Ready for a new universal barcode reader on your mobile phone?

In a recent Free Friday post, we talked about how the use of customized QR codes can help promote a business by informing and engaging its prospective customers, and even directing them to enticing perks like coupons and exclusive downloads.

I know in website design conversations we are always thinking about ways to increase conversions and more and more the mobile phone is becoming part of the tactical considersations we consider.

Capabilities like QR codes are helpful to you as a business owner as they enable you to examine the marketing strategies, branding techniques, and website design of neighboring enterprises; and they’re also quite beneficial to you as a consumer by allowing quicker access to products and services that interest you.

Along with QR’s, other types of barcodes have gained ground and facilitated a need for the app that comprises this Mobile Monday’s recommendation: the NeoReader.

Developed by NeoMedia, the NeoReader is a mobile app (compatible with Android, iPhone, Blackberry, and lengthy list of other devices) that gives your phone universal barcode scanning capabilities.

Along with QR codes, it also reads and scans Aztec codes, EAN, UPC, Data Matrix, and several other commonly used formats.

The ability to translate this multitude of codes is practical not only for researching and shopping, but also for checking news and weather, or investigating travel destinations. It gets you to what you need to find quickly and with minimal touch screen or keypad legwork.

NeoReader is free and very straightforward to apply.

Just launch the app and click on the barcode as it appears in a print ad, retail display, broadcast media, or on a billboard with your camera.

There’s no typing, SERP perusal, or site navigation involved. You will instantly receive the connected content.

By the way, if you enjoy reading these Mobile Monday postings please let me know.

I know it's a departure from our usual tidbits of advice on search engine optimization and website design but I think it's worth it to share useful tips even if they aren't irectly on point with our core expertise.