Closure Systems International (CSI) manufactures a great deal of the bottle caps found on our everyday beverages—beer, juice, water, milk, soda, etc. Recently, CSI announced that they will be testing ScanCap, a system that uses ScanLife Micro EZcodes. The codes will be printed inside or outside of the bottle cap and will have the ability to link to the online content of the beverage company’s choosing.

Imagine picking up a soda, seeing the code, scanning it, and being directed to a poll that allows you to vote for the next great flavor. Or the cap of an organic juice could direct drinkers to a video on how the product was made with all natural ingredients. The marketing possibilities are endless!

Although this sounds like a great idea, one thing that is bothering me is that CSI chose to go with EZcode, which requires a proprietary scanner, unlike QR codes that can be scanned with a variety of different mobile barcode scanners. I realize there is a limited amount of space on a bottlecap, so it makes sense, in a way to go with the EZcode because it is compact, but QR codes can be resized to be fairly small and still maintain their scalability. Even if one was to go with a proprietary 2D barcode, I think Microsoft Tag has a bit more brand recognition than EZcode. While I sincerely hope their marketing efforts are not in vain, it would be nice to see standard QR codes on the bottlecaps.

Do you think going with a 2D barcode that requires a proprietary barcode scanner was a good idea for CSI? Let us know what you think by commenting here, or on our Facebook or Twitter pages.

Sabritas, Frito Lay’s Mexican brand is now using 2D barcodes called EZcodes on their packaging for snacks and chips. The EZcodes will be placed on limited edition Halloween packages for Cheetos that link to promotional content such as free mobile wallpapers. People in Mexico will be avle to scan the code using an application from Scanbuy called Códigos Ideas, commonly used with Telcel headsets, the leading wireless operator in Mexico.

Sabritas has also placed an explanation of how to download and use the application on the back of the package. Once downloaded, the application can automatically launch a specific mobile website, deliver downloadable content, and more. Aside from the EZcodes, the application can also read other major 2D barcodes such as Datamatrix and QR codes. EZcode was chosen because it is compatible with a wider variety of camera phones.

Códigos Ideas is now available to millions people throughout Mexico and they expect people to take full advantage of their concept. Businesses can also use a Code Management Platform to create and track 2D barcode campaigns, which I’m sure Frito Lay will take full advantage of.

While 2D barcodes are still taking time to show up in the American marketplace, Scanbuy Inc., a global leader in mobile barcode solutions, has recently released new integration tools for brands and media publishers in order to better facilitate their use of the ScanLife 2D Barcode System.

Their new web services now allow users to generate 2D barcodes from third party portals, connecting any URL to the ScanLife network via a camera phone. In addition, outside websites will be able to generate codes automatically from the ScanLife Code Management Platform. This feature would allow any marketing professional, technology provider, or media publisher to connect their digital content to commonly used 2D barcode formats such as Datamatrix and EZcode. The codes can then be read by the ScanLife mobile application. From there, a camera phone can scan the codes to quickly launch a specific website, save contact information, send texts and more. This could come in handy for example, with retailers, allowing them to generate a unique 2D barcode for each of their products listed in their database.

Also included in the tools is a Web Development Kit, allowing any website to embed the ScanLife code management platform into an existing environment. Since both business and personal accounts will be available, 2D barcodes can be generated commercially, or for individuals looking to link to their social networking sites, etc.

Companies throughout the US are slowly starting to realize the value that 2D barcodes can provide for their business, so there is definitely a growing demand for customers to easily integrate 2D barcode solutions with their existing content. Hopefully the new integration tools fro, Scanbuy will give the US the nudge it needs to fully adopt and integrate 2D barcodes into its culture.