QR codes (Quick Response codes) are 2-D images that provide immediate access to digital information or actions that are relevant to what the user is doing at that moment. When a user scans a QR code, typically using the camera on their smartphone, it can open a URL on their mobile browser, or initiate a text message, email, or IM from the phone itself.

Popular uses of QR codes include companies linking to their websites or specific landing pages, enabling a phone call to the customer service or sales departments, or to help market a text messaging (SMS) campaign.

Here at MobileMammoth, we posted this QR code on our home page which, when scanned, connects users to our online text messaging tool. That way they can send text messages from their mobile browser and avoid text overage fees from their wireless carrier.

Anyone can quickly generate a QR code for free at sites like myQR.co and Kaywa.

QR codes are seeing quite an uptick in use this year, and for good reason. We highly encourage companies and individuals to start using them now and experiment!

In the spirit of World Backup Day a few days ago, we here at MobileMammoth thought it would be a good time to remind folks how to backup your iPhone. The same process works for your iPad or iPod as well.

Here it is in just a few easy steps.

How to Backup Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod:

1. Plug your iPhone (or other iOS device) into iTunes.
2. In the iTunes menu on the left side of your screen, right-click on your phone.
3. From the drop-down list, select “Back Up”.
4. Wait until the backup process is complete before disconnecting your device.

Backing up your iPhone or other iTunes device is super easy to do, and you should make a habit of doing it on a regular basis, and prior to upgrading to a new version of iOS.

Amazon recently announced its Mobile Payments Service (MPS), which allows developers to add mobile payment functionality inside their mobile website or app.

The service consists of a set of APIs, and in addition to the 1-click buying feature that Amazon has pioneered, the service also allows for cancellations and refunds. In our view, this service should be interesting for mobile developers selling digital content, informational products, or those that would like to sell access to a service for a small fee (i.e. micro-payments).

The image below describes the basic user experience of a mobile site offering the MPS service to its users.

Image Credit: Amazon.com

Anyone out there using MPS today? Let us know your experience and whether your users are taking advantage of it!

Amazon Mobile Payments Service (MPS):

https://payments.amazon.com:443/sdui/sdui/business?sn=devfps/mps

If you have not read or perhaps even experienced the success that mobile developers are having with the iPhone platform, I can only ask where you’ve been.

Now, if you’ve already convinced yourself you need to get started developing for the iPhone and are looking for some guidance in getting around the iPhone SDK, the Xcode IDE, interacting with a SQLite database, or just finding out where to start with your first iPhone app, you need to be reading Dean Collin’s material. He’s been on top of this iPhone stuff from the beginning, and now he and his colleagues (including Justin Roberts) are cranking out great information on dBlog.

dBlog breaks down the complex and makes it straightforward, and does it in an entertaining way. I know I’ve been reading their multi-part piece on the creation of the RSS Reader iPhone app, and it’s been key for me to better understand some key areas that I simply was not grasping before.

Go check them out!

If you frequent some of the other mobile-related blogs and sites out there, chances are you’ve had the good fortune to run into mjelly.

Based in London, James and company do an excellent job of covering mobile news and perspective, including recent updates on the mjelly blog coming out of the Mobile World Congress. And of course, the mjelly site itself provides a wide variety of mobile websites, apps, and tools.

The mjelly team recently created a mobile version of the site, available here. Take a look and then strongly consider adding it to your mobile favorites.

Mobile Website:

m.mjelly.com

Zong offers a mobile payment service, allowing merchants, bloggers, social app developers, and almost anyone else producing content on the web, to accept payments via mobile phone. Customers need only provide their mobile phone number to make a purchase, which is typically for small pieces of content or niche applications.

Many Facebook and MySpace application developers have already found Zong, and while they take a larger cut of each transaction, the improvement in conversion rates typically far outweighs the higher fees.

Have you used Zong either as a seller or a buyer? What did you think?

Mobile Service:

zong.com

If you enjoy surfing the web from your phone and have not checked out the mobile version of Bitty Browser, you’re missing something.

Bitty Browser’s mobile version provides instant, one-click access to many of the most popular sites from around the web. It also lets you navigate directly to any URL you specify, all from your phone.

Do yourself a favor and fire up your mobile browser, then take it to the URL below. Let us know what you think!

Mobile Website:

www.bitty.com/m/

That’s right. The most often talked about iPhone feature, visual voicemail, is now available for any Windows Mobile phone. But that’s just the beginning.

Dashwire has created an application for Windows Mobile phones that lets you manage your phone’s content (address book, text messages, photos, videos, etc.) from an online dashboard. This tool can be extremely useful for backing up your address book and other mobile content before switching wireless carriers.

The app is currently available on Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0, and rumor has it they are working on versions for the Blackberry and Symbian Series 60 devices as well.

Dashwire has received several awards for their innovative service, and you can check out their video here:

I’ve already heard from many folks that Dashwire has had a huge impact on how they use their phone, and I’m looking forward to using it myself.

Sign-Up here: https://dashwire.com/signup

Our free text messaging tool at MobileMammoth.com now includes four new wireless carriers: Powertel, Metro PCS, SunCom, and Western Wireless.

Now you can send free text messages to your friends and family without using your text message credits on your wireless plan. You can even send the message anonymously if you like.
Here is an updated list of carriers supported:

• Alltel
• AT&T
• Boost Mobile
• Comcast
• Cricket
• Metro PCS
• Nextel
• Powertel
• Sprint
• Suncom
• T-Mobile
• TELUS Mobility
• US Cellular
• US West
• Verizon
• Virgin Mobile
• VoiceStream
• Western Wireless

So what are you waiting for? Go try it out!

Anyone involved in developing, testing, or deploying mobile software applications has a keen appreciation for how challenging and complex that process can be.

Cascada Mobile apparently has a good answer to that challenge. The idea is that mobile app developers can focus on writing their application once, and Cascada Mobile’s Breeze platform will take care of porting it to ensure it works on virtually any mobile phone.

If this can do what they say, there is definitely a big future for this company.

Mobile Application Development Service:

cascadamobile.com

hat-tip to KillerStartups.