Sometimes, don't you want to take the Internet with you? But Joseph, you'll say, I can already do that. I have this little device; it's called a BlackBerry. Maybe you've heard of it? No, I'm talking about those times when you have to leave your computer. You're in the middle of (shameless plug) a really good article, and it's time to step away. Maybe it's lunchtime; maybe it's time for a visit to the smallest room (don't lie; you've thought about it). Yes you can read the article on your BlackBerry, but then you'd have to open the browser and go to the site. And then follow that one link. And then the other. And the other.

It would be great to just send that URL to your phone and pick up right where you left off, almost instantaneously. There's no app to install on your phone, you already have the necessary pieces. All you need to do is change that webpage address or link into a QR code.

There are a number of free resources to do this. At Kaywa, you can copy and paste the URL into the appropriate box and have the website generate a code for you. You could also install an extension to your Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browser. With the extension, you'll be able to make that QR code with one click from right inside the browser. The extensions should also let you create a code for any link on that page as well.

Now that you have a QR code, what do you do with it? You open up App World.  App World has a powerful QR code-reading scanner built right in. In the app, press the menu key and select Scan a Barcode from the list. The scanner will read any QR code, it doesn't have to be one linking to App World. Hold your camera steady as the scanner zooms in on your code. In a moment, you'll be asked if you want to go to your website.

Find a web link. Make a QR Code. Scan it with App World. Done. Geek Pro!

BlackBerry Messenger is a great way to communicate, no matter the subject. With Delivered and Read notifications, you always know where you are in the conversation. By now, you've probably seen the BBM Flirt commercials. Just like in the video, it's easy to add new contacts just by scanning the BlackBerry PIN barcode. One BlackBerry will be the scanner while the other will show a barcode; it doesn't matter which you are. A new contact will be added to both phones.

Show your PIN: Get your BlackBerry ready by showing your PIN barcode. From BlackBerry Messenger, open the menu and select "Show My Profile." It's probably somewhere near the bottom. Under your actual PIN is a button marked "Show." Clicking this will show your barcode. Your phone is ready for scanning.

Scanner: Again, from BlackBerry Messenger, open the menu and select "Invite Contact." Don't be fooled by that "Scan a Group Barcode;" You want "Invite Contact." From the choices, select "Invite by scanning a PIN barcode." You'll most likely get a short animation explaining what you're about to do. Click continue to start. Just position your BlackBerry so you can see the scannee's barcode through your phone's camera. You may need to move the BlackBerry closer and further away until the camera gets a good picture.

Once the scanner has a good shot of the barcode, BlackBerry Messenger takes care of the rest. The camera shuts off and a new contact is added to BBM. The only thing left for you is to start chatting.

Barcodes are an integral part of our modern lives.  So much so that the Smithsonian Institute has within its collection the very first product sold by barcode, a 10-pack of Juicy Fruit gum (along with a Research in Motion Inter@ctive Pager 900).  

If you've been paying attention, you may have noticed that I have a certain affinity for barcodes, Quick Response (QR) codes in particular.  These black-and-white squares pack a large amount of information in a simple and efficient form.  With a simple scan, users can be directed to web pages, share contact information, and even send emails.  Enter QR Code Scanner Pro.  It does what it says on the tin, does it well, and does it for free.

But all of this free functionality comes with a bit of a warning. 

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Many people want a barcode scanning app that can read codes in the wide world and report on the best deals around.  But some just want to read QR codes.  Quick Response codes are the black and white, checkered squares you see in the CrackBerry app store and at the BlackBerry App World website.  While there are many options for scanning a barcode, they all require you to take a picture of it.  A process that I fail at more often than not.

The barcode scanner in the BlackBerry App World application (try saying that three times fast!) is different.  Rather than taking pictures, App World processes the live feed coming from the video camera.  Just press the menu key and select "Scan a Barcode."  Hold your smartphone up to the code and wait a few moments.  You'll soon get a message asking if you want to follow the link.  Presuming of course, the QR code is for a website.  

Using the App World scanner, you can process any QR code.  I use the scanner to get App World or CrackBerry App Store links into my phone.  It's much faster than sending an email to myself.  And with a BlackBerry smartphone, you know that's saying something. 

Thanks to sutriat for originally pointing this out to me

I'm sure you all remember the Facebook announcement from Research In Motion announcing the cool things coming for BlackBerry Messenger. Well, here is one of the things they had planned for those upcoming days and weeks.

You can now add your BlackBerry Messenger barcode to your Facebook profile using the new Barcode generator app on Facebook. While it's not likely what we were all hoping for, it's kinda cool to play around with. You can add your PIN, change your barcode colors and background. One more pic after the jump of some of it in action, although..at the moment the Facebook app seems to be having some troubles.

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Fandango is making the move to bring movie goers into the future by going paperless. The internet movie giant is testing out a plan to use 2D barcodes in theaters instead of the age-old physical paper tickets. Your tickets are delivered to a mobile device in the form of a barcode which the ticket taker can scan with a provided 2D scanner. A great move in making things easier and eliminating the need to pick up your purchased tickets once you arrive at the theater. Fandango is starting out with just a few theaters to start (hit the jump for the full list) but hopefully more will follow along in the near future.

[TechCrunch]

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Having just recently downloaded this app a few days ago and testing it out, I was rather disappointed in the uses that were available for it. The odd barcode here and there would work but more were unreadable then readable. In turn, I deleted the app having thought I would never use it enough to actually rason keeping it around on my BlackBerry.

Yesterday, that changed. Having read over at BlackBerryCool that Scanlife was now updated with support for UPC/EAN codes I realized it suddenly just became more useful. Support in Scanlife now has QR, Datamatrix, EZcode and UPC/EAN meaning you can scan everyday products now and have the application produce results. At this time only auto focus devices can make use of the UPC codes, all others will maintain the same support as before.

• Download Scanlife Direct From Their Website>>