QR codes go totally mainstream in Winnipeg?

I’m going to call mobile tagging mainstream in the Peg! Thank Ace & Chrissy &  the Mayor—QR has tipped and is appearing in places positioned for very broad audiences.

With 30% of Canadians now smartphone-enabled and near-field communication on it’s way to reality, if you’ve ever been thinking of implementing QR, do it now. We’re entering the sweet spot of “still novel enough to be cool” and “enough people know what it is”.

Note: “Coolness” is of interest because you can still rely on novelty and surprising creative in the “attention” phase of advertising. You still gotta deliver the goods once the code is scanned. Doing so will solidify the value of the tool & it’ll join the ranks of normal-use tech (meaning you can use it—probably in even more workhorse ways—after its no longer cool, but the way you implement it visually will be less focal/glamourous).

QR is everywhere in Winnipeg.

Check out the giant code on the APTN building on Portage. (Incidentally: scannable from the street, went to nonmobile but still cute site. Because the code appeared alone & was held for a usable length of time, I didn’t realize it was part of the Aboriginal Day ad that immediately preceded it. Some minor branding on the sides of the ad could have situated it—on its own it was compellingly ominous).

Turn down your speakers or you’ll get an earful of Portage.

This code appeared outside of Danier in Polo Park—not exactly the supertechno early adopter crowd, I’m assuming (but maybe I’m wrong—leather tank top, anyone?), so it’s interesting they felt the target audience would use it. I’d love to know how many entries this has received.