WebSite Watch 4
The following web startups have either remarkable originality, demonstrate a relatively new use people are finding for the web, or are predicted to fail in my opinion.
FixMyMovie (www.fixmymovie.com) Software originally designed for security and traffic cameras can now be used for pictures and videos taken on mobile phones, digital cameras, and webcams. Using patent-pending technology, FixMyMovie improves overall resolution and softens pixilation on even the worst pictures and videos. One-click MotionDSP, the technology used in de-pixilation has already drawn attention because of it’s ease of use. CEO Sean Varah got help from VC capital; the amount is unknown. This type of service will find special attention I think, on social networking sites; clarity of everthing from avatar pictures to YouTube videos can now be maximized. Taking only minutes, who wouldn’t want a clearer image or video?
VoSnap (www.vosnap.com) On July 23rd, a startup conference was hosted in Denver, Colorado. The goal of the meeting was to come up with a functioning web-based business by the weekend’s termination. 70 founders did just that and today, VoSnap is a functioning website. As a polling site, VoSnap makes the decision of an individual a group matter. John asks, “Should I get drunk on my flight to Miami?” 100% of replys agreed he should. The site content hasn’t changed since inception so little growth can be expected. This site does, however, go to show what can be achieved in a weekend. With a simple idea, the right programmers and a user-friendly design, advertising revenue could be just around the corner. There are many directions this site could be taken. For one, I’d like to see a brief circumstance included with each question, e.g. “Given that I have a business meeting 3 hours after my flight lands in Miami, should I get drunk on my flight?” It is likely that this site will go the way of most internet startups but the fact of what can be accomplished with little planning remains.
Pudding Media, Inc. (www.thepudding.com) This California company is launching a new internet phone service with one interesting point; it’s free. San Jose residents will get unlimited minutes and texting privileges in exchange for their consent to be targeted by ads. Using voice recognition programs, Pudding Media will target ads at users based on what they’re talking about. There is a positive relationship between technology and intrusiveness, be it advertising or something else. As technologies progress thus does the ability of advertisers, or others, to creep further into the privacy of consumers’ lives. The success of this service will depend largely on tolerance.
Blyk (www.blyk.com) Blyk easily one-ups the creativity of Pudding Media. Only in the United Kingdom for now, Blyk gives those aged 16-24 217 free texts and 43 free minutes each month. A free network SIM card is also included. Blyk finds brands that want to talk to its users and charges them to send messages to that network. In exchange for viewing the advertising, users get the free minutes and texts. The company will go pan-European in 2008. VCs and other mobile carriers will be eyeing this service closely.
