iPhone app uses a QR code to check you in on foursquare
QR codes are one of the most often asked about topics, but up to now I’ve pretty much avoided the subject. That’s mainly because it’s been three years since foursquare launched, but there’s still no good way to check in using a QR code that works across all the major platforms.
I recently checked out foursQR on the iPhone and it’s a pretty good solution for iPhone users. No, it’s not the answer for everyone, but it works very well in certain cases.
You can quickly create a PDF QR code sticker on foursQR’s site for any venue and put it wherever you like – provided you have the owner’s permission of course.
What’s it good for? Any place that you check in often and that you control. I’ve put one on the wall next to my desk at the office. I can check in using foursQR in less than 10 seconds thanks to its automatic check-in function at places I’ve added as favorites. It’s a fast and easy process.
So, what isn’t it good for? Well, everything else. Unless you’re good friends with the owner, it’s unlikely you’ll get permission to put one of these up at any of your favorite businesses and it’s unlikely that any business will put one up on their own.
Why? Because the QR codes are proprietary to foursQR’s app — and the app costs 99 cents.
If you scan the code in any regular QR code app, you’ll be taken to a mobile web page that offers you the option of downloading foursQR (if you’re on an iPhone) or loading the venue in your foursquare mobile app. Needless to say, by that point you’re not saving any time at all over just starting out in the foursquare app.
In addition, foursQR’s codes aren’t compatible with the QR codes that function pretty well on Android devices (and recently in 4th & Mayor on Windows Phone 7). Those codes are able to link directly to the foursquare app. Unfortunately they degrade to the awful foursquare mobile site (no, not even the touch-based version that brands can use) on iPhone and Blackberry, making them of little practical use.
We’re still a long way from the day when users across all platforms will be able to check in using NFC, so for now QR codes are the next best thing. Sadly, no one’s come up with one that works across every platform without requiring some proprietary app. Until they do, it’s highly unlikely any business will put one in their doorway.
It’s also unlikely that we’ll ever see QR codes come natively to the official foursquare apps. In an interview with Fast Company’s Austin Carr during last year’s Social Media Week, foursquare co-founder Dennis Crowley said:
I’ve never really been bullish on QR codes. It’s hard enough to get people into checking in. It’s a tough sell for people.
foursQR is a nice app for what it does. I really like using it to check in at my office, but that’s about where the utility stops. Beyond that, it’s not of much use.
The app is available for 99 cents in the iTunes app store. If you’ve got a place you check in to regularly where you can put one of the stickers, give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments.
$0.99? Seriously? While I would spend it, everyone else in my office would not…
Yeah, I can’t see many people using it at 99 cents.
Qrafter already does this till day one. Also you can create a URL for your venue on http://qrafter.com/ for free. And there is noting proprietary about the codes it creates.
Sorry, I must have missed something on the site. How does it check you in automatically? Or work cross platform?
I am talking about the general headline Chris, which is about an iPhone app that lets you check in to Foursquare via a QR Code.
I don’t think creating something proprietary at this stage is meaningful. So foursQR does not seem to be on the right way. Of course they wouldn’t want any app to use their idea so they tried to go proprietary, but the important tech here is Foursquare, not foursQR.
Never knew you could use QR Codes to check in with the Android app. Where I see this being most useful for venues where you aren’t getting a GPS lock (such as for individual stores in a mall) and have to search to find the venue to check in at.
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Well there goes my million dollar idea. I think this really has some feasibility. If you market to companies giving specials that users must actually be in the location to be able to scan a QR I may be more inclined to provide more perks and specials. I think you combine the QR with Geolocation for check in, and also given location owners the ability to turn off regular checkins OR give a different score and mayor for QR checkins (verified) and just normal geolocation checkins (drivebys)
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Maybe they should promote a limited, but free app, and a premium app with other possibilities. Not everyone is willing to pay for an app.
Some places need to make this the only way to check-in…There are people in my town that mayor farm whole neighborhoods cuz they have an auto-check-in app thats checks em in everytime they’re near (even if the place isn’t even open…QR codes would ensure people go to places and earn mayorships esp. when valuable specials are involved.
That would be the end of foursquare. You have to see that would never work for the vast majority of users.