Sprint Goes Beyond Short Code With Scanning App

By Tara Seals

Sprint-Nextel Corp. customers can use handset cameras to scan barcodes to access cool stuff thanks to a new application, the appropriately named “ScanLife.” It launched on 30 handsets on Tuesday.

Consider it the short code 2.0, and really: Why text when you can scan? It works thusly: When there’s a so-called “2D barcode” in an ad or in a movie poster or on a CD or on consumer packaging or anywhere else, ScanLife users scan it (for lack of a better term) to access ancillary data, like product information, but also interactive content like clickable Web links, MP3s, video streams, personal profiles and more.

Take the movie poster scenario. In that case, ScanLife users might be taken to a page with reviews, ticket ordering, theater locations and other useful info.

Sprint’s marketing team points out that this eliminates the need to type Web addresses or search for content by keywords. But even beyond that — it eliminates the need to do anything, really, except wave your phone like a magic wand.

The ScanLife application is immediately available to download on more than 30 Sprint camera phones, and Sprint plans to make ScanLife available on additional camera phones in the coming weeks.