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Scan reaches major milestone with QR codes

 

QR Codes Scan ResearchScan delivers 25 million copies of its software

Despite reports that QR codes are unpopular amongst consumers and are diminishing in popularity, Scan, leading barcode scanner makers, has announced that its scanning application of the same name have been downloaded 25 million times. The company is now offering version 2.0 of its software, which provides a number of new features that are meant to make consumers more interested in scanning QR codes and other barcodes. As in previous versions of the software, Scan touts simplicity as the best way to provide service to consumers.

Software allows consumers to scan various types of barcodes

The new version of Scan is simple to use; users only need to point their mobile device at a QR code or other barcode and the application will do the rest of the work. The scanner recognizes QR, UPC, EAN, and ISBN codes and is available for the iPad Mini and the iPhone 5. The software can even make use of a device’s flash to allow its camera to scan codes in the dark.

Platform can help businesses keep track of QR codes

Scan has been growing steadily for more than a year. The company was founded in 2011 and was able to raise more than $1.7 million in financing earlier this year. Scan provides numerous services based on QR codes, such as code generation for websites, business cards, and billboards. Businesses can use the Scan platform to keep track of the performance of the QR codes they use, allowing them to tweak the reach of their marketing campaigns to better suit the demographic that is using their codes the most.

QR codes growing in popularity as mobile commerce devices

Scan notes that it processes more than 27 million codes every month. This suggests that QR codes are much more popular than some might believe. The codes have been gaining momentum as a mobile commerce tool, which may be part of the reason why they have been seeing more use in recent months. Retailers, in particular, are showing interest in QR codes because of their potential use as a sales mechanism for mobile consumers.

NFC technology expected to become more common in coming years

 

NFC technology poised for market boom

NFC technology is becomiNFC Technology Growthng more commonplace as consumers become more comfortable with the services it can provide. The technology is well known for its use in mobile commerce, wherein it is able to facilitate mobile payments from smart phones for physical products. The technology also has uses in marketing and information distribution and is quickly becoming an ideal way for companies to stay engaged with mobile consumers. Despite the growing popularity of NFC technology, relatively few consumers can engage in the services it provides because of the lack of NFC-enabled mobile devices.

NFC-enabled devices currently in low supply

In order for consumers to make use of NFC-based services, they must have a device that is equipped with an NFC chip. This chip allows a device to interface with a payments terminal, NFC tag, or other service that relies on the technology. Currently, the availability of NFC-enabled mobile devices is low, with the majority of such devices encompassed in the Android platform. The iOS platform does not support NFC technology despite growing demand coming from consumers. The lack of NFC-enabled devices has made it difficult for mobile commerce and other NFC-based services to gain traction with consumers.

ABI Research predicts 2 billion NFC-enabled devices by 2017

According to ABI Research, the availability of NFC-enabled mobile devices is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years. This is due to telecommunications and technology companies heeding the demands coming from consumers and working to meet their needs. The research firm expects more than 2 billion smart phones will be equipped with NFC technology by 2017. Shipments of NFC-enabled devices are expected to pick up as well as these products exit their trail phase and companies deem them commercially viable.

New devices expected to make NFC technology more familiar with consumers

With the availability of NFC-enabled devices on the rise, more consumers are expected to gain access to the wide array of NFC-based services that are being offered to them. There may be some challenges that companies and consumers will have to overcome, especially in the realm of mobile commerce, but NFC technology is expected to become a staple of mobile technology and service in the near future.