If you’re like us, you’re always disappointed after you scan a QR code and receive a poor user experience. Either it links to a complicated PC formatted website, or it’s not providing additional value (i.e. simply a home page).  The content after the scan is really the most important piece to any successful QR Code project.

To make this easier, we have come up with the Custom Menu Code which is available right from the ScanLife platform with any of our Pro Accounts.

This new code action allows you to easily mobilize your brand – and your code in a matter of minutes.

• Upload your own image for a product or logo
• Choose up to 7 different code action options like a web link or a pre-filled email or just display some text for a coupon offer
• Easily connect users to your Facebook, Twitter & YouTube pages
• Choose from a couple background templates

Creating a Custom Menu Code is simple, just follow these steps:

1. Upload an image

2. Choose a background color

3. Enter headline & body text

4. Choose your menu items

Custom Menu Code Examples

Scan each code below to try it yourself!

For the past few weeks, we have been Beta testing our latest code action, the OS Detection code.  This is our latest example of our Premium Codes, that use the analytics from mobile user traffic in real time to deliver dynamic and relevant content.  In this case, the code detects the OS (operating system) of the mobile device scanning the code, and redirects to content the code publishers choose to show. 

This works with both the ScanLife app, and any other standard QR Code reader.

Of course, the best application for this code, is to get a mobile application!  Many brands and publishers have apps for iPhone, Android, and maybe BlackBerry.  A single OS Detection code can be created for all of the leading operating systems, and there is even a default landing page in case you have an app for two of these, but not the others.

Here’s a video showing how the same code goes to different app stores based on the device – Android and iPhone:

Here’s a video that shows how easy it is to do this with a ScanLife Business account:

This takes minutes to set up, and you don’t have to bother with building any landing pages or investing in extra mobile detection systems. You just plug in the URLs, and you’re done!

Here’s a code to try it yourself:

With barcode scanning becoming more and more popular every day, and we were starting to hear from a growing number of non-Smartphone users who wanted in on the fun.  While we have apps that work on Java & even BREW devices, we just launched a new service that increases our reach in the US by 35% in a single day!

“Scan & Send” basically allows someone to take a normal picture of a 2D or 1D barcode, send it to us by MMS or email, we will decode it from our server and send back the correct content.  Here’s the real kicker – this works on industry standard barcodes like QR Codes, Datamatrix, EZcode, and even UPC codes with an auto-focus camera.  So, if you’re one of the 20 million people in the US that already have a standard code reader on your phone, you can just launch the app (hopefully ScanLife) to get the content is seconds.  If not, use Scan & Send!

MMS works in the US by sending the picture to 43588, and it’s available to AT&T, Verizon and Sprint – the top 3 carriers, and hopefully we will have the fourth very soon.

Not in the US?  Just send the picture to scan@scanlife.com, and we’ll send a link back by email instead.

So, you want to use standard QR Codes, but also want to reach three times more people than just Smartphones?  Here’s your answer!

We released some exciting new ScanLife features when scanning UPC (1D) barcodes which are making everyone very happy – traffic was up 3x this weekend!  All of this is available to any Android, iPhone or BlackBerry with an auto-focus camera.

Before, we gave you options like online prices, user reviews, and product specs from most products.  Now, you can scan practically anything to get access to an even wider variety of content from digital coupons to local prices to nutritional information.

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2D barcodes, or QR Codes, are quickly growing in popularity to easily link physical objects to digital content.   We just released the ScanLife browser extension to make it easier than ever to create a 2D code from anywhere on the web in a one click.

Why use the extension?

The extension works for the same reason why many people use tool bars instead of actual websites – speed!  This tool makes it faster than ever to create, display and download all major 2D barcode formats (QR code, EZcode, and Datamatrix) from anywhere on the web.

Other benefits:

• Create a code right from from any URL link or image file.
• Link your codes to an existing ScanLife account so you can edit your codes at a later time, or get analytics from the scans if you have a Business account.
• Download the code in multiple formats for print or the web.
• Works on major browsers like IE, Firefox and Chrome (see links at bottom)

Possible Uses:

• Save a great photo from Facebook, Flickr, etc. right to your phone.
• Place your digital “badge” on places like your resume, email signature, t-shirts and more.  Just go to your Facebook or Twitter page and create a code.
• Quickly create a code from Google Maps to take contact information or directions to a new restaurant or store.
• For business use, you can create codes in bulk without logging into your ScanLife account. This may make it easier to create a bunch of codes in a short period of time.

Get the extension now for any browser:

Internet Explorer

Firefox

Chrome

Once you have the file installed, it should be very simple to use, but you can look at some detail instruction right here.

Let us know how would you use it…

We have reported before that half the scans from ScanLife come from regular UPC codes on product to get information like price comparisons, user reviews, MP3 downloads, and other details.  We take each UPC number and look it up through a number of data feeds supplied by Amazon, Google, Linkshare, and major retailers to give you the most relevant data from every scan.

Now, we have released a way for you to connect to that portal from other apps like Google Barcode Scanner or Red Laser.  This can also be used by developers that are using the ScanLife SDK or other SDK’s to build your barcode scanning apps!

Here’s how to set it up in the Barcode Scanner app on Android:

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Today, ScanLife announced that is has released a tool to make it really simple to launch the ScanLife universal barcode scanner from any 3rd party app.  This is a free tool that will first be available to the Android OS, and other leading operating systems will be offered soon.  [Update]: iPhone OS now supported.  Please go to developer.scanlife.com for details. We have received plenty of requests for this tool from marketers and publishers that are already planning to place 2D codes on material like magazines or packaging.  This gives your app users a way to scan those codes right from your own app.

How does it work?

1. A developer integrates the sdk into an app (go to developer.scanlife.com)
2. The user clicks on an icon or button to launch scanner
3. Generic ScanLife app is launched (or it is downloaded)
4. Codes are scanned as usual

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ScanLife has released an update to its ScanLife Code Management Platform which has some great features for Business accounts.  The first and largest is that we have added the ability to generate both QR Codes and Datamatrix codes right from ScanLife.  These will be in addition to the EZcode – all of which the ScanLife app can read on any supported phone.

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ScanLife is happy to announce that it has added the ability to scan UPC barcodes for the top 3  Smartphone systems – Apple, Android, and BlackBerry!  So, next time you’re in a store and want to see if you’re getting a good deal, just open ScanLife and scan the barcode right on the product.  The app will automatically show you prices from a number of online retailers, and even show some reviews of what other people are saying.

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