QR codes expand consumer options

QR-codes are the latest trend in advertising known as mobile tagging.  These are basically real life hyperlinks that can be read by most any smart phone.

 QR-code stands for quick response code.  It is a two dimensional barcode that is designed to have its contents decoded at a high speed. They are used in everything from tracking packages to mobile phone tagging and put on flyers, billboards, websites and newspapers.

To read these codes just download the QR scanner application to a smart phone.  This can be done by going to the phones market place searching for QR scanner and within seconds the application will be downloaded to the phone.  By downloading the QR scanner application to your smart phone and then pointing the phone's camera at the code, it can take you to a web-site, display text, add a contact to the phone or compose an email within seconds. 

The QR-code was invented by the company Denso Wave, a member of the Toyota group of companies, in Japan in 1994 for tracking car parts.  It was spawned because of the popularity of barcodes as a fast means of identifying items. 

The space and capacity for barcodes, however, was limited by how long the barcode was.  There was a need for smaller barcodes and there were problems with printing and reading longer ones.   The QR-code is the two dimensional concept that filled this need and took the place of the one dimensional barcode. 

"As a marketer, I see endless possibilities for connecting brands with consumers. On the business side, there are clear ways that the codes could become time savers," InformationWeek's Steven Allen said. "Mobile technology is changing the way we interact; QR-codes will take consumer-to-company interactions to another level."

Newer applications that these codes are being used for are downloading an mp3, dialing a telephone number, even adding friends on Facebook, all accomplished in seconds. 

Companies such as Louis Vuitton and BBC are even starting to develop designer QR-codes.

These applications also have the ability to allow users to create their own codes that will send a link to a website, photo or text.