When I look at technologies like Qik (which allows you to stream live video from your cell phone) I can’t help but think back to the more humble roots of the cell phone. At one point simply having a still camera on a cell phone was a novelty, something only available on high end phones and used by a select few. The images caputred from these first camera phones were shit and hard to get off the phone in most cases. Naturally this has changed and today we now enjoy higher quality photos that are easier to share with others. Most importantly though, the camera has just about become a standard feature on many cell phones.

Something similar is now happening with video on your cell phone. It’s becoming available on more and more phones and complimented with a service like Qik, much more useful. Just like before the entry level is currently high in both terms of cost and ease of use but that wont last forever. I’ve been playing around with Qik the last week and whipped up a few thoughts, please let me know yours in the comments.

Why is everything cooler/harder/faster/stronger in Japan?

Tell me about it, the tipping point for me regarding Qik was actually seeing Eric Rice steam from Japan recently. While I had seen the service in use several times before the initial experiences were not good. The United States cell network being what it is turns many Qik streams into a clunky buffering based hell. However, in Japan the network is of course faster and better equipped for streaming. Eventually we are going to get something faster, until then its going to be an uphill battle to effectively use the service. Japan and other countries are likely to be the innovators in this space until once again, we catch up.

Insight, Behind Closed Doors and Archived

Technology aside what really interests me here is the opportunity for streaming from unique places and experiences. Sharing something like this with those who can’t be there is a very powerful technology. Events, interviews and general “scrapbook” life memories can now all be captured. The live feature isn’t even so important here as everything is nicely archived as well. If you are writing your Twitter autobiography a service like Qik can serve as the highlights reel.

Sweet Sweet Piracy!

Can I take a Qik enabled phone and stream what ever I want? How about paid events like concerts or movies? Oh course doing something like walks all over someones copy write/IP and in a sense you are giving away what many are paying for. For now I imagine we can get away with a lot but probably not for that much longer. Eventually the big companies are going catch wind and let the C&D notices fly.

Death Casting is the new Life Casting

Ok, lets get a little morbid for a second. When are we going to see the first life and death use of a service like Qik? Think back to the demand for online videos during the Indonesian Tsunami, now think of the value of having that video live and interactive. How about the worlds first live streamed suicide? Once again lets let Japan lead the way here. Creepy, morbid but certainly possible and I would even say inevitable. When Steve Jobs snuffed Violet Blue and it was captured on Qik it literally brought the service to its knees. Lets hope they are able to scale when the first big life or death moment makes its way there.

I’m looking forward to seeing where this all goes, what else does the future of life casting via cell phone hold?

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Filed Under: Qik