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Home , Barcode, Data Matrix, QR code

tech tip I want my QR CODES!

By Mary Lynn Wagner

R Codes or Quick Response Kaywa, Moongate and Sparqcode by others. Codes were originally created in Generator. In order for the codes to be There are also a number of track- Japan and are becoming increas- deciphered, you will need to download ing services available for QR codes. You Qingly more prevalent in the United States. a reader that is compatible with your will have to think about how you want QThey can be found in magazines, on phone. Mobile-.com con- to track the traffic generated by your business cards, product shelf tags, con- tains a list of some of the most popular QR code and then decide which service ference name tags and even in the yards readers as well as a list of supported or application best meets your needs. of houses that are for sale. The codes are mobile phones in order to determine There’s an excellent article on RedClay similar to bar codes and are comprised of which readers are most compatible with Interactive3 that provides a step by step three black-and-white boxes along with a your phone. For example, if you own a guide on how to track using pattern of black-and-white lines and dots. Blackberry Storm 2, the most compat- Analytics and the URL shorteners .ly QR codes are used to display text, ible readers are Blackberry Messenger, and goo.gl. URL’s, e- addresses, coupons and BeeTagg and NeoReader. Once a reader Although this technology is just any other type of information as defined becoming popular in the United States, by the creator. Individuals can create Google announced March 31 that their own QR codes by using one of the it would be phasing out support for many free sites available that generate the generating QR codes and focusing on codes. Near-Field Communication (NFC) tech- SPARQCodes are similar to QR codes nology. “NFC technology offers much except that they will link you directly to of the same functionality as QR codes the and can even be pro- but with increased efficiency. Instead of gramed to invoke an app on your mobile pointing your phone at QR codes and phone. This new feature known as ‘Con- waiting for the code to be deciphered, nect N Share’ is “very straightforward you will be able to wave your phone — it makes it easy for businesses to gen- over NFC chips embedded in signs and erate QR codes that link to the business’s devices to obtain the encoded informa- presence on Twitter and/or .”1 tion.”4 These features are specifically designed to Some of the most popular and com- help businesses and individuals gener- patible QR Code readers are listed below: ate more social interaction among users. has been downloaded to your camera, BeeTagg is an excellent QR-Code “According to Jumpscan, QR code scan- you can then use your to reader which can be directly downloaded ning increased by 1,200 percent from scan or take a picture of the QR code. to your phone. After opening the reader, July to December, 2010. Social media The software will automatically read the point your camera at the code and click users are a key driver of this growth with code and open the information on your the picture button. The reader will scan 57 percent of Facebook and Twitter users phone. Note: QR code readers will not the code and decode the message. The reporting that they’ve scanned at least scan all QR codes in the same fashion. You reader “is compatible with over 50 mo- 2 one QR code in the past year.” may want to download multiple readers bile phones including major brands such There are a number of free websites for scanning codes. When creating a QR as Apple, Blackberry, Motorola, Nokia, 5 that can be used to generate QR codes Code, be sure to test it on several different Palm, Samsung, and SonyEricsson.” and SPARQCodes such as Jumpscan, readers so you know how it will be viewed

10 l June 2011 CBA REPORT www.CincyBar.org tech tip

NeoReader is considered to be one the data from one cell phone to another. can download it for free from Blackberry of the best universal readers due to the QuickMark is compatible with Apple, App World. The QR reader can be ac- wide range of phones that are supported. AT&T, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, cessed by opening BlackBerry Messenger NeoReader must be downloaded from Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Sprint and and choosing “Scan a Group .” your ’s browser using the T-Mobile. Place the barcode in the middle of your URL for the service. After downloading The i-nigma reader can be down- camera screen and hold it steady until the reader, it will automatically detect loaded directly to your phone and the software registers a successful scan. the manufacturer of your mobile phone. supports over 250 types of phones. After You will then be asked if you want to “The NeoReader QR-Code software is downloading the reader, it will automati- open the results. compatible with a number of popular cally detect the manufacturer of your Once you’ve downloaded a QR code handsets including Apple, Blackberry, mobile phone. “i-nigma is an easy-to-use scanner, try scanning the code in this Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony application. “Start the app, click “Scan article to see the message I created. Ericsson.”6 code” and the reader scans the barcode. Quickmark requires registration The sound of a bell alerts you that the Wagner serves as the director of information services before downloading the software. Many scan was successful.”7 The app will at Keating Muething & Klekamp. She is responsible for managing all aspects of the firm’s information resource people believe this is the best and easiest provide you with the option to go online center. She is a member of the Association of Legal code reader available. After opening the and view the decoded message. i-nigma Administrators. reader, point your camera at the barcode is compatible with LG, Motorola, Nokia, 1 http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/08/sparqcode-makes-it- and QuickMark will automatically scan Palm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, T-Mo- a-snap-for-local-businesses-to-use-qr-codes the code. When the scan is successful, bile, Cingular, Sprint, Verizon, etc. 2 http://mashable.com/2011/03/04/qr-codes-infographic 3 http://blog.redclayinteractive.com/how-to-track-qr- QuickMark will decode the informa- If you have a BlackBerry, you may codes-in-google-analytics tion and allow you to generate barcodes, already have BlackBerry Messenger 4 www.ibtimes.com/articles/129307/20110331/google-qr- codes-nfc-google-places.htm post the data to social networks, view the which is a built-in QR code reader. If this 5 www.mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-software information in plain text and transfer is not currently on your Blackberry, you 6 id 7 www.cellphone-barcode.com/qr-code-readers/index. QR Code Generators: Jumpscan www.jumpscan.com Jumpscan requires a free registration before a code can be generated. Generates codes for URL’s, text, phone numbers and SMS.

Kaywa QR-Code generator http://qrcode.kaywa.com Generates codes for URL’s, text, phone numbers and SMS.

Moongate www.moongate.ro/en/products/qr_code-vcard/ Online generator for vcard files, QR Code and images.

Sparqcode Generator www.sparqcode.com/static/maestro Generates codes for maps, phone numbers, SMS, text, URL’s, vcard files and apps.

Readers Bee Tagg http://get.beetagg.com NeoReader www.neoreader.com i-nigma www.i-nigma.mobi QuickMark www.quickmark.com Blackberry App World http://us.blackberry.com/apps-software/appworld

URL Shorteners Bit.ly http://bit.ly Google URL http://goo.gl Tiny URL http://tinyurl.com www.CincyBar.org June 2011 CBA REPORT l 11