Objects as a Service: Zipcar and Bag Borrow or Steal
Mike Kuniavsky from ThingM Corporation spoke this morning at ETech about merging machine-readable identification with pervasive networking. Kuniavsky said that when a digital representation of an object is accessed through a unique ID, it is the object's "information shadow". Nowadays, he said, these information shadows are attached to just about everything. One of the consequences of this is that the physical object changes to a service. This is another manifestation of the bigger trend of internet connected objects. Kuniavsky outlined a couple of examples of objects as a service in his presentation.
The first example was Zipcar, a self-described "car sharing" service which is being marketed as an alternative to car rental and car ownership. Basically you subscribe to a 'pay as you go' plan or a monthly plan. Available in your own city or any other city where Zipcar is available, you may then borrow a car whenever you need to. In a recent review, The New York Times stated that Zipcar "exuberantly markets the notion that life is better without ownership -- car ownership, at least."
Another example is Bag Borrow or Steal, a "Netflix for handbags" where you can rent designer handbags and accessories. The site was created after the founders asked themselves the following questions:
"Why should women have to endure the emotional and financial sacrifices that accompany the endless search for the "right" accessory for every event, wedding, and dinner party? Why should celebrities, fashion editors, and socialites be the only ones allowed to borrow fashion accessories? Why not give everyone access to the perfect accoutrement for every occasion?"
So these sites are examples of the trend of objects as services, which comes about due to objects being able to be tracked and have their status communicated. 
Kuniavsky said that this represents a "profound shift in our relationships with everyday objects" - how they're designed, consumed, and so on. One example is that if an object is being shared, it can't be personalized. One other issue is that the replacement cycle for shared services tends to be long - which Kuniavsky said may hamper innovation. He used the example of phone companies that used to provide consumers with big bulky phones, to limit maintenance costs and make them last longer. He thinks however that open standards and competing services is an answer to this, as it forces companies to innovate.
Overall, Kuniavsky argued that objects are moving away from an ownership model to a subscription model. The cars and handbags examples above are perhaps an indicator of many other objects becoming services.
Share
Facebook
Comments
Subscribe to comments for this post OR Subscribe to comments for all ReadWriteWeb posts
We should put it right here that exposing Zipcar misdeeds is a near cottage industry. They steal, they fight over refunds, they reinstate canceled card charges. They misrepresent where and when the cars are available,. They lied to me about availability on the Peninsula.
They are innovative, but they have a culture of "the custoner is always wrong".
"One other issue is that the replacement cycle for shared services tends to be long"
The sellers' aversion to upgrading the products it rents will be canceled out by the renters' desire for newer products. When everything is rentable, consumers have less incentive to hang on to obsolete products that they have sunk a lot of money into. Why not upgrade, when you are not very invested in the product you currently have?
@Coleman Very true, but this create opportunity for price differentiation for the rental companies. The same concept of paying a premium for newer good still applies, and there will still be a section of society that is willing to rent the older Mini instead of the newer one if it costs less.
Excellent article.
they are innovative, but they have a culture of "the custoner is always wrong". I think we should be careful
The same concept of paying a premium for newer good still applies, and there will still be a section of society that is willing to rent the older Mini instead of the newer one if it costs less.
The Art of Surprising Her
You both know you love each other — but every once in a while, it's a great idea to mix things up and surprise her with
something that shows just how deep your love and affection really are. Here, some ideas on doing just that …
The last time you did something special for your wife, did she respond with the requisite peck on the cheek and a demure
"You shouldn't have"? Or did her eyes light up with ecstasy, like they did on your wedding day? If you want her to brag
all over town about her man, it's time to get your creative juices flowing.
Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles recently found that 75 percent of women value creativity over
material wealth when choosing a long-term partner. But you don't have to be Baudelaire to prove that she's your muse.
Instead, blow her away with carefully planned surprises to show her the resourceful, inventive guy lurking beneath the
corporate suit.
"Surprises show her that even when you're apart, you're thinking about how to make her happy," says Patricia Potter-
Efron, author of Reclaim Your Relationship. Here are a few new ways to improve your marriage with random acts of
devotion.
Hire a Chef
Call her favorite restaurant — whether it's a five-star eatery or a neighborhood gem — and ask the head chef to pay a
house call on his night off. Enlist one of her friends to keep her out of the house for a few hours, and time it so that
the first course is ready to be served when she walks through the door.
Whisk Her Away
Make reservations for a Friday dinner date with her, and hide an overnight bag in the car trunk (after you've packed it
with her favorite clothes and shoes). For the http://www.max-sky.com/Air_Max_180_TR+.html Air Max 180 TR+ kicker, trick her into finding the hotel key or plane tickets you've
tucked away in the glove box.
Renew Your Vows
You don't have to wait until your 25th wedding anniversary to remind your wife why you love her. Surprise her with an
impromptu ceremony — just the two of you — and commit yourself to each other all over again.
Amazing stuffs, new innovative ideas are seen and the fabric used is much more elegant and stylish.
Hope to see more such stuffs sooner.
The same concept of paying a premium for newer good still applies, and there will still be a section of society that is willing to rent the older Mini instead of the newer one if it costs less.
Lightinthebags.co.uk distribute 7 star (the highest quality grade) replica bags, cheap replica bags.
The heading "Bag Borrow or Steal" was a little confusing for me. Then finally after reading the article I got it. The post is really good.
Bag borrow or steal is a really cool business, and very useful for those who don't want to drop the full price of a bag just to look trendy for a night.
they are innovative, but they have a culture of "the custoner is always wrong". I think we should be careful.
Bag borrow or steal is a really cool business, and very useful for those who don't want to drop the full price of a bag just to look trendy for a night.
The service is a really great idea. There are many women who need the perfect accessory to complement their outfits but don't want to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on designer purses that they may only need for one outfit for one day. Even rented at 5-10% of the retail value is a huge savings.