The End of Shopping is here. The barcode scanning technology, mentioned in that Times article Guy touched on, actually exists and If you have a camera phone and either T-Mobile or Cingular, you can
download the software for free and start scanning for the lowest price
around. This is how scan-commerce works, after you download the software from ScanZoom, you take a picture of the barcode on the product you want to bargain hunt. Your phone will then automatically send you price comparisons/reviews from either Pricegrabber or Amazon.com.
SCANBUY, the creators of this new technology, also plan to include price comparisons of other brick and mortar shops in your locale and they will even beam you driving directions. Shopping 2.0: Shop until your camera phone drops.
There is also, Semacode, who are bridging the real world and the web world in their own way. They’ve created a free system that also allows camera phones to convert bar codes into URLs.
Northwest Airlines is putting this technology to good use. They currently have billboard ads that are embedded with coded URLs plastered throughout Japan. Consumers can take a picture of the code with their camera phone and it directs them
to a mini site which features a game where you can win, you guessed it, flight coupons. These UPC-URLs are also becoming increasingly common in Japanesse magazines and business cards. Barcode scanning has become a basic feature on our camera phones, we just don’t know it yet!
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Yes, its impact will be seen especially on retailing practices. Prices would be more transparent, and profits would be decreases. Here is anoher technology trigger this trend: http://www.tagit.tv
On the other hand there is some opportunities for retailers. For example, i am in a bookstore. Then, i like a book so much. I snap its barcode and send to this service. Finally, service recommends me some other new book based on my tastes.
Or, i like a new red T-shirt. I don’t know what is best fits with my new T,shirt. I immediately snap its barcode and learn what is best fits with my T-shirt.
December 10th, 2005 at 5:55 am
niced report Rob! Keep em coming
December 10th, 2005 at 11:41 am
I have been following this type of technology for a while now. It is very exciting. One thing to note about this whole arena – Scanbuy’s main competitor, Neomedia Technologies (http://www.neom.com), is suing them for patent infringement. Neomedia, which uses their PaperClick platform, claims the rights to this type of tehnology by means of owning 10 to 15 patents (http://www.paperclick.com/patents.jsp).
We’ll see how this all plays out, the case is running through the courts now. I think that the ramifications could be large.
Another thing to note – Virgin Entertainment actually settled with Neomedia earlier this year after also being sued for patent infringement. They are now licensing PaperClick.
December 10th, 2005 at 2:30 pm
That’s some pretty interesting facts, Clay. I was reading about a patent infringement somewhere but It was missing the details. It seems like this technology is playing out real fast.
I guess it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get a new camera phone with a BIGGER screen. Barcodes have created a new bridge between traditional media and mobile media. It’s going to be interesting to see how this unfolds…
December 10th, 2005 at 2:53 pm