New application allows users to scan barcodes for a range of services from their mobile devices.
US-based software company Scanbuy has released their latest application: ScanZoom.
The program allows owners to take photos of product barcodes with their camera phone. These are then processed by ScanZoom to extract information. Scanbuy envisage a number of applications for the technology, including a price-checking service: while in a shop, users can scan the barcode of a product and find out whether it is available cheaper elsewhere.
Other uses include tracking a diet by capturing food barcodes, purchasing tickets direct from a flyer or locating and playing music samples from a poster for a new album.
The application is available either embedded into certain mobile device processors or as a download for Symbian and Java-compatible devices. It can be installed either over-the-air or via a Bluetooth, IR or PC link.
A similar technology is already available in Japan, where phones can recognize e-mail addresses, web site URLs and telephone numbers through their embedded cameras.
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