If I Owned BrightKite

November 11, 2008 · Comments

BrightKite I see such potential in BrightKite, after using the iPhone application. The website is nothing nearly as nuanced and obvious. In fact, it’s fat and bloated. I’d strip it now that I’ve used the iPhone app. I’d make it closer to the experience that is so simple. (I understand the difference. The iPhone, by providing location information, makes the value far more obvious.)

If I owned BrightKite, I would make it an (the!) information resource for the annotated world. In fact, that’s where the real gold is. The marketplace of information this tool can provide is where the magic lies.

If I owned BrightKite, I would sell information access into Yelp, and I would build bridges to Google Maps. I would encourage the use of BrightKite for everything from geocaching to shopping to group gatherings. What better way to empower flash mobs?

Why this application? Why not? Should Google buy BrightKite as the ultimate UI for annotating their maps?

I’m watching you, BrightKite. I’m thinking long and hard about how this application can do more for businesses, for nonprofits, for humans in need of guidance through a secret world. I’m seeing linkages to several applications, to several other data stores in need of shaping.

And I’m challenging you to think of other ways that information untethered from the web as we think of it could serve us. Did you not realize this as yet another part of the post media world? Is this not the web cast free of our office spaces?

Don’t you dare start by envisioning marketing opportunities messing up this information flow. Instead, think of what would exist beyond marketing, in the marketplace itself. What would come first? How could we educate? What would history lessons look like through a mobile browser? How will we take the tattered web back to the larger screens, and then back again, in ways that add to it all?

What say you?

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  • It definitely makes sense what you're saying Chris. I use Bright Kite a lot and the problem is since many of my friends in the area don't my timeline seems to be pretty empty. If it was more (like you suggest it to be) I'd probably use it more often.
  • Ok ok ... now you hace convinced me to go start checking out this app.

    So what do you tell people that think you are crazy for doing all these things to 'tell people about your life'?

    Reason i ask, is because i love it ... and love what BrightKite is all about ( I've been using whrrl ), but most folks i deal with at work, home, church, play dont get it?

    How does all this 'apply' to the world out side of New media?

    I know this is slightly off topic of BrightKite specifically, but i'm thinking more about wide spread use of these applications in relation to the rest of the world using them and finding value?


    --
    http://twitter.com/franswaa
  • Chris, I'm really glad to see you wrote an article about this after your Tweets the other day. I have been thinking about it a lot as well after our brief exchange.

    BrightKite is a brilliant idea, but like you say only for mostly the mobile world, specifically the iPhone world. I have an LG Voyager, and would never want to have to access my mobile browser just to update my location on BrightKite. If I had a phone with applications akin to the iPhone however, I would update almost constantly.

    Some of my friends have even taken the time to delete their accounts on BrightKite, citing how much "epic failure" it is. On that note, the people over at BrightKite should really get moving on this before somebody else steps into the picture.
  • Absolutely agree Chris...there's SO much potential for something great, but at the same time there's potential for mis-use.

    Remember facebook's beacon?

    If used correctly and tied with other applications, this could be amazing. Imagine having your GPS not take you to a specific address but to a specific person? It's endless...

    It's the end of 'Hide and Seek' though :(
  • Well said Chris! I agree that the Brightkite iPhone app has made Brightkite seem a lot more useful to me. I've even started to use the service a lot more myself. It's really ashame that so much potential shines through the iPhone app rather than the website itself. I think the website is quite the opposite for me, a little too plain for my tastes and just doesn't offer me much compared to the iPhone app.

    Bridging gaps with other services would be great. I would love to see Yelp or a similar service integrated into Brightkite! It's already building bridges with Maps on the iPhone, but it would be great to see this taken elsewhere.

    I can't wait to see where Brightkite takes things. It's definitely a service to look out for.
  • I love BrightKite (and use it on my iPod Touch when I'm around wifi, sms when I'm using just my phone).
    I love the way you're thinking about it's amazing possibilies.
  • Thanks for expressing some of the thoughts that have been in my head. Yes, there's tons of potential with Brightkite. I feel like such an early adopter, since few of my friends are on right now.

