Have you heard of the QR Code sensation in Japan? This is the first I’ve read about it, but evidently Japan has turned the QR Code into an everyday part of life for consumers and a powerful marketing tool. The QR Code (pictured at left) was actually created in Japan and they’re doing some very interesting things with this 2D symbol. Visit Japan and you’ll find QR Codes on food, business cards, flyer’s, billboards, lampposts and even clothing. Why you might ask. Well this symbol has the ability to connect consumers to online content simply by taking a picture of the code. This Japanese commercial for DoCoMo is a great example of how this works.
Taking a picture of a QR Code will also automatically input information (from a business card for example) to your mobile phone. Now you can use your cell phone for food traceability, apply for a job and QR Codes on lampposts will even tell you where you are and area train times. Here’s another short Japanese commercial showing how McDonald’s is using the QR Code to allow consumers to access nutritional information right at their table.
This instant access to information sounds amazing and what I’d like to know is how much longer we have to wait for this in the United States. QR Codes, as well as some other 2D symbols are already popping up around London. Not all cell phones are capable of reading QR Codes, so you have to be lucky enough to own a QR-capable phone for this technology to work. Lots of Nokia models have barcode scanning software pre-loaded and many software applications are available for download on the Internet. But not all phones are compatible with this type of software so you just have to try it out to see if it will work for you. Kawya Reader has free downloads of barcode scanning software for mobile phones, so check out their site. I also found this site that has a list of mobile phone models that are capable of downloading barcode scanning software. Who knows, maybe you’ll be reading QR Codes before you know it.
Tags:
2D symbol, barcode scanning software, capable of reading QR Code, DoCoMo, downloading barcode scanning software, Kawya Reader, mobile phone, QR Code, QR-capable phone, reading QR Codes, take a picture of QR Code
2D Codes are already popping up in many countries around the world.
There are different players with different approaches in business model and technology but all want to bring some kind of information to the consumer.
I don’t want to make specific advertisement here but there are bigger companies and also interesting startups in this area.
However there is a big problem that you already mentioned: “compatibility”. This is not only about getting a compatible reader for your specific device but also about getting the right reader for the right type of code as there are many different formats (proprietary and open ones).
I hope the ‘free’ formats like QR will gain enough ground in the rest of the world compared to closed systems like Shotcodes etc.
Keep it open and consumer friendly,
Philip
This is great!
It took me exactly 60 seconds to create the code in my regular barcode labeling system. The potential is incredible.
Our main business is in barcoding and labels, but this is just plain FUN!!!
I am going to start using this and put links on our site to tell people about it.
Lets keep it free and open to everyone.
Our company just got back from three days in Japan with Denso Wave, talking about the future of QR Codes… they have some incredible stuff planned and I suspect this is only the beginning!
We all know that Japan is famous for its high-tech. they turned theQR code into an everyday part of life for consumers and a powerful marketing tool, that’s not strange, we admire that. and we can do that. barcode and QR code is a part of our life too.