ScanLife gave a webinar entitled “Understanding Mobile Barcodes” hosted by Verizon on March 3, 2011.  It covered a variety of topics including:

• Barcode 101:  What, Why, and Where
• Activating a Barcode Campaign
• Barcode Strategies & Tactics
• Campaign Examples & Best Practices
• Developer Tools & Customization

2D barcodes, or QR Codes, are quickly growing in popularity to easily link physical objects to digital content.   We just released the ScanLife browser extension to make it easier than ever to create a 2D code from anywhere on the web in a one click.

Why use the extension?

The extension works for the same reason why many people use tool bars instead of actual websites – speed!  This tool makes it faster than ever to create, display and download all major 2D barcode formats (QR code, EZcode, and Datamatrix) from anywhere on the web.

Other benefits:

• Create a code right from from any URL link or image file.
• Link your codes to an existing ScanLife account so you can edit your codes at a later time, or get analytics from the scans if you have a Business account.
• Download the code in multiple formats for print or the web.
• Works on major browsers like IE, Firefox and Chrome (see links at bottom)

Possible Uses:

• Save a great photo from Facebook, Flickr, etc. right to your phone.
• Place your digital “badge” on places like your resume, email signature, t-shirts and more.  Just go to your Facebook or Twitter page and create a code.
• Quickly create a code from Google Maps to take contact information or directions to a new restaurant or store.
• For business use, you can create codes in bulk without logging into your ScanLife account. This may make it easier to create a bunch of codes in a short period of time.

Get the extension now for any browser:

Internet Explorer

Firefox

Chrome

Once you have the file installed, it should be very simple to use, but you can look at some detail instruction right here.

Let us know how would you use it…

We’re very happy to announce our new developer’s program today called ScanLife Innovation Exchange.   Over the years, we have received ideas from hundreds of businesses with unique and exciting ways to use this technology.  The Innovation Exchange will give everyone access to the most comprehensive set of tools to easily develop custom mobile barcode applications and services while leveraging the existing ScanLife core products.

Some of the key products include:

• SDKs to include a barcode scanner in your own Android or iPhone app (both a callable and a new embedded version)
• An Enterprise version of the ScanLife app which can be used instead of the SDK for those that don’t want to develop their own apps (available to Java, BlackBerry, Windows, and Symbian)
• Separate REST API’s that allow you to Create, Edit, and get Reports on multiple 2D code formats like QR, Datamatrix and EZcode
• Printer SDK to convert unique EZcodes into a TrueType font to print from any ink-jet printer

These tools can be used individually in certain cases, or they can be combined to build a completely custom mobile barcode system.  It’s really up to you to decide what is best for your project requirements.

With over 700% growth in the space, we believe this is the perfect time to make this available, and we have really just scratched the surface of how this technology can be used.

Thanks for your continued support, and keep the great ideas coming!!

Today, ScanLife announced that is has released a tool to make it really simple to launch the ScanLife universal barcode scanner from any 3rd party app.  This is a free tool that will first be available to the Android OS, and other leading operating systems will be offered soon.  [Update]: iPhone OS now supported.  Please go to developer.scanlife.com for details. We have received plenty of requests for this tool from marketers and publishers that are already planning to place 2D codes on material like magazines or packaging.  This gives your app users a way to scan those codes right from your own app.

How does it work?

1. A developer integrates the sdk into an app (go to developer.scanlife.com)
2. The user clicks on an icon or button to launch scanner
3. Generic ScanLife app is launched (or it is downloaded)
4. Codes are scanned as usual

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