QR Code – What’s the Hold Up?

I’ve been waiting for this mobile technology to take off here in the U.S. So far the reaction/adaptation of this technology has been a steady “meh”.

If you’re not familiar with QR Code (Quick-Response Code), I’ll give you the background. It’s essentially a mobile barcode that you can encrypt with any type of information. Contact info, calendar appointments, even URL’s can be encoded via QR code for mobile devices to “scan” and decrypt the information. It’s a very quick way to pass along information to anybody using a mobile device.

Business owners can create codes to quickly get their contact info into a client’s mobile address book. Companies can create codes that will send mobile users to online coupons they can use in-store without downloading the image and figuring out how to print them to hand to the cashier. There is even a real estate company out in Wisconsin that is using QR Code as yard signs to drive home shoppers to their mobile site to find out more about the property for sale. Or just create a code to get users to your mobile site (If you are using WordPress, I certainly hope you are using a plug-in that creates a “mobile-friendly” version of your website).

Once you create the code encrypted with information like your business info. (name, address, phone number and website) you can put that code…anywhere! On the back of a business card, on flyers, on a t-shirt, as an image on your website, etc. Anybody with a QR code reader app on their mobile device can scan the code using their device’s camera and instantly, users can opt to add your information to their mobile device’s contact list.

There are tons of apps available that will enable you to create the code and most (if not all) mobile devices offer mobile apps that will scan the code to access the information. And they are not expensive at all (most are free).

Services/apps to create QR Code:

BeeTag
Kaywa
Mobile Barcodes

Mobile Apps to read QR Code:

BlackBerry
iPhone
Android
Windows Mobile

Now i’m pretty sure you’ve seen these things out in the wild, but my question is why haven’t they taken over as the de facto way to access information via a mobile device? They are easy to make (The image in the article when scanned will take you to…you have to scan it to find out). And easy to scan – it’s just as simple as taking a pic of an image with your smart phone’s camera. So what’s the hold up?

Do U.S. companies fail to realize that a large number of people accessing the internet are doing so via their mobile devices? Some companies get it, and are using QR Codes to welcome their mobile device users:

Google
AT&T
HBO

Or is it education? Do people really know enough about QR Codes to create the demand for more entities to adopt the technology? If that’s the case then do me a favor, share this article with everybody you know so we can get the ball rolling! SmallBizGoMobile has done it’s job, now it’s time to do yours!

New Microsoft Office 2010 goes mobile for FREE!

Microsoft goes mobile with Office 2010! Will it give you the productivity you need while on-the-go? This week Microsoft has finalized their release of the new Office 2010. While most reviews are covering the differences of the previous desktop version (here’s Walt Mossberg’s look at Office 2010) many are overlooking the availability to have Office 2010 on your mobile device.

In todays hyper-competitive, real-time environment your “office” must be wherever you are located! If you want to realize growth in your business you have to embrace being mobile & not the typical 20% phone feature usage – the 80% growth in mobile is identifying the right apps that will make you more productive. In my presentations I often say “In business a smartphone is only as good as the apps you run on it” otherwise it may as well be a doorstop! Don’t underestimate the mobile growth, in 2013 there will be close to 900 million worldwide mobile internet users (according to IDC, Worldwide Digital Marketplace Model and Forecast, December 2009)

This brings me back to Microsoft Office 2010! In my opinion, Microsoft has made a very smart move in offering the mobile version FREE with any Windows Mobile phones that has version 6.5 or above! Office 2010 for mobile includes Word Mobile 2010, Excel Mobile 2010, PowerPoint Mobile 2010, OneNote Mobile 2010, and SharePoint Workspace Mobile 2010. Outlook Mobile 2010 comes pre-installed on Windows phones and is the default e-mail service.

I will test out the apps for a post in the next week or two and give you a more detailed review about performance, features and limitations etc. Until then, if you are upgrading to a new Windows Mobile phone version 6.5 or higher make sure you are taking advantage of the Office 2010 mobile applications and increase your productivity while on the go!

What mobile “office-like” apps are you using? Tell us in the comments so we can make sure we review them for our readers!