Greg Kumparak wrote an article today on Tech Crunch that I wanted to post because it mirrors conversations I’ve been having with my colleagues for quite some time now:
“Imagine in just a few years, when all of the major browsers will likely be location-aware (via a “This website wants to know your location” security prompt), and more consumers are comfortable and familiar with the idea of location based services on mobile handsets. Something like this could be a full-blown concierge for your life, adapting its offerings based on your location. It could offer the basics regardless of where you are, but step into an established (via partnership) geofence, and the functionality expands to include location-specific options, with the application icon lighting up to alert you of the changes.”
The article is specifically about a hotel making use of this technology but I think there is a huge opportunity in other areas AND in Geo-Phone Consultants. GPCs would go into a business (restaurant, store, hotel, bar, etc) and identify all the value ads that a remote control interface would add — ordering food or drinks, applying promo codes, announcing which bar they are at to their friends, credit card payment, onsite voting, contests, etc. The GPC could then partner with a software team to help build the functionality into a location specific option set.
I think Greg is right that it will be awhile even before people are comfortable being locationally targeted in this way, but I for one am ready now. I think it is a fair trade for the convenience, discounts and more targeted offers — plus it’s just damn cool.
