Interstitial Automation (!A) has announced plans to market BertCode [formerly Fromage Helvetia code -Ed.] as an alternative to complicated 2D symbologies for use in Paper Data Interchange (PDI).

PDI is the name of the proposed practice of printing electronic data interchange (EDI) messages on shipping labels in a machine-readable form. This practice seems intended to allow customers that haven't gotten their EDI acts together to continue to harass EDI-capable suppliers that make "near point" deliveries in less time than it takes for the customer to get around to checking for incoming 856 ship notifications.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Balthazar deBuggner, the company's CEO, COO, CFO, CIO, and EIEIO, indicated the !A will throw its entire financial resources behind developing and supporting these new products [as soon as he balances his checkbook -Ed.].

deBuggner claims three major advantage to BertCode over the other proposed symbologies.

"First," deBuggner claims, "because BertCode is encoded in the 'spots' and 'voids' present in previously unacceptable bar code symbols, many suppliers will have no trouble producing sufficiently low quality symbols to represent BertCode."

"Second, BertCode does not require users to wear really tacky cardboard glasses with red and blue lenses in order to read it."

[Industry sources debate this point but aren't clear on whether they mean that the glasses are also required for BertCode reading. Or not. -Ed.]

"Finally," deBuggner concluded, "it does not require expensive printing equipment or, indeed, any changes to existing hardware or software - as long as you have, say, an impact printer more than 20 years old."

deBuggner added, "For years, customers have pushed their costs off onto suppliers, making them buy bar code equipment and EDI software. BertCode turns the tables: it forces you customers to buy some very costly reading equipment."

[It should be noted that deBuggner's company has secured exclusive marketing rights to the BertCode reader -Ed.]

One additional benefit to the use of BertCode for PDI, deBuggner added, is that his company has secured exclusive marketing rights to the BertCode reader and has a good supply of 20 year-old impact printers and supplies.

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