Zomm Blog

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

The History and Evolution of the Concierge

The general consensus is that life gets more and more crazy and complicated with every passing year and generation. Elders lament a simple time while current technology combats the complexity of life in the 2000’s.  This is our motivation to innovate here at ZOMM and with the recent introduction of the ZOMM Personal Concierge; we’ve decided to take a look at the evolving role of the concierge in people’s lives.

history of concierge

Credit: http://www.casadelfino.com/

Concierge is actually a French word meaning “keeper of the keys” and dates back to the middle ages when concierges would hold the keys to various rooms in a castle and see to the needs of visiting nobility. Through the 19th century, concierges were a common fixture in European apartment, office, and governmental buildings—even prisons.

The 20th century saw the rise of steamships and the development of the modern travel industry. This changed the role of the concierge as vacationing guests looked to the concierge for daily activities, like tours, restaurant recommendations, and a variety of other services.

Interestingly, the concierge concept was not widely adopted in American hotels until the 1970’s. Today, touch-screen kiosks have replaced many hotel concierges, but the human concierge is far from gone.

The ZOMM Personal Concierge functions more like a personal assistant or butler, only it is available 24hours a day, seven days a week. You don’t need to be on vacation either, although the ZOMM Personal Concierge is very useful for recommendations in unfamiliar cities when you don’t want to use the automated hotel kiosk.

Just as we suspected, the role of the concierge has evolved with its consumers since the Middle Ages. It’s not a new concept, but we think the ZOMM Personal Concierge is the most evolved concierge solution for contemporary lifestyles.

How could you use a personal concierge at your service 24/7? 

 

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Four Theories About the Future of Mobile Devices

We recently recounted the top five rumors regarding the next generation iPhone 5. Complete with a rumored Liquidmetal casing, we got to thinking: if five months’ time promises space age Liquidmetal, what will the cell phone be like in, say… 20 years?

Of course, when one considers the astonishingly rapid evolution of the mobile phone in just the last 5 years, these ideas are little more than baseless speculation. Nonetheless, we’ve done a little research and these are our four favorite theories:

  1. One “futurologist” thinks the handsets of today will be deconstructed. One apparatus for touch input, another for visual display, and another for audio. This “complete physical interface” will blur the lines between digital, virtual, and real. Very sci-fi, right?
  2. Our mobile gadgets will be more durable because cloud-computing technology will take the processing strain off the device itself. Product life cycles will be longer and manufacturers will refocus on a more sustainable product experience. Another theorist believes they’ll be bendable and somehow utilize projection technology.
  3. Artificial intelligence will dominate. Think Siri—but better and smarter. These “data guardians” will pick and choose the information that reaches users based on a very intimate knowledge their lives and interests—yes, the kind of knowledge advertisers would kill for.
  4. The user experience will be healthier. New designs will free up users’ aching wrists and thumbs. The artificial intelligence will make the experience more efficient so users will spend less time consumed by these devices. And they’ll incorporate more medical diagnostic hardware so user health will be monitored in real time.

Of course, regardless of its form and functionality, you’ll want to keep your mobile device close at-hand, today and 20 years from now.That’s why we invented the ZOMM Wireless Leash.

What other space age features would you like to see included in mobile devices of the future? 

Friday, May 11th, 2012

5 Apps for the Hearing Impaired in Honor of “Better Hearing & Speech Month”

Impaired hearing affects 14.9% of children, according to the Center for Hearing and Speech, and can dramatically impair language development. Only so much can be done medically for those who suffer, but there are ways to treat and cope. And now, there are smartphone apps to help.

In honor of May’s designation as “Better Hearing & Speech Month,” we’ve compiled a list of great mobile apps, primarily for iPhone and iPad, to help diagnose and treat the hearing and speech impaired.

 

A list of five great apps for the hearing and speech-impaired.

Photo courtesy of freedomscope.com

 

  • Siemens Hearing Test—Do you suspect you may be hearing impaired? This free app tests your ability to recognize words from background noise and compares your accuracy to the average score of normal listeners. Recognizing you have a problem is the first step to treating it. This test can tell you whether or not you should seek further medical attention.
  • Hearing Loss Simulator—Living with someone who is hearing impaired can be a trying experience at times. This app costs $1.99 and can help family and friends better understand that loved one. The app even adjusts the simulation to the degree of their hearing impairment.
  • Speech Trainer 3D—This $7.99 app animates how the tongue, lips and mouth properly move during speech. The 3D demonstration helps the speech impaired practice certain sounds, consonants, and vowels in the English language. A recent update allows you to use iPad and iPhone cameras to film yourself speaking and do a side-by-side comparison to the animation.
  • Eye Contact – Toybox—Previously featured on “60 Minutes” This $2.99 app rewards children for focusing on the human faces displayed on the screen. Maintaining eye contact can be a difficult skill for children to learn and is especially important for hearing impaired individuals.
  • EarTrumpet—Best when used with a headset, the EarTrumpet offers hearing enhancement tools. The $3.99 app was developed by a medical student and applies scientific inquiry and analysis to help the hearing-impaired better understand the world around them. 

