Studious readers of this blog will know we have covered QR codes before. Most people with a modicum of awareness of mobile technology will have heard of them. The New York Times, however, has just discovered them and has a write-up on interest in bringing the technology to the US.

The barrier? Principally that US mobile operators can't be bothered to implement barcode systems and thereby maximize mobile commerce opportunities. They are stuck selling Fergie ringtones and baseball scores.

Apparently Microsoft, H-P, Motorola have been looking at the technology with a view to tying up with advertisers to spawn its use Stateside. Apparently the major operators are looking at it too, though the article casts Verizon as still in love with the progress its made with text messaging. Hey, why leave the 1990s?