microsoft's A.U.R.A camera phone barcode scanning application and says this application has the potential to be a powerful tool for consumers and developers. (I would include corporations/brands too)

I hope the A.U.R.A. project sees the light of day but it's very cool to see what Microsoft Research is working on. This has the potential to be a powerful tool for the consumer and developers (as well as stores) that can take advantage of something like this have a huge head start. I can see a broad range of barcode applications that use A.U.R.A. as a starting point and build on its solid foundation. I think this kind of interaction is one in which RIA developers need to take a long hard look.

Download the AURA mobile client here .

A.U.R.A. requires close, focused pictures of barcodes to convert the image into a decoded string. Many Windows Mobile devices have cameras that cannot focus at the close distances required by A.U.R.A. To work around this you can apply an A.U.R.A. Lens Kit to your phone. Microsoft will send a lens kit to anyone who sends a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Project A.U.R.A. Lens Kit Request
Microsoft Research, Community Technologies Group
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
United States of America

ShotCode And Winksite Offer Physical World Hyperlinks To Mobile Webpages

Being mobile and accessing mobile content has never been easier.

Did you know that creating a mobile webpage can be as simple as creating a webpage for ‘the regular Internet’? WinkSite

Did you know that instead of typing a lengthy Internet address on your mobile phone, you can access each mobile webpage in three clicks? ShotCode

This is why Winksite and ShotCode , highly compatible companies, have decided to join forces to provide connections between the physical world and the mobile Internet.

ShotCodes are circular sequences of black and white blocks (2D codes) that represent an internet address. By installing the free ShotCode software on your mobile phone you extend your camera’s functionality into that of a ShotCode reader.

The ShotCode works much in the same way as the reading of barcodes in supermarkets, you point your phone’s camera at a printed ShotCode, click, and your phone’s browser is automatically connected to the corresponding internet address.

Currently ShotCode and Winksite are in talks with several large international brands to offer the combined service bundled with promotional products such as personalized t-shirts, Winksite/ShotCode business cards, personalized ShotCode stamps, stickers and more.

See how ShotCodes work

David Harper, founder of Winksite , “ShotCode’s unique shape makes for an attractive and recognizable symbol that is easily branded or used in more personalized outings. With customers such as Coca Cola, Heineken and Xbox, ShotCode has proven to be the frontrunner in this exciting market. We’re enthusiastic about offering these real world hyperlinks to the Winksite mobile community for free.”

Make your ShotCodes here

Create Your Own Physical World Hyperlink RFID Tag?

Create your own physical world hyperlink RFID tag.
This story has some interesting physical world connection potential.

Vernon Hills-based Zebra Technologies said Thursday it has agreed to buy WhereNet Corp., bolstering its position in an up-and-coming technology known as RFID.
Zebra will pay $126 million in cash for the privately-held WhereNet

Zebra is involved in 'passive' RFID, meaning it prints labels that can be read only when a wireless scanner is within 10 feet.

WhereNet makes 'active' RFID labels and the wireless systems that read them. Active RFID tags are battery-operated, and send out signals that can be read from 1,000 feet away.

Having a website and being able to print a shipping/postage label have allowed anyone to sell any product anywhere.

What companies and services will be created when an individual user can create their own RFID tag and scan it with an RFID browser ?

Apple's iPhone Offers More Than A Phone But A Killer Platform

Apple probably has to go down as one of the first companies to link the physical world with the Internet.

When you download a song on iTunes from the the Net, and then transfered to an Ipod (mobile device), indirectly and in reverse order you created a physical world connection.

Apple and iTunes got millions of people (especially the targeted demographics) to link a mobile device to their PC. The disruption isn't in the iPod or the Nano, but in the iTunes platform. I think the same thing will occur around the platform for the iPhone.

I see the iPhone being more than just a communication device that surfs the Net and holds music. An iPhone pplication could provide the platform for two of the fastest growing industries, mobile marketing and mcommerce.

An iPhone application on the PC could link your mobile world to your PC.

If Apple can make it as easy to interlink a mobile phone and a PC (like they do with iTunes and an iPod), they could become a mobile marketing and mobile commerce powerhouse .

I know iPhone won't be the name of Apple's new phone, but I use the term because it's easy to identify.

Apple could do what every wireless carrier dreams of, tying your PC world with your mobile world. iTunes provided the conduit for the PC and mobile worlds. The iPhone will provide the Internet access.

Your iPhone application on your PC becomes a place where you store all of your mobile search requests, text messages, pictures, phone calls (think voIP applications), mcommerce transactions (soon). Yes a universal remote control but with a website that allows control and review.

How many times in the last 6 mos have you logged into your wireless account online?

I have often wondered why wireless carriers don't spend more time marketing a "MyCell" webpage. They are sitting on an advertising and customer relationship goldmine but they are ignoring it.

Apple Computer Inc. will finally end the rumors and announce a cell phone today with wireless service from Cingular Wireless LLC, a news report said.

Apple and Cingular team up for cell phone

Rather than tie itself to a single service provider, Apple is likely to introduce an “unlocked” phone that can be used on different networks.

Would you allow Apple to deliver ads on your iPhone if they compensated you with extra minutes?

Apple can provide a billing platform for movie tickets, coupons, airline tickets.

Go to iTunes or the iPhone application, download a ticket for Jimmey Buffet concert and get a 2d code, barcode on your iPod/iPhone. The billing is ALREADY IN PLACE and you just wave your iPod/iPhone at the door.

