Windows Live Barcode

Infobox Software
name = Windows Live Barcode



caption = Windows Live Barcode homepage
developer = Microsoft
latest_release_version =
latest_release_date =
operating_system = Windows Mobile
genre = Barcode scanning, Contact card management
license = Proprietary
website = [http://confucius.live-int.com http://confucius.live-int.com] [http://barcode.ideas.live.com http://barcode.ideas.live.com]

Windows Live Barcode (codenamed "Confucius") is a part of Microsoft's Windows Live services. It allows users to transfer information between various media (PCs, billboards, magazines etc.) and handsets via Quick Response Code (QR Code), a two-dimensional matrix barcode. It provides a new method for people to exchange information and enjoy various online services on handsets. [ [https://barcode.ideas.live.com Windows Live Barcode] ]

Windows Live Barcode aims to enhance mobile handset utility and provide users with more convenience and flexibility. It will be integrated with the Windows Mobile platform.

The Windows Live Barcode service consists of two elements:
* Online tools to generate barcodes for business contact cards or personal messages (450 character limit)
* A mobile scanning application to read QR codes into a Windows Mobile handset

Barcodes generated are saved as PNG images.

Features

* Encode text information such as news, notes and URLs into a QR Code and transfer onto a mobile handset
* Transfer information from traditional business card to a mobile handset by taking a snapshot via the Windows Live Barcode application
* Save the digital business card on the mobile handset's address book and allow the ability manage contacts digitally
* Search and edit specific contact business cards scanned via Windows Live Barcode application

Windows Live Confucius

Windows Live Barcode was shortly taken offline following its beta launch in October 2006. In August 2007, an offshoot of Windows Live Barcode named Windows Live Confucius was launched. Windows Live Confucius, similar to Windows Live Barcode, allowed users to create QR Codes online from a web browser. In addition, Windows Live Confucius also allowed users to create QR Codes using an offline Windows application from their desktop, named "Desktop QR Code generator". Together with the launch of Desktop QR Code generator, the "QR Reader client" was released as well for users to view QR codes on their Windows Mobile devices. [Abdul Aziz. " [http://thinkabdul.com/2007/08/05/windows-live-confucius-free-qr-barcode-reader-for-windows-mobile-devices-qr-code-generator-for-vistaxp/ Windows Live Confucius: Free QR Barcode Reader for Windows Mobile Devices & QR Code Generator for Vista/XP] ", Tech [dot] Blog, 2007-08-05]

The "Desktop QR Code generator" can generate QR Code for any text, Vcard, calendar and URL information. The "QR Reader client", although designed for Windows Mobile devices, has only been tested on the Dopod and not any other Windows Mobile devices.

ee also

* Windows Live
* Windows Live Mobile
* Semacode

References

External links

* [http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/archive/2006/10/26/Windows-Live-Barcode-launches.aspx LiveSide.net's Windows Live Barcode article]
* [https://barcode.ideas.live.com/ Windows Live Barcode] "(currently unavailable)"
* [http://confucius.live-int.com Windows Live Confucius] "(currently unavailable)"