Latin America is an undeniable vast market for the telecommunications industry. With that comes the possibility of introducing and expanding the use of QR codes there in the already vibrant advertising and marketing segment. News have it that there are companies that are ready to take some serious steps towards catching up with the rest of the world. It is more like catching up with Europe, in terms of incorporating the use of QR Code as a part of everyday life.

Latin American telecommunications companies like Telefonica have already elected partners that they are going to work with in order to expand the use of the technology. Latin Americans are no strangers to mobile marketing and QR Codes but at this time, usage is minimal and knowledge is at its very basics. Telefonica recently announced that they will be working with the likes of Bems to advertise and market products with QR Codes. The solution that they eventually decide to use will used in countries like Spain, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Brazil, Colombia, etc.

It is admittedly one of the boldest move made by a telecommunications company in this region of the world. When QR Code is introduce and the possibilities is known, we're sure advertisers will see it as a brand new way to promote a brand or market a product. The tools will give brands and companies new and interesting ways to bring about sales. However, even with all the possibilities is presented before us, we need to ask ourselves if Latin America is ready. Completely ready for it.

The global average for mobile phone usage is more or less within the region of 60% whereas in Latin America, there is a huge eighty percent penetration. In fact, some countries exceed the one-hundred percent mark too! With such an extensive percentage of mobile phone uses, is it possible that the advancement of QR Code usage and introduce can be thwarted? Yes.

It is shown through surveys that usage of mobile phone in Latin America is basic, which means that most people who own one or more mobile phones do not transact data information from their phones. They may pick up the phone to make calls and send short messages to each other but to surf the internet? Hardly. In Brazil, it seems that only a small percentage of the locals access the internet on the their mobile phones and they choose to use a pre-paid plan that does not include data transmission. To encourage people to switch from a prepaid plan to a post-paid plan can be tough. Unlike other developed nations moving in to introduce QR Codes to mobile phone uses, the development of 3G technology is still at its infancy age.

So, our guess is that QR Code introduction in Latin America will require big leaps, not small steps.