Last month AdAge.com published an article on Google QR codes.  Physical world connection to the Internet(s) has fascinated me for quite some. We have been operating information request service by SMS keyword for quite some time.  QR codes is next incarnation of linking world we're living in with extra information about particular objects, events or people.

QR Code reader

But it has a few downsides -- primary one is special software that must be installed to read QR codes. Now, in Japan QR codes has been so wildly popular and successful because QR readers are pre-installed on the phones. In other parts of the world a person has to buy/download a reader. In most cases people either send a keyword to a shortcode and receive a link or type in download address in mobile browser. In either case, they visit a mobile site from which they download QR application.

It will take a few years for QR code readers to become widely installed on the phones. Before that happens businesses and marketers will gain little from printing their QR codes and linking them to hypertext world. Unless.

Unless they could try the QR code image recognition solution. In a nutshell, person takes a picture of a QR code and sends it as MMS message to a given number. QR code is recognized by the server application which send, for instance, a WAP push link to a phone.

What are the upsides:

- MMS is pre-setup and available on 80% of phones currently in use.

- No need to download and install application.

Downsides:

- it costs more to send MMS than to send same amount of data via mobile internet if you're on a unlimited data plan.

- QR readers fires mobile browser right after scanning. With MMS you have to wait about 30-60 seconds for data to go to and from image recognition server.

So, what you as a marketer should do? Why not add MMS as an option for people who don't have QR readers or don't want/don't bother to install them? Contact me at skype skolesnyk or via email skolesnyk [AT] digitalists.net