1D and 2D codes can be found everywhere. With more and more people acquiring a smartphone, codes become a growing channel for brands to communicate with potential customers. A scan of a code could become an access to mobile commerce.
In this first post, I will talk about the technical advantage of using the scan of codes.
Fast access
Scanning is a quick and automatic way to access information on your smartphone. No need to type a long web address in your browser: you scan and the page opens automatically. The most famous type of 2D code is the QR Code. QR stands for Quick Response.
Format of codes
Compared to the 1D code, the 2D code “contains information in both the vertical and horizontal directions, whereas a 1D code contains data in one direction only”. This explains the popularity of QR Code able to hold a greater volume of information. For more information, you can go to the website of the company that invented the QR code 18 years ago (1994): http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/aboutqr-e.html
The Japanese company Denso Wave has protected the trademark and patents of the QR code all over the world. As of today, the use of QR code is free but it might change.
An alternative to the QR code has been developed by French telecom carriers and MobileTag. The name of the 2D code is Flashcode. It contains as well information in both directions.
The information is coded into the code:
What you can do
With a scan, you can access any content on the Internet (video, text, picture, mobile site…), connect to a wifi network, store information, dial a phone number, send a text message, send an email, a tweet, make a payment and so far.
In a second post, I will explain some of the opportunities for e-Marketing (content display, coupons and discounts, product features...).
You can create a code and manage it for free
Links of interest:
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