If you’ve ever tried to type a website address into a cell phone you know that it can be a challenging and time-consuming task. The technology exists to eliminate a lot of that typing. In Japan, a simple point and click with a cell phone is often all that is need to navigate to a site, and there’s no mouse involved either.
She pulls out her cellphone, snaps a picture of a corner of the movie poster on the other side of the tracks and, a few seconds later, she has a list of show times at neighborhood theaters on her handset as well as a review of the film. With one more click, she can watch the trailer and buy tickets.
QR, or quick response, codes are a similar to bar codes except they are square, look a bit like an ink blot and contain much more information. In Japan and South Korea, QR codes are used to link directly to a Web site, as in the case of the subway poster, saving the user the need to type an address on the tiny keypad of the phone. As marketers seek an edge on competitors, QR codes are appearing practically everywhere in Japan.
The codes can be embedded in almost anything, posters, business cards, even fast food product containers. So why hasn’t this technology made it to America and Europe? Likely because carriers can’t agree on a single technology, much like the VHS and Beta war.
Typing on tiny keypads in one of the main obstacles in the mobile marketing front, quite possibly a bigger obstacle than tiny screens. QR code technology can turn the world into an interactive point and click experience. Source
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Pingback on Mar 2nd, 2007 at 11:19 am
[...] DG has more on mobile marketing and the advances that need to come across the [...]
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Pingback on Apr 2nd, 2007 at 1:37 pm
[...] 2, 2007 in Mobile Marketing You might recall that about a month ago I did a piece on QR codes and cellphone navigation. Just a few days ago the New York Times did a piece on Bar Codes That Can Talk With You [...]
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February 25, 2007 at 7:08 am
Sounds like those cat shaped scanners advertisers tried a few years ago. Using a device people already have/like is much smarter route.
February 25, 2007 at 7:15 am
Yeah, the CueCat started off poorly and ended worse. The privacy concerns killed it, not to mention the design. What guy wants to carry around a cat-shaped scanner?
February 25, 2007 at 8:54 am
Try out the Kaywa Reader (QR Code and Datamatrix Reader):
http://reader.kaywa.com
Available phones:
http://reader.kaywa.com/phones
QR Code Generator
http://qrcode.kaywa.com
Feed2Mobile (mobilize your blog and get a QR Code on top)
http://feed2mobile.kaywa.com
February 25, 2007 at 11:18 am
The original company who fostered the Cue Cat, Digital Convergence, licensed to a company called Neomedia Technologies. Their free down loadable mobile platform that will benefit the consumer AND the mobile web user. The platform is nemed QODE. It has been in the works for many years and is close to official launch.
The problem as I see it right now, I think other companies like Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo do not want to give the power to the people. They want to control it.
The platform is designed to provide one click to content from a bar code, 2D, QR, datamatrix, logo, keyword, trademark, RFID, slogan, billboard, etc., to go to the mobile web to connect to information about that particular product.
By clicking on the above the consumer / web user turns on that product to get coupons, enter sweepstakes, win a prize, get information, find out a bus schedule, nearest location of where to purchase for a cheaper price, get assembly instructions, etc.
Price comparison is just one thing. Finding the nearest location, priceless.
Heck, Active Shopper does the same thing for you mobile device. It also comparison shops other locations for the cheapest price to put power back into the consumers hand.
But, here is the kicker, do you want to type in the bar code or just point and click on it.
What is easiest for you?????
The consumer is paying for web minutes thru their mobile plan. The phone carrier loses revenue with just one click to content. The consumer / mobile web user is not going to hear or see about this free and easy to use application. Why not?
Why the big players involved are afraid to lose money in the real world. The connection to the physical world only gives the power back to the people.
You may have to Google Qode to get the free down load for your mobile phone. Links may not be posted here
February 25, 2007 at 1:20 pm
>>But, here is the kicker, do you want to type in the bar code or just point and click on it.
What is easiest for you?????
Well, I certainly want to point and click. Another problem I see, is worldwide adoption of a single code technology. Cluttering the physical world with multitudes of different types of inkblots certainly isn’t appealing, nor is downloading different applications for a phone to be able to use the technology.
I took a look at the Kaywa links, even created my own inkblot, but I certainly don’t see any of those blots in the real world. Thanks for the links and the thoughts guys.
February 25, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Well then you should go to the European Central Bank, to Nikefootball.com, Kerrang, the english music magazine, Swiss National Television, all major Political Parties in Zurich, bleublog.ch the biggest blogging platform in Switzerland, smi, school of ringier media company and much more.
Just peruse the QR category on http://mobile.kaywa.com
http://mobile.kaywa.com/qr-code-data-matrix/index.html
and this one here
http://blog.kaywa.com/kaywa-reader/index.html
See also:
http://roger.kaywa.ch/?s=qr+code
February 26, 2007 at 5:43 am
I was speaking about seeing those inkblots on bricks and mortars. What’s the purpose of putting them on a website? ; ) Is the Kaywa system proprietary? What’s the adoption rate? How many phones is on? How many competing technologies are there?
March 11, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Great blog I have some one in mind that would be interested. Thank you.