Scanlife, a provider of QR code services, saw the number of unique users scanning codes through its system triple in the year to March.

ECONOMIST: After many false starts, QR codes are finally taking off

The 33 million figure Pincus quoted may then have been the number of unique, rather than repeat, users.

FORBES: More Than One In Ten Facebook Users Played Zynga's Social Games On Sunday

At stake is--pick a number--billions of potential users and ever-more unique ways to separate cash from Web users.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Asia Buzz: Let the Best Portal Win