What is this little image on Japanese Websites?

Question

An example can be found in this site:
http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/matsushita-nao/mobile/mobile_fr.html

the direct URL to the 'little image' is:
http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/ES/matsushita-nao/qr.png

I wonder what that little image is called and what it does, it can be found on almost all Japanese websites.

Thank you.

Answer 1

These are 2D bar codes or QR codes. They are quite common in Japan and are often seen on flyers, websites, and magazine ads. Cellular phone users can scan the code with their built-in camera and immediately have all the contact info they need entered into their camera, sorted appropriately.

These are 2D UPC barcodes, or QR codes. They are similar to UPC (universal product code) used on all items you buy from stores to help the cashier's scanner identify a products. QR Codes can describer a much larger amount of data. While bar codes can only be translated in a few characters, QR codes can be used to have longer strings of data such as full contact info. QR scanners or PC equipped with a camera and appropriate software can read these sites and these codes.

Answer 2

It's a barcode that you can scan with your phone to get the website on your phone.

Answer 3

it is a official site of a sony co. in japan