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| The Telling IT Straight Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | Poken vs. Apple iPhone | Views: 864 | Oct 13, 2009 6:53 am | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | I put a question out on Aardvark earlier today asking if folks in Silicon Valley were big on the Poken at business mixers. While the answer I expected to be "yes," that is not what I got. In fact, one person said, "Absolutely not!" I was told that folks in Silicon Valley use the iPhone and cell phones with Bluetooth to exchange contact information.
Well, how does that work? Do you go to a mixer, meet someone, take out your cell phone and call that person when they are standing right in front of you just to exchange contact information? If so, that has got to look pretty strange. Poken simply involves the touching of two four-fingered hands of two Pokens, a flash of light, and the information on each flash drive is transferred. Next, you stick the Poken's flash drive into the USB port of a computer and transfer that information to your Poken's website to be updated. That's pretty much all there is to it. I could be mistaken, but I doubt either cell phones or the iPhone provides as much contact information on the individual as a Poken does.
If you know how the iPhone or cell phones are handling contact information these days, please share that news on this thread. If it is equal or surpasses what the Nokia N810 is capable of doing, I would like to know as I am a Nokia N810 customer.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 13, 2009 7:02 am | | re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lindy Asimus | | Lamar you don't really think geeks are going to be wandering around carrying something that looks like it belongs in a teenage girl's make-up bag.
People will find you if they want to, if you are online. No trouble at all.
Chill Lamar.
Have you been to a tweetup yet?
Lindy
Private Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 13, 2009 11:40 am | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Lamar, I have poste dthet a number of times, but you just ignore it. People will not use Poken. The kids will not use it past a week. Yesterday I was with the rock stars of the Joomla world. I am a newbie compared to some. WE ALL HAD BUSINESS CARDS.
Do you know why? We are business people. Every single one of us had a laptop, cell phone and numerious ids on differant forums and emails addreses. Yet awe all use busines cards. YOu have to ask yourself why? Also add why you feel compelled to push a prodcut that does not make you, Lamar, money. Concentrate of building what makes you money, then help others.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 13, 2009 12:04 pm | | re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Aalap Sharma | | Hi,
I use Nokia E71 and it can exchange Business Card through Text msg, Bluetooth, Email and Infrared
The Business Card can contain:
- Title, First name, Middle name, Last name, Suffix, Nickname - Mobile, Mobile home, Mobile business - Telephone, Telephone home, Telephone business - Email, Email home, Email business - Blackberry PIN, Car phone, Pager - Video Call, Video Call home, Video Call business - Fax, Fax home, Fax business - Internet Tele, Internet Tele home, Internet Tele business - Push to talk, SIP, - Department, Job title, Assistant's name, Assistant's number - Spouse, Children - Web address, Web address home, Web address business - Address, Address home, Address business - Birthday, Aniversary, Note
Now, these are predefined fields which I can rename to anything I want.
The recepient can save this Business Card directly to their contacts and then synch the mobile with Outlook or other softwares.
Since the phone is wifi enabled, I do not need a laptop to check emails or browse internet in public places or in meetings.
We are in an electronic era, where we are reducing the number of devices.
Cell Phones = Phone + Document viewer + Internet browsing + music player + Video player + Contact infos + lot of things
Poken = Contact infos + something i don't know, if at all
Now you tell us, which one is easier ?
Poken or Cell Phone ?
Lamar, I have read a lot of your articles and I am a fan of yours.. but I cannot not buy this one...
Regards, AalapPrivate Reply to Aalap Sharma | Oct 13, 2009 6:36 pm | | re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
If Poken was so ridiculous, why would IBM endorse it by using it at one of their conferences? Do you think IBM is stupid?
The little face is plastic case is a marking gimmick. The Poken hand which you connect is a marketing gimmick. But, there is nothing silly about what happens once you put that flash drive into your computer and visit your Poken website to manage your contact data. This is smart. This is efficient. This is connecting with your contacts in such a way that they update your contact information FOR YOU.
Aalap listed in his post what his Nokia E71 can do in terms of exchanging business card information. But, social media information is NOT listed there is it? And, that's part of the appeal of Poken. More than 30 social networks are included in the Poken mix. And, all you did to have access to all those 30 networks is touch your Poken's hand to someone else's. This is absolutely awesome! The fact it is handed to you in a rather simplistic and admittedly silly-looking way is something you should let deter you.
Think back to early discussion about Twitter. How silly! Who in their right mind is going to care about answering the question, "What are you doing now?" Who in their right mind is going to be willing to limit their response to 140 characters? Well, as it turns out, the answer is - A LOT OF PEOPLE.
The reason I believe the folks at Poken designed the latest version of their device, The Pulse, is because they want to expand there market to serious business professionals who are turned off by silly faces and have no desire to be associated with a product that promotes a fun interaction at a business networking event by its very appearance. These are the stuffed-shirt Wall Street types who are only interested in inviting business CEO's to banquets. The No. 2 man at the company need not attend.
There are some folks who refuse to shop at Wal-Mart for a wide range of reasons. However, they will not hesitate to shop at Neiman-Marcus and pay a high price for merchandise - even though they could get the exact same item for a much lover price at Macys. Why pay more for the exact same item at Neiman-Marcus? The box. It's not just about the product. It's about the package it comes in.
So, Poken is changing its packaging with The Pulse. It's more expensive. It's more business-like by design. It's actually designed to appeal to Wall-Street types. See for yourself. Click here. Please do not expect Poken to remove the hand. That's part of its branding effort. It needs to be known by its four-fingered hand.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 13, 2009 6:58 pm | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Where did I say it was ridiculous? Why are you getting so angry. Twitter will peak and settle down. Remember IRC, how many people still use it? I just think people will be compelled to touch little plastic devices. I could be wrong.
Lamar, after you have bought one, let me know three months latter how many contacts you got by high 5's. And I will let you know how many business cards I got. And Walter will tell you how many he gave out.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 13, 2009 11:48 pm | | re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Fair enough. I suppose Twitter could go the same route as IRC. However, I doubt that is going to happen? Why? Because of all the third-party developers writing software to be used by Twitter enthusiasts. Apple is doing the same thing with all the folks writing software for the iPhone. I don't think the iPhone is going to become obsolete any time soon, either. It's been some time since I have used a transitor radio, but I bet they all still work.
Did you look at the video on social media Teddy Towncrier introduced to Ryze? That video provides amazing stats of the increasing popularity of the social media space and the decreasing interest in traditional media. But, do you think TV, radio and newspapers are going to go the way of the IRC? I don't think so. I think they are going to find a way to weave themselves cleverly into the social media fabric. The traditional media we find a way to collaborate with social media. Why? Because that's where the eyeballs are - and that is where the traditional media wants to be.
As for Poken, this company has used silly little toy images to introduce itself to the public. Think about this. Who would have ever thought you would associate a computer company with a piece of fruit with a bite taken out of it? But, we all know who that company is don't we? It's Apple Computer, Inc. Don't you see, Poken is using business mixer gatherings to spread it's message in a fun way. Once you get passed the fun of it, the virtual business card Poken creates is serious business.
A town hall or a Board of Supervisors meeting in California, sets aside 3 minutes for a person attending that meeting to provide "public comment." This is in accordance with the Brown Act of California. Well, that is more than adequate time to demonstrate how a Poken works - that's complete with the flash and the blinking of the Pokens once two touch those four-finger hands. All it takes is one person demonstrating two Pokens touching hands to create much-needed buzz in a community. The way a Poken works is actually its own commercial. Now, that's clever...and yes, I believe the public will buy into this Christmas Season. Stay tuned and watch the TV news. It has already happened with Twitter. Why not Pokens?
