Are you using QR Codes

The rest of the world is slowly adopting these, but I bet it will be a long time before we see them in IM. Have you seen them on IM products?

Scan this and you will get the answer:

Hehe, yes you are Will, yes you are.

Neat, don't know how practical it is.

Only problem I see with QRCs is the fact that the Consumer has to be aware enough about them to have sought out and downloaded the app(s) to use them.

NEC; now that's interesting. The new Android phone will set the precedent, there.

Possibly, (though IMHO), the more than likely high cost of adoption and implementation for the Vendor might make QRCs less of a geek tool; it will be easier to educate the Consumer due to exposure to NEC tech.

Interesting from this point on, nonetheless.

PLP
tecHead

Well it's fairly evident we will be seeing a lot more of them and in the very near future. Google recently sent out something like 50,000 free stickers to business owners in the US that had their unique QR code on them. They were encouraged to put the sticker up in their shop-front windows so people walking past or entering the shop/restaurant/cafe can scan the code and are taken straight to that businesses Google Places listing.

So customers can read more about the business, access customer reviews, coupons, etc. As we know, if Google decides they like something it won't be long until it becomes main-stream technology.

But that's not the only reason they are doing it. There are still a ton of business listings in Google that have never been claimed - and thus never verified. By sending out these stickers it encourages business owners to go on to Google and claim their business listing - thus making Google places a more up-to-date and accurate directory.

They even have a page up already explaining things in more detail:
QR Code - Google Favorite Places

Apparently these codes are massive in Japan so Google plans to slowly introduce them around the rest of the world. As for having to download an application to read these codes, I'm not sure if this is necessary for Android devices - it won't be for long? I'm sure once they become popularized most phones will come with a QR code reader as standard.

Most Blackberries already have a QR code reader inside them for adding contacts/groups to Blackberry Messenger.

Where do you get them?

There's a few free QR code generators online, the best one I have found is this:
QR Code Generator

All you do is select from the drop-down box what information you want your QR code to share. Then enter the information and click 'Generate'. You now have your own QR code you can share with people.

To view the codes on your phone there are a number of free apps available. The one I use and recommend is i-nigma. They support most mobile phones and the bar code reader seems to work well.

The download information is here: i-nigma download

This site also lets you create codes free:
i-nigma create barcodes QR DataMatrix

"Dumb" question.

But with the suggested sites above (and any other site that creates these for that matter) can I just print it out as well and have it be fully functioning?

I would suppose yes, but I'm not entirely sure about everything they have potential for and the best way to use them yet.

Edit: Also, wasn't there something about scanning the codes with your phone, then having the code take you to a page instead of simply giving you info? I can see the potential here. There appears to be a lot you could do.

One last thing. Anything against having a few different codes? Or would that be overkill and redundant in your opinion?