rCard digital business card now available

It's been two years since we first heard about the rCard, but it looks like flash prices have finally fallen enough to make the 1GB "digital business card" actually kind of affordable outside of specialty applications. For about $40, you're looking at a 2 x 3.6 x .17-inch card with a 2-inch screen, two control buttons, a USB port, and a battery that can run for "two hours continuously." That's probably overkill for a basic business card, but CEO IQ says the device is targeted at other uses, like club passes, rewards programs, and, of course, "the ultimate college campus craze." In other news, the marketing department at CEO IQ has apparently never set foot on a college campus. Check the website for the complete hyperbolic video, which touts the rCard as "the most highly anticipated innovation of the decade."

[Via Everything USB]

Read -- rCard press release
Read -- rCard website

[Jesse S @ Oct 17th 2007 9:48AM]

What's the point?

The point of real business cards is to quickly give someone your contact info.

Even if this had wifi or bluetooth or something to interface with other devices, it would still be useless if the person you wanted to give your info to didn't have any of those things.

Seriously, I don't see the point.

[Mr.Tech @ Oct 17th 2007 9:48AM]

Kind of useless to me... what do you guys think?

[Mr.Tech @ Oct 17th 2007 9:57AM]

It might be better if they can install a close range radio frequnce that can exchange data with a single swipe. Since the device barely needs any security programs might as well add one right? (Because all it does is exchange information about business cards!) It's a lot faster than connecting a usb or finding the bluetooth or wifi device and downloading the data.

[besobeso @ Oct 17th 2007 10:01AM]

I thought the ultimate college craze was the combination of binge drinking and date rape. Boy am I getting old.

[kevjohn @ Oct 17th 2007 1:37PM]

Drinking and raping was all the rage when I first hit a college campus nearly 20 years ago, and it's still in fashion nowadays. Can't keep a good frat boy down.

Maybe this thing could become a "college craze" if it dispensed cold beer and condoms.

[paragraph @ Oct 17th 2007 10:03AM]

totally useful! now instead of giving away a piece of paper that costs who knows what i can hand out a $40 card that lasts for 2 hours! AWESOME! ECONOMICAL! TRENDY!

and with 1gb of storage i should have enough room for three phone numbers!

------

really, am I missing the point here? Is this supposed to be given out instead of a card? is it just a really lame PDA? i don't get it...

[blade417 @ Oct 17th 2007 10:08AM]

huh?

[Argot @ Oct 17th 2007 10:09AM]

HI I AM ARGOT AND HAVE NO LIFE

[uberfu @ Oct 17th 2007 10:12AM]

In 90 years when everything is leaning more towards sci-fi style gizmos and every bum on the corner has a minimum amount of some sort of tech - then maybe_

But at the same time - I have to agree with Jesse and Mr. Tech - enough people have to jump on the band-wagon_ Then the method dictates an open access approach to the product so that any company making one allows interaction with any other company's product on the fly_ It has to be quick enough to press the button and forget it_

As a graphic designer - on one hand someone might remeber you a little more 'cause you had an electronic business card - but visually it's crap_

And rather impractical - when I can take my current cell phone and do the same thing via a bluetooth connection to any other phone having a bluetooth chip having a preset Contact File on the ready_

So why buy the extra niche device ? Isn't the point of devices usually to combine features of older individual products - make th3e abilities better and bundle them ?

I can see some device remaing seperate - cameras for one_ No way in hell a professional photographer will let go of his expensive SLR in place of a 1.3 mega-pixel camera phone - no comparison_

But an independant "businesscard" reader which is about as thick as a PCMCIA card - doens't make sense to replace a paper-thin business card_

[Tucker @ Oct 17th 2007 10:17AM]

-Look at that. Picked them up from the printer's yesterday.
-Good coloring. That's 'bone.'
-And the lettering is something called Silian Rail.
-It's very cool, Bateman, but that's nothing. Look at this.
-That is really nice.
-rCard digital business card, the most highly anticipated innovation of the decade. What do you think?

[Jesse S @ Oct 17th 2007 10:25AM]

I love that movie.

[Alex @ Oct 17th 2007 10:43AM]

Try reading the book, there are some parts...that are just really hard to get through.

[AJ @ Oct 17th 2007 1:54PM]

Are you guys talking about American Psycho? I only watched the movie, and although I enjoyed it, I didn´t quite get the ending.

[Mike @ Oct 18th 2007 8:44AM]

He was crazy. it was all in his head.

[Peter Morgan @ Oct 17th 2007 10:21AM]

I think this might the most pointless thing I've seen all year - I even took the time to check out their website, but that didn't support the arguement for this device any further.

[Jim @ Oct 17th 2007 10:38AM]

This would have been very useful circa 1998. Actually scratch that, it wouldn't have been useful even then.

[Ladderless @ Oct 17th 2007 10:39AM]

This is funny... I had a parallel need for this a few months ago (I wanted to flash four photos from my web site www.accessmount.com easily), but for about 50 cents a piece, I was able to do the same thing with a lenticular photo, which I glued to the back of my business card, and also made magnets using business card-sized magnets. In a few months, my supplier will be able to print my business card directly to the back of the lenticular photo (and do it for around 60 cents each).

I like the idea, but I'm not handing out a $40 card to anyone. I agree that a cell phone or PDA will do the job more effectively.