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 14, 2009 12:00 am | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | 1) Twitter is free 2) Why would I buy a Christas present or get one. Only 1/3 of the world is Christian.
I got B-cards from people based in Serbia at Joomla day. They work the same manner as cards from the US. I then scan them using card scanner. Over 50 of my cards were picked up by others at the event. I left them on a table. Can not do that with Poken man. But good luck, I hope theya re paying you money for this.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 14, 2009 12:43 am | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Russ Jackman | | There are a few other holes in the concept, Lamar ...
First, is you need a piece of proprietary hardware to be able to "participate". Not only is it yet *another* gadget to carry around, but it is a single-purpose gadget. People are still buying expensive do-everything smart phones in the down economy, quite often to have everything - communications, camera, media player, web, email, social networking - combined into one gadget.
If they were to open up the standard so other devices could touch-and-share, then they might hit a critical mass by having the concept incorporated into cell phones and other devices people are already buying and using. They could try to license the technology, but they would need a lot more consumer awareness and consumer demand to justify hardware vendors paying any significant licensing fee. For example, Nokia might pay 20 cents to include the feature and four-fingered hand graphic into a cell phone intended for the tween / teen market (or for any device they sell in fad-crazy Japan - LOL), but I can't ever see RIM adding it to a Blackberry. There would be (and are) existing technologies to share information, without adding another standard or protocol.
Second, as I read it, I can only share one profile with the device? What if I don't want my business associates receiving my personal SN information, and vice-versa? If I meet you at a mixer, I may be fine with having you follow me on Twitter, but I certainly don't want to receive a friend request on Facebook after meeting you once. So, how do I control which of my SN contact details are given to any particular person when the hands touch?
With privacy concerns and indiscriminate social networking use already costing people potential jobs and clients, you would need to control which aspects of your networking contact details are going to any particular contact.
Third, the gadget doesn't do anything that can't be handled efficiently without it ... there's no real value added beyond "gee whiz". I can write down my Twitter ID on a business card just as easily, or exchange email addresses or business cards and personally invite you to join the social or business networks I decide to invite you into. Go to a dance club and watch men and women hook up ... it's more and more common for them to just hand their cell phone to the other person to program their number in, instead of writing it down on a piece of paper. And no, I can't see too many single people using this gadget unless it supports more than one profile (i.e. real contact info as well as a "fake number" - LOL). BTW, if this company decides to support multiple profiles in their device after this is posted, I do expect to get a royalty for the idea ;)
And on that subject, there was a device a couple of years ago in Japan for singles where you could program the characteristics of what you were looking for, and if you came into close proximity of of someone and your lists matched, the device would glow or somehow alert you that Mr/Ms. Right was close by ...
Since the Poken doesn't make things easier or considerably faster for users, it is a fad ... it's a cool gimmick for tweens to play with for awhile. They could end up selling 20 or 30 million of these things in North America, but even at that it would not reach the critical mass necessary to be a useful tool for business.Private Reply to Russ Jackman | Oct 14, 2009 4:38 pm | | re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | How many people got a free Cue Cat and used it for it's intended purpose? Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 15, 2009 12:32 am | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Please do not equate Poken to the Cue Cat. The Cue Cat is one of the most famous failures of all times. See what Wikipedia had to say about it, "The CueCat concept was a commercial failure. It also received the dubious distinction as one of 'The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time' according to PCWorld Magazine. The CueCat's critics said the device was ultimately of little use: wrote Jeff Salkowski of the Chicago Tribune, 'You have to wonder about a business plan based on the notion that people want to interact with a soda can,' while Debbie Barham of the Evening Standard quipped that the CueCat 'fails to solve a problem which never existed.'"
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 15, 2009 1:28 am | | re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Russ Jackman | | Exactly. The Poken fails to solve a problem that never existed. Private Reply to Russ Jackman | Oct 15, 2009 3:31 am | | re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | I just came from the NY Linux users group and a presenation by Amazon [who bought some of use dinner afterward as a surprise.] They gave me Busines Cards. I think you will see Poken as a failure just like Cue Cat. No one wants to touch gadets together. Just silly. Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 15, 2009 3:53 am | | re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Russ,
Why do you think there are business networking groups like BNI? I think groups like BNI exist to meet a need people have. That need is to make business networking work for their business. I think business networking is a skill - not an inherited trait. I think Poken helps people who have difficulty making business connections. It orginizes and simplifies the process. And, therein I believe lies its value.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 15, 2009 4:29 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Russ Jackman | | Lamar,
Networking groups exist to make contact and build relationships. The simplest process to meet people is to extend your hand and say, "Hi, my name is ...".
If business networking is a skill, what negative effect do you think a Poken will have on someone trying to develop that skill? An exchange of contact information is *NOT* networking, so by your definition (that business networking is a skill), the Poken adds no value to the process; it does not replace skill, it does not replace a relationship or common goal, it simply exchanges information in an indiscriminate way to a possibly unqualified prospect or undeveloped contact.
All the best in whatever venture or path you have envisioned for this. I personally think if this were demonstrated or presented at a public meeting as something "revolutionary", it would harm the credibility of the presenter. It is what it is, a fad, something that offers little more than a "gee whiz" factor. The technology is not revolutionary, it doesn't address a problem that too many people actually have, and there are other existing, more prevalent technologies that already "solve" the problem. Poken is really about hype and branding, and while that may make a lot of money for the creator, it will not revolutionize business and/or social networking.Private Reply to Russ Jackman | Oct 15, 2009 4:35 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | BNI has a format and it is failing because the world changed. But they would not permit Poken people. Why because that is not networking. For Joomla Day NYC I sponsored the T-shirt. Notice I do not have my web address anywhere. Nor do any others? Plus the people getting them are not the peopel who are my clients. Lamar, can you figure why I did this?
Now helping out the event was part of it, but we could have use dthe funds Oracle provided and I would have gotten a line listing, so 'mutual uplift' was not the reason.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 16, 2009 4:40 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Russ,
How do you feel about Twitter? Do you see it as a "fad" - something that just appeals to children? After all, children do use it. Of course, just about every major TV, radio and media organization in the world also uses Twitter.
Did you know that Twitter has actually been around for almost a decade? I can remember when people on this very network were saying that Twitter was a total waste of time. Nothing more than a gimmick - and not a very good one at that. Plus, Twitter is a FREE service. Why would any credible business or organization want to associate itself with a FREE service?
But, that does not seem to be the general consensus these days does it? Everyone seems to want a Twitter account. Even Facebook and Squidoo are promoting Twitter and vice versa. What happening here? Has everyone gone mad? Or, might there be a great deal of value in what these three companies are demonstrating to the world?
What I believe the world is witnessing in the fact Twitter, Facebook and Squidoo are promoting each other is mutual collaboration at work in a BIG WAY. They are not competing with each other. Instead, they are intertwining their services with each other to expand the value of their own enterprise. This is the equivalent of two companies which push the purchase of each other's stock to expand the grasp of their own market niche.
Do you think IBM is not stupid for using Poken to help brand its own conference? If Poken could not deliver what IBM needed in terms of branding, do you think IBM would continue to use Poken? I seriously doubt it. If someone as big as IBM can use Poken and reap benefits from the process, why should the rest of us do without if we can in fact apply IBM's example to our own business marketing need?
