QR Code Christmas Ornament featuring 94.7 The Wave - Los Angeles

 

A very special message from PRINT2D

Always looking for new ways to communicate, Philip Warbasse delivers a special message for the Holidays. This years QR Code Christmas ornament was sent to PRINT2D clients and friends as a simple reminder to take stock in relationships that matter and to use technology in ways that facilitate those relationships, not obscure them.

For more information, see http://www.print2d.com/dt/about_studies_stream.shtml

Which 2D barcode is right for you?

Consider factors like size, code density, and the type of medium the code will ultimately be placed on when deciding which type of 2D barcode will give your mobile campaign the greatest chance of being accessed and experienced.

Open Source 2D barcodes

Two of the six 2D barcode formats offered by PRINT2D - QR Codes® and Data Matrix codes - are open source. Between these two giants, you'll have little trouble meeting the demands of almost any 2D barcode campaign.

Proprietary 2D barcodes

Some of the codes we offer including MS Tag, EZ Code, WiMO Markers are the intellectual property of Microsoft®, Scanlife® and WiMO® respectively. Proprietary codes can offer advantages, though additional fees may apply. Please consult PRINT2D to learn more about the benefits of these optional 2D code formats.

Digital watermarking and brands as mobile triggers

Making use of digital watermarks and brands as mobile triggers will only become more prevalent as advertisers continue to look for unique and effective ways to stand out. PRINT2D creates digital watermarks from images and brands. Learn more about our digital watermarking services. 

For more on Designer Barcodes, and Digital Watermarks, please see: http://www.print2d.com/dt/services_barcodes_formats.shtml

PRINT2D adds Designer QR Codes and 2D Bar Codes to Flkr

PRINT2D is now on Flkr! The page, dedicated to designer QR Codes and Designer 2D bar codes, is a snapshot into the work of PRINT2D. Known for their work in the entertainment industry, Los Angeles-based PRINT2D is headed by Philip Warbasse who is the designer behind QR Code to mobile strategies for Disney, HBO, Paramount and others.  See all the codes here http://www.flickr.com/photos/designer_qr_codes

For more information on this post., please contact Beth Silverstein - (424) 229-1404.

3 new designer QR Codes from PRINT2D

PRINT2D adds 3 new Designer 2D Barcodes to its portfolio, including new work for Time Warner Cable (in progress), Barefooters Shoes and The Amazing Spider-Man 4.  

For PRINT2D's full portfolio of designer QR Codes and Designer 2D Barcodes, please see http://www.print2d.com/dt/services_barcodes_designer.shtml

Misconceptions about QR Codes for use on TV

IS FIFTEEN SECONDS ENOUGH TIME TO USE A QR CODE IN A TV SPOT ?

We are midway through the year 2012 and it strikes me as hard to believe that, to date, very few television advertisers are taking advantage of the benefits 2D barcodes.

Recently, while consulting for a client, I learned about some misconceptions that seem to be spreading like wildfire throughout the advertising industry regarding QR Codes and how and when to use them in television.

Whether it's creating the actual spot or buying the ad time or both, Ad agencies are involved with nearly every TV ad that you see promoting a national brand. Television advertising is one of the most effective and therefore most expensive types of advertising and many of the well-known agencies are very good at using this channel to help their clients. But, when it comes to empirical knowledge about QR Codes and how to use them to enhance TV ads, most agencies have very little.

AGENCIES NEED TO CHANGE THEIR THINKING

When my client asked about running a QR Code in a 15 second spot, their Ad agency recommended against using them because, theoretically, users would not have enough time to scan the code. At first, this seems like practical advice. On second thought, it demonstrates a lack of foresight.

Many Ad agencies say, "15 seconds is too short to do anything more than X,Y and Z."
What they should be saying is "15 seconds is not a lot of time. How can we make it longer?"

QR Codes extend the time you have to interact with interested consumers. They can effectively "lengthen" the advertisement by up to five minutes. The additional time spent, when factored into the overall ad buy, becomes significant. Ad agencies should be actively thinking of ways to include QR Codes, not dismiss them.

THE ARGUMENT:

15 seconds is not enough time in a TV ad to scan a QR Code.

THE REBUTTALS:

1. In most instances, I can access my smartphone and QR Code scanner in under 5 seconds. Time yourself and see how long it really takes you to get your phone ready to scan a code.
2. The first QR Code I ever created for TV actually only appeared on screen for .3 seconds. Tivo and DVR devices were used to access the code. 47,000 users (all total) spent an average of 3.5 minutes on the mobile site after scanning the code, roughly 2,742 hours of extra time.
3. The 15 second argument might be more valid for a commercial that only runs one time. But, effective TV advertising is about repetition and if the user does not get it the first time, it only heightens their awareness to watch out for the commercial in the future.
4. TV commercials are not just for TV anymore. They should also be featured on YouTube, the advertiser's own site and other video websites, making them and the codes more accessible.
5. Don't forget the "lower third", where a code can run in the lower left or right during the entire length of the commercial.

NOW YOU'VE GOT THEM ON THE PHONE.

Lastly, and perhaps most important, by giving users access to mobile content via television, you are pairing your message or offer with the ability to respond to it immediately - now you've got them on the phone.

by Philip Warbasse  |  originally posted at PRINT2D.com on June 22nd 2012

Are QR Codes dead?

