Common QR Code Usage
QR Code is a matrix two-dimensional code developed by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The “QR” is derived from “Quick Response”, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed. QR Codes are common in Japan, where they are currently the most popular type of two dimensional codes. It has gained popularity in mobile industry.
How to generate the code
You can use Free online QR Code Maker to create QR Codes.
Common Use in Mobile Industry
QRCode can encode many types of information: web site URLs, phone number, SMS, geolocation and contact info.
Web site URL
The most common application of qrcodes is to encode the text of URL such as
http://www.morvia.com/fonts/. To do so, enter exactly the text of the URL: http://www.morvia.com/fonts/
.
Make sure that the protocol prefix http://
is entered at the
beginning.
A mobile reader should open the URL in the browser's location box upon scanning the barcode.
E-mail address
Use format like mailto:support@morovia.com
to encode an email
address into the barcode.
A mobile reader should start email client to compose a blank message to the given address.
NTT Docomo defines format MATMSG
Docomo: E-mail Synchronization to add subject and message. For
example, encoding the following into a barcode and upon scanning, a mobile reader
will open email client with recipient email address, subject and message body
filled out - MATMSG:TO:support@morovia.com;SUB:QRCode Generator;BODY:you guys are doing a great job!;;
.
Telephone Number
Telephone number URI starts with tel:
, followed by digits understood
as a telephone number. For example, tel:+19057520226
while +1 is the
long distance prefix and country code for Canada.
A mobile reader should start the dialer application with the number prefilled. For privacy reason it should ask permission before dialing the actual number.
SMS
A SMS URI starts with "sms:", followed by the telephone number, is a way
similar to email address. For example sms:9052091223
.
Geographic information
A geo URI may be used to encode a point on the earth, including latitude.
For example, to encode the Morovia's office,
which is at 43.838613 degree North latitude, 79.330831 degree West longitude,
at a point 120 meters above the office,
one would encode geo:43.838613,-79.330831,120
.
A mobile reader may open a map application to this location and zoom accordingly. If a map application is not present, it might open an online map application using its browser.
Contact Information
There are several formats in circulation, such as BIZCARD and vCard. However,
the most recognized format is MECARD
, first published by NTT
Docomo. The widely accepted PC format vCard is difficult to encode into small barcode.
For example, to encode the name Mike Sean
, address PO Box 390, Alhambra, CA 90030
, phone number (408) 234-1234
,
email mike.sean@example.com
, enter
MECARD:N:Sean,Mike;ADR:PO Box 390, Alhambra, CA 90030;TEL:+14082341234;EMAIL:mike.sean@example.com;;
Summary
The table below summarizes the common formats used:
Usage | Prefix | Example |
---|---|---|
Website URL | http:// | http://www.morovia.com/ |
Facebook Like | http:// | http://facebook.com/morovia |
Youtube | http:// | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G6UHQJx3Us |
Twitter Follow | http:// | http://twitter.com/morovia |
E-mail Address | mailto: | mailto:example@exmaple.com |
Phone Numbers | tel: | tel:+19052091336 |
Text (SMS) | sms: | sms:9052091306 |
Geo Address | geo: | geo:43.838613,-79.330831,120 |
Contact Info in MECARD format | MECARD: | MECARD:N:Sean,Mike;ADR:PO Box 390, Alhambra, CA 90030;TEL:+14082341234;EMAIL:mike.sean@example.com;; |