Cell Phone Barcode Readers

According to a report in the Financial Times, some of the world’s leading mobile communications companies are to meet today to consider a plan that would help turn handsets into personal barcode readers – a move that could stimulate the first big mobile-driven advertising market. By pointing their camera phones at special 2D barcodes printed on advertisements or product packaging, users would be able to find out more information or instantly download coupons or other marketing offers, supporters of the plan say.

Though already common in Japan and South Korea, the use of mobile phones to read 2D barcodes remains rare elsewhere. The newspaper said progress has been held back by the lack of common technology that would let any phone read any barcode, and then complete the routing needed to link back to the relevant information on the web. Today meeting, prompted by an alliance between the technology and marketing giants Hewlett-Packard and Publicis, has been called to try to promote standards in this area. Companies due to attend include Nokia, Ericsson, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom.