2D Barcodes (Aztec, QR Code, Datamatrix), and the Mobile web

QR Code and Datamatrix barcodes on Google Maps

Victor Apollo — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:43:47 +0000

You can also generate colored QR Codes or Datamatrix barcodes overlaid on Google maps, like in the examples below, and use them on printed materials.

You simply indicate the position where you want the barcodes to be placed.
Generate Google Maps 2D barcodes

Google Maps QR Code

Google Maps Datamatrix barcode

The maps can link to pages that offer directions or info on sorrounding areas.

QR Code and Datamatrix Overlays

Victor Apollo — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:28:52 +0000

You can now generate colored QR Codes or Datamatrix barcodes overlaid on images, like in the examples below.

You simply upload an image and indicate the position where you want the barcodes to be placed.
Generate QR Code & Datamatrix barcode overlays

QR Code Overlay

Datamatrix Overlay

Colored QR Code and Datamatrix barcodes

Victor Apollo — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:19:17 +0000

You can generate colored QR Codes or Datamatrix from the link below.

Coloured 2D barcodes Generator

The generator also supports url shortening.

Enjoy

Why Labeled 2D Barcodes?

Victor Apollo — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:39:42 +0000

If you have ever generated a QR Code or a Datamatrix barcode, you’ll notice that that the barcodes can encode different forms of data. Decoding these barcodes with a mobile handset equipped with the appropriate software will trigger various actions depending on what was encoded. For example, upon decoding these barcodes, you could be prompted to send a text message or prompted to save contact details or even prompted to visit a web link.

A casual glance at any of these generated barcodes reveals one thing – the barcodes look more or less the same. It’s not easy to guess what’s encoded just by looking at the barcodes. The only way to know about the encoded content is to decode them or be informed in advance about what to expect.

The problem

When deploying 2D barcode campaigns, you are going to be faced with three groups of people

1) People who know what 2D barcodes are.

2) People who don’t know what 2D barcodes are.

3) People who really don’t care about the benefits of 2D barcodes.

How do you address all these people in a user friendly manner?
Consider the following scenario-
You are trying to reach people through the print medium, so you have decided to enhance your content using 2D barcodes. You want people to scan the 2D barcode, visit your link www.example.com/coupon, and consequently download a coupon which can be redeemed in store. Since your content is out in public, there are many other 2D barcodes vying for people’s attention.

So how do you get these three groups of people to scan your 2D barcode? Typical 2D barcodes we’ve seen deployed look like the one below.

They are just plain, with nothing distinctive about them. People in group 1 are the ones who tend to scan this.
Existing solutions to address people in group 2 tend to go like this :

The publisher asks the end users to send a text message to some number.

The end users then receive a link asking them to download a decoding application.

The end users visit the link and download the app.

They then install the app.

Once they have done that, they have to fire up the app.

They briefly figure out how the app works. It then takes them like 2 or 3 attemps to decode the barcode.

They then realize a link was encoded and finally visit the link.

Frustrating isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be simpler to have just shown them the link and asked them to visit it? What about the people in group 3. People who know what 2D barcodes are, but can’t be bothered to decode them because they’d rather type in the link for themselves. How do you reach this people?

The solution

In a world where everything is vying for our attention, we need something practical. Something that works. For example a call to action. In our example above using a barcode labeled like the one below would yield more results.

Sample link: www.ventipix.com/demob/coupons

A simpler approach for addressing people in group 2 and 3 would be to show them the link to visit. Upon visiting this link, they would then navigate to the destination you wanted them to take.

Our labeled 2D barcodes, which include Labeled QR Codes™ and Labeled Datamatrix™, address the issues mentioned in this post. You can label the QR Code or Datamatrix barcodes with call to action keywords e.g buy now etc. People choosing to type in your URL will be prompted to enter either a DM ID or QR ID depending on which barcodes you are using. Once they have visited the link, they will be prompted to enter a numeric number which also doubles up as your analytic ID. In either cases, you reach as much people as you can whilst tracking the success of each campaign.

Are you achieving your desired results? End user experience matters!

Datamatrix Mobile Marketing for Restaurants

Victor Apollo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:35:30 +0000

This PHP web application enables you to market your restaurant on the mobile web using Datamatrix.

Available features:

Track unlimited number of Datamatrix.

Generate Custom Datamatrix barcodes that can be colored, shrunk down in size, and labeled.

Generate Datamatrix image overlays.

Real time statistics.

Real time editing. – changes take effect immediately.

Geo-stats of each Datamatrix scan.

