Today’s biggest tech news is undoubtedly the launch of the iPhone 3G, eagerly awaited by fanboys and tech geeks since the hubbub died down after the launch of the original iPhone. I gotta admit, even I followed the macrumors blog religiously for some time, drooling over leaked spy shots, carefully examining patent filings. What was Mr. Jobs up to?
Today the headlines are abuzz with news that demand was so great for these new phones that it has crashed both the iTunes store and the AT&T network. The question that I am sure burns in many minds is- what is so darn great about this device? There are other phones that support flash, record video, have GPS, and run on 3G. How come there aren’t droves of fans lined up to snatch them off of shelves?
The great game changing thing about the iPhone is that it finally got cell makers to consider design (much in the same way the iPod did this for MP3 players). The iPhone is incredibly easy to use. The included manual was one folded page, and that was plenty. And it was beautiful. I wish Steve jobs would design a hybrid truck. I’d probably wait in line for that one.
So what does the iPhone have to do with us? We’ve been developing and testing software to encourage the emerging trend of mobile ticketing for some time now- the ability to purchase and receive tickets via a mobile device. As phones become more ubiquitous and indispensable, mobile ticketing will make a lot of economic sense. It will eliminate paper, and will solve a key problem of counterfeiting for venues and promoters. It will also allow dynamic pricing and geotargeting to occur more fluidly, so shows will sell out more often and revenues will go up. The key hindrance to wider adoption now is the diversity of incompatible technologies and the cost of scanners (both of which will eventually pan out in the marketplace).
Whenever the leading tech or group of techs emerge, this trend will go volcanic (I estimate mid 2009), and cell phones will get yet another cool feature: the ability to get you IN.
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July 21, 2008 at 6:45 pm
mma
I find this blog very interesting, i will be here everyday till now. Greetings
October 23, 2008 at 8:35 pm
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January 7, 2009 at 8:46 pm
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