Ok...Mobile is Big, we know that, but increasingly it's hard to keep up with all the products and services being thrown into the mobile Mix. The latest, Google Buzz is just out and it purports to be a lot of things. Will it catch on? How is it different from all the other services out there about status? Facebook updates, Twitter, Friendfeed and even Google's own Latitude product (sadly not available in Ireland) not to mention Foursquare, Loopt, Locle and many, many others...

After watching the introductory video, I really can't see what the standout feature is going to be and to be honest, can't see the point. If people want to know what I'm doing right now - go to my Twitter, if they want to know more than that, read this blog. I'm not sure if this permanent "connectedness" through all these multiple channels is actually going anywhere, other to enhance carriers revenue, increase the amount of Ads google can serve, and play to the "look at me" tendencies of those with the attention span of a gnat...

Rant over...

QR codes are a superb way of making the static actionable. They've been around for a while (and MobaNode has worked with them before), but outside of Japan they've yet to jump to the mainstream. They effectively bridge the digital and physical divide, by allowing you to find out more information through the simple act of taking a photo with a suitable phone. Now Google (yeah you've heard of them right?) are getting in on the act 

The search giant has launched a new effort to send window decals to over 100,000 local businesses in the U.S. that have been the most sought out and researched on Google.com and Google Maps.

Each window decal has a unique bar code, known as a QR code (a major trend to look for in 2010), that you can scan with many mobile devices including the iPhone, Android-powered phones, BlackBerry, and more. Once scanned, it will take you directly to the business’s Place Page on your mobile phone. What does this mean? Well, by pointing and clicking at a storefront, you can immediately find reviews, get a coupon if the business is offering one, or star the business as a place you’d like to visit in the future—all without stepping a foot inside.

(taken from Alltop.com)

If Google think it's a good idea, then it generally is (though they've been wrong before), but most importantly, with QR codes popping up everywhere, they should become a more familiar sight - and about time too!

Interesting to note that all the phones used in the "promo" video are iPhones and not Android phones...