Sprint PCS subscribers using specific Sprint PCS Vision handsets are able to view images on their phones from their own Webcams or other public Webcams, Sprint has announced.
Subscribers will pay $4.95 to use the services of Earthcam, that offers Earthcam Mobile.
I wrote about this concept five months ago and, frankly, I still see it -- today -- as serving a very small market that's willing to pay for such a service.
I'm sure some people would pay to view images of their children, house or pets. I can also see using Earthcam Mobile for corporate/political purposes to keep track of activities. Perhaps it also might be useful to view traffic in real time, if there are Webcams that are relevant to your travel plans.
The immediate business case?
It's not that there aren't applications, but I don't think there are enough useful applications for enough people to create a viable business, at least in the near term. If I'm missing something about the value and business viability, I'd love to read your comments.
Perhaps I'd just better request a briefing from Sprint and/or Earthcam!
Why don't they just turn it around and turn a mobile into an instant webcam? We've tested it, it can be done and it would add a whole new dimension to webcamming.
Posted by: Dennis | Monday, August 30, 2004 at 11:09 AM