A software developer opening a brick and mortar store so that he can rent his application might not seem like a great idea on the surface, but the potential revenue was enough for Chris Metts of Slicker Interactive to do just that. Metts is the creator of several virtual tour applications for the iPhone that use the device's location awareness to offer up local content to the user. Currently, the company offers applications intended for tours of Rome, Paris, London, and Charleston, SC.
So where will Metts be opening up shop? The city of lights? The Eternal City? No, the programmer will be opening his doors in Charleston, South Carolina (which, in his defense, has been coined America's Most Historic City). There aren't many details at the moment, but the business model seems to be comprised entirely of renting an iPod touch preloaded with his application to tourists who wish to see what the city has to offer. In addition to audio commentary, the application also offers interviews with experts, photos of buildings circa the 1860s, and video.
Hopefully, the store will be more than just a storefront and will also act as the company's center of operations. It doesn't seem like enough revenue would be generated from the rentals to pay for all the costs involved. Don't get me wrong; I like the idea, it just seems that a historical society would have more foot traffic and be a more logical place for people to look for this type of thing. Further, a historical society could work out contracts with Metts to create similar applications for their cities and then bring in revenue doing what Metts is doing on his own. It does appear that Slicker Interactive has worked with the South Carolina Historical Society in the past, though, so we'll have to see how this idea develops.
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So where will Metts be opening up shop? The city of lights? The Eternal City? No, the programmer will be opening his doors in Charleston, South Carolina (which, in his defense, has been coined America's Most Historic City). There aren't many details at the moment, but the business model seems to be comprised entirely of renting an iPod touch preloaded with his application to tourists who wish to see what the city has to offer. In addition to audio commentary, the application also offers interviews with experts, photos of buildings circa the 1860s, and video.
Hopefully, the store will be more than just a storefront and will also act as the company's center of operations. It doesn't seem like enough revenue would be generated from the rentals to pay for all the costs involved. Don't get me wrong; I like the idea, it just seems that a historical society would have more foot traffic and be a more logical place for people to look for this type of thing. Further, a historical society could work out contracts with Metts to create similar applications for their cities and then bring in revenue doing what Metts is doing on his own. It does appear that Slicker Interactive has worked with the South Carolina Historical Society in the past, though, so we'll have to see how this idea develops.
Source
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