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 16, 2009 4:57 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Okay, you sponsored the Joomla Conference and did not get a mention on the T-shirt. I think you deserved space on the T-shirt if you helped to sponsor the event. If I recall correctly, you were among the keynote speakers at the conference. I would think being a keynote speaker at a conference would garner you some well-deserved attention. I would expect you to get at least a few referrals as a result of that gig. But, you tell me, did you make any good connections as a result of being a keynote speaker at that conference?
If I paid to go to a conference and one of the keynote speakers approached me, pulled out a device and asked me if I wanted to exchange contact information with him at the speed of a simple gesture, do you think I would turn him down? Do you think if I had an easy way to comply with this request I would reject the offer? Absolutely not! And, that is why Pokens are important. If you are a public person, you want to be able to comply with the needs of your audience. Poken helps you do just that.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 16, 2009 5:24 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Lamar, You must read what I post. I did not say I did not get amention. I said I did not post my wensite. My company is Prebilt Hosting. It is there right next to Oracle on the shirt. Myself and Forest Mars gave a talk on DEupal and Joomla whne to use either. Yes I made some excellant connections, but most people tehre have host companies. If the keynote pulled out a device like Poken, people would lose respect for him unless it was his company. Twitter is still a fad. How dou I know it is a fad? They make jokes about it on talk shows. The economic impact is tiny.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 16, 2009 6:32 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
I appreciate your honesty. You said you believe Twitter to be a fad. When does something stop being a fad and start being simply a product or service? Do you consider a frisbee a fad? That Whamo piece of plastic has become a sporting event. Do you consider Skype to be a fad? It was purchased by Ebay for nearly 4.2 billion dollars.
Would you really be insulted if you were given a Poken at an IBM conference and someone asked to share contact information with you using that device? I don't see a reason not to like the device if sponsors of a conference paid to purchase it for you. This is not a hypothetical situation. It's happened repeatedly at IBM conferences. Businesses large and small seek branding opportunities. Poken is out there helping businesses of all sizes do that type of marketing. The type of branding Poken is engaged in just may be a lot more powerful and cost-effective than putting your business name on a T-shirt.
I saw David Letterman interview Kevin Spacey on Late Night with David Letterman about Twitter. Because David Letterman makes a joke about what Kevin is doing with his cell phone you conclude that Twitter is a fad? David Letterman is a comedian - not a marketing expert. He is paid big bucks to make fun of serious issues. And, sometimes, as with the Sara Palin incident regarding her daughter, he sticks his foot in his mouth and has to pull it out. Seth Godin, on the other hand, is a marketing expert. He founded Squidoo. His service is intertwined with what Twitter is doing. And, so is Facebook and many other online social media services. Do you honestly think all those services would willingly attached their service and reputation to Twitter if they thought Twitter was nothing more than a fad?
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 16, 2009 7:10 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lindy Asimus | | Lamar Twitter was founded in 2006.
What kids are using Twitter?
Lindy
Private Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 16, 2009 12:32 pm | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | I said it many times. Currently Twitter is a fad. The celebs and others will jump to the next thing. Then Twitter will settle down and go to it's next stage of life. Look at eBay, it is dying. The fad of selling stuff at auction has passed. No longer do they have media time devoted to "stuff sold on eBay". If they do, it is now rare. It used to make the news once a week. Frisbees were a fad in teh 60's. They sold far more back then. I know, I have had lunch with the founders when I was in the toy and hobby business.
If I got one, I would be delighted, I would ad it to my neat gadgets in my showcase in my house. Alone will other neat items.
I just would not carry it around. It means another thing in my pocket that I have to track. Now women may carry it in their handbag. My cell phone is quite small and I ma dreadingthe fact I am shopping for a G-phone as it is larger. No idea what Letterman has to do with this. He also drops things in a giant tank of water. Does that mean it is serious also? The celebs are not endorsing Twitter, rather they are keeping in contact with their real barometer of worth, their fans. Next time I see Seth I will ask him. It has been a while but he may stop into a networking event of a common friend filled with peopel that support his early efforts. That group start as Company of Friends on Fast Company.
As to the device. I can see it being used at events, and that event requiring you to go to their website to get your contacts. I do not see people carrying them around. Remember your business card is an extention of your image. You will lose that with Poken transfers.
For very young kids I see Ddisney [or others] giving them out as part of a club and kids connecting with other kids in class.
BTW Lamar why don't you post a recent photo?Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 16, 2009 12:55 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Russ Jackman | | Lamar,
What does Twitter have to do with Poken?
And yes, I think Twitter is a fad ... a very popular fad, but a fad nonetheless. It does have some marketing benefit and is working for some people, but too much of the communication is self-serving, and too many "followers" either are purposely not paying attention to the daily onslaught of tweets or simply cannot keep up. That is why Twitter has such a high churn rate, and that is also why I still consider it something of a fad. Use it as one piece in a marketing campaign, yes, but don't make it a cornerstone of your business. I don't think the current model is sustainable.
Case in point: one of my Facebook contacts posted a spoof music video on YouTube about Facebook just over week ago. He's big into Twitter, and later that day Alyssa Milano saw the video and tweeted it to her followers. The next day Ashton Kutcher also tweeted about the video to his almost-four million followers. Yes, the video jumped from a few thousand views to somewhere between 20,000 - 30,000 by the end of the day, but as an observer I was honestly expecting a much bigger jump for Scott's video on the basis that 4,000,000 people were just told about it on Twitter (1/2 of 1% response rate where the call to action was simply to watch something funny and free). Yes, it generated traffic, but not the kind of buzz that Twitter fans try to have us believe. (The video is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Ge6RkbJpE if anyone is interested ... writer/performer/cameraman Scott Stratten is a former Ryze member of Un-Marketing fame.)
Lamar, IBM has not endorsed Poken. The people at the conference did not receive Pokens pre-loaded with their information to start sharing, it was a give-away as I understand it. I received a pirate eye patch in the goodie bag at my last conference ... I certainly don't think the organization was endorsing pirateering. It was a give-away, a fun gimmick ... not an endorsement.
Now, if IBM provided a Poken to every sales rep and mandated it be carried at all times and became policy to use, that would be an endorsement. That is not the case here.
One other concern about the Poken ... how many custom fields does it support? How is it updated with niche social networking contact information, or for the "next big thing"? For example, if I want to provide two or three Facebook groups instead of my profile, or perhaps details on a dating website profile, or if a new social networking platform takes the world by storm next month ... how does the Poken adapt?
And in your example to Scott about talking to a keynote speaker and exchanging contact information, you would do it with business cards. If the keynote speaker wanted to provide a home number or social networking ID, they could easily do so while talking or in a follow-up email. Again, there is a BIG problem with the Poken in not being able to determine which specific profile information is handed over to any particular contact.
In my case, I would need to carry a personal Poken, a "dating" Poken, an Internet Advisor Poken, a Woodwell Products Poken, and a Kinsmen Poken.
To summarize: The Poken concept has nothing to do with the success (either fleeting or permanent) of Twitter. IBM has not endorsed Poken. Poken simply does not solve a problem that never existed. And like others here, I am left wondering why you feel the need to defend this thing so much.
RussPrivate Reply to Russ Jackman | Oct 16, 2009 1:06 pm | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | The name alone would apply to people using ashleymadison.com for dating. LMAO Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 16, 2009 9:42 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lindy Asimus | | Russ
>>For example, if I want to provide two or three Facebook groups instead of my profile, or perhaps details on a dating website profile, or if a new social networking platform takes the world by storm next month ... how does the Poken adapt?