These apps demonstrate how modern technology is addressing real human problems. Likewise, the ZOMM Wireless Leash and the myZOMM app could be a great service to a hearing and speech-impaired individual in a moment of panic. The center button can be programmed to call either 911 or a number of the ZOMM owner’s choice when it’s held for a period of time.

How are you observing “Better Hearing & Speech Month”? 

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

Your Personal Sports Concierge!

The NBA playoffs are in full-swing. Our home state team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, has already clinched their rights to round two. Fourteen other teams are still hitting the hardwood in hopes of joining the Thunder in the conference semifinals.

OKC Thunder fans enter Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Photo Courtesy of espn.go.com

 

If you want to go see your team compete in the playoffs, it’s not as impossible as you might think! We created the ZOMM Personal Concierge for things just like this—as a way to help you get into places you normally wouldn’t be able to—and to do it without a headache.

Actually, there are several different sports-related things our Personal Concierge can do for you:

• Find and book tickets to sold out games
• Track down how (and where) to get memorabilia signed by your favorite athlete
• Get you tickets for a VIP party where your favorite player is to make an appearance
• Assist you with the season ticket process for your favorite team
• Find the store closest to you that has your team-themed body paint

No matter what kind of sports fanatic you are, the ZOMM Personal Concierge can help make it more fun. Maybe you already have the tickets purchased, but need help finding parking, making dinner reservations or getting the perfect tailgating spot? We can help with that, too.

So can we get three cheers for the ZOMM Personal Concierge?

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Restaurant Referral and Review Sites: Who Can You Trust?

Last week we learned that 95% of diners use their smartphones prior to dining out. Many of these people are seeking out restaurant referrals. Websites like Yelp and Urbanspoon offer reviews from strangers, Facebook and Twitter offer recommendations from friends, and services like the ZOMM Personal Concierge offer their own expertise.

But how do you choose which referral source to trust? Here is a breakdown of the pro’s and con’s of each:

referrals

Photo Courtesy of Guardian.co.uk

1. User review sites, like Yelp and Urbanspoon, can be a great resource when you’re thinking of exploring a specific spot you’ve never been and need a quick thumb’s up… or thumb’s down. The top 10 lists can be deceiving if you don’t read the criteria carefully and you must consider paid content. Yes, these websites are in business to make money and establishments that pay up benefit from greater control over their reviews.

2. Social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, etc., are great referral resources because your trusted friends are making the recommendations. According to one survey, marketers themselves trust Facebook more for referrals and product reviews than both Yelp and traditional advertising. But this source is not without its limitations—the recommendations are unorganized, random, and what if you’re out of town?

3. The ZOMM Personal Concierge, like social media recommendations from friends, is trustworthy. You’re paying for the referrals—instead of the referrals paying for you. This convenient resource is loyal to you and only you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in the world. You call your concierge, describe your wishes, and the ZOMM Personal Concierge will not only come up with a recommendation, but make the reservation as well.

Which resource do you trust most for referrals?

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

5 Productivity-Inducing iPhone Apps

Life is hectic. Sometimes, in all the chaos, it’s hard to actually get anything done. However, like all things in the world, there’s even an app (or several) for the productivity-challenged. Today we rounded up five iPhone apps that are sure to get you back on the productivity train.

A list of our top 5 iPhone apps for increasing productivity.
Photo Cred: BusinessInsider.com
1. Clear
Keep yourself organized (and therefore more productive) with this list-keeping app. The simple, intuitive interface makes it easy to put things on a list…and check them off when you’re finished.

2. eWallet
These days, life involves a lot of passwords. Nothing slows you down (and frustrates you) more than not being able to login to your accounts because you can’t remember the password. eWallet uses 256-bit AES encryption to securely store your passwords, account information and card numbers.

3. Bump Pay
After a dinner with friends, who wants to take the time to count out (or actually has) the cash to split the bill? With Bump Pay you can easily transfer money from your PayPal account to a friend’s—with a fist pound.

4. Quick Office
Ever wish you could edit documents during the train ride to work? Maybe you need to have access to Word or Excel documents while away from your desk. That’s what Quick Office allows—create, view and edit Microsoft Office files from your iPhone.