Apple has already tapped into a Physical World Connection application

Just imagine the possibilities if the iPhone has a camera too.

Thoughts comments?

Mobile Phone And Barcode Called Disruptive Technology

I expect to see more tech magazines and pundits recognize the physical world connection and physical world hyperlinks as disruptive technology.

From GizMag ScanBuy Barcode software on your camera

January 8, 2007 From time-to-time, we see a potentially disruptive technology of such magnitude we ponder its ability to shake the foundations - Scanbuy rates in that category.

The whole story

Google And China Mobile Get Ready To Link The Physical World With QR Codes

Last year Time Magazine named "You" as the Person Of The Year because "You" made an enormous impact when "You" created and uploaded digital content to the Net.

The next transformation and major impact for the Internet will be when "You" link physical objects to it and "You" will play a big role in that too.

I don't imagine it will be much longer before Google introduces a 2D code creating application.

When Google signed a deal with China Mobile for mobile search services, and China Mobile will be delivering a preinstalled QRcode reader, it means the physical world will soon be connected ( in China for now) .

China Mobile's subsidiary ASPire Technologies is handling the QRcode service.

Google would just need to add a QRcode creator site, to one of it's applications/menus, and just about ANYTHING online or in the physical world could be connected using a mobile phone.

I know there are free 2D code generating sites out there, that's not the point. The money isn't in creating 2D codes, it's in scanning them with a mobile phone.

When a platform as big as Google's implement ANOTHER form of search, advertisers will follow. Google is all about CREATING and finding content on the Net. Think of QR code as a "mobile keyword".

Pay per click is replaced by pay per scan for mobile info, not search.

Big Mouth Media sums it up pretty good.

What happens when a high percentage of a country's population, as in China, don't have access to computers and hence the internet and their search engines?

Start thinking of the camera on the mobile phone as the browser. Instead of typing lengthy URLS, users will be able to click on QR codes, or physical world hyperlinks.

BeeTagg Passes One Hundred Million Tagg Mark

The guys at BeeTagg have been as busy as, well, you know.

A couple weeks ago they were named Start Up of the week by Cash, the largest financial newspaper in Switzerland.

BeeTagg , a physical world connection player with a unique code, is running probably the biggest mobile tagging game in the world so far.

Overall they are publishing over 100 million BeeTaggs in several media campaigns.

This is the second PWC player that has publicly quantified the number of codes in a mobile marketing campaign. We are starting to see some physical world connection metrics.

OP3 recently announced their ShotCode was being placed on 40 million Sprite bottles.

Gradually physical world hyperlinks (2D codes) are being attached to content in addition to the ones that already exist (1D code) and the physical world is being connected.

It is my opinion that the next big trend after uploading content to the Internet, will be to tag, (add a physical world hyperlink) to physical world objects.
BeeTagg already offers the ability to link items on eBay.

Sponsors of this tagging game include Sony, Orange, Fujitsu, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, Freixenet, Lipton. Media partners include Blick (biggest newspaper in Switzerland) and Heute

The mobile tagging game is based on the famous European computer game character Moorhuhn . Users are placing their codes in the real world and media partners are publishing codes in their newspapers, posters and even radio broadcasts.

Supported phones

Get the BeeTagg reader

Create your own BeeTaggs and attach them to Flickr, a blog, business card.

Don't have a camera phone? Their BeeTagg Reader Lite allows a user to enter a number or keyword and be directed.

Scanbuy Receives Mobile Barcode Patent

Scanbuy , a physical world connection company best known for scanning a barcode with camera phone, receives barcode and mobile device patent.


Patent # 7,156,311

System and method for decoding and analyzing barcodes using a mobile device

The present invention discloses a system and method for decoding barcodes using mobile device.

Generally, the barcode image is acquired via a digital camera attached to the mobile device.

After the barcode image has been acquired, software located on the mobile device enhances the barcode image and subsequently decodes the barcode information. The barcode information is then transmitted to a server via a wireless network. The server processes the barcode information and transmits media content related to the barcode back to the mobile device

They were just recently listed as a company to watch in 2007 by Microsoft's Don Dodge.

Mobile Phone Makers Sued Over Bluetooth IP

Just having a broad patent isn't a business model.

The WRF was smart to let the major industry players (cellphone manuf) incorporate Bluetooth before throwing their weight around and stifling the adoption.

From ZD Net U.S. Group sues over Bluetooth IP

An intellectual-property management group has sued mobile phone makers Nokia, Samsung Electronics and Matsushita-owned Panasonic for infringing on a patent for wireless Bluetooth technology.

"Defendants have manufactured, used, imported into the United States, sold and offered for sale devices which, or the use of which, infringes at least the '963' patent," Washington Research Foundation said in a complaint filed at the U.S. Western District Court of Washington at Seattle. WRF helps manage investment in and licensing of technology developed by researchers in the state of Washington.

The WRF complaint targeted products containing Bluetooth chips from British chipmaker CSR, which is the world market leader for chips that wirelessly connect electronic gadgets such as cell phones, headsets and laptops.

CSR, which was not immediately available to comment, was not sued by the research group. And CSR rival Broadcom, based in the U.S., has acquired a license to use the radio frequency receiver technology, which was patented in 1999, WRF said.

Engineer Jaap Haartsen, at Swedish mobile phone maker Ericsson, has been credited with the invention of Bluetooth during his research work in the second half of the 1990s.

Ericsson donated the technology, royalty-free, to create a large market for its applications. Since then, hundreds of millions of mobile phones, headsets and laptops have been equipped with Bluetooth chips every year