14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft Tag has evolved to the next level with the availability of an application programming interface. On July 23rd, 2009, the Redmond company announced the release to web of the Microsoft Tag API. The move is designed to expand the potential audience segments that can build Tags. According to the software giant, Tags can now be put together from not only the web, but also the desktop, and mobile devices.
“By using the Microsoft Tag Web Services API, you can programmatically access many of the same operations used on the Microsoft Tag Web site. Using Visual Studio and the .NET Framework, you can write programs to create, modify, and otherwise manage Tags for your business — including bulk Tag creation and updates — without having to use the Microsoft Tag Web site interface,” revealed a member of the Microsoft Tag team.
Essentially Microsoft allows developers to leverage Visual Basic and C# in order to create tags. In this context, it is no longer necessary for devs to visit the Microsoft Tag website, since they can build tags programmatically. This of course is not possible in the absence of an application programming interface. However, for non-developers, the Tag website remains the best solution to create and also manage tags.
“Microsoft Tag is a mobile application that enables users to link almost anything in the real world to more information or to an interactive experience on the mobile device. Microsoft Tag client software installed on the mobile device allows the owner to use the device’s camera to scan or take a picture of ("snap") a Tag barcode, then accesses the information associated with the Tag on the mobile device. Businesses can use Microsoft Tag to interact with their customers like never before, using physical media such as print catalogs or POS displays as the launching point,” the Microsoft Tad team representative added.
In order to start taking advantage of the new Tag API, developers will need to first sign up, and then apply for an API key.