Dopplr launches
I have to admit that I'm a really bad Web 2.0 application user. I don't even use GMail regularly, and I actually prefer MS Office to Google Documents.
But a few of them have stuck - wikis and blogs, obviously; Google Maps (though I use Google Earth far more); Linkedin still does its job; and somewhat reluctantly, Facebook; but also Dopplr, who just got out of beta! (Remember the time where everything was in perpetual beta? These new kids, they actually launch!)
Dopplr is wonderful in its simplicity. It does really only one thing - records your travels and allows you to meet up with others on your trips, but it does it well - and I happen to be in the smack middle of the target group. So yeah, it stuck.
You see, business travel is bloody lonely, most of the time. You sleep alone, you eat alone, you explore the city alone (if you have the time). Sometimes not, but often yes. So it's great to even know that there are others traveling about, other people in the same situation. And sometimes, you manage to say hi to someone you know that you haven't seen in a while. It's great :)
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| "Main_blogentry_111207_2" last changed on 11-Dec-2007 14:24:05 EET by JanneJalkanen. |
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Gee, business travel must be the pits these days.I did a lot of business traveling from Calif to Asia and Europe in the 80s and 90s. I met with a lot of the people who did installation and maintenance on the systems my firms were selling. In every location GB, F, D, E, CZ, DK, S, CH, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Tibet and half a dozen sites in China and more) these people would organize evenings and weekend entertainment - little trips to their favorite restaurants and shops, jaunts to museums, favorite nature walks, local sports events, whatever. Life was never boring and was never lonely.
My fallback plan, one that was very rarely used, was to contact my friend in town, who has done more traveling than Fodor, for tips on a particular locale. One tip he gave me I actually used in London when I was doing a lot of work with IBM. Half a dozen of us had been working together for several days getting the equipment ready for BABT to test. The last day we finished about 4 and I suggested that we head over to the Waldorf on the Strand. They complained that it would be way over budget but I convinced then that it would be worth it. At that time the Waldorf had a prix fixe "pre-theater" dinner for about 13 pounds sterling, not a bad price at all. It was a traditional four-course meal, including a glass of wine and a sherry with the cheese. At the end they would roll in several different carts for you to select desserts to die for, liqueurs, and cigars (these three were extra). The service was excellent and invisible. The Brits were totally astounded. One nice bonus was that when you arrived, the maitre d' would discreetly ask which performance you'd be attending. If you were going to the theater and you were running a tad late with your dinner, a member of staff would ask if you wanted to have a taxi waiting and let you know about how long you had left before you needed to scoot along to the theater.
-Tod
--Tod the Ecphorizer, 12-Dec-2007
These days people just go home to their family; travel is so commonplace. Often there is dinner, but still - socializing with people you work with is not the same thing as socializing with friends.
--JanneJalkanen, 12-Dec-2007
So, would you like to share your travel details with me on Doppir?
--Mikko Särelä, 17-Dec-2007
Mikko, I'm not sure to whom you're directing your question. If it's me, you can contact me at my email <tod@ecphorizer.com>. In the meantime, I'll have to discover what Doppir is (I assume it's not a new airline like Doppler Air...).
-Tod
--Tod, 18-Dec-2007