Confucius: Microsoft to take 2D barcodes mainstream?
By Stefan Constantinescu on Friday, August 3rd, 2007 at 2:41 PM PST In Mobile Payments, Rumors, Technologies
Mary Jo Foley sheds a hint of light on Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) Code Name Confucius:
A Windows Live service that is an offshoot of Windows Live Barcode. Confucius allows cell-phone users to send two-dimensional barcode information between cell phones or between cell phones and Web sites, allowing users to save keystrokes.
The service is live and you can try it out here and here. Neither links are Firefox friendly.
The debate on the usefulness of QR codes as they are called is ever raging. They are popular in Japan, but Americans have no clue what they are. I’d rather see NFC based communication personally, but I’m not in the industry of predicting the long term future. The fact that once you print a QR code it can never be changed is a major turn off for me.
Got a Nokia (NYSE: NOK) N Series device? You’ll be sure to care about this message:
I’ve been using the firefox extension found here:
http://sample.org.uk/blog/?action=post&post=mobile_barcoder
Makes it real easy to view the same website my computer is looking at on my N95
Hi,
You wrote:
The fact that once you print a QR code it can never be changed is a major turn off for me.
This is absolutely not necessary. You can use a numbered code (Short Code) or a numbered URL Code (Short Code URL) and then you can always change the web address that is behind.
You can also point with different codes to the same mobile site or resource (mp3, 3gp etc.). This way you can check say in a poster campaign which poster got the most clicks.
PS: We provide this kind of service. Check the QR Code API at http://api.qrcode.kaywa.com
E90 got the application too, all 3+mp devices running S60 got it
Ha ha! I believe the N series can scan Datamatrix codes as well. I just finished a 4.5 year stint in Tokyo, and QR is everywhere. I do think that they are becoming over-hyped in Europe and the US, especially by companies trying to proprietize their use or push their own tech. Although RFID or Bluetooth is sometimes a better channel for certain marketing efforts, when used effectively these can add value to any campaign.
The goal of The Mobile Codes Consortium (MC2) is to create a consortium for a new mobile marketing ecosystem based around camera phones and 2D barcodes. A market-driven, open-standards approach will allow 2D barcodes to act as a catalyst in mobile internet adoption, mirroring the growth of web adoption over the last ten years. We invite others to join us on our mission to advance the widespread adoption of mobile codes, through the formation of the MC2. We are interested to hear from companies who share our core goals: to create standards to ensure interoperability, to ensure a business framework for profitable growth, and to encourage and educate the market in general.
http://www.mobilecodes.org
http://www.slideshare.net/qode/mobile-codes-consortium-mc2
“The debate on the usefulness of QR codes as they are called is ever raging. They are popular in Japan, but Americans have no clue what they are. I’d rather see NFC based communication personally, but I’m not in the industry of predicting the long term future. The fact that once you print a QR code it can never be changed is a major turn off for me.”
RFID/NFC and Qr Code are typically used in different cases, it is much simpler to print a QR code on paper then embedding a RFID chip.
You don’t need shortcodes or so to change an email, you can simply redirect your URL to a different URL as well. That allows alot of fexibility and you remain compatible with the standard QR code readers, that is what you want since your goal is probably to reach the widest audience.
Bestm
Stan