QR code for this blog

The Sydney Morning Herald has recently had big features in its Saturday edition on QR codes, the 2-dimensional bar codes that act as visual URLs for mobile phones, taking them automatically to the linked online content. QR codes are massive in Japan, appearing in magazines, billboards, business cards, shop windows, T-shirts, and more, by dint of NTT DoCoMo’s promotion of the codes. One Japanese magazine consists entirely of free things you can download with QR codes. Now Australia’s Telstra is trying to do the same thing in Australia, shipping all of its NextG phones with the necessary software, and making it freely available to anyone else.

It is very interesting to see a newspaper so actively promote a mobile technology. The Sydney Morning Herald is introduced daily QR codes on page 2 from this Monday, providing a link to the five most popular stories in the paper and other content. This means that you can engage with the media cycle even while reading a print newspaper. I wrote over two years ago about how each story on the online version of the Washington Post was showing links to blog posts about that article. Now this kind of immediate reflection of social media views is available in the print world.

So far in the US there have just been tests of QR codes in San Francisco, providing links to Citysearch reviews of local restaurants and merchants.

While there are a number of competing standards for codes that will link mobiles to online content, QR codes are substantially in the lead, and look set to become an international standard. There is a good chance these could become commonplace globally within the next 1-2 years. What is most interesting is the innovative ways they are used, particularly within mainstream media (which can include television).

The compilation of the Top 100 Australian Web 2.0 Applications list has now been completed. It will be made public on 19 June, when it will be the cover story on BRW magazine, accompanied by feature stories on some of the leading applications. It will be released the same morning on the Future Exploration Network website and this blog.

The Top 100 Australian Web 2.0 Applications Launch Event at KPMG will include a panel discussion by Australian online notables, a showcase of five leading Australian Web 2.0 applications (3eep, BookingAngel, Engagd, Plugger, RedBubble) (Note that the showcased applications are NOT the top five on the top 100 list, but have been selected to demonstrate the diversity of successful Australian Web 2.0 ventures; companies that were showcased in last year’s Web 2.0 in Australia event won’t be duplicated in this year’s showcase), a panel of the founders of these applications, and one-hour of semi-structured roundtables for participants to discuss current issues in Web 2.0 in Australia. IBM, Adobe, and Starfish Ventures are sponsors. We are getting close to fully booked, so register soon if you’d like to attend.

No information about who is on the list or rankings will be released until 19 June, so don’t ask! :-) However it’s probably worth clarifying the scope and criteria for the list.

SCOPE

To be eligible for the list, applications needed to be:

• Applications (not content only)

• Rich web-based interface (not mobile only)

• Create value from participation

• Represent genuine innovation

• Significantly Australian

CRITERIA

Each application was assessed on the following criteria, with a weighted points system determining the final ranking.

• Revenue and viability

• Users

• International success

• Business value

• Innovation

• Web 2.0 features

There are a few early high-level insights to share from the compliation of the list. I’ll supplement these with more detailed commentary at the time of the launch.

* We have come a long way. From a top 60 list last year, which covered close to everything we were aware of, we have well over 100 applications that fit a strict interpretation of the criteria, plus over 40 applications that do not fit the criteria (e.g. no significant Web 2.0 characteristics, mobile-only, content publishers etc.). This a vibrant scene.

* There are some major success stories. There are now a range of significant Australian successes in this space, showing that it is possible, and the sector can be a real source of wealth creation for the nation.

* Many initiatives are not surviving. Some applications have been bought (e.g. Faces.com), others have disappeared (e.g. StudentFace, Babbello), while others are on the verge of dropping out given lack of success. As I told the Australian Financial Review last year, it is a sign of a healthy entrepreneurial environment that many start up, and quite a few fail or morph into something else. In addition, true entrepreneurs learn from their lessons and try again and again. Especially in the Web 2.0 space, the most promising path to success is through failure.

* There is a strong movement overseas. Many of the leading companies in the space have moved overseas, have an overseas presence – often in the form of the CEO or a senior executive moving to Silicon Valley for an initial 3-6 months – or are preparing to move. Silicon Valley is certainly where most are heading, though there is also activity in East Asia, India, and Europe.

* There are many me-too applications. Doing this deep survey of applications within one country is very instructive in gaining insights into the likely profile of the top 5,000 (or so) apps globally. There are many very common themes across many apps (as well as some many highly innovative ideas). This isn’t bad per se, but many of these will struggle without exceptional execution. I’ll comment more on this point after the list is released.