Sprint 2D Mobile Barcode Solution Scanbuy
US mobile operator Sprint has teamed up with Scanbuy to launch information 2D barcodes.
What?
OMG. The most boring long winding press release which should have explained what a 2D barcode is in one sentence but unfortunately goes on and one about “black and white code..” basically is saying that the ScanLife application is now available on Sprint phones.
From the press release
“Sprint is excited to launch Scanbuy’s 2D barcode technology, which combines with the speed of the Now Network to give our customers a new way to access information they want the instant they want it,” said Len Barlik, vice president of wireless and wireline services for Sprint. “Mobile barcode scanning promises to help customers quickly get to information and services.”
“Sprint’s support of this technology represents a huge development in the wireless industry,” said Jonathan Bulkeley, chief executive officer of Scanbuy. “Marketers and content providers now have a way to link any physical media directly to mobile content. Sprint has been a fantastic partner, and they are clearly committed to this technology.”
What we think?
This will be available on 30 phones which isn’t a bad number but it’s a service the user has to download. So, in short uptake will be hindered unless there is an amazing marketing push.
What still shocks me about this press release is the quote below:
To help drive usage, the CTIA, the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, has joined with wireless carriers to sponsor and support common code scanning technologies. Sprint’s launch of ScanLife complies with the industry initiative.
We all know this is a lie. There is no mass industry initiative it is a one man band initiative involving only Scanbuy. I have been accused of being a Scanbuy hater and it’s not true – but I do think the way in which the company and PR agency now ignore me and have removed me from the press mailing list is sign of “ignorance”. But then again I suppose I can forgive them as social media a new concept and only cutting edge people “get it”.
Anyway – back to the press release – congratulations Sprint on endorsing mobile barcodes. Well done Scanbuy Jonathan Bulkeley mentioned this to me at CTIA I think well over a year ago so it’s taken a long time to come.
CTIA – I still think that there a number of mobile barcode providers out there and choosing “one” is an exclusion strategy.
9 Responses
Leave a Reply
[...] Random Feed wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptUS mobile operator Sprint has teamed up with Scanbuy to launch information 2D barcodes. What? OMG. The most boring long winding press release which should have explained what a 2D barcode is in one sentence but unfortunately goes on and one about “black and white code..” basically is saying that the ScanLife application is now available on Sprint phones. From the press release “Sprint is excited to launch Scanbuy’s 2D barcode technology, which combines with the speed of the Now Network to [...]
[...] the rest of this great post here Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...]
Bena need not make an apology, she is absolutely correct in her comment of ‘exclusion’ and ‘code reading’ is not just about black & white nor proprietary, it’s about accessibility, size, colour and a whole lot more - then it begins to be a true commercial and global application.
Mark Hendriksen
CEO
UpCode Solutions
You’re far from alone on this one. Quite a firestorm kicked up here in the comments (all the usual suspects - including me.)
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the_scannable_world_barcodes_scanning_in_the_real_world.php
This part is from the post,
“In the paper, they [CTIA] endorse two bar code formats: the open standard Data Matrix and the proprietary EZ Code. CTIA Vice-President of Wireless Internet Development Mark Desautels predicted that handsets using the technology will be widely available in 12-18 months.
On the surface, that sounds like good news: if you just wait, barcoding will come to you, right? As it turns out, it’s not quite that simple. The proprietary EZ Code isn’t read by anything except ScanLife by Scanbuy, so essentially, CTIA just endorsed one company’s product. [It's worth noting that Scanbuy was on the team defining the standard - this part had a strike through followed by -], Correction: Scanbuy was working with several carriers in a CTIA-initiated trial that contributed to the results of the white paper (as well as explaining to carrier executives how it should work), too. Opinion: Conflict of interest much?”
@Bena Re:, “CTIA – I still think that there a number of mobile barcode providers out there and choosing “one” is an exclusion strategy.”
What is also being excluded in the Sprint/Scanbuy/CTIA indirect scanning solution is the ability to scan codes that link directly to URLs. This excludes open DIY & grassroots ecosystem and opportunity.
Mack, I have to disagree with you. Bena’s bias against Scanbuy has been obvious for quite some time, and this article just reinforces that opinion that many have of her and this blog.
First of all this was a sprint press release, and to suggest that either sprint or scanbuy are ignorant, because one or the other does not communicate with the owner of an overseas blog is ridicules. I think both sprint and scanbuy know how to market their products without the help of Bena or her blog. The boring press release as she puts it, is the same kind of long winded boring press release that every company in business puts out, including the one company she supports in the bar code space, or is it two now that you are on her good side? For a company that is so ignorant, because they ignore Bena, Scanbuy has done more for 2D bar codes in the US then any other company including your own UPCODE. They got the codes out on the streets of San Fransisco where real life trials and education are now taking place, something even the self professed Global Leader has to date been unable to do. They and Sprint as a team have educated many on the use of 2D codes here in the US with their pilot programs to date.
The second issue Bena is dead wrong on is her inflammatory remarks about statements being lies in the pr. The one statement she claims is a lie is absolutely correct. The CTIA initiative she claims is a one man band initiative involving only Scanbuy. Now thats a lie and a bold faced one at best. The CTIA US initiative involves any company that uses data matrix open standard bar codes using the indirect method as well as one proprietary solution which is Scanbuys EZ code. So the door is open to any company who wishes to use data matrix indirect method codes(a proprietary solution as well). All that was said in that PR is that Sprints launch of Scanlife complies with the CTIA initiative. That statement is 100 percent accurate since CTIA has endorsed the EZCODE solution as one of their acceptable standards.
Lastly Bena, if you think its appropriate to state what you feel should of been in Sprints PR, then a little criticism of your own blog is right in line with your comments. To date I have not seen on this blog any satisfactory explanations of 2D bar codes and their differences etc. Many companies solutions have not even been mentioned here and you purport to have special focus in this blog on 2D bar codes in general? A while back you were just as disgusted when Scanbuy did a survey of users of their solution, to gauge its effectiveness, yet you use the same kinds of analytics to determine how your blog is growing and comment about those statistics regularly here. When someone you dislike uses surveys and statistics to gauge the effectiveness of their campaign and their product(an industry standard practice)you are disgusted, but when you use those same tools to gauge your product(your blog) its a different story.
I know you have already said you do not care what other bloggers do, but when you criticize large successful companies for the way they handle their press releases, then your blog which is a media device as well is subject to the same criticisms. I bet you a year from now Sprints users will be well educated in how 2D bar codes work and what the value is, and it won’t be because they told them in a pr.
Brewskih - if I am a nobody blogger then please **** off and read something else - you are very very annoying and very very boring. Scanbuy should be ashamed for poor PR - and you should be ashamed as it is very obvious that the company is paying you to suddenly be nice. Remember I have 2 years of comments and the change in your tone if very notable. This is an edgy blog and if you cna’t handle it -please pick-up your teddy bear and take it to bed. Bena
Bena - The stress of passport control and jet lag may have left the defences low. An apology to Brewskih is, indeed, inorder! Brewskih, I work with Bena and would like to apologise for the language and tone of the last comment. Sinead
no apologies to brewski. i agree with benna that he should f off.