QR Code Usage Grows 1200% in 2010

We all knew that QR codes were gaining in popularity.  But I don’t think that anybody expected usage to grow 1200% in the second half of 2010 alone!

According to Mobile Commerce Daily, a report from Mobio Identity Systems Inc. found that QR code scanning increased 1200% across North America in the last six months of 2010.  Generation X-ers and women were among the highest users.  Face and Twitter have been major players in the usage increase, as well as the increase in smartphones in the North American Market.  The most surprising finding by Mobile Commerce Daily (and O have to agree) was the dominance of women in QR code usage.  As MCD put it, they are driving the industry right now.

I don’t expect this growth to continue at this rate.  QR codes are still very much “new” technology to North American users.  When presented with a QR code, many consumers will scan it just to see what it does (I’m still guilty of that!).  As the newness of the tech wears off, this growth will stabilize and even decline as consumer begin to use QR codes more to continue the mobile conversation and less just to see what happens.

Dan Butcher from Mobile Commerce Daily has some more excellent advice for integrating QR codes in to mobile campaigns.