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Need a lift? Grab an iPhone. While there have been a number of apps that catalog numbers for cab companies in various areas, the new app Taxi Magic connects directly to the routing systems in a number of metro areas to order up cabs without needing a call. After setting up a cab, the program can then indicate the driver’s name, and how long until the cab arrives.

As cool as this app is for frequent taxi users, it becomes way cooler when viewed in regards to infrastructure. Here is a mobile app that is integrating with specialized, embedded systems. In many ways, the ease of development and novelty of the iPhone platform are spawning new and creative approaches to mobile. In Europe it’s already become commonplace to pay for parking via mobile. How long until we see centralized parking systems doing the same here in the US? And assuming there is a centralized management of parking, how long until an app can update me on the nearest available parking spot? (This example also has a clear application in the telematics space for GPS units).
Continue reading “Cabs with push of a button on your mobile phone”

I am ecstatic that we can return to truly fun stories and have one week without more bad news from the tech and media sectors. This week’s Tuesday Sexy Tech Trifecta line up starts off with what could be the poster child story for this column.

1. Women would choose Internet access over sex. A recent New York times article surfaced a new study from Intel and Harris Interactive. The most interesting finding is that “46 percent of women and 30 percent of men would opt to forgo sex for two weeks rather than give up access to their precious Internet for the same period.” It’s not a surprise that increasingly, people are unable and unwilling to live without constant Internet access. It’s just a reminder of exactly how far that relationship with the online world has come. Another finding worth noting was that 61 percent of women would prefer to live without television for two weeks than lose Internet access for a week.

Continue reading “Women prefer Internet access over sex”

Sony Home, a virtual world for the Sony Playstation 3, launched today. While it remains termed as a “beta” launch, the software will showcase brand partners that were not available during the closed beta.

Red Bull will have a branded space, where players can fly the Red Bull plane around a course in a virtual air race. Diesel will have a virtual clothing storefront, and furniture shop Linge Roset is also establishing a presence in Home’s mall, along with furniture customization options. Paramount pictures will get in on the launch with promotion for the Watchmen film, including virtual Watchmen merchandise and an introduction by the film’s director.
Continue reading “Homeward bound, Sony launches its virtual world”

Yet again, the major tech and media news this Tuesday is less sexy and more melancholy. I am going to have to change the name of this blog to Tuesday’s Sad Tech Trifecta if things keep up. Just today Sony announced it was cutting thousands of jobs and Monday the Tribune Company filed for bankruptcy. But, not all hope is lost, and we still think there are opportunities for the savvy among us.

1) Popular magazine goes virtual. Seventeen magazine, every teenage girl’s first publication, is launching the first-ever virtual issue, according to Digital Cynopsis. MTV is partnering with the magazine to offer a sneak peek of MTV’s new virtual world and provide schwag goodies to readers. This is an excellent example of my recent article on how newspapers will have to hybridize. Publishers CAN make it, contrary to all the reality we’re surrounded with right now. But, it’s going to take partnerships and innovations such as Seventeen’s latest attempt. (By the way, I haven’t checked out the magazine since I was in high school and I was grateful to see they’re still doing what they’ve always done–you can still submit your dating horror stories and find out what kind of friend you are, but now that it’s online, you can take hundreds of dating quizzes all day long!) Continue reading “Tuesday Sexy Tech Trifecta”

On Monday, Facebook announced that within a few weeks its Facebook Connect login system will be available on several high profile participating sites, including Digg, Twitter, Hulu and more. With Facebook Connect, Facebook users will be able to participate on these 3rd party sites using their Facebook IDs.

The benefits to users are an easy login and the ability to let all your Facebook friends know what you’re doing on these other sites. The option of broadcasting your every move can be turned off within your privacy settings. Fact is, you may not want every site you visit to know who all of your friends are, or your friends to know every site you’re visiting.

Participating sites benefit from a lower barrier to entry. Their registration process is removed, which could mean more members, traffic and participation – hopefully translating into higher ad revenues.
Continue reading “Facebook ID, don’t leave home without it”

Social media offers brands the prospect of engaging in open and honest conversations with customers, and brands are embracing this opportunity by creating communities of their own. Unfortunately, negative buzz is a potential downside to these efforts. Jupiter Research found that although only 12 % of consumers post negative comments on these sites, negative UGC creators can be highly influential. Choosing to ignore the conversation will come at a cost: Negative reviews or complaints can mean lost business.

According to a London School of Economics study, just a 2% reduction in negative word of mouth boosts sales growth by 1%. Negative commentary is inevitable, so marketers may well benefit from developing a strategy to best respond to negative buzz. While there is no way to stop negative comments entirely, and it is impossible to think that a conversation in social media can be controlled, there are a few best practices that can help to protect your brand.  Brands can improve their reputation by first listening, and then responding. Social media monitoring is critical to containing negative buzz. Conversation monitoring tools such as radian6 allow you to identify who is talking, listen to what they are saying, and track the spread of negative buzz. Continue reading “Avoiding a reputation crisis”