Barcode scanning via mobile phone has been around for a a while. But until Amazon.com added it to its mobile app this week, I hadn't experienced it firsthand. Target's iPhone app also supports barcode scanning, powered by RedLaser.

And it's impressive. Unlike mobile remote check deposit, where the trial-and-error method of getting a good picture can be tedious, barcode scanning provides real-time feedback so you know exactly when the camera is positioned for a successful scan (see screenshots of the process below).

Yes, it took a minute or so to get my first scan to work, but the built-in feedback mechanism makes it feel more like a game that I eventually won, not a frustrating task. But don't take my word, it's something you should try yourself via the Amazon Mobile or RedLaser app (see inset).

Relevance: Robust payment capabilities are the reason we believe mobile banking eventually eclipses online banking in importance. Whether it's location-based fraud monitoring, mobile wallets, or contactless payments, mobile phones have so many advantages that users will naturally gravitate to them to manage their spending/banking.

Barcode scanning, or the even cooler picture-recognition (also supported by Amazon, see screenshot #5), are important shopping value-adds that many mobile users will use. However, it seems to be more of a feature than a standalone app. And where's the most logical place to locate that feature? Integrated directly into bank debit and/or credit card apps. 

Amazon.com Mobile App barcode scanning screenshots (13 Oct. 2010)

1. Barcode-scan option within search                 2. Position UPC within orange bars

3. Orange bars turn green when                   4. Actual results from my scan of
the barcode is properly aligned                     a DVD lying around our house

5. Even faster, at least for media titles, is the photo-recognition feature offered by Amazon. Within seconds after snapping the photograph, Amazon had it identified and stored for future reference.

Note: For more info on mobile banking, see our mobile banking series in Online Banking Report.