- Re: ShotCode — of course being “ShotCode compatible” is far different from having a reader installed that works well. Perhaps the better question is how many phones have reader technology that users understand and can use? I think QR Code wins there.

- Re: advertising versus communicating message — not entirely sure what it means but Google is definitely provides advertising, not branding or messaging, services. QR Codes might be a means to either.

- The zing barcode reader does not ship with Android partly because it might be viewed as giving favored placement to one barcode app. In fact, two other good readers popped up, which is good.

- The project goal always been, more broadly, to promote good reader technology. This is why we link to other sites, readers, technologies, companies — even those that compete with our primary patron, Google. It certainly doesn’t mean we don’t think our reader is good stuff. We would be dishonest to say we think our stuff is the best in all cases, so where it’s not, we just suggest other solutions.

- One comment makes a key point: most of these formats people bandy about are proprietary. They face quite an uphill battle against free, open, established formats like QR code and Data matrix. Frankly, I can’t imagine any of these proprietary formats succeeding at this point. Betting on these two open formats is just the obvious choice at this stage.

- I do not see why Data matrix “does more” than QR Code. They both encode text, period. Some say Data matrix is a bit more efficient, but it’s harder to detect too. I, personally, prefer QR Code, technically.

So much talk of this code and that code, this company and that company, this application and that application – wow – must mean there’s something worth debating!

But, let’s not overcomplicate this whole code+reader issue. Quite simply, the two main points are that 1. you have a very robust and clever ‘decoder’ i.e, system to enable the code reading and 2. that you’re better off decoding world standard codes – because they are already tried and tested and approved, and therefore easily applied, i.e. 1d barcodes (albeit effective, they have limited use), Data Matrix and latterly QR. Proprietary codes work, but you need specially programmed readers – so your exclusivity becomes your limitation.

At the end of the day, this is a business and anyone from an ad agency to a packaging company needs revenue from this mobile access and interaction – not just gimmickry or simply connecting to a url.

For those that want a further insight…

QR does have major exposure as it was the ‘first’ to gain mass exposure for Mobile Access and Interaction, because, as you know, it was necessary for the Japanese kanji (their huge alphabet) and Japan created an instant success by making all cameraphones read QR (with a special macro lens switch) and by ensuring therefore that QR was the code of choice there, albeit that Data Matrix existed as a world standard prior to Denso Wave’s creation of QR.

However, whilst it was the first ‘to gain mass exposure’ on a consumer level – it doesn’t ‘necessarily’ follow that it’s the best. In fact it’s not just about the code but also about the reader capability, and taking that one step further, the applications and solutions that ‘code + reader’ can provide.

So, in fact one has to add DataMatrix into the pot too – because the jury is still out on which code (or even if both codes) take centre stage for the future. One thing’s for sure, the use of codes needs to generate a revenue stream directly or indirectly to make it a viable business proposition – as you say, simply linking to a www. is not enough and should be free anyway.

So intelligent solutions. Then perhaps it’s time to ‘think again’ and evaluate readers – yes QR can do all you say, but so can DM and in fact DM can do a whole lot more than QR (and yes it is already used extensively in packaging and commercial applications).
Any application worth evaluating should already read both QR and DM (and even 1D) because reading the codes is essential but beyond that it’s not what you have it’s what you do with it, or should I say it’s what you ‘can’ do with it.

Mark Hendriksen
CEO
UpCode Mobile Solutions

I firmly believe that any brand manager or advertising agency not trialling Wireless Media should be sacked! Let’s get together on http://mosecure.wordpress.com and hear your thoughts too …

They have built their product in the typical Finnish way: Build a technically advanced product and hope it will sell itself. As they have done this for a couple of years, its clear that their strategy has not really paid off.

ZXING reader will be preinstalled on ANDROID application. We expect the launch of the platform in 2008. ZXING reader is not performing. That’s the reason why Google directs us to other readers’ web site:
http://code.google.com/p/zxing/wiki/InterestingLinks
I believe that GOOGLE will have to acquire one of the following companies: Nextcode, Neomedia, Scanbuy, Kaywa,…
Let’s not forget that Google acquired Neven Vision (Mobile Visual Search) in 2006. Microsoft has also developed its Mobile Visual Search application. http://research.microsoft.com/ ~ /
Http://research.microsoft.com/vision/InteractiveVisualMediaGroup/

Google will push the adoption of 2D codes technology on a global scale. It is only a matter of time. I also believe that Google will join the Mobile Codes Consortium (MC2). Here are some reasons:

“OMA, GSMA, MC2, major telcos, Nokia, Google all working in the same direction…”
http://mobile.kaywa.com/qr-code-data-matrix/joel-on-software-compares-apples-and-oranges.html

GS1 has probably decided to collaborate with the MC2.
http://tinyurl.com/39mhm2

Google, Publicis Working Together on Digital Ads Technology. January 22, 2008. Collaboration between Google and Publicis Groupe.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=publicis+group+and+google&btnG=Search
Publicis Groupe is one of the founders of the group MC2. Google and Publicis Groupe want both use the 2D codes technology for advertising in newspapers, in magazines… It is also important to mention that Mauritius Levis, the CEO of Publicis Groupe, is a man who looks enormously to the new technologies. In December 2006, Publicis Groupe has acquired Digitas for the sum of 1.3 billion dollars.
Meanwhile, Google has made an offer to acquire DoubleClick.

The NeoReader ushers in and inaugurates a brand new era of innovative mobile enterprise and optical code reading solutions for the wireless industry. Visit get.neoreader.com to download the free application, and instantly transform your mobile phone into a universal code reader.

How many readers will a person need on their mobile device to reader all of the proprietary codes?

The Neoreader offers the best option for a mobile barcode and physical world navigation tool.

Why not build around it? Anyone???