Tokyo Shift
The future is now in the land of the rising sun
by Rick Martin, Japan
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QR codes in the wild in Japan
Nov 17, 2009 16:09I've been fascinated by QR codes in Japan even before I came here. For anyone wondering what this technology is about, here's a great explanation by Mobile Ojisan from a few years back:
QR (Quick Rresponse) Code is a matrix two-dimensional printable code, originally developed by an automobile component manufacturer, Denso of Tokyo. Whereas classic barcode can carry only numerals, QR Code stores any character, alphanumeric or even Kanji... [Typing a] URL could pose a big problem. You need to hit, on average, 2.5 key strokes for a single ASCII character with your left/right thumb. No K-tai user wants to type a long and tedious URL this way... A K-tai user simply "clicks" this QR Code with his K-tai camera. The decoding software kicks in and delivers the decoded URL to K-tai browser. It jumps to the Web site directly.
Anyway, I just came across this picture of a massive QR code that showed up recently on a building in Tachikawa. As crazy as something like this may look, it's nothing new in Japan as people have been displaying ginormous QR codes on buildings here for years. Here are a few more examples:
- Talkback
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rrmcburn says...
It is a very exciting time for QR codes as the technology is gaining a lot of momentum in the US, Europe and Australia. The Print Solutions Magazine has recently published a great article about 2D Barcodes: www.printsolutionsmag.com...
Also, my company, Mobile Discovery is currently offering a free trial on our QR code campaign management platform where you can create, manage, and track your codes. Check us out at www.mobilediscovery.com
Nov 18, 2009 10:25
It is a very exciting time for QR codes as the technology is gaining a lot of momentum in the US, Europe and Australia. The Print Solutions Magazine has recently published a great article about 2D Barcodes: www.printsolutionsmag.com...
Also, my company, Mobile Discovery is currently offering a free trial on our QR code campaign management platform where you can create, manage, and track your codes. Check us out at www.mobilediscovery.com
Nov 18, 2009 10:25
streetstylz says...
Right on Mobile Discovery!
I love seeing all the 800 pound gorillas like IBM, Microsoft & Google trying to enter this space and grab a slice of the pie.
NeoMedia currently has 30 active patents spanning 13 countries, with 29 additional patents pending. These patents cover various linkage methods including: Barcodes, RFID, Mag Stripe, Voice, and other machine readable and keyed entry identifiers.
Microsoft is making great headway with their Microsoft Tag technology. What does Google & their mobile barcode scanning application ShopSavvy plan to do to stay competitive? Especially when both Google & Microsoft require a patent license from NeoMedia.
NeoMedia just partnered with NeuStar who will act as NeoMedia's licensing agent in the US for the next 4 years.
Also, NeoMedia's long time rival and competitor Scanbuy just signed a 10 year royalty based licensing agreement with NeoMedia, which further strengthens NeoMedia's IP.
How long until IBM, Google or Microsoft buys NeoMedia and their valuable patent portfolio and dominates the mobile barcode market?
The OMA & GSMA are defining the standards. CTIA is about to award the code registry & clearinghouse to NeuStar. The ecosystem is nearly complete & about to come online.
Exciting times !!
Nov 19, 2009 03:29
Right on Mobile Discovery!
I love seeing all the 800 pound gorillas like IBM, Microsoft & Google trying to enter this space and grab a slice of the pie.
NeoMedia currently has 30 active patents spanning 13 countries, with 29 additional patents pending. These patents cover various linkage methods including: Barcodes, RFID, Mag Stripe, Voice, and other machine readable and keyed entry identifiers.
Microsoft is making great headway with their Microsoft Tag technology. What does Google & their mobile barcode scanning application ShopSavvy plan to do to stay competitive? Especially when both Google & Microsoft require a patent license from NeoMedia.
NeoMedia just partnered with NeuStar who will act as NeoMedia's licensing agent in the US for the next 4 years.
Also, NeoMedia's long time rival and competitor Scanbuy just signed a 10 year royalty based licensing agreement with NeoMedia, which further strengthens NeoMedia's IP.
How long until IBM, Google or Microsoft buys NeoMedia and their valuable patent portfolio and dominates the mobile barcode market?
The OMA & GSMA are defining the standards. CTIA is about to award the code registry & clearinghouse to NeuStar. The ecosystem is nearly complete & about to come online.
Exciting times !!
Nov 19, 2009 03:29
jasonpinto says...
Rick,
Thank you for posting those pictures... They are all quite impressive! Examples like this will help to further the QR Code momentum that is growing in the US.
The company I work for, interlinkONE, just launched QReateAndTrack.com. It's a tool that allows people to generate QR Codes and then measure their success.
Any feedback would be welcome!
Thanks,
Jason Pinto
Nov 18, 2009 21:26
Rick,
Thank you for posting those pictures... They are all quite impressive! Examples like this will help to further the QR Code momentum that is growing in the US.
The company I work for, interlinkONE, just launched QReateAndTrack.com. It's a tool that allows people to generate QR Codes and then measure their success.
Any feedback would be welcome!
Thanks,
Jason Pinto
Nov 18, 2009 21:26
RickMartin says...
Wow. Anybody else have a company they want to plug?
Thanks for the comments though.
Nov 19, 2009 20:07
Wow. Anybody else have a company they want to plug?
Thanks for the comments though.
Nov 19, 2009 20:07
Erik says...
Hi Rick,
Thank you for the post. And yes, I have a company to plug as well :) - www.QRe8.com
We are based in Toronto, Canada and are receiving a great response to our QR Code offering. Specifically, people are most interested in our ability to provide extremely detailed tracking and reporting of our QR camapaigns and also our ability to brand our client's QR Codes - this helps differentiate their codes from others in the market and also conveys an instant brand message to the potential scanner that is walking by.
Here is a link to some of our branded codes - bit.ly...
Thanks again,
Erik
Nov 30, 2009 07:46
Hi Rick,
Thank you for the post. And yes, I have a company to plug as well :) - www.QRe8.com
We are based in Toronto, Canada and are receiving a great response to our QR Code offering. Specifically, people are most interested in our ability to provide extremely detailed tracking and reporting of our QR camapaigns and also our ability to brand our client's QR Codes - this helps differentiate their codes from others in the market and also conveys an instant brand message to the potential scanner that is walking by.
Here is a link to some of our branded codes - bit.ly...
Thanks again,
Erik
Nov 30, 2009 07:46
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About Rick Martin
After a few years in China studying Mandarin and watching the Chinese Tech scene, Rick Martin has escaped to Japan and is loving every minute of it. When he's not working on his pet projects, 2JPN and DS Ninja, he can usually be found exploring all things tech in the land of the rising sun. Drop him a line on Twitter, Facebook, or contact him via Email.
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