QR barcodes are also growing in popularity in Europe

The QR (Quick Response) code has been developed by DENSO Wave and has enjoyed great popularity in Japan for a number of years, where no mobile phone is now sold without QR code reader software. There are many application areas: QR codes are integrated in most promotional campaigns, for example on posters. Users can read the information encrypted there with their cell phone. They are then linked to the product site over the Internet and can obtain additional information or buy the product directly online. According to a study, around 90 percent of all surveyed Japanese use the QR code in this way.

Other application areas for the QR code include route information, bookmarks for the Web browser or information on food. In particular, there is a constantly growing demand for information on fruit and vegetables. Customers can use the QR code to load information on their mobile phone, for instance on how the product has been cultivated, whether certain pesticides were not used, etc. Such information means that customers are more ready to pay higher prices – and, of course, retailers profit from that. A pioneer in this field is the Japanese food wholesaler Aeon, which has been providing information via QR codes since 2004. They even have a robot with a QR reader in some of their stores.

The number of projects with QR codes in the USA and Europe is growing steadily. Since November 2006, Microsoft has been offering a free service at the “Microsoft Windows Live Service” portal, where registered users can convert a text into a QR code – for example data from a calling card – free of charge. If this QR code is read using a camera, the information is transferred directly to the device’s contact database. Google also uses QR codes for its Google Ads service. This makes it more interesting to users, as well as giving vendors important information on the interests and behaviour of customers.

The national German newspaper “Die Welt” also sets store by QR codes. In its compact edition “Die Welt kompakt”, readers can load articles onto their mobile phone using QR codes or store a bookmark in their Internet browser. According to the editorial team, the high demand by customers in the triple-digit range means that further application areas are planned.

Conclusion:
Now that the QR code has been a success in Japan for many years, more and more companies from other countries are taking advantage of encrypted information. This trend will intensify: not only is there now free QR code reader software for all platforms, but manufacturers of mobile phones, such as Nokia, are providing devices that can read QR codes.