5. myZOMM for iPhone
It’s hard to be productive if you can’t find your keys or don’t remember where you parked your car. Pair your iPhone with a ZOMM Wireless Leash Plus and the myZOMM app to get instant alerts if you walk away from your keys. Tag items, such as a parking spot or business, and get instant directions to that location when you’re ready to return.

 The ZOMM wireless leash app for iPhone.The ZOMM wireless leash app for iPhone.

Feeling more productive yet?

What’s your favorite productivity app?

Friday, April 27th, 2012

A Countdown of Our Five Favorite iPhone 5 Rumors

It seems that as soon as Apple releases a new iPhone, the whole world almost immediately begins speculating on the next generation iPhone. What will it look like? What will it do? How soon can we have it? And exactly how much will it cost?

With only five (speculated) months separating us from the iPhone 5, let’s take a look at the top five rumors circulating about the next-gen iPhone, countdown style.

Our next generation iPhone 5 rumor coundown

(Image courtesy of iphone5latest.com)

5. Bigger is not always better when it comes to cell phone technology, but apparently it is with the iPhone 5. Rumor has it the iPhone 5 may feature up to a 4.6-inch screen, compared to its predecessors’ 3.5-inch screens.

4. Of course, better is always better. The new iPhone 5 will supposedly operate on the better, faster 4G LTE network.

3. Bigger, better, and totally different. Some speculate that Apple is testing its iPhone 5 prototypes in the iPhone 4 and 4s case to avoid leaks. They believe the actual iPhone5 will take on a completely redesigned and positively mysterious form.

2. While the screen may be bigger, the docking port may be smaller. According to some speculators, this “miniaturized dock connector” will free up space in the iPhone for “other components.”

Drumroll, please.

1. Our #1 rumor about the iPhone 5 is that it will be made of Liquidmetal! Sounds very space age, right? Liquidmetal or “amorphous metal alloy” is described as a “metallic glass” and should be thinner, lighter, and tougher. Sounds good to us!

Planning on investing in the next iPhone? Don’t forget to protect your investment with a Wireless Leash (and accompanying iPhone app)—because nothing’s worse than a really cool phone…lost.

What’s your favorite rumor circulating about the iPhone 5?

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Smartphones and Restaurants: Taking Your Phone to Dinner [INFOGRAPHIC]

Imagine this: You have a dinner date with friends on a Friday night. You need to decide where you’re going, what time to get there and what to order. How do you decide? Chances are that you’ll use your smartphone to help you make one (or more) of those decisions.

According to research done by Lab42, 20 percent of you will user your smartphone to communicate dinner plans, 19 percent will use your smartphone to find a restaurant and another 20 percent will view a menu on your smartphone.

The infographic below shows these (and many more) facts about how Americans are using their smartphones before, during and after eating dinner out at a restaurant. If you’re planning a dinner date soon, consider trying our Personal Concierge service—they’ll take care of all the details while you play with your smartphone.

Smartphone infographic

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

How Much Does it Cost to Lose a Smartphone?

60 million. That’s the number of phones lost, stolen or damaged each year. If you’re lucky, you’ve never had to deal with the headaches, costs and general frustrations that come with losing a phone. To most people, losing a phone is worse than losing their keys, wallet or car. And when you break down what all replacing a lost phone entails, it makes a lot of sense.

lost smartphone
While the total costs to replace your phone will depend upon the type and the carrier you utilize, it’s not just the money that you have to worry about. Often times our smartphones hold business contacts, bank passwords and even photo galleries. So on top of the nearly $900 dollars it would take to replace an iPhone, you’ve lost valuable contacts, information and memories.

Jeanette Pavini, contributor at Market Watch, shared a story about one of her readers:

“Her iPhone was stolen while she was on public transit. She didn’t have phone insurance, her renter’s insurance didn’t cover the loss, and she was told if she canceled her phone contract, she would be liable for a hefty early termination fee. In the end, she paid a small fortune and learned a big lesson.”

 The lesson learned? Don’t lose your phone! Stories like these are exactly why Laurie and our team created the Wireless Leash—so no one would ever have to deal with the pain and struggle of replacing a lost phone. With our Wireless Leash you can make a one-time investment that will protect your phone time after time.

Have you ever lost your phone? What things did you have to deal with to replace it? Share your story by leaving a comment!

 

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Help with Tasks from the Mundane to the Insane: the ZOMM Personal Concierge

Have you ever wanted your very own personal assistant? Now it’s easier than ever to have one with the ZOMM Personal Concierge.

Your ZOMM Personal Concierge can add time back into your day by handling tasks from the mundane to the insane. From making dinner reservations to getting seats at a sold out show, our Person Concierge is available to help you day or night.

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