Read All About It... And Scan a QR Code! AT&T Mobile Barcodes Now Featured in USA TODAY Newspapers

DALLAS, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether you're a news junkie, sports superfan or celebrity style watcher, AT&T* is working with USA TODAY to enhance your news consumption experience. AT&T Mobile Barcodes are now featured on USA TODAY newspaper pages, bringing content related to the latest news and information directly to your smartphone.

USA TODAY readers can now use nearly any QR scanning application, including the free AT&T Code Scanner, to launch interactive, multimedia content on their mobile devices. The agreement between AT&T and USA TODAY allows readers to experience the best of both worlds – the familiarity of reading a newspaper and the excitement of engaging with news on their mobile device.

Throughout the coming months, AT&T Mobile Barcodes will appear in each section of USA TODAY. In addition, AT&T Mobile Barcodes will be featured in USA TODAY Sports Weekly and select special publications. 

"We are proud to have been one of the first U.S. newspapers to offer interactive codes daily and we're looking forward to enhancing our mobile barcode experience with AT&T. This initiative furthers our goal to bridge digital and print by providing our readers easier access to special features," said Chet Czarniak, executive editor, content distribution and programming for USA TODAY.

"As the web becomes increasingly mobile, mobile barcodes act as links bridging the physical and digital worlds, opening new channels for content delivery and occasions for one-to-one dialogue with consumers," said Chris Hill, Vice President, Advanced Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions.

AT&T recently released its first quarterly trend report, "Scanning: The News," which provides insights into consumer scanning habits and results from a recent AT&T-commissioned marketing survey.  A record 10.4 million barcode scans were made via AT&T's Code Management Platform from January 1 through October 31, 2011, representing a more than 800 percent increase in scans. In addition, AT&T estimates that 44 million people have a scanner app on their mobile phone.

AT&T's award-winning portfolio of mobile marketing solutions is designed to heighten the impact of companies' advertising and marketing campaigns. From mobile-optimized websites to comprehensive Mobile Barcode Services, AT&T delivers the tools businesses need to reach customers where it matters – right on their smartphones and tablets.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. 

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.