Cell C launches own custom QR Code

iPhone Application

Jan Vermeulen,

I've just downloaded an iphone application for the same, which works perfectly. Was able to read the writer's business card.

Already looking forward to the service.
 
Are they creating a new bar code? Or will they be using QR codes ? If its a new standard why ? If its QR codes then use Barcode Scanner on the app market. Not wap or bandwidth required.
 
Jan Vermeulen,

I've just downloaded an iphone application for the same, which works perfectly. Was able to read the writer's business card.

Already looking forward to the service.

Sorry for the confusion.

My business card was included to show what can be done with a standard QR Code. The other, more colourful code is Cell C's new PhotoCode which doesn't seem to be readable with standard QR Code scanners.

I have edited the article to try and make it less confusing.
 
Why does the cell c app need access to phone call records ? Not going to install :(. Only code it would add is there own custom BeeTagg. Will just stick with international standard ones.
 
Are they creating a new bar code? Or will they be using QR codes ? If its a new standard why ? If its QR codes then use Barcode Scanner on the app market. Not wap or bandwidth required.

Don't need bandwidth after it's installed...unless the code points to a webpage then obviously...
 
Some of these apps don't actually do the processing on the phone but send it to a remote server and then send the response back. Though as said did not install the app. Has someone installed the app and tested to see if it processes the bar code on the phone?
 
I have an idea that a would like to present to Cell C/Beetagg marketing people, what would be my next step?
 
can it hold as much information as a qr code?
or does it just do text strings which the client converts to url and launches in the browser?
how does it define content types, does it support microformats or alternative data types?
is there only one physical size or is there a micro- alternative?
 
Yet another company trying to force their non standards product onto the market.

QR Code is commonplace in Japan, dont know about this "PhotoCode" but judging by a lack of relevant google results I dont think so.

QR code has everything that is needed, why do you need to go and mess around with something else?
 
You should also change the topic as its not a QR code but there own matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode#Matrix_.282D.29_barcodes.

QR Code "Quick Response" is a specific matrix code. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code.

Well spotted, hotsquid. The reason I used "QR Code" was because that's the term that was used in the Cell C press release, but I see I cut that whole part of the release out of my article.

The description on the PhotoCode site has Cell C's view on how PhotoCode is related to QR Code http://www.cellc.co.za/services/photocode.

On another note: I've posted an update in the article from the reports we've received of the devices that can successfully scan the PhotoCodes with the BeeTagg application.
 
I would assume the author used a 3rd party qr code generator (such as http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/) to create his vcard - as http://generator.beetagg.com/ creates a qr code that redirects to their webserver.

Can Cell C's code even be considered QR Code? It does not apper if there is any error checking buit in and should the company's website be hacked, sold, taken offline all such codes would be rendered invalid.

I for one will be sticking to the codes that everyone can read.
 
I would assume the author used a 3rd party qr code generator (such as http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/) to create his vcard - as http://generator.beetagg.com/ creates a qr code that redirects to their webserver.

I actually used qrencode. Now in a good package repository near you! :-D

The command looked like `qrencode -l L -s 10 -m 1 -v 9 -o 'output.png' < VCARD.txt`

Where the vCard information was obviously contained in the text file. The '-v 9' part of the above command is superfluous, in case anyone was wondering. I was just messing around with different sizes of QR Code.
 
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