Editing Barcode reader (section)

==== Cell phone cameras ====
{{Original research|section|date=November 2023}}
While cell phone cameras without auto-focus are not ideal for reading some common barcode formats, there are 2D barcodes which are optimized for cell phones, as well as [[QR Code]]s (Quick Response) codes and [[Data Matrix]] codes which can be read quickly and accurately with or without auto-focus.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Alapetite|first=A|date=2010|title=Dynamic 2D-barcodes for multi-device web session migration including mobile phones.|journal=Personal and Ubiquitous Computing|volume=14|issue=1|pages=45–52|doi=10.1007/s00779-009-0228-5|s2cid=10202670|url=https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/files/4390002/Alapetite-2009-Dynamic_2D_barcodes_for_multi-device_Web_browser_migration_including_mobile_phones.pdf}}</ref>

Cell phone cameras open up a number of applications for consumers. For example:

* Movies: [[DVD]]/[[VHS]] movie catalogs.
* Music: [[Compact disc|CD]] catalogs – playing an [[MP3]] when scanned.
* Book catalogs and device.
* Groceries, nutrition information, making shopping lists when the last of an item is used, etc.
* Personal Property inventory (for insurance and other purposes) code scanned into personal finance software when entering.  Later, scanned receipt images can then be automatically associated with the appropriate entries. Later, the barcodes can be used to rapidly weed out paper copies not required to be retained for tax or asset inventory purposes.
* If retailers put barcodes on receipts that allowed downloading an electronic copy or encoded the entire receipt in a 2D barcode, consumers could easily import data into personal finance, property inventory, and grocery management software. Receipts scanned on a scanner could be automatically identified and associated with the appropriate entries in finance and property inventory software.
*[[Consumer tracking]] from the retailer perspective (for example, loyalty card programs that track consumers purchases at the point of sale by having them scan a QR code).

A number of enterprise applications using cell phones are appearing:

*[[Access control]] (for example, ticket validation at venues), inventory reporting (for example, tracking deliveries), asset tracking (for example, anti-counterfeiting).<ref name="Barcode reading apps for enterprise" >Barcode reading apps for enterprise, codeREADr.com, 2010.</ref>
* Recent versions of the [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], and [[Windows Phone]] mobile phone operating systems feature QR or barcode scanners built in, usually accessible from their respective camera application.