QR Codes

Over the past four weeks or so you may have noticed an influx of Telstra advertisements pushing QR codes. So it seems Telstra have decided that QR codes are a big deal (well they must have to shell out for a 4 page cover wrap of the S magazine in the Sunday paper - tres expensive!).

So, for the uninitiated, you may be asking, what is all the fuss about? Or even what is a QR code?

QR stands for Quick Response. Developed in Japan, QR codes are a black and white graphic that when photographed by mobile automatically link you directly to web based further info. Neat huh!

QR codes are being touted as tags for the physical world. So think billboards, press and magazines. See something you like? Take a pic and next thing you know you are linked to a mobile site with functionality allowing anything from more info to direct purchase.

So could this be the next big thing? It certainly is in Asia. And from where I sit Telstra have deep pockets, so you've got to think that they have a/ researched this and b/ established we Aussies have an appetite for it. So I'm thinking there's a pretty good chance QR codes are here for the long term.

Thoughts?

For those wanting to get on board from a consumer perspective, you may have to wait. While new handsets will be geared to process QR codes, your current phone likely isn't. But note to self, next time you upgrade it may well be worth asking the question....

2 weeks on, a whopping 1 million iPhones sold

I knew it would be big, but not this big this fast. 1 million handsets have now been sold or are on order - that equates to almost 5% of the Australian population having one!

To that end, thought I'd open up a discussion on the broader impacts of this huge consumer reaction.

My 2 cents on what it will all mean.....
- Increased usage of the mobile web - this is a given and something we are aware of....BUT at what cost? What happens when you get your first bill and it's enormous? Are the Telco's doing enough to bring data charges down?
- Mobile phone company switching, can't get it through Optus? Go to Telstra
- Short term impact on consumption of other media - surely at least once you first have one in your hot little hands you will be spending a lot of time getting to know it
- Long term impact on media consumption - will there by any? If so where what would you sacrifice?
- More downloading and podcasting
- More music video viewing
- Increased use of other handsets/smartphones functionality?

Must run now but would appreciate hearing your thoughts.

Consumers are gearing up for the iPhone release - 2 days to go!

According to Search queries, with the iPhone release now two days out, price queries are on the rise. The following Google Trends map charts the phrase 'iphone price' over the past 30 days in Australia:



The attached link looks at Hitwises 2cents on this matter. According to their data, as the launch date approaches, price has become the focus, where previously apps and features were of greater interest:

Hitwise

So, just how fast does Broadband need to be to be fast enough?

Submissions received by the current Govt regarding regulatory issues to do with our National Broadband Network were released for public consumption last week.

See the attached link:

LINK

Personally I feel like I've been watching paint dry this is all taking so long!

So what does it all mean? Here's the ABC Digital reporters 2 cents, which if on the money I find a bit concerning!:

The value of high-speed networks

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, this week released the submissions made to his department on National Broadband Network regulatory issues and, as Alan Kohler points out at Business Spectator, every submission calls for the proposed fibre to the node network (FTTN) to be built and owned by a specialist network provider and not an integrated telco. In other words, not Telstra, at least in its present form.

BTW: I do find it odd that Kohler seemed to be suggesting that no one really needs speeds of more than 12 megabits per second (Mbps). I know it’s not about speed, but it is about capacity. In the UK a recent report to government made the point that economic benefits would accrue as faster networks - of say 100 Mbps - would allow more people to work from home and allow businesses to be more distributed.

The report said that a nation wired for high-speed broadband would also benefit socially. Lifelong learning programmes would be easier to support, flexible working would be more viable and social exclusion could be diminished.

Meanwhile, Stilgherrian has been looking at the final report of Australia 2020 Summit, and concludes that Australia’s “best and brightest” and “clueless” about the internet.