Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone?...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that...

Using Qik For Instant Live Shopping Assistance

qik
Today I bought a new webcam. Rather, today I actually bought a webcam, as I didn’t have one before. However, I had a problem in that I don’t know anything about webcams, or what to look for in a cam. Nonetheless, I headed up to my local Target, and started looking at the selection. If you’ve not shopped for a mobile webcam recently, there’s several to choose from, and it’s not immediately apparent what the difference between them is, aside from price.

I quickly whipped out my Nokia N95, opened the Jaiku mobile app, and alerted my friends that I was shopping for webcams and needed help, and gave them the link to my Qik account. I was then able to activate Qik and begin streaming video of my possible selections, right there in the store. Anyone who was on my Qik profile was able to watch this live stream, and leave a comment which shows up on my cellphone screen. Through this, I was able to get a suggestion for the Logitech 9000, and the commenter let me know that Best Buy had them on special for $65.

All this, live from my cellphone. The more I thought about it, the cooler and more useful this becomes. Someone should setup a site that does exactly what I was looking for, where I can stream live video as I’m shopping, and live users can participate, helping me shop by offering personal reviews and purchasing suggestions as I shop.

Don’t you think that would be a cool service?

19 COMMENTS

  1. “and live users can participate, helping me shop by offering personal reviews and purchasing suggestions as I shop.”

    Even better, a real-time personalised shopping service so we’d never need visit another supermarket.

  2. This is the only scenario that videocalling is currently useful for, apart from chatting to the kids when away on business: getting the OK from your Significant Other on a clothing purchase!

  3. That is power of internet and new tech media. I am wondering how many of us have been using that way to purchase stuff. I had been using many review sites to find some good products but I always failed. Thanks for sharing a cool tip.

  4. That is power of internet and new tech media. I am wondering how many of us have been using that way to purchase stuff. I had been using many review sites to find some good products but I always failed. Thanks for sharing a cool tip.

  5. I hop they will grow with super fast speed in 2009 because this year is going to do something extraordinary. Thanks for sharing that site because I was not familiar with that.

  6. I agree, that would definitely be an awesome service to have. However, It certainly sounds like you have quite the setup already. Personally I believe you made a good choice with the 9000 as I have played around with that at BestBuy before and from the specifications it looks like a quality & reliable product. It would be interesting to see your opinion after using it for a while. I'll bookmark to check back for updates.

  7. I agree, that would definitely be an awesome service to have. However, It certainly sounds like you have quite the setup already. Personally I believe you made a good choice with the 9000 as I have played around with that at BestBuy before and from the specifications it looks like a quality & reliable product. It would be interesting to see your opinion after using it for a while. I'll bookmark to check back for updates.

  8. Yeah that is right. I think that type of service will be great. I must agree with handi-ramp that i too often fail to find review sites no products i am interested to buy so this type of service would be helpfull.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recently Published

Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an HP LaserJet printer (version 3, if memory serves), I have been printing with an HP. Over the...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone? I'm asking because I'm thinking about what I should be doing. When I was living in Oman, I...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that next to nothing from Mobile World Congress would break through into the mainstream media. I was right,...

How Wireless Will Pave the Path to Neobank Profitability

I'm delighted to bring you an opinion piece from Rafa Plantier at Gigs.com. I think it's particularly relevant given the recent eSIM news from...

An end of an era: Vodafone UK turns off 3G services

I thought it was worthwhile highlighting this one from the Vodafone UK team. For so long - for what feels like years, seeing the...

Mobile World Congress: Did the mainstream media notice?

I resolved this year to make sure I wrote something - anything - about Mobile World Congress, the huge mobile industry trade show taking...