The Challenge of Mobile Barcode Scanning

Over a Million Images Tested

At Nextcode we test our software hard, so you will find it easy and reliable. We run our decoding algorithms through massive stress tests. Any time we change the software we systematically torture test it with over 10,000 different images for each code type. Rotation, skew, perspective transformation, blur, defocus…. We test it. If there is a flaw we’ll find it, so you won't.

Superior mobile barcode scanning technology doesn’t come easy. Nextcode’s staff has extensive experience in developing optical barcode reading technologies, digital camera and image processing systems.

We have developed high performance mobile optical industrial scanning solutions to read standard barcode symbologies such as UPC/EAN, Code 128, Interleaved 2of 5, QR Code, PDF 417 and Data Matrix. We have worked closely with major imager, camera and camera phone manufacturer to create barcode reading systems. As a result, we have an extensive understanding of the key issues, challenges and requirements to deploy and read barcodes with mobile devices.

A new medium needs new technology
Nextcode is committed to bringing widespread barcode scanning to consumers. Our goal is to make barcode scanning available to every mobile subscriber using any camera phone. We want to remove technical barriers to enable the rollout of widespread services.

Simply modifying traditional barcode scanning technology for a camera phone doesn’t work well. Further, it doesn’t make much sense if you are trying to reach consumers. Traditional barcode scanning technology approaches assume that manufacturers will specifically build hardware to scan the codes.

Take a close look at an industrial optical scanner and you will see, custom focused optics, and special lighting, a monochrome sensor and dedicated processor, all packaged up in a heavy industrial casing. All of this equipment is usually several times the cost of an expensive cell phone. This hardware design approach is perfectly appropriate for industrial use, but totally inappropriate for consumer applications.

How Nextcode meets the challenge
To introduce barcode scanning to mobile consumers, one needs to make scanning work on existing mobile handsets without requiring costly modifications or retooling. Further, it needs to work fast, easily and reliably to invite consumers to try it and continue to use it.

At Nextcode we built our technology from the ground up for mobile applications and customers. Because of this it works in the fast, easy, trouble free way customers want it to work. Nextcode is straightforward to implement and deploy because it is a software only solution, requiring no add-on hardware or hardware modification by handset manufacturers. We can support camera phones with resolutions from QCIF to megapixel and higher.