Phones These Days ...

I'm a geek, more or less. I'm a technophilia (I just knew that actually is a word two seconds ago). I love the fact that nowadays phones are as handy as ever. Back in the days you'll be using your phone for calling, texting, and probably for playing snake when you're stood up on a date. Now? Now it's different.

Didn't bring your camera? Don't need to, your phone camera's even better than most pocket cameras. On a tight schedule and need to study for a kickoff presentation? Study on your phone on your way there. Feeling like exploring the batcave? Don't worry your phone has a flashlight and GPS.

Oh noes!

However oh so powerful is its omnipotence is it still has its flaw. You know what I'm talking about, its batteries... Seriously phone batteries these days drop faster than some alcoholic on his payday.

This issue is pretty much irritating for consumers. Irritation is bad, ever had one before? Trust me, it's an unpleasant experience. However bad it is for the end users, it creates a demand. A demand for an energy source, a mobile energy source if possible, because no matter how detail of a person you are there are those days when you happen to forget to bring your charger and that day just happens to be the day when you need it most.

Marketers around the world saw this opportunity and, as a marketer should, they use it as much as they can. Then powerbanks started to show up and before you know it everyone around you started to have one and bring one around wherever they bring their phone along, which is everywhere.

The question of the day is however, why stop there?

You see, I own a motorcycle which I happen to not know how to ride it and is afraid I'd crash and burn if I ever dare to try to ride it. However, I need to get to places and when I need to get somewhere without bus access, I resort to taking cabs. Because I'm sometimes a very annoying talkative person I like to start conversations with the drivers, which at that time happens to be the driver of a new taxi company. It's still within the same taxi company of the taxi that I normally take so for starters I had trust in that particular taxi brand.

At first I thought it was the second-line of my regular taxi company, a cheaper version, turns out it was meant to be the premium line of the company. Why'd I assume it was cheaper? Well, basically because it seemed cheaper. The only difference is that they use a Ford while the original armada uses a Toyota, which may be more convenient for the driver but feels like the same as any other taxi for the passenger.

Then I realized, why not add chargers to taxis? Since you know, portable-smartphone-car-chargers (I don't know the right term) is a thing nowadays. What if they equipped each car with those car chargers and with two types of cables, for iPhones and for everyone else (since you know, Android phone chargers are generic)?

I wonder how the customers would feel, since no other taxi has had or did this idea before. I wonder if just by those chargers, the customers would tell their friends and start a chain reaction, or what we call word of mouth? More importantly, I wonder if it's possible that just by adding a simple feature, a charger, it will result in the overall income of the taxi company?

This doesn't just go for taxis, think of airline companies, restaurants, cafes, or any other business venture that requires their customers to wait, what would happen if you add that simple feature? Sometimes the simplest things have the greatest impact. Actually, for marketers usually the simplest things are usually the best.

Anyhow, if you happen to try out this idea, be sure to let me know how it goes for you.