    If owned Brightkite, I would communicate more via their blog about what they're doing; I'd also iterate more quickly with the website and the iPhone application. Every have location services turned off and try to use the Brightkite app? It's not pretty.
  • Right on!

    Now, if B-Kite would just develop a Blackberry app that rivals the iPhone app. Check out the Get Satisfaction conversation on this. ( http://is.gd/6ZQa )

    Don't people understand the marketshare of the Blackberry?

    Oh, and while I'm ranting, Verizon: let my GPS go! Give my GPS access to 3rd Party apps!
  • Chris, excellent points, points that we are thinking about and acting upon. Just wanted you to know that we're listening.

    Martin
    brightkite.com
  • Instead of just blogging about your fantasies and ideas maybe you should try approaching the owners of Bright Kite as a salesperson and pitch these ideas to them. After all you do have good name recognition it seems in the blogosphere. Your ideas are golden so pursue them before someone else does.
  • @Freddy looks like Brightkite's already listening (see response from Martin May). The power of the blogosphere!

    I have been a fan of Brightkite from the beginning but until I started using the iPhone app I didn't really "get it".

    My timeline is a bit boring too, but such is the plight of the early adopter. Imagine Twitter with only 100 users - wouldn't be all that exciting either.

    If BK plays it smart and listens to their customers I think that they have the potential to turn this application into something very worthwhile.

    My gut says they are going to do it.
  • Chris I agree with most of your points about Brightkite and it will be interesting to see what happens to Brightkite once it comes out of private beta.

    I had chance to talk with the founder / CTO Martin May of Brightkite for a podcast. He talked about the future of location based services and the what's next for Brightkite you can check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/5sp8dz

    You can find me on Brightkite here: http://brightkite.com/people/waynesutton
  • Hey Chris,
    As a BK early adopter here in Australia, I am taking great pride in checking in to my favorite places and posting tips, like favorite menu items and good drinks.

    I work in the Arts and I find BK a perfect vehicle to host photos of the installations that I assist on the installation of. I like to think of it as a location based history book.

    I would like to see the ability for people to rate posts at a certain location, so that the higher rated posts can appear when you check in.

    also looking forward,

    Cheers,

    Geordie
  • @Martin - I knew you'd visit. I'm glad you're listening.

    @Freddy - I have no time to pursue every idea and dream that I want. I'm in the army raising business now. My job is to set as many hands to work as I can, while working on the larger story. Thus, by conveying my wishes here, perhaps Martin and team will run off and make the world bigger.

    Make sense?
  • George Brett
    I'd like to see BK use location detection even for Gen 1 iPhone like I have instead of trying to bang in addresses I don't know. Last week I tried using it while driving from Falls Church, VA to Birmingham, AL. Bristol, Virginia popped up as Bristol, England, UK. I bet my BK buddies wondered how I crossed the Atlantic so fast. Oh well.

    Thanks Chris!! Glad @Martin is reading along too.
  • Checked it out, and yes its an excellent idea. Btw, there should be a way for BK to bridge into Twitter -- the Twitter app called TwitterLocal offers a similar vision for Twitter users.
  • @Ted:

    You can tie BK into Twitter (I think it's in their options). When I check in/post a note/picture it automagically updates twitter for me.

    I wasn't a fan of BK until I got an iphone (about two weeks ago) and now it's so damn easy to use, I can't help not checking in everytime I move 30 feet.
  • does BK 'know' your location via WiFi or do you have to update manually?
  • I have the same problem as Samir. :(
  • Great post. I interviewed BKite recently (post here: http://www.michaelmyers.biz/CRUCES/the-kite-is-...) and I agree that they are perfectly positioned to help create the annotated world.
  • One thing businesses should be doing to help users leverage BrightKite, is making sure their address is visible.
    (If it's easy to check-in, people will do it more often.)
  • Good points. I've been using Brightkite for some time, mainly struggling using the mobile website on my Blackberry.
    It works but is *far* from a nice experience.

    I think in order to push forward, brightkite need to focus more of their time at developing as many mobile apps for different platforms as they can.

    In my opinion brightkite really starts to shine when its used whilst mobile, in order to do that we need applications to run on our mobile phones.

