First if you have a smart phone go and download the ap at http://gettagg.mobi. After you are done just point it at the the mobile bar code below and this article will be that much more powerful. Also notice my blogs mobile provider.LOL

Mobile barcodes are on the verge of becoming a global phenomenon, but what exactly are they, what do they do, and for whom? At CES this week Microsoft launched a mobile tagging system called Microsoft Tag or High Capacity Color Barcodes or HCCB. This is a color 2D bar code that enables you create a bar code and then link back to things.

“Microsoft Tag creates unlimited possibilities for making interactive communications an instant, entertaining part of life. They transform physical media (print advertising, billboards,product packages, information signs, in-store merchandising, or even video images)—into live links for accessing information and entertainment online.

Put a Tag on anything Now you can make anything interactive. Link real life with the digital world, by adding a Tag to your product package, print-based media, signage, outdoor advertisement, business card, storefront, exhibit, video or just about anything else. “

There are already some very similar systems out there such as include QR codes, Data Matrix, Cool-Data-Matrix, Aztec, Upcode, Trillcode, Quickmark, shotcode, mCode and Beetagg.The vast majority of symbologies are in the public domain, which means they can be used by anyone without restriction and without payment of a fee or royalty. This public approach gives rise to internationally recognized standards, global interoperability, and creates an economy of scale. The one advantage that this has over others is that Microsoft's technologies is more adept for more phone being up to 4 times as easy to read as other services. Yet its not public and only free during beta.

As you will see below there are several compelling technologies solutions that can really lead to this technology being developed rapidly. With 2D barcode scanning, advertisers have a reliable, permission-based mobile channel open to them. Consumers love them as an easy way of using mobile technology to engage with services and media they are interested in, as has been demonstrated in spades in Japan, where mobile barcodes are part of everyday life.

The Tag technology is also expected to feed the growing need for ROI as it allows marketers to see when and where customers are responding to ads, across all media with impression activity.“Currently there’s a limited connection between brands and the mobile lives of consumers, and retailers are looking for ways to engage with the customer in measurable ways during parts of the purchasing process,” says Kevin Kerr, Worldwide Industry Technology Strategist at Microsoft.

There is no charge for consumers to install or use the Tag reader, outside of normal data plan charges. According to leading market researcher NPD Group, consumer sales of smart phones in the U.S. increased 85% from January through July 2008 versus the same time period last year.

Tagging technology could be a real hit for the everyone involved getting as much information out there as possible and at the same time adding the ROI for advertisers that has been so lacking in print.

Speaking to ROI they also give you some minor reporting scenarios straight off the bat. Here is a view of some the reporting you get from the tagging system

The first thing I did notice as a developer was that you have to go to Microsoft's website to use the service and that there is no API. So development might be slow to take off on this.

Bellow are some ideas on how you would use the tagging given by the Microsoft website .

The website http://tag.microsoft.com

This would be awesome to go into a art exhibit and get more information easily about the painting

Real-estate handouts become a thing of the past

More info on promotional posters

Get free mp3 downloads from the band website

Movie trailors

This is probably one the more compelling uses i have seen really showing ROI on the media printing

I love this on business cards transmitting the v-card dynamically

IPhone Screen interface

Microsoft Promotional Video

Interesting link for devs

A .net library for reading and printing barcodes for cameras

http://www.neodynamic.com/Products/BCWebC/BarcodeWebControl.aspx?tabid=21&prodid=1

http://www.ptshome.com/barcodesoftware.htm

http://www.idautomation.com/pocketpcdll/