Maybe you’ve seen the little boxes with squiggly lines and dots on packaging, print materials, advertisements, billboards and even promotional items. What are these cryptic pictures and how do we use them? They are 2-D barcodes called QR Codes or Microsoft tags and they can contain many types of information that can be useful to you.

To use these barcodes, you must have a smartphone and have downloaded an app that can read them. There are several applications that read QR Codes, but Microsoft Tags have their own app that you must download. After you snap a picture of the code using the app on your phone, you will be sent to a URL, given contact information or other information. The URL might have more information or reviews about products, pictures or a video.

With 2-D barcodes popping up everywhere you look, you may be wondering if anyone is actually using them. Here are some stats:

• 52% of mobile users have seen or heard of QR codes and 28% of those have scanned one.
• iPhone users scan codes the most at 68% followed by 26% of Android users and 4% of Blackberry users.
• QR-code scanning grew quickly 1,200% from July to December 2010.

Are you ready to dive into the world of 2-D barcodes? You can make your own Microsoft Tags here and QR Codes at Kaywa, Qurify and Delivr. Ask us how you can incorporate them into you brand and promotional items. Call 800-737-0919 or e-mail pmg@phoenixmark.com today!