    Using brightkite whilst tethered to your desktop or laptop is not where the future is for it, lets get it out there and have more mobile apps....please :)

    Oh and whilst I remember the Blackberry is next on the list /nudge!
  • Me, I'm working on voice notes for Brightkite. And I wish there was a way to share placemarks. The more I think of it, placemarks are like tags, and we all know how Web 2.0-ish tags are.
  • Kendall
    For those not using Brightkite because friends are not on it - I suggest you read this article again, and think harder about what you can do beyond just looking in on what friends are up to. Early Brightkite users have the awesome advantage of being some of the first to add remarks to locations they enjoy - I've posted notes around restaurants I like, or other places I enjoy visiting. The next time a Brightkite user visits Escalate, they will know here to eat..

    It's also really interesting to look at the Nearby stream for wherever you are, and see what others have said about the area... when I was recently visiting New York, I found there was a Stereolab concert (a band I used to really enjoy but had not kept track of for many years) that very evening near my hotel. I couldn't go as it turned out, but wandering across random discoveries like that based on your locations is much of the fun of using Brightkite.
  • Chris,

    Not to be disrespectful, but your pundits stance is missing a very important point. Brightkite is a business. The cold hard fact is that these smaller mobile LBS startups must find short paths to revenue. I doubt that Yelp (who has of yet nailed a monetization strategy) is the way to go.

    It is easy for you to sit back at your desk spurning Martin & Brady to find a way to use their tool to the betterment of society. I am sure they would be open to that if you would either:

    1. Lead a series A for them and explain to the VC community why a business model is not necessary as yet
    or
    2. Hook them up with Google/Microsoft/Yahoo for an aquisition exit.

    I think Martin and Brady are working very hard to survive in this climate. I also think they are very grateful for the press you are giving them. If you must give them feedback please do it in mind that our little startups need to find ways to make money otherwise we will all go hungry.
    redg-
  • I've been on the fence about using BrightKite. I have an iPhone, and I see the app available for download, but I was unsure if it was worth a spot on my phone. Since you seem to enjoy it so much, perhaps I will check it out.
  • I'm a recent "so-so" fan of BrightKite. I'm running it on my iPod Touch and it seems to be working just fine with the exception of the occasional glitch when attempting to find my location. I've set it up to post to twitter, I think that's one of Brightkite's best features. During my daily travels I pretty much frequent the same routes & locations, so the whole "Check-In" thingy can be boring or redundant to others who might follow me. I find it more fun to only check-in when I'm somewhere I've never been, and sometime I'll even add a photo. The whole community aspect of Brightkite is a stretch for me because very few people here in South San Jose, CA seems to be using this app. Commenting on or following other users movements 3000 miles away or even as little as 45 miles away is pointless. I guess this app needs more time to build out it's user base in non-heavily populated area (unlike San Francisco CA).

    Having unlimited access to GPS makes this app a must have for any iPhone owners but iPod Touch users are limited to searching for wifi hot spots just to check-in...it quickly become a chore. I plan on keeping it for occasional use.
  • Brendan
    great article, chris.

    but what if you owned zhiing???
  • @Redg - perhaps you misunderstood. I love the product. I think it's great. If I had loot, I'd buy it.

    How to fund BrightKite or get it acquired? If I'm google, I don't buy it because I can clone it poorly within a few months of buckled down work, and then I'd have it married to their already huge maps platform. So no.

    Acquired by another company is much more likely, and if I were a media company, like Gannett or Hearst, I might give it a look as part of a larger content strategy.

    Why did I write about the ways in which it can be used in a less-business-focused way? Because that's how I'm using it right now. I'm not sure that there was anywhere on my blog that I intimated that I wanted to recommend how businesses get purchased. I'm in the human business, most especially the humans-talking-via-technology-business-in-meaningful-ways-business.

    If it didn't come through that I love what Martin and team have created, I've failed only in being clearer. I love the app with the iPhone UI on the front end. The web side? Not so much. The PREMISE of what this can do?

    Kendall was right. I'm not talking about this as some other "find your friends" platform. This, to me, is a tool to annotate and bring a platform of floating data to location-aware browsers.

