Mobile barcode roundup: Google launches scanning app for Android

Google has upgraded it’s Product Search service, which launched recently, with a barcode scanner. In addition to being able to search by product name, the search engine can now scan the regular Universal Product Code (UPC) that you’ll find on any product, and connect you to on-line price comparisons, reviews and product details.

Google has certainly made this easy to access for Android users. You just need to go the Google mobile site, select the “Shopping” section and there’s a barcode scan button right there:

Clicking that button installs the barcode search function onto your phone. It works in a familar way - a red line appears on your screen, and you simply place that line over the UPC with your camera. Then Google retrieves information and displays it for you!

From the Google blog:

“Today, barcode scanning works best for products like electronics, books, movies or video games, but we’re working on adding more barcodes for other items. Of course, if your scan does not return a result, you can always type in the product name just as before.”

What we think?

This is a nice little service - theoretically, it’s fast enough that using it while in an actual shop would be possible. Used correctly, it could save a lot of money on shopping. Although, as we reported at the start of March, Shopsavvy already provides this service admirably. Although it’s possible that Google might blow Shopsavvy out of the water due to name recognition.