Scabuy gets into bed with Sprint for barcode apps

Rating: Actually it’s booked to do the same for Verizon shortly

It’s not just analytics companies which are piggybacking on efforts by US network operators to more closely embrace mobile app developers, so are barcode specialists, too. Actually in this case it is Scanbuy which has launched an app developer program called Innovation Exchange. Not only is this available on the recently announced the Sprint Application Developer website (see our previous story here), it will shortly become available on the Verizon Developer Community, too. Are these guys shameless, or what? Anyway, Scanbuy is viewing its Innovation Exchange offering as a place where developers, marketers, and enterprises can link into a complete set of mobile barcode tools.Scanbuy points out that over 90 per cent of phones sold in developed markets now come with a camera – thus converting virtually any handset into a personal barcode scanner.

Consequently, the Innovation Exchange offers a wide variety of developer tools which can be used to launch virtually every part of the ScanLife mobile barcode solution from apps to analytics.

Developers can employ one individual product from within Scanbuy’s ScanLife system, or they can create a completely customised, end-to-end barcode system to fit their needs.

Included in the program are SDKs for Android and iPhone OS. No need for Symbian or Java, it seems, because this is a US centric initiative.

The company does offer APIs to create a virtual code management platform and tools for printers to place unique codes on material like direct mail or packaging.

Plus it has a browser extension to generate codes from any URL or image – which can be used even by non-developers. Scanbuy forgot to say where you can get this extension.

US based mobile marketing specialist, Hipcricket, is one of the first companies to implement Innovation Exchange.

“Barcode scanning is a growing element of mobile marketing, ” Eric Harber, COO with Hipcricket. Gosh, what insight.

Scanbuy claims that the Innovation Exchange will make it easier than ever to convert any physical object into something that is interactive and trackable.

“We’re experiencing tremendous growth this past year with an over 700 per cent increase in scans in 2010,” revealed Mike Wehrs, CEO with Scanbuy.

“The Innovation Exchange will make it easier for businesses to use mobile barcode solutions gives our partners an efficient one-stop shop for all their mobile barcode needs.”

More information on Innovation Exchange here.