As I understand one is supposed to buy a poken for each category that one wants to keep separate. So you might keep your unsavoury-network separate from the polite business network
Lindy
Private Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 16, 2009 9:48 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Russ Jackman | | Hi Lindy ... exactly. "In my case, I would need to carry a personal Poken, a "dating" Poken, an Internet Advisor Poken, a Woodwell Products Poken, and a Kinsmen Poken." And in a world where convergence is creating do-all devices to simplify people's lives, I would need to cart around 5 of these things, hoping I didn't "high four" someone with the wrong Poken for the wrong situation.
It doesn't solve a problem that doesn't exist. In fact, it could create problems where none yet exist.Private Reply to Russ Jackman | Oct 16, 2009 10:52 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Russ,
You are mistaken with regard to what IBM did with the Pokens. They did more than simply hand out the Pokens. They used the Pokens to "brand" what they were doing at the conference with the conference attendees. It was not simply about exchanging contact information with others attending the conference on a one-to-one basis - although that is important. The Poken methodology is a lot more efficient. When you exchange business cards that is just the first step in a tedious manual process of records management. It's easier to simply "touch Poken hands" and know that you have done 90% of what's need to update your contact records. But, that is not all they were doing with Pokens at that conference. If it was, how would IBM really receive a benefit? I suggest you visit this site - IBM Conference and learn more about what went on there.
Where did you get the idea that you can only have one profile per Poken? Did you learn that from a Poken site? Or, did you just assume that was the case? I certainly never told you that. If that was indeed the case, it would definitely limit the marketability of the product. But, as I understand it, you can have numerous profiles and choose the ones you want to share with the folks you want to exchange contact information. You simply have to make sure your Poken is set up to share that particular profile. What makes the Poken such an impressive device is not the hardware. But, the RF signal used and the software programming. That's where the real magic happens. It's all about the software - not the hardware.
Question: Can you exchange contact information between iPhones and other mobile devices using Bluetooth technology? Answer: Yes. Question: Is the exchange of information comprehensive - including more than 30 social media sites? Answer: No. And, that is just one reason why Pokens should increase in popularity.
Question: Can you brand a business to a conference using an iPhone, cell phone or any mobile device other than a Poken? Answer: No.
Now, I know you can brand a business to an event with a T-shirt. Road races do that quite well. But, a T-shirt does not help you exchange contact information. A Poken does both. And, let's fact it, the cost of putting your logo on a T-shirt that gets handed out at a conference
would not do your business as much good as being able to brand your business through the Pokenize process. For more on that, visit Pokenize.
Finally, do you think it would do you any good to give a good business client of yours a T-shirt with your logo on it for Christmas? After all, the client could wear the shirt and brand your business to the public. But, what does that really do for your client's business? Nothing. However, were you to give the gift of a Poken, you are giving your client something that can actually positively impact his ability to do better business. Do you think you client would appreciate that kind of Christmas gift as opposed to a T-shirt? Sometimes Russ, simple is better.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 17, 2009 3:42 am | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Lamar, How do you knwo what IBM intended? Were you there? How succesful was it? Are people using it afterwards or was it a party favor? >>Question: Can you exchange contact information between iPhones and other mobile devices using Bluetooth technology? Answer: Yes. Question: Is the exchange of information comprehensive - including more than 30 social media sites? Answer: No. And, that is just one reason why Pokens should increase in popularity.
Where do you get your facts from? It is quite simple to write an app to do all of that. I would be surprised if there was not an app for that already. Did you research it? >>Can you brand a business to a conference using an iPhone, cell phone or any mobile device other than a Poken? Answer: No Again you are 100% wrong as Iphones have been given out at events. Branded with skins and screen savers. I branded a T-sirt for other reasons, not to exchange contact info. For that I used cards. How much do pokens cost? How much do you think a printed T-shirt costs?
>>Finally, do you think it would do you any good to give a good business client of yours a T-shirt with your logo on it for Christmas? After all, the client could wear the shirt and brand your business to the public. But, what does that really do for your client's business? Nothing. However, were you to give the gift of a Poken, you are giving your client something that can actually positively impact his ability to do better business. Do you think you client would appreciate that kind of Christmas gift as opposed to a T-shirt? Sometimes Russ, simple is better.
Forgeting the fact that not everyone celebrates Christian holidays, something you just do not get, but yes people love T-shirts and it re-enforces your brand more effectivly than almost any other item. I was given an Oracle T-shirt taht only Execs get, I am quite happy with it. Giving a person a Poken without having almsot every other person using it, would hurt my image. It would be viewed as usless and confusing. But that is me, so I hope you give out a few hundred in your area an start something. If not then you do not practice what you preach.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 17, 2009 3:59 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Russ Jackman | | Lamar,
I followed the link you provided for info on the IBM conference, and also read their follow-up post a couple of weeks later - http://nativexmldatabase.com/2009/06/09/flirting-with-poken/
Here is a summary:
--------------------------------
The second thing I must say is that, after using the Poken for the entire conference, I still want to give out business cards. You see, after I get a business card, I find a few minutes to write a few notes on that business card. This way I have some additional context when I return from a conference with another stack of business cards. Thankfully I continued to do this at the conference because all I get with the poken is a sequential list of new Poken friends. I can see their profile, including a photo if they uploaded one. But it does not give me enough context for a follow up (unless they are especially memorable).
So, in my opinion, the Poken is a useful addition to the business card, but it will not replace it. You may argue that I could simply write some notes elsewhere and keep track of them. But there something very easy about writing a few key words on the back of a business card. For me the best solution would be to use my smartphone to easily “poke” people. Then, if I could add notes to newly acquired “business cards” on my smartphone, I could truely consider replacing the business card.
--------------------------------
Doesn't sound like it set the world on fire at the IBM conference, and it certainly doesn't sound like it was "endorsed" by IBM or is part of their normal operating procedure now.Private Reply to Russ Jackman | Oct 17, 2009 6:01 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lindy Asimus | | Russ - At least they would remember you "Oh, Russ is the one that rattles with all those poken things jangling together..."
hehe
LindyPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 17, 2009 3:00 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lindy,
You and Poken have something in common. You both operate a Ning network to help folks collaborate on ideas. Now, Poken uses its Ning Network to also set up Meetups around the world. You could no doubt do the same thing with TeamCircle. And, right now, you have more members than DoYouPoken.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 17, 2009 3:05 pm | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | How come there are no social neatworking sites for Luddites? Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 17, 2009 4:44 pm | | re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Did you search Google for the answer? If not, this might help - About Luddites. Of course, Luddites don't have anything to with this thread.
Speaking of the competition between the Apple iPhone app for the exchange of contact information and the Poken flash drive, have you seen "E"? Check it out. It might just give Poken a run for its money. Here's the link - My Name Is E.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 17, 2009 5:07 pm | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Of course I know what Luddites are. That was the joke. Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 17, 2009 10:06 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lindy Asimus | | Lamar some of us have meetups already. I invite people from the 'meat' world.
Do you?
LindyPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 17, 2009 10:08 pm | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lindy Asimus | | >>Of course, Luddites don't have anything to with this thread.
Have you checked Ning for the Lead Pencil Club?
LindyPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 17, 2009 10:21 pm | | re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | A meeting I went to last night uses Meetup to power its event palnning. I would rather use Joomla components, but I do see the merit in using meetup.com
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 17, 2009 10:34 pm | | re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lindy Asimus | | My experience with meetup.com has been terrible. I keep getting notices for meetings that never happen and no way to get a response out of anyone supposedly organising the event.
Dopey.
Funnily, I know two of the 5 people on the list. Including me that means 3 our of 5 and if I have a meeting with either of them it most definitely isn't because of meetup.com
LindyPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 17, 2009 10:35 pm | | re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lindy Asimus | | btw We have a local tweetup every week and that is just simple as simple. Tweet. Turn up.
LindyPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 18, 2009 7:46 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Meetups are huge outside this county. But, inside this county they are rare. I guess that is simply the difference between being in a rural area that is not heavily populated and a metropolitan area that is densely populated. So, for me to pull of this upcoming workshop on social media is going to be a real challenge.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 19, 2009 2:48 am | | re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Reg Charie | | See what happens when users don't get Pokens?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFoQ5Eqzsf4
Reg - NEW DEMO!! Turn photos into paintings http://FantasticMachines.com All You Need is Dotcom-Productions and a Dream. http://dotcom-productions.com 0Grief http://0grief.com/special_hosting_accounts_for_my_ryze_friends.htm CRELoaded websites http://RegCharie.com - SBTT http://thinktank-network.ryze.comPrivate Reply to Reg Charie | Oct 19, 2009 3:10 am | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Wow, I am convinced. Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 19, 2009 5:05 am | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lindy Asimus | | oh that was funny.
Kind of.
(I don't like cats)
LindyPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 19, 2009 5:50 am | | re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Reg Charie | | >>(I don't like cats)
Don't let Scott hear you. Oops.. too late.
Reg - NEW DEMO!! Turn photos into paintings http://FantasticMachines.com All You Need is Dotcom-Productions and a Dream. http://dotcom-productions.com 0Grief http://0grief.com/special_hosting_accounts_for_my_ryze_friends.htm CRELoaded websites http://RegCharie.com - SBTT http://thinktank-network.ryze.comPrivate Reply to Reg Charie | Oct 20, 2009 4:12 am | | re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Reg,
A cat fight. That was a clever way to demonstrate the Apple iPhone vs. Poken situation. I never would have thought of that.
I personally do not think Apple Computer is concerned about the "power of the Poken" or that IBM is using it at conventions. But, I do think that small business entrepreneurs should be concerned - if not for the Poken as a specific brand - for the technology behind it. The technology behind the Poken is NOT RFID. It's different. Keep in mind, what makes the Poken so powerful is what makes Twitter so powerful. It's the innovative third-party programming attached to it.
Now, for those of you who are actually interested in seeing the Slideshare slide show put together by IBM with regard to Poken branding capabilities, visit Pokenize.
If you have been following this thread, you know certainly people have said that Twitter is a fad. If that is true, there is going to come a time when folks are not going to want to use it. However, I disagree. I do not believe Twitter falls into the "Hula Hoop" category of toys. I know a Poken looks very much like a toy. But, I believe that is simply clever marketing. That is simply to entice people to play with it. You want to get folks into the "user pool." They want people to collect them. They want people to give them as gifts. I believe there may come a time when those funny face Pokens will be collector's items. This will not be by coincidence. It will be "by design."
The Poken is evolving right now into a very professional-looking, business-like device. Just consider its latest incarnation, The Pulse. No funny face at all on that. Strictly business. Keep in mind too there are simply too many third-party developers developing for Poken for it not to be taken seriously.
Now, Poken comes from Switzerland, from the area of that country that is considered the "Silicon Valley" of that entire nation. However, guess what? Poken has an office in the USA. Guess where? San Jose...and San Jose is considered part of "Silicon Valley." If Poken is a fad item, it is definitely working very hard not to act like it. Just being able to partner up with IBM should send a very important message to the business community that Pokens are serious business tools.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 20, 2009 11:31 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Lamar, Do you think that Poken has some cutting edge software designs that brings them to the forefront?
It still is RFID.And you are limited to one ID per device, but you can have multiple versions of your profile under one master profile.
BTW did you know you are limited to 64 Hi-5's until you have to download? Don't believe me? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poken
Check out zembly.com where you can build, for free, the same functions as Poken.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 20, 2009 2:31 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
If you go to Youtube and do a search for Poken, you will see there is a video where the creator of the device is asked if the technology is RFID and he says "No." Poken had to create it's own propreitary, close-range signal system.
Yes, you are limited to 64 contacts until you download the information to a computer - provided you get one of the cheaper "Sparks." However, if you purchase "The Pulse," you are virtually unlimited in the number of contacts you can have before you download to a computer. The Spark is $19.95. The Pulse is $34.95 and has 2 GIGs of money. The Pulse can actually function as a real flash drive in addition to the unique sharing of contact information.
Do I think Poken has cutting-edge software programming? Yes, absolutely. Why do you think IBM chose to make a Slideshare slide show about them at one of their conferences? This close-range transfer of information is a branding methodology that should be used at every trade show. It helps the trade show sponsors, trade show vendors and the audience members. Where else do you see something like this happening through a single device?
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 20, 2009 2:54 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Thanks so much for referring me to Zembly.com. You have just given Ryzers even more reasons to be interested in Pokens. If I understand Zembly.com correctly, a programmer could create his own widget software for use with a Poken and host it on the Zembly site for public download. You can use the Zembly domain to host software that helps the Poken do more for its audience. It is kind of what Twitter is doing for all of its third-party developers on its home page. Just check out this video - Creating A Zembly Widget.
Did you discover a Poken widget on Zembly.com? I did not find one. But, I will pass this information on to the Poken Ning Network. There may soon be some there thanks in part to your referral. Since you no doubt have the skill to write widgets, I think you should become a third-party developer for Poken. In fact, why don't you become a third-party developer for both Poken and Twitter?
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 20, 2009 3:10 pm | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | It uses Radio Frequency and an ID System. It may not use the RFID standard, but it is till RFID. Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 20, 2009 3:12 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Zembly is a repostitory of code and an assembler of it. I have no idea if a Poken snippet exists or not. If I saw an economic reason I would develop. How many million Pokens are out there? Do you know?Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 21, 2009 5:13 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Poken resides in the "Silicon Valley" of Switzerland. Pokens are not as popular in the USA as they are in Europe. But, if you doubt their popularity in Europe, just visit the Poken Ning Network and check out the videos there. Poken is all over the news in Europe.
The machine that made sliced bread possible was in use for 15 years BEFORE the American public caught on to the idea that eating sliced bread was indeed a good idea. In fact, it was Wonder Bread that marketed the idea that sliced bread was healthy 12 different ways. I think that is what got the American public eating sliced bread.
Because Steve Jobs first introduced the iPod,I believe it did not take people too long to buy into the idea that an iPhone was a good idea aw well. Unlike Steve Jobs, Poken does not have the benefit of a 2-hour keynote address watched by 50 million computer platform fanatics around the world. But, like Steve Jobs, Poken does have an international fan base. And, I believe those international fans can positively impact the Poken userbase in America. And, I believe the best time for you to become a third-party developer for the Poken movement is in the early years of the company. So, I encourage you to pursue it, Scott.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 21, 2009 5:20 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lindy Asimus | | Lamar sliced bread could be reasonably argued to be a terrible creation.
Still I admit I am curious, as was a previous responder to know why you are so invested in this.
