Does anyone know how to set this up properly?

All "QR Code" readers will read the code, but they will not automatically create the wi-fi connection, you just get the option to copy the fields individually, then you have to flick back and forth between the QR code app and the Settings app to create the wi-fi connection.

On Android and Windows Phone, you just need a QR Code that says "WIFI:" and then lists the SSID, encryption type and password (which is hidden from the user, which is what we want) and then offers to create the Wi-fi connection for you.

We did find a website that generates a code for iOS (GetOnMyWifi.com) last week, which then loaded a profile for a Wi-Fi connection, but this doesn't work with most reader apps on the iPad, a few work on the iPhone. We thought the link/website had stopped working, because somebody tried it today and they just got the message "Error, couldn't read QR code" from their app. After much running around, I tried it with a different reader and it worked.

Does Apple / iOS not support the WIFI: QR Code protocol?

The other problem I had, I had a test iPhone 4S, which I tested the code with, using 4 or 5 different apps, 3 worked. I then told the iPad user, but none of the apps were available in the App Store on the iPad!

AARGH! Now I know why I stopped using the iPhone, it is a complete pain in the rear for many standard tasks!

For the guest wi-fi, we have an NFC tag for modern smartphones, a QR-Code with Wi-Fi formatting for all other non-iOS devices and a separate code for iOS, which only works sometimes! I'm very tempted to just put it in plain text on the wall for iOS users! Grrr!

At the moment Apple don't provide access to the wireless settings API to devs do no apps can actually support this.

That would explain it! So, our techie workers, with Android can do it easily with a QR Code, the Apple users, who don't understand tech have to mess around downloading several different readers until they find one that works - oh, and they can't display the page from the link in their internal browser, you still have to send the link to Safari, before it downloads the config file!!

Over there in the UK, there's a WiFi provider called The Cloud. They give you free WiFi. Normally, you have to log on every time you initially connect. Recently, they released an app which drops a profile on your iOS device which logs you on automatically. Can your devs look into that direction? QR codes seem a little, well, 1990s in implementation and approach for this kind of thing.

QR codes can be used at any time, without having to use a special app, well, unless you have an iPhone.

We are also putting in NFC pads, but again, iOS users are SOL.

The website we are using drops the profile file on the iPhone, but the barcode readers on iOS aren't very reliable.

I have never seen people using QR codes. I see plenty of them about - gents toilets at Watford Gap, sides of taxis, even on a TV programme credits roll. It appears to require extra effort all round to get them to work if they are in a place that’s not got taboos about getting a camera out. Extra software, problems with lighting, focussing the camera phone (that is assuming you have manual focus on your phone), etc. etc..

Surely there is a better way to do what you want without having to churn out more paper?

More and more companies are using them over here for their meeting rooms. The visitor walks in, points his smartphone at the QR-Code and he has instant access to the guest Wi-Fi, no having to search for the correct SSID and having to type in a log, complicated password - unless you are an iPhone user, it seems.

You could just put an NFC chip on the wall by the door, so that guests can swipe their phone over it as they enter the room, that is even easier than putting a QR-Code next to the door. But again, iOS users are SOL...

We have a laminated sheet of paper on the meeting room table, so no tonnes of paper being printed.