vancouver

You might remember our discussions about the user experience research we conducted through mobilemuse, Nokia, and the metrocode application. The research centered around users' responses to sharing information about the sculptures using a mobile device and the cell phone tour.  I posted some discussion at Constructing Amusement about common questions to do with qualitative research in this case as well.

**DISCLAIMER: DON'T TRY THIS WITHOUT FREE DATA KIDS** 

Through circumstances beyond my control I've managed to come into the possession of an N93. So what do you do with unlimited data through WiFi?

It's actually a surprisingly hard question to answer. Data prices in North America are so out of touch with the common student that I admit I was at first dumbfounded. My experience with mobile phones has always been to minimize my data usage to avoid nasty surprises at the end of the month. The experience of trying to use data at first seems forced but quickly becomes very natural. With the typical student mentality of cutting monthly bill costs I found my answer: Make VoIP calls to obscure countries.

With a firm goal in mind, I set about downloading EQO from EQO Communications. A mobile client for internet messaging, EQO also provides mobile VoIP functionality through Skype.

The EQO signup webpage runs you through the typical gauntlet of account creation. You are prompted to enter your phone number and model to receive a text message embedded with a link to download the appropriate version of EQO. My phone soon vibrated as promised with a link to download EQO software for the N93.

Installing the application and firing it up I started to get excited. Skype calls through a mobile phone? Now that's sticking it to the carriers.

Mobile VIFF is up and running now, and it's quite cool. For those who don't know already, VIFF stands for the Vancouver International Film Festival, which opened yesterday. For those who are so inclined, there's a good description of what's going on behind the scenes with Mobile VIFF (and the company responsible for it, Seam Mobile) over at Beyond Robson.

I know we're pursuing "cutting edge" applications for mobile rich media, but don't you like to see something that just works? How about "park by phone" - introduced in Vancouver on June 26th? I take the bus, so I seldom have a need for this, but it is kind of nifty, and perhaps it will be the beginnings of more 'pay by phone' applications like we already see in Europe and Asia (especially Japan).