More and more people and companies are using and installing QR codes and QR code readers every day. One day, it may even be a standard communication vehicle!
A client recently asked us how to read QR codes. This blog post is a brief tutorial.
QR codes work with any smart phone. Because I have an iPhone I am giving instructions on how to read QR codes with the iPhone device. But Google’s Android, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and Windows Phone, Nokia’s Symbian, RIM’s BlackBerry, etc., all have similar procedures.
- Start out by launching the App Store on your iPhone. (The other smart phone all use/sell QR Code reader apps too)
- Run a search for the words “QR code reader”.
- There are several options to choose from. I prefer “QR Reader for iPhone” aka “QRReader.” It is free and has good reviews. However it is personal preference. If one app doesn’t work for you, try another free one.
- Install QRReader as you would any other iPhone app.
- The installation shouldn’t take long. Open QRReader once it has completed.
- QRReader is great because once you launch it, it’s immediately in scanning mode, and it can pick up a code within seconds.
- Please make sure you are in good lighting and hold the device steady. Point your iPhone camera at a QR code and QRReader will pick it up right away.
- QR codes take you to a Web site, to view the text, to download VCARD, to view a video—-whatever the QR code was designed to do. If the contents of the QR code are a URL, it just loads the URL in its built-in web browser.
What is a VCARD?
Some QR codes will take you to a Website that allows you to input your email addy to receive a VCARD with all that company’s contact info. Once you get the VCARD, it adds the contact info to your iPhone as a new contact.