Frontiering Talk

Canadian startup EQO has launched an interesting service hoping to help transport the Myspace service on the road.

It runs as a widget than you can place on your space, and people can browse to your space on their phones to leave you messages. You can have your EQO space setup to express your current mood, where you are, or to post notices.

Up until now similar services which used MMS, EQO is designed for posting from the browser, banking on the fact that nearly 70% of US phones have that capability. And while there, your friends can send text messages to your mobile from you Myspace page.

Others in this category include Supcast, which allows you to post text, images or video from your phone to your myspace.

Perspective: We believe the mobile social networking market is only just starting to gather momentum and it is possible that 3D browser applications like Secondlife, may become useable within the phone browser of the future.

via Mashable

Tags: Social Network

Google has announced that it’s Analytics tool is now available to the general public.

You can download it here and it will help you keep track of your site visitors.

This week I attended the launch of McKenna bourbon in Brisbane. The press launch is normally reserved for traditional press, but showing an appreciate for new media, Lion Nathan invited me along with several other Brisbane based bloggers to attend the celebration.

Bloggers are not like the traditional press. They are not bound by the rules of an editor, and more often than not, they are not paid for their stories. However, bloggers and podcasters can be very powerful allies in getting accurate branding messages diffused throughout a target demographic.

The McKenna launch was a lavish affair. DJ’s played music, people danced partied and celebrated the product launch in style. To help attendees remember that McKenna is “Double Distilled”, about 20 twin models paired up to form a welcomming party, and then promptly began serving guests with McKenna and cola bottles.

Japanese Ice sculptors carved out a large replica of the McKenna bourbon bottle to exceptional detail.

I got to meet several employees of Lion Nathan who were eager to explain the product details. I especially enjoyed the conversation with Vimpi who was influencial in recognising the potential of bloggers. He ensured we tasted the straight version of the Bourbon and went to great length to explain the heritage of Henry McKenna .. of which a summary can now be found online.

Vimpi Juneja explained that Henry McKenna Bourbon was so pure that it was even used as an anaesthetic. What impressed me was Vimpi Juneja’s insistence that any coverage that we gave to the event should be honest and he encouraged suggestions and / or criticisms.

Meeting several of the bloggers was a highlight.
Alborz Fallah from Newbrisbane, and Caradvice was there and it was pleasing to hear that car companies have taken notice and are starting to engage Alborz to test drive new cars.
Amanda Willmot who writes a very expressive blog on life in Brisbane
Gavin Handley who’s blog Just Like Music is unearthing many new bands around the world by helping to promote and distribute music samples.
We discussed the value of bloggers to promoting products, the ethics involved in being honest as well as what the future holds for new media such as blogs and podcasts in the product life cycle.

I am not really a Bourbon drinker, but I can say that I was impressed with the smoothness of the drink. The packaging appears up-market and will come in two strengths - 6% and a potent 9%. What I would suggest is that the heritage of Henry McKenna should be included in 6-packs of the product, particularly in the early launch phase to ensure that this is adequately communicated.

I shall closely follow the blogosphere over the next few weeks endevouring to see the effect of what a few bloggers might have on the diffusion of the new double distilled McKenna Bourbon.

Here’s some photos from the event.

Perspective: It is great to see a large company embrace bloggers and show them the same privellage to that of the traditional press. I suspect the impact of a few bloggers will help position the product as “edgy” and “in tune” with the youth of today.

Running Ahead is a relatively new website aimed at runners.

It uses Google Maps to manage running routes, cleverly measures the distance and topography of your running routes and also provides training diary which you can share with your coach (if you have one). And it also provides an extensive analysis of your program.

Perspective: I love writing about the intersection of technology and community and Running Ahead is an excellent example of using frontiering tools to generate a community.

Recruiting the right people has always been a challenge, and yet the power of online expression in the form of blogs, forums and the like are providing greater insight into the potential of new recruits.

This article in Netimperative shows that more and more companies are looking at bloggers to fill positions in new media.

The article says …
“Sam Michel, Managing Director of Chinwag, said: “Specialist recruitment websites, social networks, community forums and blogs, are replacing the traditional channels as they get to the heart of the communities sought by employers. ”

Perspective: Just as it is important for Brands to monitor consumer conversations online, it is important for employers to monitor prospective employees online and vica versa.

via Adverblog

Tags: Social Network

Showing that old media, can play in the new media space, the Washington Post is inviting it’s readers to create a video mashup with political reporter Dana Milbank.

Dana provides the questions which you can download here, you provide the answers!

The Post plans to will post all videos submitted that meet the requirements and will give viewers the opportunity to comment and rate the videos.

Perspective: The Washington Post is positioning itself as a paper that understands and wants to interact with it’s young consumers.

via Podcasting News

The Starwood Hotel chain is promoting a new hotel brand in the virtual world second life.

They have a blog, and have provided a very real “experience” of what the brand is.

Perspective: Virtual worlds may seem like fantasy games to some, but we think there are many marketing opportunities to embrace, and this is a great example.

via Micropersuasion

Next time you have the urge to create a comic, try this fun Comic Strip Generator.

It lets you choose from hundreds of different comic templates. You can create little strips panel by panel.