QR Codes

What are QR Codes (Quick Response codes)

I am sure you have seen these square box things in restaurants, posters, emails... and asked yourself, what on earth are the square box things all about?

They are called QR Codes. QR, short for Quick Response codes are similar to the standard barcode in that they represent information. The shape was designed to be scanned by a QR Scanner (an app) on a mobile device and convert the QR code into meaningful information. This information could be a website link, a link to a YouTube video, contact details, useful information, in fact anything you can think of within the limits of 4296 characters (for version 40).

How to get a QR Scanner or QR Reader

This is a list of just some of the free QR scanners you can get for your mobile device. These are all free at the time of publishing (Nov 2011)

IPhone QR Scanners:
QR Reader for the IPhone
QR Scanner

Android QR Scanners:
i-nigma Barcode Scanner
Barcode Generator Reader

Windows Phone 7 QR Scanners:
BeeTagg QR Reader
NeoReader

Blackberry Mobile QR Scanners:
BeeTagg QR Reader
QR Code Scanner Pro

Short note on security

It pays to be on your guard and only scan QR codes from trusted sources, otherwise you could end up on an unsavoury site or even worse pick up some free Malware. Read an article from The Register on how easy it could be to find yourself exposed.