Data Matrix sighting in Tampere, Finland: Real Estate shopping

Stefan Constantinescu

Stefan Constantinescu (@WhatTheBit on Twitter) has loved technology since as far back as he can remember. It started with computers, but in the past few years his passion has turned to mobile devices. As a mobile phone enthusiast who lives and breathes devices that connect to the internet, he knows he is not alone with this radical fascination of all things wireless. He is strongly opinionated and enjoys a good debate so leave comments in his posts and he’ll get back to you! Stefan began blogging as a hobby in the fall of 2006 and joined IntoMobile in the summer of 2007. Later he got a job at Nokia in March 2008, but as of June 2009 he has rejoined the IntoMobile team. He is currently based out of Helsinki, Finland.

• Maciek

  Hmmm…interestingly the unit has a dry sauna, balcony, two bedrooms, living room, a clean looking kitchen with white cabinets …just scanned Stefan’s QR Code shot..you have to enter your name and a phone number and then you can see the listing LOL…

  I was doubtful N95 would read a picture of a QR code (taken with another phone) but amazingly it did..

  Give it a try.

• Zak

  That’s a good deal,

  Here in Vancouver, something like that would go for at least $500,000 or 312,000EU

  I thought property in Europe was more expensive than it is here… Jeez, too bad I can’t speak whatever they speak over there in Finland

• Zak

  Lucky Europeans,

  Cheap property AND phones that actually have fully functional 3G! I bet more than half the people living here have no idea what that is

• Jen

  Erhemm. Somehow I suspect in Vancouver, the same job would earn you more.

• Henrikki

  stefan: your Finnish is getting better! And @zak: that is what we speak here.

  Prices in Tampere are some (depending onthe location at least)30 % off of the prices of similar apartments in Helsinki.

• Suden

  This is off topic, but to correct little:

  It’s an “auction item” with starting price 169k€. I’d guess if you want to buy that apartment you probably have to pay a couple tens more.

  However it still sounds almost free. Here in Espoo it would be (almost) a bargain if you get one room with that price. 3 rooms + sauna starts from 250k€ even in the cheaper locations (talking about new apartments here).

  Off topic nr. 2: Thanks Stefan for your personal touch in tech-blogging. Next time you’re visiting Espoo feel free to drop in

• Stefan Constantinescu

  @Suden: Thanks, I’ll have to take you up on that one day.

  @Henrikki: Trust me, my Finnish is not getting any better haha.

  @Zak: What @Jen said is true, salaries here are not as high as they are in the states. With the collapse over the dollar that has happened over the past ~ 8 months that difference is not as large, but still in the double digits.

• Henrikki

  @suden: you are right, it’s an auction item! This is a new way to sell/buy apartments. This is the first time I hear about it (not that I have followed real estate that closely).

• Maciek

  Real estate auctions are very popular in the UK. I have seen a couple of them in the US and personally I think it’s a better idea than the current system that’s being used in the US: Here you list at a higher almost unreal price and then wait for people’s best offer. Auction works better because you can list lower and have the price climb up so if the demand is higher – you may get more than you were expecting. I think I may be selling my house “auction style” when the time will come. And having an internet site is even better..and then when geeks go shopping..you better make that QR code ready

• Topy

  “That’s a good deal,

  Here in Vancouver, something like that would go for at least $500,000 or 312,000EU

  I thought property in Europe was more expensive than it is here… Jeez, too bad I can’t speak whatever they speak over there in Finland”

  Thought if you go to capital area those prices sky rocket. I believe that Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities so no contest here =)
  Helsinki was something like 31th on that list.

• Topy

  Oh btw Stefan planning to move in Helsinki/Espoo/vantaa area or is there some special reason to stay in Tampere other than prices?

• Stefan Constantinescu

  Prices are nice here in Tampere, if my 3 month part time contract turns into something full time and more permanent then I might consider moving back to Helsinki.

• thigh bone

  that’s actually a data matrix code, not a QR code

• Stefan Constantinescu

  you’re absolutely right! thanks for the correction.

• Jukka Eklund

  People, could we drop the technical terms QR and Datamatrix and just talk about 2D codes or 2D barcodes? Nokia’s reader (and most other ones out there) read both standards anyway.

• http://www.whitecabinetsproducts.com White Cabinets

  I’ll post the same information to my blog, thanks for ideas and great article.