~ Pokenless ~
LindyPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 21, 2009 7:39 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lindy,
I was at a local business mixer this past week for the first time in two years. My hope was that things had improved. I was mistaken. They have gotten worse. It is so sad. This organization is incorporated as a (c)(6)nonprofit. That means it is a mutual benefit corporation. That means it exists not for the benefit of the community - like a charity - but for the benefit of its members(like most golf courses). These folks need something to life them up, to bind them together, to make them strong as opposed to weak. Back in Atlanta, I used to go to mixers where there was standing room only. No food. No refreshments. But, wall-to-wall people. What is it that makes people CARE in Atlanta and NOT CARE in rural Northern California?
The point I was trying to make about sliced bread is not that it was either a good or bad idea, but rather that it took Wonder Bread to create a marketing program to change the eating habits of Americans. People had to be convinced to eat sliced bread. Keep in mind, that was 15 years AFTER the slice bread machine had been created.
Will Pokens make people CARE about business networking at mixers here in Northern California? All by themselves, I would say absolutely not. However, packaged as a tool that demonstrates a benefit to people that they can comprehend, I think that it will help to turn things around in my community for the better.
There is a local yogurt shop that just opened up here. It's doing great business. Why? Because the community has figured out it has great yogurt at reasonable prices. Right around the corner from it is a restaurant that just a few months earlier installed a shaved ice machine with colored syrup to impress its customers. No one cares about that restaurant any longer. Why? Because the public would rather eat healthy frozen yogurt than shaved ice with colored syrup. The yogurt shop send a "we're classy" message to the public. The restaurant sends a "we're cheap" message to the public. Where would you chose to eat?
It's all about perceived and realized benefits. If people here get introduced to Pokens and like the idea, more people will not only be using Pokens, but they will also likely become more involved in social media on the Internet. Being more involved in social media is something I am convinced this rural area definitely needs. It needs to be more plugged in to what is happening out in cyberspace.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 21, 2009 8:33 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lindy Asimus | | Now you are confusing me.
You've portrayed this hamlet as being Mayberry - behind the times. Now you're saying you've got a market there for high-end foodie types. Has the demographic changed, or have you just not been noticing that Mayberry has switched to Grass Valley?
LindyPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 21, 2009 1:28 pm | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Scott Wolpow | | Does it matter where something resides? By that argument anything invented in Queens should change the world. The Xerox process, micro metalic filtration [Pall Corp], Scrabble and to some degree US punk and Rap all started in Queens NY. In fcat I have had offices in Forest Hills, Glen Cove and Port Washington just liek Pall, yet I am not a multi-billion dollar internation corp. At least not yet.
Wonder Bread got started in 1921, but did not add the nutrients until the 1940's. You are also confused about the sliced part. Wonder did not do this until the 1930's. A decaded after both had been on the market. Please at least try and check facts before you think something is true.
The Ipod was a quick sell because of the Walkman.
In business one has to look at the ROI. How may peopel worldwide use Poken on a at least weekly basis? From taht number you get an idea of the market size. Then you may be able to estimate the sales. That number should tell you if you will make money.
Let's look at Lamar's ROI.
Ypu spend countless hours pushing free stuff for other companies. Total return, according to you, is zero. BTW many people think you are paid to hype the products.
Perhaps you are building a name for yourself as an expert. How much is the paper paying you for articles? Take that amoount for a years worth of articles and that would be your ROI. Now take the total hours needed to get there [plus teeh hours needed for writing the article] and divide the dollar amount by that. Now you know what you are worth per hour.
If it is under $25 then you are not an expert yet, not in the eyes of the commecial world.
For the past year I have written a monthly article for the Chamber of Commerce and for a few trade publications. I also have reviewed tech books. Now I am going to be an official reviewer for a major publisher. This will get me copies of new books, books to give away at events and most importantly conacts at publishing houses. I may be writing a book on one particular flavor of Linux or a few other topics. Income from book writing is next to nothing, but you are then an offical expert. That leads to much higher paying gigs. So far the ROI has been four books, and two decent projects.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 21, 2009 4:22 pm | | re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Your ROI and my ROI does not have anything to do with this thread. But, it is a great topic and deserves it's own thread. Why don't you start one? I promise to contribute.
Let's get back to talking about the Pokens vs. Apple iPhone apps.
Lindy is concerned that people in my area who are obviously not very computer savvy will not have the slightest interest in Pokens. However, just this morning I received an unsolicited request from a local marketing person - someone who moved here from Santa Rosa this year - to help bring more interest in social media to this area. Quite frankly, I was shocked to receive the email. But, you see, this demonstrates that the popularity of Twitter is having an impact. Twitter has not only gotten the attention of the major news establishment, but they are all using it. The rural areas of the world are now playing "catch up." If you do a little research online you will see that Twitter, Facebook and Squidoo all connect to each other. This is no accident. This is most-definitely a smart design. Poken is currently linked to more than 30 social media sites. This is not accident, either. And, if Lake County, CA should jump on the Poken bandwagon, I assure you that will also be "by design."
But, what about you? How are you going to connect what you do face-to-face with what you do online? Are you going to continue to rely on business cards to transfer your face-to-face contact information? Or, are you going to find a faster, more efficient option - be it a Poken, iPhone app or something else?
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 21, 2009 4:47 pm | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Scott Wolpow | | ROI has everything to do with it. You asked why am I not developing for Poken. The reason: I do not see s return as of today. That could change in the future.
There are a few groups of people I want to connect with: Social Clients Colleagues Connections
For social, I can see the Poken, but I have yet to see any perons with one. I would have to take time to explain it, and hope they will purchase one. I do not want to sell the device at events because that is an antithesis of networking.
Clients- I do not need or care about their social networking ids unless they are paying me to improve them. Nor do I want to share my client list.
Colleagues- similar to Social except I already connect with them on various forums. I do not need to connect with them on five different venues.
It would be like calling all their phone numbers one after the other.
Connections- The people I am connecting do not participate directly on these sites, they have assistants to do that. Their time is too valuable.
What makes you think the Poken is more efficient? I would have to download, assuming I could do that, the data and load it to my CRM. I would never count on Poken being in business. What if the owner got all that Nigerian Princes money and bought a small island with dancing girls and just closed the site? I do not have nor desire to use an Ibrick. It sucks as a phone and i do not know why people use it. Then again I do not know why people buy vowels for no reason on Wheel of Fortune. I iwll buy one when I start to develop apps for it. Now I am developing my quantacts.com system. It will more like how people have alwasy operated. I am building it on Mongodb.com a memory mapped database. But it will take time.
-- Scott Wolpow 718.275.7765
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 21, 2009 10:51 pm | | re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
You bring up some outstanding questions. While I do not have answers for all of them right now, I do hope to have an answer for them soon.
I just got my two Tiger Pokens in the mail today. I am likely the only person in the entire county that has them. I see it as sort of being the only person in the county with an automobile back in the early 1900's. It's going to take a little time to bring others in the community up-to-speed. After all, it's going to take a little time to bring me up-to-speed. Looking at the little box each Poken came it, I see the Poken was designed in Switzerland, but manufactured in China. It seems like everything today is manufactured in China.
As I understand from reading about the Poken online, you can choose what information you want to share via a Poken. It does not automatically share your client list. You have program it to do that. Who would purposefully do such a thing? Therefore, I do not see that as a problem. What's important is that for all the contact information - including social networks you're involved with - you no longer have to manually type such information into your computer. No, just touch Poken hands. What could be simpler? With the small "spark" Pokens you are limited to 64 contacts, too before you have to upload the information to a computer. But, with the Poken Plus, you virtually have no such restriction. After all, you have 2 GIGs worth of memory on that flash drive.
