Short Code (2d barcode) Standards, QR (Quick Response) Please!
By andy | March 5, 2008
QR codes are popping up more and more each day, being used for marketing and even more social aspects. When I became aware of the UpCode I could see they would be a competitor to the QR Code. So the race is on QR Code (created 1994 by a company called Denso Wave) or UpCodes (created by a Finnish company called UPC).
So all we have to do is sit back and watch, until….
Another variation of bar code is available on the market! This time it is the WICKD code, this comes in forms of apparel and allows people to “scan” your code. Again you need a specific application to read the special short code, the idea of the WICKD code is that you order the item of clothing of the site and inform them what link you want the short code to link to. This could be a personal profile page, blog, favorite web site (or a symbian virus - oopps)!
The demonstration on the WICKD site shows a couple going to “grab a film” when the message is “eventually” received, basically you can send a message to the “wearer” if their contact details are on the site which the code translates to.
I feel this becomes a very volatile market place… with enough exposure of one type of “short code” and we have a winner, producing clothing with codes on that can only be read by people with specific software installed seems even more targeted than someone with a specific phone.
QR Codes, UpCodes, WICKD Codes - are all short codes.
QR Codes, UpCodes, WICKD Codes - all require specific software (some more readily available than others).
QR Codes, UpCodes, WICKD Codes - are all competing for the same thing.
QR Codes, UpCodes, WICKD Codes - require a standard application to ready all of them!
Topics: Mobile Devices
Interact: Trackback Link
Tags: Barcode, Qr Code, short code, standards, upcode
I have since found there is a standard for QR Codes alone, there is a specification supplied by Denso Wave (the creators) which can be viewed on the Denso Wave site.
There is also an ISO document for the QR Code standard, the summary of this is as follows:
The full ISO document can be downloaded from the ISO website, quick link!
I agree, a standard is the key to making this a painless technology for consumers to uptake. And for a barcode format, I vote for the ISO standard QR Code format rather than other proprietary offerings that may cause confusion and potentially damage the chances of this technology taking off.
I guess there is the potential that barcode reader companies will make their software read all types of barcode, but it’s not happening now (some read more than one type of code, but i don’t know of one that reads them all), and now is the time to get it right, isn’t it?
Give the NeoReader a try
It is able to read and decipher all common non-proprietary 2D codes (Data Matrix, QR, Aztec) as well as URL embedded 2D codes and all 1D UPC/EAN/Code 128 open source codes. The NeoReader supports direct and indirect code linking, which guarantees maximum interoperability with already existing platforms like 2D Data Matrix Semacodes, and Japanese QR links. This allows the user to click on a variety of codes with a single application installed on their mobile device.
http://www.neoreader.com