IDEA #26B - Auto Details and Photos to your Cell

By Steve Poland • February 22, 2007

This relates to IDEA #26A. Same kind of premise — you’re either looking at the newspaper classifieds, or you’re at a dealership when they’re closed and looking at a car. You can simply text a code from your cell phone and a reply message comes back to your phone with photos, videos, and/or further details about the vehicle (”cost is… we can get you a lease on it for… auto has X miles…”, etc).

You could even incorporate VXML technology, so that an automated call goes back to the user’s phone with an automated voice message from the salesman at the dealership, providing details about the vehicle — and allowing the user to schedule an appointment to come in and see it, or schedule a time when the dealership should try giving the person a call.

This could also simply be a way to save the auto to your online account, so that next time you’re on your computer, you’d have a reminder with links to photos and videos of the automobile.

IDEA #26C - Job Postings - Details by Voicemail Message This doesn’t necessarily revolve around using an SMS text message, but rather VXML technology. You’re looking through the newspaper job classifieds, or even online listings. A small description of the job is included, but what...
IDEA #11 - Classifieds by Cell - The Long Tail of Used Goods that has yet to Emerge Currently it can take 5+ minutes to list anything for sale online — I’m proposing a process of less than 1 minute … and tapping into the long tail of items in people’s homes that...
IDEA #10 - In-Person Social Networking - Event/Bar Mingling via Cell Result/Solution proposed by this business idea: People will begin interacting with new people, making new friends in person. Some people will find dates or meet others that will end up being very good friends —...
IDEA #26A - For Rent/Sale - View Info & Photos Instantly This is focused and has a simple premise. You’re looking for an apartment to rent, an office to lease, or a home to buy. You’re either standing outside of the property, or you’re browsing your...
IDEA #8 - Anonymous Email Address to Your Cell Simple one-page website — input your cell phone number, select your phone carrier, and choose your own identity (email address) that will allow you to receive text messages to your cell. As of right now,...

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Comments

4 Responses to “IDEA #26B - Auto Details and Photos to your Cell”

Chris on February 22nd, 2007 3:12 pm (perm link)

I love the idea of merging different technologies like cell phones and the internet, but I’m not a hardcore programmer, so I’m not sure that there is much I can do.

Anyways, great blog and great ideas.
Jeff on February 26th, 2007 3:14 pm (perm link)

Steve - excellent idea. Maybe this should be integrated into my “automotive” search vertical. The hardest part is getting the dealer (or people at the dealership) to do all of the work. The companies best to migrate to this type of platform are the ones alreay on the lots taking the photos (dealerspecialties) or someone who could integrate with the data and offer the text messenger service.
Graydon on March 3rd, 2007 12:08 am (perm link)

I was at Lowe’s the other day and I noticed that on one of the bbq grills there was a number to call to get a narrative walk through of the features on the grill.

In the case of the bbq grill, I can see the benefit. This was a top of the line model with IR heating elements and 6 other burners of varying btu… which, if you know grills, will make sense. BUT, if you are a bbq novice, there just isn’t enough space on the grill to explain why all of this fancy stuff is important to you… and hence why it’s worth the 2x price over the model next to it. Therefore, there is a benefit to having a voice narrative.

In the matter of automobiles… I’m not sure the benefit. There probably is, but I’ll have to think some more.
Techquila Shots » IDEA #35 - In-Store, On-Product, More Information Call / Text on March 3rd, 2007 4:08 pm (perm link)

[...] Techquila Shots reader Graydon just mentioned that he was at Lowe’s the other day looking at bbq grills and that one of them had a phone number displayed on it, so you could get a narrative walk-through of the features on the grill. [...]