Microsoft's Robert Scoble calls camera phone barcodes killer app

Thanks to Vanilla Gorilla I learned that Robert Scoble, Microsoft's Longhorn evangelist and blogger extraordinaire, got a demonstration from Neomedia Technologies of camera phones as barcode readers. He calls the application a "killer" for the handsets.

Robert writes, "It's not every day you get to see a killer application for the first time." Neomedia demonstrated how you can take a photo of a barcode that's transmitted to a Web site that sends back information about the product, purchasing information, etc.

Robert says, "I started getting into it. Imagine you're at a bus stop in Seattle. Did you know there's a Web service that shows you where the next bus is located and how far away it is?

"At every bus stop there could be a bar code. You aim your camera at the bar code. Get back the Web service that'll tell you how long you need to wait for your next bus."

Check out the comments

If you're interested in the subject of camera phones and barcodes, make sure to read the comments to Robert's entry. (There's not direct URL, but just click on "comments" at the end of his entry.)

I think the combination of barcodes and camera phone make a lot of sense. Barcodes are everywhere. People know what they do and they don't view it as an esoteric technology.

Comments

[Joe]

In response to Jerry Clare's acomment about voice tied to search based on key word values, that will definitely happen in the future IMO. NeoMedia's intellectual property covers voice as well as barcodes and rfid as well. At this time, they are implementing a key Word Registry alongside SAIC (incidently which company brought Network Solutions domain registry to fruition and resold it to Verisign for a tidy sum.) Here's the press release about it.
http://www.neom.com/press_releases/2004/20041027.jsp

NeoMedia recently added 4 GPS patents to their portfolio.

[Jerry Clare]

It is much to soon to define a killer app for the cell phone - bar codes and RFD tags will have their uses - but voice tied to search based on the key word values in your brain - then tied to a deep informational databases - has more implications for a killer app. Three years ago at a Wall Street Association Presentation in lower Manhattan - we were discussing the convergence of many devices into the cell phone - we see this starting to happen now - the eventual winners in this market place will be the software that has the most appeal to demographic groups world-wide - at this stage - it is to early to call - and just a leap of faith to do so.

[Alec Gianakis]

Dear Joe :

I apologise for the multiple placing of my comments , but due to a slow Internet connection I just kept pushing the ENTER botton , no intention to Spam , it get to my nerves as well when I suffer it.
Just a brief back ground of my experince with what I dream to be the Non Plus Ultra in technology application to mcommerce through cam Phones.
(this is an extract of a previously posted comment on the matter, which I demm appropiate)
QUOTE
As a developer of cam phone applications with 3 years experience developing an integrated application for retailers I have seen the reaction of customers using bar code "capturing" with a cam phone.
As long as you understand that the application has to follow the KISS principle (Keep It Simple stupid (please excuse my language))
First the use of the application does not have to require more than those 30 seconds taken to learn how to use the camera.
Second , getting involved with the program should be absolutely intuitive.
Third , do not saturate the screen.Graphics have to be clear an easily read , by even people with short sight probelms.
Fourth, do not go over the limited tolerance level with any sort of Adv & Mkt proposal
Five , make sure the user is tempted to use the system again.
As long as you have in mind these basic principles , then you will have a killer application with economic/Business results.
Needless to say , today we are talking about a minority of users who have cam phone , but these numbers are growing tremendously day by day. So in the very short future , your pool of users will be a great mayority .
Our experince in the supermarket industry through a batch purchasing system , proved that "scanning" is almost natural to all shop goers, nothing new , for they have been seeing cashiers doing it for them , for ages.
With their phones , they already now what to do, as long as you emulate the procedures and results to them.
What you basically end having is a tool capable of :
One to one Mkt
Just in time ADV (co/cross marketing , co/cross branding)
On line CRM
With one prime target to attain:
Increase the mean avergae value of each ticket!!
I have hours of video footage showing actual people in real stores and at homes operating phone cams PURCHASING and not only entertaining themselves , down loading MP3 or trailers , ....They are doing business and getting cherished services for their money.
This combination tool of phone cam and bar code capturing applied for retailers is second to none.
Unquote
Regards
Alec

Note : Alan , let me know if this is OK.
Thank you once again.

[Joe]

Digital Convergence had the right idea, licensing NeoMedia's patents several years ago for the CueCat. The basic premise was great - mobile to internet connection; however, the best application 'tool' for the patents just didn't exist then - now it does: the cameraphone.

I see the multiple self-promotion ads were deleted that I commented on before.

[Joe]

Very interesting find about Robert Scoble calling NeoMedia's product a 'killer app'!

And re: comments above: Wow, what a lot of spam from one person. Not a good impression.