Amazon has launched a Kindle app for the Android platforms to satisfy the consumer’s lust for Amazon’s combustible ebook reader. This isn’t the story for me; this is a matter of keeping up with the Jones. Now, what caught my eye was the delivery method that Amazon was implementing. Check the image out below from their Affiliate newsletter.
That funny looking checker box is a QR code
Do you see the checker box icon in the middle of the pic? That’s a QR code, which is a 2 dimensional barcode. Amazon, Facebook, Google, and many others have begun using them to encode data. In Amazon’s case above, they’ve embed the download link for their Kindle app into this black and white graphic barcode. A compatible phone needs only to point their camera at the code and snap a picture. This “scans” the code and directs the phone’s browser to the embedded link. Does your phone have a barcode scanner? No? Find out more about QR codes and barcode scanners here. In the mean time, if you have an Android based phone then click the link to pull up the actual code. Try it out.
QR coding has just begun to hit the mainstream. How will small business take advantage of QR coding and the exploding tech savvy status quo? Do do you have a smart phone? If you do and you have downloaded a barcode reader, then these parting words are for you:
Click "graph" to the right to see all the details
Do you think QR Code Marketing has potential. Check out the global trending in the graph to he left. It’s a steady climb. But what are QR codes?
Wikipedia answers this question. Here is their definition:
“A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The “QR” is derived from “Quick Response”, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed. QR Codes are common in Japan, where they are currently the most popular type of two dimensional codes. Most current Japanese mobile phones can read this code with their camera.”
The demographic most interested in QR Codes have the ability, right now, to start using them…….in their pockets. Cellphones are the defacto mobile solution for deciphering these information packed codes and everyone has a cellphone, right? Well, that’s the demographic. Cellphones use the camera to “scan” the QR codes and an application downloaded to the phone decodes it. We’ve list a few of the applications at the bottom of this post. Once you download the application to your phone then find something to scan. We’ll make it easy for you. Scan this:
Below is an example of what a Sprint Store in Kingsport, Tennessee is doing to promote their store and add to the buzz behind their products. Store reps are handing out QR flyers encoded with their store’s information with every smartphone sale. On it is the QR code above and if you don’t already know, it opens a browser on the cellphone and takes you to the store’s Facebook Fan page.
Smartphone users get Sprint's Ready Now service.
The software is cheap and downloaded within seconds on all smartphone platforms, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Android, iPhone, and Symbian.
What we’d like to see from you, is other ways that these barcode like codes can be used. Post your ideas in the comments.
As promised, the links for the apps are below, but check out these other useful approaches to QR code marketing in the following related articles.
Related Articles:
-Facebook and security
-YouTube QR search
-Used in advertising
QR apps for sale:
Blackberry: Barcode Finder
Windows Phone: AE Keyboard Emulator for Pretec Barcode Scanner
QR apps that are free:
Blackberry: 
ScanLife 2D Barcode Scanner (for BlackBerry OS)
Windows Phone: 
ScanLife 2D Barcode Scanner (for WM)
Android: Barcode Scanner
Symbian: ScanLife
iPhone: ScanLife
