Great post from Tomi: Mobile the 7th Mass Media is to internet like TV is to radio

So the mobile is an "inherent threat" mass media, capable of cannibalizing any of its predecessors.

But mobile adds five elements not possible on the previous six mass media, making the mobile the inherently superior mass media.

1. The mobile is personal.
2. The mobile is the first always-on mass media.
3. The mobile is the first always-carried mass media.
4. The mobile is the first mass media with a built-in payment mechanism.
5. Mobile uniquely offers the media audience the input tool, at the point of creative impulse.

So yes the mobile, as the 7th Mass Media is the youngest, least understood, most dangerous new mass media - one which will soon supercede the internet. Not because consuming a web page is better on a phone (that would be stupid to even try) but rather has five benefits the internet cannot hope to match.

In January 2005, flytip.com wrote the following about the japanese LeBron Campaign from Nike:

It's a cool idea, but let's not hold our breath about QR codes popping up in U.S. advertisements anytime soon. Most U.S. mobile phones are still not QR code compatible and WAP penetration amongst users still stands at a lowly 15%.

Two years later we see Nikefootball.com starting with QR Codes.


See also:
Google about Growing Mobile Markets:

From our standpoint, one thing that we’ve been focused on is how the market for mobile has been more advanced in places like Japan. We’ve been very successful. And now we see traffic increasing, advertisers are more interested. We were initially surprised by the level of acceptance mobile got there, but it’s accelerating elsewhere now. We see countries like Germany and France, in general, as the next places for growth, not to mention China and India. A lot of areas in western Europe are getting strong. We’re also focusing on the Middle East and Latin America. Africa is growing quickly.

and

Swiss figures according to Martin Widmer: 23,4% of all swiss mobile phone users are using the mobile internet at least once a month. In comparison to the 55% of daily users in Japan we are still in the early stages.

It would be interesting to compare mobile internet growth with the internet growth. Where is the tipping point? In this regard the Gapminder comparison Internet usage /Phone usage is also very interesting. And let's not forget, Nokia is predicting 1 billion mobile broadband subscribers for 2009.

Mobile 2.0

Open Applications Leverage Open Standards

Lastly, it is important to note that mobile 2.0 applications need to leverage open standards. Applications that sit on top of closed and proprietary protocols and formats are antithetical to the kind of innovation that will be key to the growth of the mobile Web. Establishing open standards around HTML, CSS and XML has greatly contributed to the growth and success of the medium and to its continued innovation. We are already seeing standards pay off big-time on the mobile platform as well in both the Java/JCP space (where we are finally realizing write-once-run-anywhere) and in the mobile Web.

Yeah!

Image: QR Code Poster in Shibuya. QR Code links to http://www.sony.co.jp/walkman/m/

Uses for QR Codes by adverlab
ad.tagg
Kaywa's Happy New Year Poster with QR Codes as PDF (Original Size: A2)

Nikefootball.com is trying out QR Codes since last week. Scan the QR Code below to access directly the mobile site of nikefootball. You'll find games, videos and ringtones around Ronaldinho (Link:fussballblog:de).

Thanks Milan!

Something, people often tend to forget (e.g. QR codes on black background).

QR Code FAQ

The size of QR Code depends on a module size and a symbol version. The module refers to the black and white dots that make up the QR Code. The symbol version determines the data capacity.

The area of a Version 1 QR Code is made up of 21 modules per side. Each higher version number is made up of 4 additional modules. The highest version number is Version 40.

For example, a Version 2 QR Code would be composed of a 25 by 25 module matrix. If the module size is 0.5 mm (19.7 mils) square, the size of QR Code will be 12.5 mm (0.5") square. (QR Code requires a four module wide quiet zone around the symbol.)

With white space this isn't a problem at all, see QR Code on the right.
Our experience is that it works almost always with only one module, but if you want to be on the safe side, it's good to keep this in mind.

Easy download of the 24 hrs ringtone to your phone with the above QR Code.
Ringtone coming for free from Tom Keating.

Our Partner Absolute Development created a online Business Solution by integrating our QR Code API.

It's let's you open campaigns and related QR Codes for URL, Text, SMS and Phone Numbers. You can open QR Codes, give them an expiry date, change the content behind it and download them as EPS, JPG and PNG. Last but not least it gives you live statistics.

This implementation of our QR Code API gives the business user an ideal tool to manage his QR Codes.

Very local weather and earthquakes warnings are things we see. Now we also got Tsunami Information from PTWC - Hawaii Bulletins:



Scan the above QR Code to get it on your mobile or type 202181070 in your Kaywa Reader. And if you are roaming over Switzerland, you can also send an SMS to 202 with QR 202181070.

Other uses of QR Code:
Real Estate QR Codes in Japan
QR Code Movie Tickets in Hong Kong. I can't however access their wap site, the entry is refused.