The Early Show on CBS Explains QR Codes

The Early Show on CBS yesterday morning did this segment on QR codes. It's interesting that they are lumping all forms of 2-D barcodes into the "QR Code" category.

AT&T Testing 2-D Barcode Readers On Phones

AT&T has announced that they will be testing 2-D barcode (QR code) readers on phones over the next few weeks with enterprise customers. AT&T will be using barcode scanning technology from Mobile Tag, which is a universal barcode scanner that reads several types of open 2-D codes. I expect that they will come to the same conclusion that we did. There is unlimited potential for this technology and this is only the beginning.

PRESS RELEASE

AT&T* today announced it will launch a Charter program in the coming weeks to test the use of 2D barcode scanners on AT&T mobile devices. The Charter program is being launched to test consumer response rates as well as the effectiveness of consumer barcode scanning technology as an interactive marketing vehicle.

Consumer barcode scanning represents the next generation of interactive targeted marketing, enabling advertisers to deliver relevant content and offers to consumers, as well as being a valuable and efficient tool for consumers to search for promotions and information using their mobile device. This technology can be used to scan traditional 1D barcodes, also known as UPC codes, as well as 2D barcodes.

AT&T is currently selecting up to 12 enterprise customers to participate in this charter program across key sectors including consumer packaged goods, retail, hospitality and financial services. The consumer barcode technology can be used across a variety of mediums including indoor and outdoor signage, packaging, catalogs, television, the internet, as well as traditional print and mail advertising. AT&T will use technology from Mobile Tag Inc., a provider of universal bar code reader technology.

AT&T will soon make available to consumers via download a mobile application to read the 2D barcodes on a variety of mobile devices across multiple platforms including Android, BlackBerry® and Windows®.

“We’re excited to work with some of our key business clients to develop this new solution for consumer engagement, which is one of the most innovative solutions to come out of the mobile application space,” said Joe Lueckenhoff, senior vice president, product management, wireline and mobility services, AT&T Business Solutions. “Our vision is to provide our business customers with the ability to reach their target customer in an interactive and direct manner, while preserving consumer choice and control over their mobile experience.”

This new 2D barcode charter program will provide AT&T and its customers with a better understanding of the marketing and advertising potential that 2D barcodes offers. AT&T will work closely with customers participating in the program to measure results and participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback.

“The last decade has seen a dramatic shift in the way consumers use their mobile phones to interact with the world around them,” said Michael Liard, Practice Director, RFID and Bar Code at ABI Research. “We have witnessed mobile marketing campaigns evolve from basic SMS campaigns to content-rich 2D barcode-enabled mobile applications such as mobile couponing and information delivery. Mobile barcodes can extend the marketing reach of any retailer or enterprise, serving as a permission-based way for consumers to engage directly with a company or brand.”

QR Codes - Content is KING

It's easy to create a QR code. There are several code generators on the web where you can simply enter the text or link URL that you wish to code at it will automatically generate a QR code. Most of what is out there is emphasizing the code and not the CONTENT connected to it. The code is just a quicker way get people to your content. The questions remains, is your content formatted to suit the mobile user? Is it targeted and exclusive to the environment? These are questions that you have to ask when considering including QR codes and the mobile web into your marketing efforts. Focus BEYOND the CODE.

Content Create, QR Code Generate

Tappinn is a web platform to create mobile content and generate QR codes. Users can dynamically create mobile pages for customized environments QUICKLY, and measure results based on a number of features built into the sites. Update pages in real time to keep them fresh and shareable.

Teaming page creation with QR code generation will ultimately offer the best analytic solution for your mobile campaigns. Everything will lead BEYOND the CODE. The data collected from followers will only come from the action taken beyond the codes. This "action" taken by users needs to be managed and tracked for optimum results. Engaging users with unique content will ultimately lead to better data from them.

QR codes and Tappinn QR-CRM

Analytic data is important to any mobile campaign using QR codes (page views, code scans, shares ect.) Equally as important, is the collection of "followers" or "user stats" accumulated by a brand using QR codes through multiple outlets. This data can be accumulated through "form data" pages and other user related contests or sweepstakes. Also popular, through "become and fan" and "follow us" buttons on landing pages.

The term "follower" is used loosely but needs to be taken seriously. These followers are usually introduced through a social network such as Twitter or Facebook and allowed to view your conversations with others in the network. Brands can build cred with early social followers which will lead to more info (name, age, likes, dislikes ect). When thinking of CRM, the term "followers" doesn't get much play. This is the new social foundation that brands need to build on. Tappinn QR-CRM is the first platform to allow social contact management and content deployment in the same portal.
  
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QR Code Chat on Twitter

I have been following a lot of the chat about QR codes on Twitter lately (more so since the Facebook announcement) . I've noticed some common trends with the users who have a negative view towards QR codes as a new technology. What these people are failing to see is that QR codes are not magic, they store URL's and other info, THAT'S IT! The negative experiences users have with them often lies in the CONTENT not being MOBILE. If a user takes the time to download an app to scan a code but doesn't view the content as valuable or targeted they will walk away with a bad taste in their mouth about QR codes. It wasn't the codes fault that the content sucked! The code did it's job by transmitting the info instantly. It was the content that caused the negative experience. The #1 benefit to QR codes is CONVIENECE, you don't have to type in long URL's on your mobile browser. The science is in the page that you are directed to!





Tappinn is a platform to build dynamic mobile web pages and deploy them using QR codes. Each page created on Tappinn is sharable and "friendable". Advertisers can now focus on creating great mobile content that users will be interested in based on the environment and context of the code. NO worries about weather or not it will look good on the user's mobile browser, Tappinn technology has assured that. Build mobile product pages within minutes and never look back! Since the code is usually attached to something, content can be targeted towards the physical media it's tagged to. QR codes are going to become mainstream soon. Advertisers who can create and publish the best mobile content, FAST, will win.

Make Your Iphone 4g

Came across this and thought I should share. Sprint is toughting that they can make your Iphone 10x's faster.

OMG! Facebook Implementing QR Codes

Thank you, Facebook!!!! You just upped my operation a few billion. Currently they are in the testing stages but all signs point to QR codes going mainstream on Facebook very soon. Above is a screen shot that was taken yesterday. This hasn't showed up on my profile yet but it seems that it's only a matter of time. This will do wonders for QR code awareness as it will be introduced to millions of people who have no idea what a QR code is. It's a beautiful day.

NYC Best Buy using QR Codes in Retail

Union Square, NYC. Users who unlock the code are taken to the Best Buy mobile website. I was disappointed. This could have been much more viral if the content was better suited to the environment. I will give specific examples later.

Advertisers and brands who are early adopters at incorporating QR codes or other 2-D barcodes into their marketing strategy need to focus on CONTENT and CONNECTION. Users who engage with your brand via the mobile web are interested share-able, friend-able and valuable info (target rich info) about your brand. Make it stick!