Keitai

Nokia has finally released CoolZone,

a Bluetooth based end-to-end solution for distributing digital content to consumers’ phones in retail locations. (Nokia)

Dave Stennet of Jellingspot has been working on similar technology for a bit as have the folks at Ambiesense. The general idea is to use Bluetooth servers to provide shoppers and tourists (mostly) with information (map, mall directory, digital brochure), content (menus, catalogues, music samples) and promotions (coupons) that are directly relevant to their location.

What’s missing in this equation is shareable content. Transferring a JPG, SWF (FlashLite) or mp3 to a friend via Bluetooth is ridiculously easy using your average Bluetooth enabled smartphone/laptop/PDA. (And as a bonus it costs nothing.)

Add a Creative Commons license to the content (say BY-NC-ND) and you have content that can be shared legally with little risk. With no derivative works and no commercial uses allowed - all that’s really left is the ability to share. And if what you’re distributing is branded brochure ware or practical information, what could be wrong with free distribution to other **interested parties** (why would I share a map of Siam Square or a coupon for the GAP with a friend if she hasn’t expressed an interest in going to Siam Square and shopping at the GAP.) Then of course there’s all the ‘non-practical’ and potentially viral stuff (music, animation, satire etc.)

[Technical practicalities - the ideal for all of this in my opinion is really FlashLite. Creative flexibility, decent workflow, short development time, relatively easy testing etc.. Now if only someone would release some Flash Lite handsets outside of Japan and Korea....]