Phone model statistics of each Datamatrix scan.

Goal tracking – allows you to measure conversion rates.

Graphical reports showing weekly, monthly and yearly scans.

Media comparison – compare the response you get from different types of media e.g. brand A newspaper vs brand B magazine.

Growth comparison – compare the increase of each scan on a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

Reservation system – allows you to manage reservation requests.

Messaging system – allows you to send SMS or emails to your clients.

Staff collaboration – enables you to inform staff about reservations, and share guests lists securely.

Marketing – send SMS or Emails to customers who opted in to receive them. There’s support for mobile coupons as well.

Centralized management – Manage all marketing and messaging activities for unlimited number of restaurants.

Client relationship – maintain relationship with you clients.

Mobile Admin access – you can login from your phone/PDA and view the statistics, manage reservations and alert staff.

Emergency stop – just incase you have the wrong content out in circulation, you can disable it in real time and re-route the traffic to a different site.

Multilingual interface – use automated translation or translate the text manually.

Requirements

PHP 5 and higher.

cURL support.

Database: Although the default is MySQL, you can use any other database.
Follow the installation wizard for a quick setup. Instructions are on the README.txt

License

Datamatrix Mobile Marketing for Real Estates

Victor Apollo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:31:33 +0000

This PHP web application enables you to market your properties to let or for sale on the mobile web using Datamatrix.
Available features:

Track unlimited number of Datamatrix.

Generate Custom Datamatrix barcodes that can be colored, shrunk down in size, and labeled.

Generate Datamatrix image overlays.

Real time statistics.

Real time editing. – changes take effect immediately.

Geo-stats of each Datamatrix scan.

Phone model statistics of each Datamatrix scan.

Goal tracking – allows you to measure conversion rates.

Graphical reports showing weekly, monthly and yearly scans.

Media comparison – compare the response you get from different types of media e.g. brand A newspaper vs brand B magazine.

Growth comparison – compare the increase of each scan on a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

Viewing request system – allows you to manage viewing requests.

Messaging system – allows you to send SMS or emails to your clients.

Staff collaboration – enables you to inform agents about viewing requests through SMS or emails.

Marketing – send new property alerts via SMS or emails to clients who opted in to receive them.

Centralized management – manage all marketing and messaging activities for unlimited number of properties.

Client relationship – maintain relationship with you clients.

Mobile Admin access – currently, you can login from your mobile phone/PDA and view the statistics.

Emergency stop – just incase you have the wrong content out in circulation, you can disable it in real time and re-route the traffic to a different site.

Multilingual interface – use automated translation or translate the text manually.

Requirements

PHP 5 and higher.

cURL support.

Database: Although the default is MySQL, you can use any other database.
Follow the installation wizard for a quick setup. Instructions are on the README.txt

License

Mobile donation with Datamatrix

Victor Apollo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:04:19 +0000

This free PHP web application enables you to receive donations on the mobile web using Datamatrix.

Available features:

Track unlimited number of Datamatrix.

Generate Custom Datamatrix barcodes that can be colored, shrunk down in size, and labeled.

Generate Datamatrix image overlays.

Real time statistics.

Real time editing. – changes take effect immediately.

Geo-stats of each Datamatrix scan.

Phone model statistics of each Datamatrix scan.

Goal tracking – allows you to measure conversion rates.

Graphical reports showing weekly, monthly and yearly scans.

Media comparison – compare the response you get from different types of media e.g. a flyers vs newspapers.

Growth comparison – compare the increase of each scan and donation on a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

Billing vendors – supports PayPal Mobile and Google Donate.

Mobile Admin access – currently, you can login from you phone/PDA and view the statistics.

Emergency stop – just incase you have the wrong content out in circulation, you can disable it in real time and re-route the traffic to a different site.

Multilingual interface – use automated translation or translate the text manually.

Requirements
PHP 5 and higher
Database: The default is MySQL, although you can use any other database
cURL support
License

Datamatrix Mobile Marketing for Independent Artists

Victor Apollo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:57:33 +0000

This free PHP web application enables you to market your digital content and events on the mobile web using Datamatrix.

Available features:

Track unlimited number of Datamatrix.

Generate Custom Datamatrix barcodes that can be colored, shrunk down in size, and labeled.

Generate Datamatrix image overlays.

Real time statistics.

Real time editing. – changes take effect immediately.

Geo-stats of each Datamatrix scan.

Phone model statistics of each Datamatrix scan.

Goal tracking – allows you to measure conversion rates.

