Business Cards Go Digital
November 3rd, 2010 | Small Business | No Comments »How many business cards do you have floating around in your desk drawer or purse? Have you ever lost important contact information because you could not locate that little card? Well, in a time when just about everything is going digital…why not business cards?
Have you ever heard of Poken? Well if you hadn’t already heard of Poken, then it was only a matter of time before you did. TechCrunch Europe recently named Poken in the Best Real World Gadget of 2009. A Poken is a thumb drive designed to replace traditional business cards. The Poken is described as a “social business card” that people can access online. Users are encouraged to attach their Poken to their keychain or to keep it in their pocket. Poken users can connect with other Poken users by simply touching their Pokens together. When the two Pokens touch, they exchange contact information. The idea is that a Poken can eliminate the need to carry around a stack of business cards. The Poken stores contact information for you, easily and compactly. The Poken is “one home for all your connections and all of their information”.
There are many Poken designs to chose from. Some resemble little animals, others have fun designs. The PokenSpark collection glow green when they touch other Pokens. The glow is meant to resemble “that flash of emotion and excitement” that come from “connecting with people”. The PokenPulse collection is more “sleek & sexy” with the “jet black and white trim”. If you visit the Poken website you’ll discover a whole world of Pokens. The idea is that users pick the Poken that reflects their unique personality or style.
Personally, I am a little disturbed by the PokenSpark that is desiged to replace that feeling that comes from connecting with people. On the other hand, I like the fact that digital business cards are greener than their paper alternatives.
So what do you think about Pokens? Will they be successful in the United States? Would you consider purchasing one? Do you know anyone who has already purchased a Poken?
