Quick Response Codes

A bar code called Quick Response or QR Code is expected to begin having an impact on business information in the coming year. The new QR Code (or 2D Code) contains information in both the vertical and horizontal directions, where a bar code contains data in one direction only. A QR Code holds a considerably greater volume of information than a bar code. In Japan, most current Japanese mobile phones can read this code with their camera and access additional information about the product. Initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR Codes are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users (known as mobile tagging).

QR Codes storing addresses and URLs (web addresses) are expected to start appearing in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards or just about any object that users might need information about. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader software can scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone's browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL. This act of linking from physical world objects is known as a hardlink or physical world hyperlinks.

For instance, a menu may include a QR code that links to a page with nutritional information. A business card may include a QR code that links to a web-site, blog or social networking site. The ability to direct a consumer to specific information will tie printed material closer to the Internet.

The QR codes are are starting to pop up in North America as mobile phone companies add the software to their cameras. And apps are available for nearly every camera phone that doesn't already have the necessary software.
 Are you ready to start touching your customers in this way?

What is a QR code?

QR codes were developed by the Japanese firm Denso Wave as a bar code for inventory. Other uses were quickly developed and QR codes have been popular in Japan and Europe for several years. The technology is now migrating to North America because of the increased use in mobile smartphones.

QR codes have become more popular than the typical barcode as the typical barcode can only hold a maximum of 20 digits, whereas the QR code can hold up to 7,089 characters. This makes the use and diversity of QR code much more appealing than their older counter part, the barcode. QR codes are capable of encoding the same amount of data in approximately one-tenth the space of a traditional bar code.

Experts have identified six primary business applications for QR codes. This includes:

1. Extended packaging: consumers access additional information about products through their mobile phone.
2. Content purchase and delivery: digital products such as videos, games and music can be tried and sold via mobile phones.
3. Mobile coupons: mobile phones are used both to capture and redeem coupons and discounts.
4. Authentication: mobile phones are used to check whether or not a product is genuine.
5. Re-ordering: Mobile phones are used to reorder products with orders sent to the supplier in a standard format.
6. Mobile self-scanning: consumers in supermarkets use their mobile phone (rather than a device supplied by the supermarket) to scan products as they do their shopping.

QR Codes: Connecting Smartphones to the Web

The QR code is the latest darling of marketing gurus. QR codes link the physical world with the cyber world. QR codes are a perfect solution to quickly and efficiently bring mobile phone users onto the mobile web.

Many mobile phones or smartphones include a camera and a web browser. The camera in phones such as the iPhone and Blackberry, along with decoding software, can be used to capture a picture of the QR code. The QR code reader transforms the data held in the QR code to a meaningful action for the mobile phone. It can connect to a web address, download a MP3 file, dial a telephone number or prompt the email client with a sender address. This can all be done almost instantaneous.

For marketing purposes, the QR code usually contains a specific URL address. This URL address could be the main page of a website or a page within a website. When the QR code is scanned, the user is sent to the specific URL and can view the URL on their phone’s web browser. The purpose is to direct a user to a website where he can get additional information, access to video and sound, or any other additional information.

The QR code may be applied to any surface that it can be put upon; paper, walls, signs, plastic, elephants. Any surface, that is, that will allow the user to take a picture of the code and run that picture through the decoder process (smartphone application). That will then automatically link the smartphone to whatever landing page has been designated within the code.

The Big New Thing: Quick Response Codes

Every year something pops up that is "hot" in the technology world. This year it is going to be QR Codes. A QR Code is a two dimensional bar code that can be scanned by a mobile phone and direct the person scanning to a website or additional information usually found on the Internet. QR Codes are considered the next big thing for marketing in the US and the QR Codes are starting to pop up on printed marketing pieces.

QR Codes storing addresses and URLs (web addresses) are starting to appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards or just about any object that users might need information. Users with a camera phone hardlink or physical world hyperlinks, equipped with the correct reader software can scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone's browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL. This act of linking from physical world objects is known as a hardlink or physical world hyperlinks.

A smart phone with a special QR Code reader is required to scan the code. All smart phones with a camera have the ability to read QR Codes and most offer a free QR Code reader app.

Not only can QR Codes be used for marketing material. Educators are using the codes to direct people using training materials to other reference materials. Restaurants are using the codes to provide diners with additional nutritional information. The sky is the limit for uses of QR Codes. Some marketers use the QR Codes on post cards where the code leads the receiver to more information about the product or service on the web.