[Alex @ Oct 17th 2007 10:45AM]

If you liked the movie, you'll definitely enjoy the book. Although some parts are pretty freakin' sick.

[ynohtna @ Oct 17th 2007 10:45AM]

Well they say it's overkill for business cards. Depending on how slim this thing is, it will be great for rewards cards and the such... as mentioned in the article.

Every store has their reward cards now and if this thing can show the numbers or barcodes clearly enough to scan, that'd be awesome.

Would I pay 40$ for it though? Maybe if there was a 50% off coupon!

[Alex @ Oct 17th 2007 10:45AM]

damn comments are slow today

[Erwos @ Oct 17th 2007 10:46AM]

You _exchange_ business cards with people. The thinking is, I'm guessing, is that you will come out even in the end. Not sure if I think it's true, but in certain sets, it might be.

[Jeff @ Oct 17th 2007 10:53AM]

What would I use this thing for? Can't we just bluetooth our info to people?

Jeff
http://www.stegdag.com
http://www.bowlofcheese.com

[Anthony @ Oct 17th 2007 11:12AM]

Digital business cards! What will they think up next, pocket PC's?!

[Mikey @ Oct 17th 2007 11:15AM]

PDAs/Pocket PCs have had beam capabilities for years. Plus its possible to get older versions for less than $40. My Toshiba e755 has the benefit of Wi-Fi, an OS, and a longer battery life (just wish it had Bluetooth). Its great for conferences, conventions, and little stuff in class.

With more UMPCs and such I doubt this will have a major impact on the business world or be "the ultimate college campus craze".

[Electromodo @ Oct 17th 2007 11:15AM]

Several years ago when Windows CE PDAs became kinda widespread, some people were exchanging VCF files through Irda port instead of business cards (I tried that too).

The trend did not stay long, because:

1. Another party needs the PDA to accept your business card.

2. Anther party's PDA needs to run same version of OS you do (Windows CE).

3. You don't have your PDA handy when you desperately need to exchange business cards.

Same thing with this one. And yes, cell phone is much more convenient in this regard! :)

[bjrcboy @ Oct 17th 2007 11:24AM]

WTF how would this be a college craze? .... I would hate to have to charge my ASB card. WTF

[John Stracke @ Oct 17th 2007 1:06PM]

It doesn't even make that much sense. It's not a digital address book; it's a digital business card, with A/V content on a 2" screen. When you meet with a client, you hand them your rCard, just like a business card. The assumption, apparently, is that people want to read an extract of your Website on a tiny screen, rather than just going to the Website on their own computer.

Oh, and the other assumption is that people want this so much, they're not going to be put off by the fact that the thing is thick and clunky.

[toyotaboy @ Oct 17th 2007 1:45PM]

This was somewhat cool when I first saw this 2 years ago, at an underestimated MSRP of $10. Now that it's released at $40, it doesn't seem as cool anymore. How about making a cheaper version with less memory, say 64mb for $10, just enough to put mass loads of text on it, perhaps a digital manual with operating instructions for a product?

[zlionsfan @ Oct 17th 2007 4:19PM]

Is that a C or a T?

[ecobore @ Oct 17th 2007 5:14PM]

No it is a C and a P with R and A in between!

[Andrew @ Oct 17th 2007 11:23PM]

but i think the most important question is... where do they get the balls to claim that it's "the most highly anticipated innovation of the decade"?

[Gianni @ Oct 18th 2007 4:13AM]

Totally useless and doomed because it isn't interactive. No one wants an rCard if they have a modern cellphone or PDA. Just another piece of junk in someone's pocket/purse. Not a safe alternative to a Medic-Alert as it only has a 2 hour battery. Just seems like a piece of inconvenient technology.

[Griz @ Oct 18th 2007 8:46AM]

Buying this rCard would come pretty close to making you an rTard.

[Suzanne @ Oct 18th 2007 9:14AM]

Okay - "digital business card" is really a poor description for this product. According to their web site, the point is that it displays graphics, pictures, etc. for presentations - it's aimed at salespeople. In other words, instead of lugging around and setting up your notebook and projector, then giving a powerpoint presentation, you load up your presentation out some of these instead and then make your pitch. The recipients then presumably show the device and your presentation to other people.

It's a gadget, but I've gotten goofier stuff from sales people. If they get rid of the "business card" description, they might be on to something.

[Renato @ Oct 19th 2007 9:38PM]

Interesting idea but most people don't really see the use of it.
Honestly for $40 a card - I don't see much use of it either. I have been in digital business card business for last 4 years - making small cd business cards for business owners and price of these are anywhere from $1 to $2 a card - and these cards can still offer a great advantage over your competition.
If by any chance these rCards come closer to buck a piece ( which I can't see it in near future ) maybe there is a chance for this product...
Until then - we'll see what happened :)
Check out my blurbs on digital business cards at http://www.chambercommunity.com.cd-business-cards/

[Renato @ Oct 19th 2007 9:39PM]

Interesting idea but most people don't really see the use of it.
Honestly for $40 a card - I don't see much use of it either. I have been in digital business card business for last 4 years - making small cd business cards for business owners and price of these are anywhere from $1 to $2 a card - and these cards can still offer a great advantage over your competition.
If by any chance these rCards come closer to buck a piece ( which I can't see it in near future ) maybe there is a chance for this product...
Until then - we'll see what happened :)
Check out my blurbs on digital business cards at http://www.chambercommunity.com/cd-business-cards/