Q-R.com

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Q-R.com

Widely used in Japan and Europe, QR Codes are catching-on here in the States!

Dec 7, 2009 11:29:51 (ET)

Google Inc. (GOOG) is launching a new initiative in the U.S. that will allow consumers to receive reviews of shops and local businesses on their mobile phones by pointing them at stickers in shop windows, the company announced Monday.

Google has sent window stickers with barcodes to over 100,000 local businesses in the U.S. that are popular searches on Google's homepage and Google Maps. The businesses can then display the barcodes in their windows to allow shoppers to access reviews, find out more about the business and in some instances receive coupons and special offers. Google is calling these businesses the "Favorite Places on Google."

The bar codes on each store's window decal can be scanned using iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones. Scanning the barcode will automatically take the shopper to that business' Place Page on Google.

Shoppers must have a mobile device with a camera and a downloadable QR reader application. The company recommends that users of Android phones download the free Barcode Scanner App while iPhone users will need to spend $1.99 on the QuickMark app, though Google is partnering with this company to offer the App free for the first 40,000 people to sign up.

Google says it will continue to roll out the initiative on a periodic basis to qualifying businesses.

(This article provided by NewsCore, which aggregates news from around News Corp., owner of Dow Jones.)

-Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2900

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 07, 2009 11:29 ET (16:29 GMT)

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