211(me) had a wonderful time at the Web Innovators Group event last night.  Robert, Steve, Jeff and myself want to say thank you to everyone that attended and took a moment to stop by and find out more about what 211(me) is all about.

We received some great feedback, met some really innovative and insightful people and made some great connections.  Thanks to Suzi Edwards from WallFly Marketing for a nice review this morning on her blog as well. And to Amanda from Shift PR for coming by and sharing details of 211(me) on her own personal blog.

While we were not given a moment to make an announcement to the whole group, we did want to take this chance to invite everyone to join the 211me mob!  Just text Get 211me to 555211 to join our mob.  (Or, click on the card above and then click Join Mob if you have lost your phone in the cushion of your couch momentarily.) Receive weekly updates with what’s new on 211(me) to your mobile phone, and start creating on our new mobile page - m.211me.com.  Did I fail to mention that?  Yeah - we think it’s pretty cool too.  Check it out.  Create mashups now anytime the mood strikes.

WallFly Marketing

93 South

Social Honeycomb

When you have the opportunity to have good people as your clientele, it helps all around. 

This past week, 211(me) was featured in the Boston Business Journal, focusing on our Green business card product.  We were fortunate enough to have Dan Kuperstein EVP of Globant and Sal Boscarino, owner of District Nightclub, as points of contact for BBJ reporter Jesse Noyes to speak about their experiences with our product.  Both gentleman had wonderful things to say about working with 211(me).  And, we just wanted to take the time to thank them for their time and kind words.

Please feel free to check out the article, as well as the companies these two gentleman work at…

Boston Business Journal (subscription required for full article)

“Card trick: Startup sees traction with e-business cards” article

Globant

District Lounge

I call it Jerry Springer syndrome, though the Springer reference may be a bit outdated, mixed into the realm of quasi-celebrities. People love to watch other people that they think are total train wrecks. There is an entire paparazzi industry based on that sick whim. (And yes, on some level, we are all guilty of it). And in the anyone-can-be-famous TV world of today where so many outlast Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame prediction, quasi-celebrities that just won’t go away seem to be the norm now.

Case in point - Sanjaya. Remember him? The kid with the wacky hair in last year’s American Idol? Well, apparently after the summer AI tour and all opportunities washed up (seems he did not following in his predecessor Mr William Hung’s path of success, performing “She Bangs” at malls across America), Sanjaya disappeared from almost everywhere, aside from the except occasional audience camera shots at this year’s American Idol.

Well, Nationwide Insurance has swooped in to rock him in their “Poke fun at yourself to regain attention” cradle as they have done before. Past fools-rush-in for this commercial appearance have included for ex Mr. Britney Spears Kevin Federline, former romance novel hunk Fabio and “You Can’t Touch This” (No really repo man, please don’t touch this.. please) rapper MC Hammer. The commercial campaign entitled “Life Comes at You Fast” shows how fast the fall from grace can be (and why you need to be insured when you end up back at the bottom of the heap).

And, with the rise and fall of so many quasi celebrities now - it seems this campaign will live on longer than the famed Miller “Tastes Great. Less Filling” debate of retired athletes in the 80’s. My reason for this pop culture diatribe? Because it makes such cool mobile conversation fodder… Pop in the kinda-sorta-celebrity of choice and poke fun all you want. Your friends will love it! Send some to me too… I have developed an unhealthy fascination…

Sanjaya to Mock Self in Ad

Nationwide

Kevin Federline ad

Fabio ad

MC Hammer ad

William “She Bangs” Hung

Sanjaya Fans

This weekend I saw a great sign posted outside a local suburban family-owned restaurant. “Run Matt Run” was posted where you would usually see the daily specials. They must know someone running in the Boston Marathon. I thought it was great for them to dedicate their weekend signage to support a local runner trying to see if he can make it from Hopkinton to Boston on the heartbreakingly long run.

For those who do not know, today is Patriot’s Day here in Massachusetts. It is also marathon day. With the first participants starting off at 925AM this morning, the 112th annual Boston Marathon brings out more than 25,000 runners from across the world. The number of lazy, cheering (and often drinking) souls dotting the sidelines of 25 miles course is significantly more.

With that in mind, I thought quite a number of people must know someone running, cheering, celebrating, or just using today as an excuse to skip work (present company excluded, I’m sure). Why not share a little of your time to support the dreams or once a year foolish revelry of your friends or family with a 211me card.

Above you see what I would send out if I had run. And I truly would run, if I hadn’t once heard that your toenails could fall off from the friction of running the course. Really, that’s why I stay home. Honest.

Declare yourself victorious for having crossed the finish line, or for having found your way home after partying at the finish line waiting for people to run by. Those silver capes they hand out at the finish line are quite fashionable - capture the rapture of the moment with a 211me card. Or, just share the fact that you were at the Red Sox game today while your buddy was still stuck in his cubicle at work. For support, admiration or just to taunt - take a minute to share your spirit with a 211me card today.

http://www.bostonmarathon.org/

Marathon Day Events (Parties)

Red Sox

People still pay for ringtones? Seems crazy to me when you are paying $0.99 for a full song on iTunes that you would pay $2.99 for a ringtone. One service that eliminates the need to give the carriers more money is PhoneZoo. I have used it many times and it is quick and easy to use. The search function is a little clumzy and will improve, but having the ability to make your own is slick.

