Conventional bar codes hold information only in a horizontal direction. QR codes are two-dimensional bar codes that can hold information both vertically and horizontally. As a result, they can store large amounts of information, including not only numbers but also letters of the alphabet and Chinese characters. Mosaic-like box shapes are formed from which information can be read by mobile phone cameras and other devices. QR stands for Quick Response, and the technology was developed by a division of Denso Corporation in Japan so that information could be read quickly. The division was subsequently spun off as Denso Wave Inc., which now claims QR as a registered trademark.