Lemme buy you a drink.. from my couch?

Everyone who has a facebook has at one time been witness to the 'gifts' that can be exchanged online. These virtual gifts are more a form of boredom relief than they are an actual gift. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would much rather have a real gift. A service called Bartab thinks so too.

Bartab is part of a larger company (Webtab) that is trying to combine our growing online social lives with our real ones. (in the form of a profitable business of course) Bartab allows a person to choose a bar on their mobile device and purchase a drink for a friend online who also has the service. The receiver simply shows the bartender the receipt screen and the drink is theirs to enjoy. So far it only works in San Francisco, LA, and parts of New York, but is supposed to be supported in 17 other cities in the near future.

Bartab doesn't charge bars for its service and depending on its success will likely be available in many more bars as word spreads. Users get cheap drinks and connections with friends, and bars get new customers at a low cost. It seems that the idea provides a good situation for everyone.

I personally think this is a cool idea. It is a trend that I can definitely see becoming more developed in the future. With how powerful our mobile devices are becoming its no doubt that they are going to be more and more applications like this. Online social networks originally offered a way for people to stay in touch online but ways are being made to take the online connection the to real world. As technology develops it will be interesting to see far this mobile connection will take us. Just as picture phones became standard, so will mobile internet. Soon we won't be able to buy a phone without online capabilities. This constant online connection will create a new real world connection. The possibilities seem endless and if we can keep from destroying ourselves, the future looks like it will be full of cool innovations such as this.

http://bartab.webtab.com/

Kapp, Trevor. "Users of New Facebook, IPhone Application 'Bartab' Can Buy Drinks at Bars via Social Networks." New York News, Traffic, Sports, Weather, Photos, Entertainment, and Gossip - NY Daily News. 11 July 2010. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. .

(image from above)^

Metz, Rachel. "Forget Virtual Gifts; Bartab Says Send a Margarita."Boston.com. 29 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 Sept. 2010.

Hopes For The Future

As technology advances and new technology becomes old technology, I hope that certain marvels such as the internet become thought of as somewhat less of a service and more of a right for all people. As I am currently writing this blog in the basement of the Ireland Building, using the free internet I think of how unfortunate it is that I must pay $250.00 to Comcast for turn my services back on. Internet in the future ideally should be like basic cable.. a low grade form of the internet should be available for free and upgrades.

Not only would this be convenient, it would promote the spread of technology and knowledge in general. Think of everyone having a search engine at their fingertips, or a way to network with people who otherwise would have no voice at all on the web. The internet is a wealth of knowledge that I believe every person should be entitled to for free. This is not the most unheard of proposition either. "Wired Magazine" wrote an article discussing how providing a free service is be profitable for business. If it is possible AND profitable i don't see any reason that free internet shouldn't and won't be a free service in the near future.

Anderson, By Chris. "Free! Why $0.00 Is the Future of Business." Wired News. 25 Feb. 2008. Web. 08 Sept. 2010. .