Inspired by a Fred Wilson article about new 10-minute power charging technology, I present to you an idea for Power Cubby - a Redbox for Phone Charging.
What It Is
A service, much like checking a coat at a restaurant or checking a backpack at an event, that will charge your phone while you are away from home or office and are doing an activity in which you don't (shouldn't?) use it, like the movies or a restaurant.How It Works
0. Restaurants, Movie Theaters, Business-Lunch Hotspots, will have these "vending machines" with "charge pad" cubbies for phone-sized devices (sorry phablets!).1. Open App and Register the Cubby Machine (get machine info via QR code/gps/wifi/nfc/etc.)
2. Cubby is opened
3. Place phone flat on power-charging pad in cubby
4. Receive a bar coded ticket (like a parking garage)
5. Cubby door closes and locks
6. Go do something awesome while your phone charges
7. Return to machine and insert ticket
8. Charge is displayed (transaction logged in app and email digest/receipt can be sent)
---- note: tracking the power level of the charge would be awesome here too
9. Cubby door is opened
10. User takes phone and goes on their merry way
Testing Product-Market Fit
Movie Theaters
Lean Test 1: Will Users Give Up Their Phones?Have "secure looking" (to build trust) set of a iPhone chargers in a power strip with an extension cord (or a couple wireless charging pads) on a table with a cloth, a big sign, and an attendant, setup inside of movie theater, charge is Free.
Lean Test 2: Will Users Pay For Charge?
Same as #1, but charge $1 (can do cash only to keep it simple)
Business-Lunch Hotspots
Same as #1 and #2, but in a location that is a business-lunch hotspot. This might be an easier test as no movie theater approval will be needed.
Valet Phone Charging
How would YOU make this product better?
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