NeoMedia Technologies, Inc (NEOM)

[srowen]

Yes the claim concerns the ID in the barcode, resolving remotely to a URL. If nobody had ever before done anything like combining barcodes an URLs, I think I'd agree this is nonobvious. But QR Code's ability to encode numbers and URLs (yes the format itself is not what matters) predates the patent. In light of that, I argue, any engineer could come up with this.

I totally agree about operator incentives and interests (though I think they want people to use more bandwidth, since they get paid by end users for that!), and do not argue a direct model is in their interests. It is in the interests of marketers and consumers. And, somehow the operator stranglehold on access to the user is loosening with Android, iPhone, etc. I agree they don't like it. And I agree, do we know they won't 'revolt'? Apparently not... seems to be spreading to more operators.

Nothing is free -- yes. Yeah you 'pay' for Android, and Google service in general, by looking at ads. I suppose that paid for my 'free' project too. ShopSavvy makes money from merchants who want to be included in search results. I hear your arguments but they're managing to do just fine, which is good news.

But yeah it's all kinda beside the point since end users will never pay to scan barcodes or get a reader in either model.