14 DAY TRIAL // Only a year ago, QR codes looked like the next big thing. At least that was Google's story and the company was pushing the technology on users and small businesses. It sent out 100,000 QR code stickers to local shops in the US to encourage use. Now though, the project is dead and Google will not be using the technology anymore, at least not in Places or Maps.
Google dropped the QR code section from the Places Dashboard, which enabled business owners to print out QR codes which linked to their Place Pages.
"Users will no longer find unique QR codes in their Places accounts. We’re exploring new ways to enable customers to quickly and easily find information about local businesses from their mobile phones," Google said on the matter.
Late in 2009 Google began a big promotion to popularize the technology. The hope was that smartphone-wielding users will capture the QR codes from shop windows and storefronts and land on the Places Page for them, to get more information, and make Google some money.
It didn't work out the way Google hoped though. Google is not providing much details, but it doesn't look like it's been much of a success.
Regardless, Google has already moved on to the next shiny thing, Near Field Communication (NFC) chips. NFC, like QR codes, aims to bridge the gap between the real world and the web and enable users to get information and even pay with their phones.
Already, the Nexus S comes with a NFC chip and the technology will be embedded in other devices soon. Google is testing a payments system that uses NFC and has acquired a company specializing in the technology.
With the new-found enthusiasm in NFC, QR codes have been pushed aside. But the technology still has plenty of uses online and is still one of the fastest ways of getting some info or data from your computer to your phone.