But, how do you go about "branding" your business using Pokens? How do you conduct a "sign-in" or raffle with Pokens? Things like that I am eager to demonstrated. I have heard it is possible. I just have yet to see it done.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 21, 2009 10:58 pm | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lindy Asimus | | >>Lindy is concerned that people in my area who are obviously not very computer savvy will not have the slightest interest in Pokens
Er, no she isn't.
Lindy isn't concerned at all about that or much else, but sees no value in promoting this.
Lindy
PS. To anyone. Private Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 21, 2009 11:42 pm | | re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Scott Wolpow | | The two gigs are pure storage and can not be transfered or used by the device. Now that you have a Poken. I would like to know how many Pokes you got each week. Your analogy onr the car is wrong. With a car you could go somewhere. More like you are the only person with a telephone and it is not connected. Who will you talk to?
I still do not see the advantage. When I connect with a person on Facebook all I have to do is click on one button. No waste of time.
You totally miss the point about the client list. I have no need to share my social networking with every person I meet, nor do I want them to see my friends.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 22, 2009 6:10 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lindy,
You don't have to join to Poken parade any more than you have to join the Apple iPhone parade. Feel free to just let both parades pass you by.
For the record, I don't use an iPhone. I choose to use a Nokia Internet Tablet, instead. Life is about choices.
If I had come across a better choice to share contact information in a fast and efficient manner other than Pokens, I would likely use it. However, to date, Pokens are the best thing I have encountered. If you come across something that is better than a Poken, please share it. I prefer not having to type contact information into my computer.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 22, 2009 6:43 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lindy Asimus | | Lamar how can Pokens be the best way to share contact inforomation in a fast and efficient manner... given there are so few in use?
How many people have you met at a function that use a poken?
LindyPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 22, 2009 5:18 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lindy,
Everything has to start somewhere. If you know anything about growing grapes, it takes seven years just to to get a vineyard into operation. knowing that, why would anyone start a vineyard from scratch? Because they CARE.
Did you wait to purchase a computer because everyone else had one? Or, did you get a computer because it would meet specific needs that you had? Yes, a Poken does need other people. Twitter needs other people. But, someone has to plant the first seeds to get the process going. Can you be a seed of your community?
This is not a trick. This is not a multi-level marketing scheme. This is simply a hardware tool that will benefit those who use it so long as they can use it in collaboration with other people. In that sense, it is not unlike TeamCircle or Ryze. Just being a member of TeamCircle or Ryze is no magic pill. But, when the people who sign-on decide to collaborate with one another - not simply push an agenda - wonderful things can happen.
Wikipedia figured that out. That's why it is the fastest growing online encylopedia in the world. Seth Godin figured that out with Squidoo. Here is a web address that took the Google Wikinomics approach, turned it upside down and made it work...with only SIX employees.
Do you want wonderful things to happen to the folks you meet in public? There are a lot of things you can do. For example, you can encourage them to eat healthy (such as Thai food). You can encourage them to exercise - even walking 30 minutes a day can do wonders for one's health. You can purchase a Poken and encourage others to do likewises so you can share your contact information with them in a revolutionary NEW WAY.
Every innovation has to start somewhere. Question: Is there a reason why the Poken innovation cannot start with you and your circle of influence...and grow from there? What's it all about, really? It's all about caring. And, when you don't care about things, what usually happens to them? They die.
Lindy, you have the power to lift up, push down or simply ignore. Choose wisely.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 22, 2009 8:13 pm | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Scott Wolpow | | What does any of this have to do with Poken and teh fact no one uses it?
My best friend from High School owns a Vineyard and yes it took time to grow and manage the grapes. But when taht was done he was able to press it into wine and sell them.
I bought a computer because it filled a need, I did not have to connect with other computers to do my work. Twitter, Wikipedia, Squidville, Ryze etc do not need an extra hardware to work.
I am curious, how many Pokens did you get today? Today I got three business cards. All were from upper management of their companies, including a just promoted Exec VP of Product Development at Oracle.
None of them have Pokens.
So except as a keychain, what would I do with it?If they were smart they would give away a few million for free.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 22, 2009 9:29 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone329/ | # | Lindy Asimus | | >>Lindy, you have the power to lift up, push down or simply ignore. Choose wisely.<<
That's the silliest most pompous thing I remember seeing you write Lamar. And completely beside the point.
It seems like you'd like to promote every bib and bob that comes across your screen as though it were some kind of paradigm shift. Unfortunately to date, none have been remotely of that calibre.
Squidoo is not a paradigm shift, nor is a digital photo frame, nor is Poken.
Have you even once considered that all the feedback you are getting on this may have some validity?
Just a thought.
Lindy
Private Reply to Lindy Asimus | Oct 23, 2009 5:46 am | | Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lindy,
It's amazing how things get attributed to me that I never said or did. I never said Squidoo, a digital frame or Poken was a paradigmal shift. However, Squidoo says about itself that it is a Web 2.0 innovation. And, I have probably used that term more times than some folks wish I had. But, I did not coin that term, either. I simply repeated it.
Squidoo, digital frames and Poken are all simply tools that groups of caring people can utilize to help each other out. Of course, you have to first care about each other for that to happen. If you don't care about each other, the tools you choose really don't matter. It's all about connecting the people and the tools to the people and the tools.
A Poken is useless if it does not shake hands with another Poken. Twitter is useless if there are no followers. A radio is useless if there are no listeners. A TV is useless if there are no viewers. A newspaper is worthless if there are no readers. But, you add caring people into that mix and extraordinary things can happen.
If you want to see some wonderful marketing magic take place, bring caring people and social media tools together.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 23, 2009 11:59 am | | re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | So you agree, a Poken is useless until it reaches the tipping point, and it can't do that because it has not reached the tipping point.
Or are you saying we should all care about this product and just buy it. If so, then the same should appply to my jewelry. Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 23, 2009 8:12 pm | | re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | I interviewed Chris Garret, who just wrote a Ebook for Wordtracker, on Blogging for Business. You can buy it on the Wordtracker site. Use my 'no' code and pay the same price everyone pays and I get no commision. Any how I asked him about Poken, since he lives in London. He never heard of it until last week at Blogger World in Vegas. A few people were running around with them I asked him what he thought and amazing, these were his views. 1) Cute 2) Great fo social settings for younger kids or for a frat party 3) Would rather see it on his phone if it worked well.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 24, 2009 1:58 am | | re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
You could attach a Poken to a phone. Just get some velcro. However, it would probably be better to attach a Poken Pulse to a cell phone than a regular Poken, just for appearances sake.
The idea behind using a Poken at a conference is obviously to collect contact information and brand conference sponsors at the same time with those attending the conference. To do this efficiently, each Poken should be worn around the neck. You don't want to put a Poken in your pants or shirt pocket. You need to wear it around your neck. That way, it is very accessible for "Poking" another Poken. Just as there is a lifestyle associated with a swimsuit, there is a lifestyle associated with a Poken.
