Bar Codes, Not Just For Groceries Anymore

I published the Case Western Bar Code story before, but this article gives more details.

A group of Masters of Engineering Management (MEM) students is working to implement a 2D bar code system on campus this semester. This trial is the first of its kind in the nation

These bar codes can be read by almost any phone with a camera and the ability to access the Internet using a program called ScanLife. ScanLife turns the average cell phone into a bar code reader.

Here's the really valuable part. Imagine the value (for consumers and advertisers) of knowing all of the codes you clicked on and storing on a "MyCode" or "MyScan" portal? Opportunities are huge for this.

Students using the ScanLife program need to sign up for the service at www.mobilediscovery.com using a valid Case e-mail address. The MobileDiscovery website keeps track of scan history for the user's phone as well as the most popular scans overall.

Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon are all participating in this trial, and phones from some other services can be used as well.

Here's what I would do if I was Scanlife. (owned by ScanBuy)

Each user that downloads the application gets their own "MyScan" site.

Everytime I scan a mobile bar code, the action is registered and linked to this site. When I am at home on my PC I can check out what I scanned for more detailed information about that product/code.

Nobody will read any lengthy document, or video on their cellphone. Scanning a mobile code is spontaneous, advertisers can continue the relationship with the scanner on their PC. Brand X knows when and where you scanned their mobile code. Pay-per-scan information trumps pay-per-click don't you think?

Can you see why Google should be looking at ScanBuy?