Stop paying and go to the Zoo.

 Quick Links

PhoneZoo

Rocky

R2D2 and Roy Batty, both created as androids but with wildly divergent results. One a trusted side-kick, with all the answers. The other the intelligent psycho android played by Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner, who kills his maker. Which one will Google’s Android be?After speaking with some folks, lets clear up some confusion, the G-Phone is not a phone like iPhone, but rather an operating system. Google at this point will not be making the phone, they are partnering with manufacturers to use their operating system. It appears that Google has and continues to benefit from this confusion which it helped create.

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer called the Android platform “a mere press release,” which is correct. Understanding the impact on the mobile industry, be it a benevolent “open” platform that helps the consumer or not, is not possible at this point.

Only time will tell. But the new $10 million Android developer competition should help Google’s cause.

Quick Links:

Android

Roy Batty

Blade Runner

Star Wars

R2D2

Google’s Android

Steve Ballmer comments

At the recent Mocollywood event Danah Boyd, the self-proclaimed social networking PHD, inadvertently revealed to a shocked crowd that she was living in the past. Despite all of the current data available on mobile social network adoption rates, Ms. Boyd inexplicably laid out four reasons why social networks would not translate well to mobile:

1) Fragmented Conversations
2) Asynchronicity vs. Synchronous
3) Standardization
4) Anononymity

Although the points were valid in 1993, each one of them appeared to not have any bearing in the present. The whole matter was cleared up when it was revealed that Ms. Boyd was still using a Motorola MicroTac. An audience member quickly handed her a new phone and Ms. Boyd exclaimed “mobile will be huge in 2007,” firmly establishing herself in the present.

Quick Links:

Danah Boyd

Motorola MicroTac

Boston Globe - Mobile Social Networks

1993

Coverage of Danah Boyd’s presentation

211(me) will be presenting at the Hollywood Goes Green event December 11-12 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. I will be there discussing our service 211(me) Green, the eco-friendly business card that reduces paper and helps people make the best first impression.

From the website, www.hollywoodgoesgreen.com “iHollywood Forum makes history with the first conference to specifically address environmental issues in entertainment and related industries.

Hollywood Goes Green will offer industry insiders a forum to collaborate and develop partnerships for a sustainable future. Be part of this historic gathering for an in-depth exchange of ideas and make deals with influencers who share your passion for protecting the environment.

In recent years, Hollywood has significantly stepped-up its efforts and introduced eco-friendly business practices to preserve the environment and eliminate global warming. Changes in the music industry, broadcast development, film, TV and cable programming and everyday business operations now focus on saving green – Mother Earth and money: Going Green 2.0.”
Quick Links:

Hollywood Goes Green

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

iHollywood Forum

Wired has a nice breakdown of household spending and cellular phone service ($455) is just more than prescription drugs ($405). Too bad it is very difficult to read.

Quick Links:

Wired

Wired Household Spending

I never understood people that joined online petitions to save television shows from the network axe. The viewers of Jericho saved it from the dump heap by sending 25 tons of peanuts to CBS. CBS ordered eight more episodes.

Don’t get me wrong, I love television and really enjoy Heroes, Entourage and Color Splash. But petitioning the network, come on, get a life. There will be other shows and you can get most of what you were looking for from another program. And the networks are running a business, if the ratings are not there, pull the show.

But now I am on the other side, Time just does not have it right with the shut down of Business 2.0. There are three reasons.

#1 – The Shareholders, shouldn’t they be upset here? Time reportedly has several offers, but is instead is shutting down the operation. How can that be in the best interest of the shareholders? Isn’t getting something for the subscription base better than folding it into Fortune Magazine?

#2 – Web 2.0. How about little web 2.0 thinking applied to Business 2.0. They should be looking to the very companies they cover for some innovative ideas to increase online readership and lower content costs. Cut a deal with a social network or two, open up aspects for user generated content with a wiki, or build a widget, come on doing something!

#3 – No where else. I say this all because of reason #3, you just can’t get it anywhere else. I have had my subscription for several years and I will not replace it with another magazine. I have not found anything out there as well put together, informative and as readable as Business 2.0. It simply is a great magazine.

But maybe that is its problem, it is simply a magazine. It needs to do more. Time shouldn’t give it more time, Time should involve its subscription base to help evolve the magazine into something more. Redefine the edges of the magazine, expand them and proliferate across the web. But that doesn’t seem to be the thinking at the Time headquarters. For now, maybe some peanuts will do. Send a pack to the address below and we can save the best business magazine there is.

Send peanuts to:

Time Inc.,
John Redpath Jr., Save Business 2.0
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Quick Links:
Business 2.0,

Reuters - Time to close, not sell, Business 2.0
Jericho, Nut Job Saves Jericho
86′d, Ideas on the origins of 86′d

Heroes
Entourage
Color Splash