Graphical reports showing weekly, monthly and yearly scans.

Media comparison – compare the response you get from different types of media e.g. brand A newspaper vs brand B magazine.

Growth comparison – compare the increase of each scan on a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

File comparison – compare one type of file against another e.g videos vs audio, and see which type of file generates the most download over a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

Mobile Billing – supports PayPal Mobile, Bango and Google Mobile Checkout.

Mobile Ads – supports Admob, Google Mobile for Adsense.

Mobile Admin access – currently, you can login from your phone/PDA and view the statistics.

Emergency stop – just incase you have the wrong content out in circulation, you can disable it in real time and re-route the traffic to a different site.

Multilingual interface – use automated translation or translate the text manually.

Requirements

PHP 5 and higher.

cURL support.

Database: Although the default is MySQL, you can use any other database.
Follow the installation wizard for a quick setup. Instructions are on the README.txt

License

Mobile Ticketing with Datamatrix Barcodes

Victor Apollo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:44:55 +0000

This free PHP application enables you to sell or offer mobile tickets using Datamatrix. Tickets can either be in Aztec, QR Code or Datamatrix formats.
Some examples

Aztec Ticket

Datamatrix Ticket

QR Code Ticket

Available features:

Track unlimited number of Datamatrix.

Generate Custom Datamatrix barcodes that can be colored, shrunk down in size, and labeled.

Generate Datamatrix image overlays.

Real time statistics.

Real time editing. – changes take effect immediately.

Geo-stats of each Datamatrix scan.

Phone model statistics of each Datamatrix scan.

Goal tracking – allows you to measure conversion rates.

Graphical reports showing weekly, monthly and yearly scans.

Media comparison – compare the response you get from different types of media e.g. brand A newspaper vs brand B magazine.

Growth comparison – compare the increase of each scan on a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

Media comparison – compare the response you get from different types of media e.g. brand A newspaper vs brand B magazine.

Growth comparison – compare the increase of each scan and bookings on a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

Revenue comparison – compare revenues on a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

Booking system – allows you to manage all booking requests.

Messaging system – supports SMS to deliver tickets.

Billing – supports either Google Mobile Checkout or PayPal Mobile.

Staff collaboration – enables you to inform staff about bookings, and share guests lists securely.
Marketing – send SMS to customers who opted in to receive them.

Centralized management – manage all marketing and messaging activities for unlimited number of events.

Client relationship – maintain relationship with you clients.

Mobile Ads – supports Admob, Google Mobile for Adsense.

Mobile Admin access – currently, you can login from your phone/PDA and view the statistics, manage viewing requests and alert staff of any viewing requests.

Emergency stop – just incase you have the wrong content out in circulation, you can disable it in real time and re-route the traffic to a different site.

Multilingual interface – use automated translation or translate the text manually.

Requirements

PHP 5 and higher.

cURL support.

Database: Although the default is MySQL, you can use any other database.
Follow the installation wizard for a quick setup. Instructions are on the README.txt

License

Datamatrix Mobile Store for Mobile Digital Downloads

Victor Apollo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:42:02 +0000

This free PHP web application enables you to serve digital content such as apps, videos, ringtones, walllpapers etc using Datamatrix.

Available features:

Track unlimited number of Datamatrix.

Generate Custom Datamatrix barcodes that can be colored, shrunk down in size, and labeled.

Generate Datamatrix image overlays.

Real time statistics.

Real time editing. – changes take effect immediately.

Geo-stats of each Datamatrix scan.

Phone model statistics of each Datamatrix scan.

Goal tracking – allows you to measure conversion rates.

Graphical reports showing weekly, monthly and yearly scans.

Media comparison – compare the response you get from different types of media e.g. brand A newspaper vs brand B magazine.

Growth comparison – compare the increase of each scan on a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

File comparison – compare one type of file against another e.g videos vs audio, and see which type of file generates the most download over a week-to-week, month-to-month, or year-to-year basis.

Mobile Billing – supports PayPal Mobile, Bango and Google Mobile Checkout.

Mobile Ads – supports Admob, Google Mobile for Adsense.

Mobile Admin access – currently, you can login from your phone/PDA and view the statistics.

Emergency stop – just incase you have the wrong content out in circulation, you can disable it in real time and re-route the traffic to a different site.

Multilingual interface – use automated translation or translate the text manually.

Requirements

PHP 4 and higher.

cURL support.

Database: Although the default is MySQL, you can use any other database.
Follow the installation wizard for a quick setup. Instructions are on the README.txt

License