An Old Technology Resurfaces With Channel Potential

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•From The Editor: An Old Technology Resurfaces With Channel Potential

By Dan Schell, Senior Editor, Business Solutions magazine.

Ten years ago I wrote my first "From The Editor" for Business Solutions magazine (BSM), and to say a lot has changed in the channel since then would be an understatement. One technology that was popular in 2000 that I'm surprised has been resurrected is print-to-Web. It's gone by a few different names, but the concept is still the same: A user scans a bar code that acts as a hyperlink to a website with more information on the topic they were reading. Back in 2000, the leading company was Digital Convergence with its CueCat scanner, which had a cord that plugged into a USB port to connect you to the Web. In fact, I still have my CueCat as well as a similar device that Intermec produced briefly called a Qode (the latter is still in existence and a patented technology from NeoMedia). Neither of which is worth anything to me today, which is exactly how users felt about this technology back in 2000. In short, the print-to-Web concept was a failure, with the CueCat earning the distinction of one of "The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time" according to PCWorld Magazine.

Used with permission from Business Solutions magazine.

Click Here To Download:
•From The Editor: An Old Technology Resurfaces With Channel Potential