Printer systems and methods for global tracking of products in supply chains, authentication of products, and connecting with customers both before, during, and after a product sale

Printer systems and methods provide a plurality of unique identification codes to assignment devices in various geographical locations in order to assign a unique code to a single item of commerce through affixing tags or the like thereon or by direct printing. Information regarding which code is associated with which item of commerce may be captured and stored in database(s) along with other advertising, authenticity, distribution, manufacturing, note, quality control, and retail information. Inquires may be made regarding the codes by users with handheld devices including cellular phones, PDAs, notebook computers, barcode scanners, RFID readers, etc. through carrier networks, LANs, and WANs in order to obtain information about the item of commerce or related products. Stored information from the database may be provided to the users in response to their inquiries. Information may also be uploaded by the handheld devices for counterfeiting, diversion, and other tracking purposes.