Two of yesterday's exhibitors at DEMO 07 applied the IM behavioral paradigm to digital content delivery. Presuming that users have sufficient control to manage the intrusion of these popup windows - or even better, if these services could integrate into my existing instant messaging software - these services could improve the process of digital consumption.
ThePort Network has a social platform that powers branded online communities that include NASCAR and Cox Newspapers, among others. CEO Bob Cramer describes their new offering, blerts, as an "itsy bitsy appetizer of an application" that allows users to "break down the blogosphere into bite-sized chunks." (Or, in less colorful semantics, a "graphics-based RSS alert utility.") Like an instant message, a blert will pop up links in a small window when an RSS feed updates. The service is free to the user. Unless part of a larger, branded offering, the company expects that blerts will be ad-driven, since they can link contextually to feed content.
Preclick provides photo services to consumers through partnerships with Wal-Mart, Costco, and other major retailers. (Hmm...since I've submitted many photos for print through the Costco Web site, I must have used their service. If so, I can say that it worked flawlessly.) Preclick IPM, launched yesterday, is entering the same space as FilmLoop, RockYou, et al. Photos are sent in similar fashion to an instant message, and so they avoid getting dumped into the Preview temp folder with banner ads from your Web browsing. With the company's strong private label business, it likely has an inherent cash advantage over other startups and therefore it's worth keeping an eye on their performance.
....more from DEMO to come...as always, it's processing overload!
