FYI, with the Scanlife program consumers/web users cannot click on QR codes in the United Stated. Scanbuy is currently in litigation with a company called Neomedia Technologies. Scanbuy has a cease and decist order preventing their platform from working with these types of codes.

However, consumers/web users can click on QR, data matrix, Maxi, and Aztec codes with the Neoreader. Users can download it at http://www.neoreader.com

They will be able to create their own codes if they so desire. The Neoreader will not be able to read proprietary codes like the EZcode. Proprietary codes need their own software to decode them.

Bena Roberts blog covers information about the use of these types of codes.

One last thing, when Sprint released the Phone IQ it had an Aztec code spinning in space in the back ground. The Scanlife platform cannot read the Aztec code. Users will be able to click it with the Neoreader where the link will take them to the NY Times article regarding the MC2 Steering Group working on mobile standards of these codes.

Ironic?

Can I scan other codes with ScanLife besides EZcodes?
Inside the U.S. you can scan EZcodes. Please see the international capabilities here.
http://www.scanlife.com/help.html

Scanlife codes work just fine for me. I am not sure what you mean by a cease and desist, from what I read, the parties agreed to put their suite and counter-suits aside until the end of the year until the patnent office reviews Neomedia's patents. The EFF has requested review of all Neomedia's patents and from what I hear they will be invalidated.

"Consumers need understanding and suppport and this means one common standard, one common reader and one common form of using mobile barcodes."

This is an interesting comment, from a business to business blog editor. Is there only one common software application used for anything in the electronic technology class? Windows versus Linux, Microsoft Office versus open Office, G-mail versus Outlook. The list goes on and on, and in many cases involves many more then the two examples listed.

The software application for barcode reading will follow the same path, and the consumer will choose which one they prefer.

On the one common standard comment, that too will not be the case. What works for one market, may not work for another. Lets look at an example everyone may be familiar with, such as the automotive technology. There was not one global standard for a very long time. At one time, not long ago, Europeans were still using leaded fuel, while all American automobiles had to use unleaded. The glass used in models for use in Europe, was of a different standard then allowed on those to be shipped to the US, so the car had to be ordered for US shipping special.

Standards are typically established by country or region, based on their needs, and over time, the multiple standards are merged globally.

However, the lack of one of this or one of that, or the lack of one standard, or multiple standards, has never prevented the user or consumer from adapting the technology.

But in the end, if it does eventually come down to one standard, one reader and one common form of use, then I think the Asian market would be the leader in determining what those criteria will be. Since they were first to market, with the only code that contains the characters necessary for their alphabet, and are years ahead of the rest of the world towards total adaption by the consumer.

The lack of mass adaption by consumers, at this point, has nothing to do with the number of codes, then number of standards, or the number of reader applications. In all the results I have seen published thus far, when the consumer has been exposed to the technology through any type of trial or campaign, they have been quick to understand and just as quick to adapt the new technology. The problem right now is that there are not enough campaigns in effect, to make the consumer even aware the technology exists. Outside these forums, where the average poster has been following this technology for years, the rest of the world is clueless that these technologies are even possible. Even in forums such as these where the average participant is far more educated then the general public, there is a large percentage, who did not even know the technology was in widespread use in Japan, until just recently.

For the record, a perfect example of how one standard or one application has no real impact, is the mobile phone itself. Here in the US there is not one standard. There is not one application. But the mobile phone took off like wild fire, even though if you wish to change carriers, you more then likely have to purchase a new mobile phone, that will work on the new carriers network.