ACTUALLY, HE FUTURE FOR 2D BARCODES HAS NEVER LOOKED BRIGHTER

Are QR Codes dead, or, on their way out? I get this question a lot. Over the past couple of years, I have read scores of blog entries and countless articles that ponder this very question. Interestingly, the argument against using 2D barcodes, namely QR Codes, always seems to magically shift to the User Experience by the end of the article.

From my perspective, as long as traditional media and mobile devices exist in the same space and time, we will need some form of mobile trigger to integrate them - whether it's a QR Code or some other type of mechanism.

IT'S THE EXPERIENCE THAT MATTERS

Q Codes are working for those who address the User Experience. Unfortunately, bar code management companies have given people the idea that all they have to do is create a QR Code and point it to anything. That's where a great deal of the problems start.

QR Codes give us a brilliant way to integrate traditional and non-traditional media. The trick is to use the codes in ways that facilitate engagement, not obscure it. Advertisers have a ways to go when it comes to understanding the important differences between how people consume information in a mobile environment vs the traditional Web.

QR Codes are not a gimmick if used correctly. At PRINT2D, our mobile developers are creating strategies to use QR Codes effectively - even on TV.

by Philip Warbasse  |  originally posted at PRINT2D.com on August 1st, 2012

2DGO Reaches 1 Million Users

Bar code reader assistants' unique approach leaves wake of white-label clients.
by Beth Silverstein



Los Angeles, CA -- You may not think the science of how insects fly and 2D bar code readers have anything to do with each other. Neither did mobile developer Philip Warbasse until he read an article in a backdated issue of Scientific American®, describing the flight dynamics of insect wings, that would become the genesis for his bar code reader assistant aptly named 2DGO. Now, fourteen months later, 2DGO has served over a million unique visitors, creating a wake of new clients interested in re-branding it for their very own.

The Problem
No single 2D bar code reader works on every smartphone. This poses an obvious challenge for users, who sometimes must download and try several readers out before finding a good fit. But, it also posses a serious obstacle for advertisers, who are trying to help consumers download the right reader, by making it nearly impossible to address all smartphone users with one single call-to-action.

The Solution
The solution was simple, to provide advertisers with a single call-to-action that would deliver the best possible 2D bar code reader(s) to the consumer, enabling them to successfully scan integrated media ads, no matter what type of smartphone they have. 2DGO, found online at www.2dgo.org, marked an important shift away from the traditional approach that most companies take to develop and market their bar code readers. Instead of creating another reader, 2DGO would offer the platform and the single call-to-action that advertisers were looking for - for the first time.

The 2DGO Platform
The 2DGO platform is a light and fast infrastructure that runs on 'Rails', delivering the latest in mobile detection which is used to determine a users mobile device and offer the best 3rd party bar code readers, available in the repository, for that device.

What makes 2DGO uniquely powerful is the exclusive list of readers it offers. Instead of delivering modifications of a single reader to various handsets, 2DGO offers a wide variety of FREE readers that are all guaranteed to work. With hundreds of bar code readers on the market, knowing which readers work best and on which devices comes from Warbasse's 4+ years of experience designing functional, custom QR Codes® for the entertainment industry.

2DGO's Single Call-to-Action
2DGO embraces the DOTGO SMS platform to deliver a simple url to users (currently U.S. only) via text message. The call-to-action for advertisers is "Need a Reader? TEXT 2dgo TO 368674 (DOTORG)".

Catching the White-Label Wake
In January of 2011, after months of testing, Warbasse released 2DGO to the public at no charge. People all over the world began using 2DGO almost immediately and within six months, Warbasse was working with companies large and small to give them their own branded versions. "I think advertisers realized that 2DGO could help them provide uniformity and congruence to their campaigns. Naturally, when I spotted companies that were pointing a lot of traffic to the server, i.e. getting a lot of use out of 2DGO, I would approach them to see if we could re-brand 2DGO specifically for them and our white-label program was born." -Philip Warbasse / Developer 2DGO.

"I think advertisers realized that 2DGO could help them provide uniformity and congruence to their campaigns. Naturally, when I spotted companies that were pointing a lot of traffic to the server, i.e. getting a lot of use out of 2DGO, I would approach them to see if we could re-brand 2DGO specifically for them and our white-label program was born." -Philip Warbasse / Developer 2DGO.

Wake capture is a phenomena discovered by Michael H. Dickinson, U.C. Berkeley which allows insects to utilize energy that would normally be lost in flight. Inspired by Dickinson's observations which appeared in a 1999 issue of Scientific American®, Warbasse saw that 2DGO could be both a free support tool and a means to capture more revenue through a well conceived white-label platform and analytics package. 2DGO's white-label package is offered well below what many other companies charge for solutions that support only one reader. Large companies like FASTSIGNS® and Neustar's® getreader.com, who both use branded versions of 2DGO, have helped contribute to the one million mark.

The Next Million
The next million users will most likely be served in under a year. In the meantime, 2DGO continues to consider new 2D bar code readers for the platform and will be releasing an update to include image recognition readers from Snap Tag® and Digimarc® this Spring.

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Contact
Contact Beth Silverstein beth@bonovoxpr.com for more information, articles and interview requests.