[ltcdfancher]

My wife and I close on our new home in The Villages in less than 48-hours. We plan to have some calling cards made to share our details with new-found friends. Being ever-so-slightly geekish, I am considering a QR Code along with the traditional numbers and letters.

I went to one of those Generate Your Free QR Code Here websites. Wham-Bam. In less than five minutes, I had my VCard embedded (I thought) in a QR Code. A few days later and after I had some cards printed, the email came through saying that my free-trial had expired; my QR Code was now inactive.

Some more research revealed that QR Codes can encode simple text. A VCard is just a bunch of text strings in a particular format. I found the correct format. Entered my info into the correct places in the format. Then I copied that information into a different QR Code generator as plain text. Screenshot the result and everything seems to work.

What hurdles might I find as I distribute my contact information this way?

[JohnN]

I get dizzy thinking about it, but I am admittedly a dinosaur.
I just give "new friends" my name, address, phone and email, and let them figure it out.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by ltcdfancher

My wife and I close on our new home in The Villages in less than 48-hours. We plan to have some calling cards made to share our details with new-found friends. Being ever-so-slightly geekish, I am considering a QR Code along with the traditional numbers and letters.

I went to one of those Generate Your Free QR Code Here websites. Wham-Bam. In less than five minutes, I had my VCard embedded (I thought) in a QR Code. A few days later and after I had some cards printed, the email came through saying that my free-trial had expired; my QR Code was now inactive.

Some more research revealed that QR Codes can encode simple text. A VCard is just a bunch of text strings in a particular format. I found the correct format. Entered my info into the correct places in the format. Then I copied that information into a different QR Code generator as plain text. Screenshot the result and everything seems to work.

What hurdles might I find as I distribute my contact information this way?

You may find some squeamish to scan QR codes because of the scams going around. Not that long ago there was the guy who made his own that directed scans to his fictitious website for paying for parking. The wise guy made a site and codes , then pasted them over parking meter scans codes in Texas. When someone scanned they paid him for parking and exposed their credit card info for future use.

[asianthree]

Sorry I scan their card to my phone and contacts. Then I either hand card back to them, or throw in a drawer to be tossed in 6 months

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Normal

You may find some squeamish to scan QR codes because of the scams going around. Not that long ago there was the guy who made his own that directed scans to his fictitious website for paying for parking. The wise guy made a site and codes , then pasted them over parking meter scans codes in Texas. When someone scanned they paid him for parking and exposed their credit card info for future use.

I agree. I have also heard that scanning a QR code can install malicious software on your phone. I never scan those QR codes.

[shut the front door]

I didn't even know "cards" were still a thing here. When I first moved here 11 years ago I was told that I "needed" these. Ordered some, never used them. Early on, I had a couple of people give them to me, but I have no idea where they ended up, lol.
In this day and time, it's so much easier just to put someone's phone number in your phone.

[bopat]

Yeah we made a QR code that created a contact too. Not too many people here trust scanning it to put an entry in their contacts, so we end up texting or calling the new person and they just add it manually themselves.

[ltcdfancher]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I agree. I have also heard that scanning a QR code can install malicious software on your phone. I never scan those QR codes.

I understand how a QR Code could point to a malicious web address that then introduces malware onto a device. After chatting with potential new friends for a while, I would hope that they wouldn’t suspect me of attempting anything malicious. But I get it. Thanks for your thoughts.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by ltcdfancher

I understand how a QR Code could point to a malicious web address that then introduces malware onto a device. After chatting with potential new friends for a while, I would hope that they wouldn’t suspect me of attempting anything malicious. But I get it. Thanks for your thoughts.

easier to exchange text messages with number and move directly to contacts.

overthinking gets me in lots of trouble as well.
KISS theory

minimum three practice swings
no swing thoughts
just pray

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

easier to exchange text messages with number and move directly to contacts.

overthinking gets me in lots of trouble as well.
KISS theory

minimum three practice swings
no swing thoughts
just pray

Not really simpler, just what you know and are comfortable with.

Current:
- Open messaging app
- Correctly type phone number
- Send text
- Open messaging app on phone 2
- Click to create new contact
- Add name
- Save new contact

With QR code (when things work properly):
- Open camera app on phone 2
- Scan QR code
- Save new contact

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Not really simpler, just what you know and are comfortable with.

Current:
- Open messaging app
- Correctly type phone number
- Send text
- Open messaging app on phone 2
- Click to create new contact
- Add name
- Save new contact

With QR code (when things work properly):
- Open camera app on phone 2
- Scan QR code
- Save new contact

comfortable with both, just KISS,
but where is your QRC answer hosted?

and will they eventually charge a fee?

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Not really simpler, just what you know and are comfortable with.

Current:
- Open messaging app
- Correctly type phone number
- Send text
- Open messaging app on phone 2
- Click to create new contact
- Add name
- Save new contact

With QR code (when things work properly):
- Open camera app on phone 2
- Scan QR code
- Save new contact

When I receive a call on my phone, it gives me the option to add the caller and number to my contacts with one click.

[HappyTraveler]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I agree. I have also heard that scanning a QR code can install malicious software on your phone. I never scan those QR codes.

100% this. ^^^

I never scan QR codes of any kind to potentially avoid that or, at minimum, the installation of cookie-type trackers on my phone.

No offense to the OP but, there seems to be no point in making something more complex than it needs to be. Shared phone # and email (plus address if we'll be visiting) is all I need from anyone here.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

When I receive a call on my phone, it gives me the option to add the caller and number to my contacts with one click.

It's been too long since I've received a text from someone who is not already in my contacts. Do names come across with caller-id and not just numbers? In any case, that only saves one step.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by HappyTraveler

100% this. ^^^

I never scan QR codes of any kind to potentially avoid that or, at minimum, the installation of cookie-type trackers on my phone.

No offense to the OP but, there seems to be no point in making something more complex than it needs to be. Shared phone # and email (plus address if we'll be visiting) is all I need from anyone here.

Sure, because typing in a name, phone number, email address, and house address is so much less complex than scanning a QR code.