Australian Operator Telstra embeds QR barcodes into handsets

by: Rob Knight Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

Telstra is embracing the world of QR barcodes by incorporating them into a half of million subscribers phones.

Telstra says it’s mobile barcode readers will give customers quick access to websites and mobile content. They simply point their phone cameras at the specially designed barcodes, known as Telstra Mobile Codes, to access content such as weather, localised maps and mobile videos.

Telstra is giving away the automatically installed software for free which it claims is a world first. Telstra Group Managing Director for Consumer and Channels Mr David Moffatt, said more than half a million Australians would begin receiving the free mobile code readers from July 1, with more to follow.

“Telstra Mobile Codes will revolutionise the way Australians access mobile internet content and information, allowing a faster and simpler mobile internet experience just by scanning a code through their phone camera,” Moffatt said.

“Telstra is leading the way by putting the code readers on selected Next G™ mobiles for free and providing customers with a simple one-click experience.

The barcodes can be placed on virtually any surface including newspapers, clothes, business cards, shop fronts, product packaging, billboards, bus stops, magazines, menus, TVs and computer screens.

Moffatt adds “the technology had the potential to radically change the print and outdoor advertising industry by providing advertisers the opportunity to have more meaningful dialogue with customers and a better understanding of their interests.”

Source: Telstra/Mobile Entertainment

4 Responses to “Australian Operator Telstra embeds QR barcodes into handsets”

streetstylz Said:

Nice to see Telstra leading the charge with this endeavor. A welcome change from the rest of the mobile operators who are lagging behind.

It’s time for mass adoption of mobile codes.

Lets get this show on the road already.

Best regards.

Comment made on July 1st, 2008 at 11:17 pm

Ron Said:

Now this is how you do things.

Comment made on July 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 pm

dean collins Said:

It’s been with great interest that as an expat I’ve been watching the launch of http://www.QRious.com.au by Telstra.

As a consultant who has briefed clients in the past about the QR space (check out http://www.cognation.net/profile) I assure you that QR codes have been used in Australia for a long time.

And yes Telstra’s marketing rhetoric is way over the top BUT the deployment of QR readers directly onto handsets by a carrier has always been a barrier to utilization.

With Telstra getting into this in a big way my advice to clients is to leverage their marketing spend and take advantage of this.

What’s surprised me in client calls over the last few days is the basic lack of understanding around what QR codes can actually be used for - I think it’s one of those things that they have been around forever but marketers have never really looked that closely at them so I’ve posted a 60 second background overview at http://www.Cognation.net/QR

Regards,
Dean Collins
dean@cognation.net

Comment made on July 3rd, 2008 at 6:34 pm

Ron Said:

Dean,

You are very right to take this wave of momentum with loads of QR enabled phones in Australia. I advice you to promote as much as possible marketing and business concepts around it educate companies and users. Its push (done by Telstra) and pull mate…

Ron (at the wrong side of the planet