    Regarding my pundit status, my goal is to turn our thoughts on their side and figure out new ways to approach things. I won't be stopping that any time soon, company-agnostic.
  • I only just now downloaded the zhiing app because I'm evidently down the street from the company.

    Will there be a glut of startups trying to crack the location/annotation code? Yes. Definitely.
  • I downloaded Brightkite a long time ago and decided it was too much trouble to check in everywhere, and too public (even for me) to list my home address. So I'm just a sporadic user.
  • Kendall
    @francine: You can (on the website) set a specific location (placemark) to be private, and any checkins/posts/comments that happen around that location (you can also set a radius) will automatically be set to private even if you are in public mode. So you would create a placemark with your home address and then set the privacy around that (as well as work or other places you only wanted friends to be able to see).

    As a user one thing I really like about Brightkite is that they have thought very carefully about privacy and there are a lot of controls around this you can make use of.
  • Chris,

    The mistake was mine. I should have centered in on one big issue I had with the post. Your ideas don't realistically help BK survive... Delivering content for non-profits/smbs/people without a large war chest is fanciful. I agree mobile content delivery is a business strategy. I have the Report for juniper that states UGC is a 5 billion dollar business. I will also agree that one day this could be a valuable market place, and in a vacuum your idea is solid.

    However we don't live in a Vacuum. Brightkite doesn't have the cash-flow to wait on your market "suggestions". Loopt with their latest 13 million is attempting to raise another round because they can't wait for this model either. Your "pundit" status is well deserved (seriously I'm not being sarcastic). I just think it would be a mistake at this time for these guys to listen to this "noise" of applying their product to the greater Social Media World for Good.

    How bout a post that takes into consideration the real situation for Bkite. Guys you only have XXX in the bank, you don't have enough to monetize two years from now, no VC is going to give you money with the product as-is today. Here's three steps Chris Brogan would take to help calm that Ulcer in your stomachs and put coins in your coffers..

    *note Your flattery of their product makes it all the more dangerous*
    Brady Martin Focus on making money in the now fellas. Later on we can build something good for the people. Otherwise, save your code, close up shop, tell everyone to piss off, and all of us little startups can go live on an Island together called Deadpool...
  • @Redg I think what BrightKite is doing is spot on. Build a product people will love, with a solid API and community support. Worry about money now isn't the end all. What is the end all, is what you suggest, screw the product make a cheap buck.

    BrightKite has a very bright future. A very passionate small team has produced this amazing app, and will continue to make smart choices with their product (and yes, building a business is part of it).
  • Brightkite brings a new paradigm in the way we have interacted with webservices .. Search was/is big way we interact with webservices..

    Brightkite changes that paradigm (Like Google maps) from a search paradigm to a "Around me" paradigm!

    Imagine the possibilities if one can filter the results around us by what we want and whats available ..

    Excited by the future ahead..
  • Yelp definitely needs some sort of decent mobile experience, so marrying its content w/ BrightKite's location services would be great.

    Be careful what you wish for re: a Google takeover. Just look at the wonders they have done for Jaiku.

    The iPhone is not nearly the only mobile device out there. The first company that realizes that Nokia, Samsung, and LG are all making first-rate mobile devices with GPS, webkit enabled browsing, etc. and designs a decent mobile app for all these devices will topple its competition.
  • Oh, and does anyone else find it funny that Brightkite is unavailable at this time?
  • Ronit
    Yes, we think alike.
    I'm trying to explore the possiblilties that social networking type sites have....
    :-)
    -Ronit
  • I prefer BrightKite to Twitter. To me Twitter is What are you thinking. Brightkite is Where are you, What are your doing and What are you thinking?
  • Shelia
    I prefer Zhiing because you don't need to join a network or anything - it's direct and simple. You can use it from your browser to send locations to yourself or someone else for a meet up. Alot of stuff to try in the app store but this is simple and direct.
  • I echo all your thoughts Chris, I had a similar "wow" moment about BrightKite a few months ago - it is an amazing platform and the iPhone app really shines. If I had the loot I'd go halves with you!
  • Chris, I've been using this for a while now and I get it...
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