QR Codes continue to get more and more popular among mobile marketers since the adoption rates of bar code scanning are rapidly increasing. What’s great about QR Codes is that it turns un-trackable traditional advertising into trackable data, so marketers immediately know if there mobile marketing campaign is successful or not. The big problem with QR Codes is that unlike the internet, where many “industry standards” have woven themselves into our surfing habits, there currently isn’t one with 2d bar code scanning and QR Code mplementation.
Because of that, one bar code application reader may not read the QR Code that is compatible with another mobile application from another bar code developer. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to perform a QR Code scan from your smartphone without having to download an application to do so? ScanLife seems to have successfully solved this issue and have just announced an industry first feature that brings mobile barcode scanning to the forefront through their “Scan & Send” feature which allows you to now reach 190 million people in the US alone (3 times more than just Smart Phones) through MMS marketing. The 3-step process is as follows:
- Take a normal picture of a 2D or 1D bar code (QR Code) from your cell phone’s camera
- Send that picture to ScanLife via their text message marketing shortcode of 43588
- ScanLife then decodes it on their server and delivers the featured content immediately to whatever smart phone you use.
This system works on bar codes such as QR Codes, Datamatrix, EZcode, and even UPC Codes with an auto-focus camera on US carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. Outside the US, you can send the picture to scan@scanlife.com, and you’ll get a link back by email instead. Watch this video for more details on how the entire process works:
This is big, because now you can publish a QR Code and reach millions of people that have already downloaded a 2d bar code application, AND now another 100 million that haven’t – the bottom line is no mobile application is required for cell phone users who want to scan a QR Code and have relevant content delivered directly to their phones. More info on this announcement can be found on the Mashable and Fast Company blogs. You can also read the QR Code announcement on the ScanLife blog here.
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