[LINK] Mobile phone content served via keycard

[jeff.evans at iird.vic.gov.au]

Interesting new application for mobile phones - presumably it's a
proprietary solution looking for a problem :)

   Ki-Bi cards kicking up a storm
   <http://www.ericsson.com/mobilityworld/sub/articles/other_articles/nl04feb07>



   and Ki-Bi <http://www.ki-bi.com/>

   Ki-Bi cards make selling mobile content at newsstands, malls and sports
   shops easy and affordable. The cards are loaded with popular content
   such as Java games, photos of sports stars, and ringtones. Users simply
   dial a number to transfer the content to their phones. It looks a little
   like a baseball card and it enables Ericsson to make money, operators to
   increase revenue and consumers to access a cornucopia of content. Ki-Bi
   cards are a new way for consumers to access any type of server-based
   mobile content, including pictures of sports stars, Java games,
   ringtones, and icons.

   To use the card, consumers dial a specific phone number and hold the
   card up to the microphone of their mobile phone. When the consumer
   presses a button on the card (up to nine buttons on a card), the mobile
   phone automatically sends a request to a mobile content server. Within a
   few seconds, the server sends the content to the user's phone....

The article goes on to claim
   The cards provide a highly satisfying experience for users, particularly
   the youth market, and stimulation-seeking consumers of any age. ...Today
   the largest percentages of stimulation seekers are found in Spain,
   Venezuela, Australia, Canada, the UK, and Taiwan.

How many "highly satisfied" Australians have been "stimulated" I wonder?

I also wonder how long before the system's used for unexpected purposes -
if it isn't already...

Regards

Jeff Evans
Manager, Business Channel
Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development
Victoria, Australia
Ph 03 9651 9590 Fax 03 9651 9725
Email jeff.evans at iird.vic.gov.au
http://www.business.channel.vic.gov.au
http://www.businessaccess.vic.gov.au
http://www.export.vic.gov.au
http://www.ecommerce.vic.gov.au



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