Toshiba will offer cellphone service that scans barcodes for product reviews
So, you are standing in front of the latest gizmo at your local store, and are considering purchasing it. But you haven’t gone online yet to check out what the buzz is. What do others think of this gizmo? How is it rated? You don’t know, but Toshiba will allow you to find out right there in the store.
Simply take a picture of the product’s barcode with a cellphone’s digital camera, and Toshiba’s new service will scan the internet for product reviews on up to 100 blogs, in 10 seconds flat. Just like that, you’ll know if that gizmo is getting rave reviews or being trashed by consumers.
Toshiba will be testing the software in Japan soon and may offer it as a service on cell phones before April 2007.
