April 21, 2009
MobileBehavior TV Episode 5: Will Mobile Kill the Business Card?
Technology is changing our professional lives in ways both big and small. The work cycle is now 24/7, meaning a lot of business is done away from the office via web and mobile. As such, our most valuable contacts are often stored in our mobile phone's address book (and Facebook). This led us to ask: Do people still keep a Rolodex? Or will business cards go the way of the beeper?
In this episode of MobileBehavior TV, we explore this topic through an interview with Danny Newman from Contxts and the opinions of PSFK Conference attendees Soraya Darabi (New York Times), Mark Mangan (Flavorpill), Trip Hunter (Renegade), Ruben Sun (PSFK), Francisco Hui, (PSFK), Sean Salmon (Schematic).
Check out the episode here or watch below:
Survey says: Mixed reviews. While some people find traditional cards to be a waste of paper and a bit old-fashioned, preferring to say "Google me" instead, others like the personalization they afford. Mobile versions still have some obstacles to overcome, including:
- Personalization: As small as they are, real business cards give you a big opportunity to show off your personality… something a text message just can’t do yet. But with customizable options like an attachable song, mobile cards could make a real statement.
- Adoption: Before you bury your business cards, more people have to get with the digital business card trend. As with any new technology, the key to being useful is widespread acceptance.
- Universal Functionality: An iPhone app makes exchanging info with a fellow iPhone user easy enough, but does that mean you can't cut deals with a Blackberry user? Mobile business card technologies should reach across multiple platforms.
