Research in Motion and Rogers Communication have partnered with near field communication marketing platform provider Crosscliq of Markham, Ont. to develop an NFC tool that allows consumers an alternative to QR codes which will allow them to download to their phones promotional offers, product information and even applications.
The concept is simple, when the user of a mobile device with a built-in NFC scans an NFC-tag embedded on a magazine, billboard or other product, the tag will transmit information to the device or cause the device to execute some form of action. The technology however, unlike QR codes, has not caught.
On the other hand QR codes have become rather ubiquitous. You can even find QR codes on posters in subway stations where there are no cell signals and on billboards 50 metres above the ground where no smartphone user can hope to scan it.
Over the last two year there has been a spike in QR code use thanks to its adoption by many big brands. Some users however find the technology unwieldy as they often involve downloading a separate app, and scanning the QR image does not always guarantee a good connection.
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