Recently, UK rail operators agreed to start a national standard for electronic tickets. This new standard of operation will be fueled by 2D barcodes, allowing passengers in the UK to purchase and board trains using their mobile phones.

Creating a standard barcode train ticket allows for tickets to be accepted across railroad franchises, allowing passengers to print tickets at home or display them on their mobile phones. Rather than having diverse printed train tickets, the new uniform barcode system saves the rail companies money on printing, the passengers’ time on waiting in line at the station, and the environment.

The solution was implemented by Masabi, who specialize in rendering barcode information on mobile phone screens. Through their expertise, they discovered that customers will gladly buy tickets using their mobile phone, which can be done travelling to, or upon arrival at the railroad station. Masabi’s Java application stores the customer’s credit card details locally, so all the passenger has to do is simply key in a three-digit code along with their depart and arrival cities. The ticket is the purchased and delivered over SMS or data connection where available.

In order to ensure validity, ticket inspectors will be equipped with 2D barcode readers which will scan the new standardized tickets in order to authenticate details of the passengers’ trip.

Once again, its 2D barcodes to the rescue, saving companies money and saving consumers time!

Intermec recently released an Intermec Device Deployment Kit to support Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile, a platform for Windows Mobile and Windows CE that consists of a runtime engine and tools for developing, deploying and managing RFID solutions on mobile devices. This allows making mobile RFID solutions for customers easier and gives partners the ability to develop, deploy and manage.

Now, customers can integrate both fixed and mobile RFID readers into common business processes through the same interface, providing a comprehensive platform for real-time decision that supports:
• Barcode scanning
• Pull-trigger events
• Storing and forwarding tag events
• Remote configuration and administration of handheld devices

The deployment kit for BizTalk RFID Mobile allows for communication between a server and mobile platforms and procides the tools that developers need to quickly and easily build plug-and-play vertical market applications.

Intermec boasts seamless integration with BizTalk RFID for the CN3 and CK61 mobile computers with the IP30 snap-on RFID reader, and the CV30 fixed vehicle computer with the IV7 vehicle mount RFID reader.

You can get the Intermec Device Deployment Kit for Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile here.

If you’re a regular reader of barcode.com, you can probably tell that I am very anxious for 2D barcodes to come to the US! I recently read that they are popping up all over the UK, so it should only be a matter of time before the US goes 2D.

The latest product to make an impact with their QR code marketing campaign in the UK is Pepsi Max. A few weeks ago, cans, bottles, and boxes of Pepsi Max began appearing with QR codes. When consumers scan their Pepsi’s with their mobile phones, they are taken to Pepsi’s WAP site. The site contains humorous videos, news feeds, links, and other fun content that will engage consumers that are new to the world of mobile browsing through QR codes.

If someone is confused about these strange barcodes appearing on their sodas, Pepsi even provides a site about 2D barcodes and how to scan them with your phone. You can check it out here.

In the mean time, Pepsi Max in the US will still remain QR code-less, but hopefully that will soon change!

Recently, I received information on Snappr.net’s latest and greatest project; bringing 2D barcodes alive with on-screen advertising. Partnering with Saazé Corporation, a provider of digital signage and broadcast media advertising, Snappr plans to become the first on-screen advertiser to actively use 2D barcodes in the US.

On-screen advertisements will fuel the relationship between 2D barcodes and mobile interaction in the US. This new method of advertising in the US will allow companies to create more interactive campaigns and enable access-rate tracking.

Together, Snappr and Saazé are exploring options for mobile coupons and interactive digital billboards. In order to attract target audiences, Snappr will air educational videos about how 2D barcode technology works.

For advertisers, this 2D barcode on-screen technology is a dream come true; it allows companies to reach large masses of people and also track their access rates. For consumers, this technology will be a huge convenience that will bring even more information to our fingertips.

In order to take advantage of this up and coming 2D Barcode technology, simply install a 2D barcode reader application on your cell phone. While many new phones are equipped with the readers, Snappr provides a mobile website which determines the best-suited reader application for your mobile device. Just go to http://load.snappr.net on your cell phone and you can download the most compatible reader for your phone.

The “Barcode Chip” was recently developed by a group of researchers at Caltech that were looking for a cost effective and fast way to have bloodwork tested. In fact, with the new Barcode Chip, you can receive results after ten minutes.

How the Integrated Blood Barcode Chip Works
In order to get blood test results so quickly, a drop of blood is added to the Barcode Chip and pressure is applied, forcing the blood through a channel. As the blood flows through this channel, plasma skims across it and flows into smaller adjacent channels. From there, the plasma flows across a series of lines which make up the “barcode.” Each of the lines are embedded with a different antibody, allowing it to capture a specific protein from the plasma that passes over. Next, the barcode is “developed” and read via the release of a red florescent glow. The amount of protein is then captured depending upon the brightness of the glow.

How the Integrated Blood Barcode Chip Could Affect You
The Barcode Chip is now being tested in human clinical trials on patients with brain tumors. In addition, research is being done on healthy individuals to determine how diet and exercise affect the amount and composition of proteins in the blood. Eventually, researchers hope the Barcode Chip will lead to personalized medicine for individuals, which could lead to a lot less side effects and greatly improved health.