Create Scannable Bar Codes for Your Android Phone

Ever wonder what those maze-like black and white squares are on websites? They are called QR (quick response) codes and can be scanned from your phone using the Barcode Scanner application found in the Android Market. A QR code can contain: contact information, calendar event,  email address, geo location, phone number, SMS, text, or URL.

How do you use the Android Barcode Scanner?

You open the app and you will see a box with a line through it. You need to center the QR code in the box, using the line as a way to center it. Once you hold it steady the phone should beep and process the information.

Try it on this QR code for Simply Droid’s homepage:

If everything worked correctly you should now be at Simply Droid’s homepage on your phone.

Creating a QR code is as simple and entering information at a code generator website and clicking “Generate”. Visit QR code generator and look at the different options available. Once you generate your code you can either download the image of the code (right click – save image as..) or embed it via the link provided to you.

QR Codes are becoming popular and are being pushed by Google. Google has started using the codes on local listings for businesses and  they even sent out stickers to more than 100,000 local businesses with these QR codes.

Creating a QR Code for an Android Market App

To create a link to an app in the Android Martket you must create a URL QR code with this syntax:

market://search?q=pname:com.magicwach.rdefense_free

“com.magicwach.rdefense_free” is the package name (pname)

To create a link to a search in the Android Market simply use this syntax:

market://search?q=solitaire

Where “solitaire” is the search term