What the folks in Switzerland are doing is connecting a lifestyle to a device. Apple Computer has done the same thing with its Apple Stores. Even the Apple keyboard is different from the Windows keyboard for a reason. They did not have to make it different. They CHOSE to make it different. I have yet to see a PC encrusted with jewelry. But, I see iMacs encrusted with jewelry all the time. Does a computer need to be encrusted with jewelry to work properly? Of course not. But, seeing a computer encrusted with jewelry does send a very powerful visual message. It's attractive. iMacs are attractive on purpose...not by accident. And, the Poken lifestyle that is being conveyed from Switzerland by such folks as IBM is no accident, either. It's a very clever design.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 24, 2009 2:31 am | | re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Lamar, Why on earth would I attach it to my phone. And why does it matter where it was invented? You reaaly think people in suits will wear it around tehir neck on along chain to touch each oteehrs Poken?
I can just see the law suits now. You keep selectively comparing ideas, but what you really are doing is telling people you do not have a clue about marketing. Shame, you have good ideas, just can not execute them Work on that.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Oct 24, 2009 3:10 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Look, the guy you interviewed said he wanted Poken on his phone. I was simply responding to your interviewee's own comment. If you want the Poken ON your phone, what does that mean? It means being on the outside. If he wanted it on the inside, why didn't he say that? We are not mind-readers here. Don't blame me for what your own interviewee requested.
Maybe he meant he wanted the technology incorporated inside the phone. If that is true, he is still going to want to touch other phones in some fashion with his phone. He's still going to "poke." So, I guess that means he is in favor of "poking." Correct me if I am mistaken, but I felt you were opposed to the whole idea of poking. You are not open to the touch technology idea. You favor the hassle of traditional business cards. After all, you own a scanner. However, most people do not own a scanner and do not want to fork over the money to purchase one.
Yes, I think people will wear a Poken around their neck. I used to go to a mixer in Atlanta where people stood in line to register and be given a sign to wear around the neck. Wearing something around the neck is not a problem for most people - especially at a conference or convention. Trust me. However, what is a hassle is having to constantly take something out of your pocket and then put it back.
You can go to Pokenize and watch a Slideshare slideshow where IBM itself instructs you on its use of Pokens. Do you think IBM knows a thing or two about marketing? After all, that conference was their show. They chose to use Pokens. Could it be they chose to use Pokens because they saw real value in the device? Or, do you see Pokens as a tool that is only going to be of value to big business? Maybe you see it as a product that is too sophisticated, too complex, for the small business entrepreneur? Well, I want you to know, I think a Poken is a tool from which every business person can receive benefits. If you are tired of manually inputting contact information into Microsoft Outlook, if you like the idea of branding your business by sponsoring events...you need to get on the Poken bandwagon. Use a Poken yourself. Buy Pokens in bulk together with other sponsors of events and benefit from the resulting branding effort. This is not rocket science. But, it is something that takes forethought, design and planning.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Oct 24, 2009 3:21 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Apple iPhone | # | Scott Wolpow | | Lamar, It was clear that I meant the ability, which the Iphone does have. It can transmit all the data you select via Bluetooth. You could also transmit the app. But people do not use it, why?
I cannot see execs with Pokens around their neck.But keep us informed how many pokens you interact with each week.
Walter and I will let you know how cards we give out and recieve.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Nov 05, 2009 1:33 pm | | re: Poken vs. Motorla Cliq | # | Scott Wolpow | | A much better comparison as Motorola adds MotoBlur on their phones. This software corrals social networking information. I was also at a new potential client. They are investment bankers. They had just come from a conferance of very high level executives. I described the device and asked them would they use it. The answer NO. They said it would be uncomfortable touching the devices and the Asian partner stated it would never fly in Japan's business culture where personal space is highly respected. Lamar, how many Pokes have you gotten since you got the devices? Poking yourself does not count.
http://www.slashgear.com/motorola-cliq-and-motoblur-review-1460451/Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Nov 05, 2009 4:53 pm | | re: re: Poken vs. Motorla Cliq | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
How does the iPhone or Motorola app work in transfering contact information? If it is a Bluetooth deal, I doubt there is any "touching" between phones involved. However, in a business networking setting, one thing I believe that is important is physical interaction between people. The Poken approach is very simple. Two devices touch and light up. The transfer of data is done. With the phones, there is no touching. There is no novelty. There is no "fun." A business networking event should should be interesting. It should be fun and enjoyable. The Poken is a conversation piece that helps "break the ice." But, it also serves a very real and important purpose.
Remember, you are the one who said "Twitter is just a fad" - despite the fact it is growing exponentially every day. Do you think "social media" is just a fad, too? I think social media is changing the way the world works. If that is true, we all need to change along with it. Otherwise, we get left behind.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Nov 05, 2009 5:26 pm | | re: re: re: Poken vs. Motorla Cliq | # | Scott Wolpow | | How do they work? No idea have not looked into it. My guess is either bluetooth or a web based API.
EXcept for handshakes I never see much physical contact at business events. Perhaps in your area it is differant. How many contacts have you made so far with your PoOken?
Business networks do not need to break the ice. You say Twitter is growing exponentially every day? What is their growth rate? How much money is being generated by small business owners?
Social media is not a fad, because we are social animals. I do think there is a limit to how many groups you join. One must find teh best return for time inputed. Remember I am only talking about serious business people who are using this to build profitable businesses. People who are just having fun have a differant measurment of success.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Nov 06, 2009 5:53 am | | re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Motorla Cliq | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Just as an observer, here's what I see. I see the way the world works changing. Just tonight, I got emailed a press packet by the local daily newspaper, the Lake County Record-Bee. Why send me a packet when I am not an employee of the paper? Because they want me to write a press release for my own event. Why would they even make such a request? Because they don't think they can get the reporter who actually covers such events for this area to attend my event. They also want me to send a picture. They are actually requested that I write the article and take the picture for my own event. They want it in their paper that bad, but cannot get anyone who works for the paper to show up on a Sunday.
I am old enough to recall that if you wanted to get an event covered by the newspaper you contacted the newspaper and requested a reporter. Back then a newspaper would never contact you and request that you write your own article and send your own picture for the benefit of the newspaper. But, you see, things are different now.
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Nov 06, 2009 12:16 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Motorla Cliq | # | Scott Wolpow | | Lamar, What does that have to do with anything? Why do you always avoid direct questions?
I ahve asked you twice now, how many Poken contacts have you made since you got them?
Last night I attended one of my monthly events. These are all cuting edge tech people. Not one of us has a Poken. I will be interviewing the founder of thrillist adn others with social networking sites. What does Poken plan to do about them?Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | Nov 10, 2009 7:28 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Motorla Cliq | # | Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
For all I know, I am the first person in all of Lake County to own a Poken. And, I own two so I can demonstrate how they work. I did that very thing yesterday at debut of the county first "handsp-on" workshop regarding social media. Want to learn more about the workshop? Go to Lake County Social Media Workshop.
There are more than 30 online networks that work with Pokens. But, I do know some of them - Twitter, Skype, Friendster, hi5, flickr, facebook, Google Talk, Orkut, Ning, bebo, LinkedIn, Yahoo, Xing, myspace. Listen, if your IT experts can benefit from spending time on any of those Social Media sites just mentioned, they should own a Poken to virally spread a message. Make sens?
Lamar Morgan CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing (707)709-8605 Need PR?...Call Lamar! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | Nov 10, 2009 1:23 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Poken vs. Motorla Cliq | # | Scott Wolpow | | No it does not make sense. Owning a Poken does not imbue you with the knowledge. It would be a fair statement that so far owning a Poken has resulted in zero contacts. Meanwhile in the same time I have traded 20 business cards and have had no need to learn of what socail networks tehy belong to. Why? I have their email, what else do I need? But my Quantacts system will have room for social networks.Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | |
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