BITCOIN booth at CES Las Vegas! Tell all reporters!

[Swishercutter]

Today is the last day of the show.  It's been a very busy and exhausting 4 days, but we have talked to alot of really big decision makers at some major companies.  These deals will take time to follow up on and complete. but look for an explosion of bitcoin in 2012, in ways you can't imagine.  some of these ideas we had not even thought of!

Grrr! You tease!

I don't care how much you tease us, provided the big reveal isn't something along the lines of: We're all going to Pattaya!!!

Since I was there and went to dinner with these guys, I got to hear what some of these things were.  Some of them were not things we would want to post in the forums - about how X person at Y company was totally interested - as we anticipate that those very same people will be browsing these forums and aren't going to want to see their own name in our brags before they even get a chance to do their research and take the temperature of what people think of Bitcoin when they get back home.

For example, I understood that somebody responsible for managing the point-of-sale networks for large chain of truck stops had a lot to ask.  Do I dare say who in the forums?  Of course not, my interest in not alienating them by having them see their own company name in our forums exceeds my interest in satiating everyone's desire to know who it is.

I don't expect an influx of 4chan newbies suddenly dumping bazillions of dollars into Bitcoin just having heard of it for the first time due to their first encounter at CES.  If they had never heard of Bitcoin, their first impression from seeing a Bitcoin booth is that it's another company just trying to peddle a whiz bang product, and CES is overflowing with of those.  (I did notice though, that people who understood and used BitTorrent were much quicker at grasping the magic sight-unseen than those who did not - based on that observation, I am seriously considering a window sticker on my car: "Bitcoin will do to money and banking what BitTorrent did to music and movies.")

But on the other hand, what keeps me excited, is the people who came up to the booth and say things like "Hey! I've heard of Bitcoin. I don't yet know what it is, but I heard <whatever>, and want to ask questions, because we do <this> and <that>, and I was wondering if Bitcoin could help us do a better job of <this>".  These are people who are already well-situated in a career where their buyoff on Bitcoin can be a major part of a big company's decision to take a real look at it.  Those are the ones who will make a serious difference when they get home.

Speaking of truck stops....I hadn't even thought of the ComCheck aspect of Bitcoin.  That would be a market that has not been tapped yet.  Big issues come from all the truckers needing emergency cash...hence the ComCheck....Bitcoin could virtually replace/secure the whole process.

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[krusaderx]

Speaking of truck stops....I hadn't even thought of the ComCheck aspect of Bitcoin.  That would be a market that has not been tapped yet.  Big issues come from all the truckers needing emergency cash...hence the ComCheck....Bitcoin could virtually replace/secure the whole process.

I worked in IT for a trucking company once.  ComChecks (ComData) and fuel cards were like fraud-magnets on the dispatch side.  Some drivers were paid almost entirely in advances via ComChecks.  Fees are outrageous on both sides of the transaction, and the truck stops even have to spend money to host the ComCheck / fuel card terminals.  I can't believe Visa/PayPal/Western Union hasn't broken into the ComCheck thing, as it'd have to be lucrative even at half the fees.

Bitcoin could easily be used to transfer value to a driver from their dispatcher, but the truck stop doesn't accept BTC for diesel.  Need to integrate a bit-pay type service into this equation.

Every truck driver has a cell phone, and almost all of them have a smart-phone (a backup-GPS+Inet+games is too high-utility to pass up, esp if you get stuck at a dock for hours waiting for load/unload).

Killing off ComChecks would kill off a seriously evil drain on the transportation industry.

[notme]

Speaking of truck stops....I hadn't even thought of the ComCheck aspect of Bitcoin.  That would be a market that has not been tapped yet.  Big issues come from all the truckers needing emergency cash...hence the ComCheck....Bitcoin could virtually replace/secure the whole process.

I worked in IT for a trucking company once.  ComChecks (ComData) and fuel cards were like fraud-magnets on the dispatch side.  Some drivers were paid almost entirely in advances via ComChecks.  Fees are outrageous on both sides of the transaction, and the truck stops even have to spend money to host the ComCheck / fuel card terminals.  I can't believe Visa/PayPal/Western Union hasn't broken into the ComCheck thing, as it'd have to be lucrative even at half the fees.

Bitcoin could easily be used to transfer value to a driver from their dispatcher, but the truck stop doesn't accept BTC for diesel.  Need to integrate a bit-pay type service into this equation.

Every truck driver has a cell phone, and almost all of them have a smart-phone (a backup-GPS+Inet+games is too high-utility to pass up, esp if you get stuck at a dock for hours waiting for load/unload).

Killing off ComChecks would kill off a seriously evil drain on the transportation industry.

Love this idea.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Speaking of truck stops....I hadn't even thought of the ComCheck aspect of Bitcoin.  That would be a market that has not been tapped yet.  Big issues come from all the truckers needing emergency cash...hence the ComCheck....Bitcoin could virtually replace/secure the whole process.

I worked in IT for a trucking company once.  ComChecks (ComData) and fuel cards were like fraud-magnets on the dispatch side.  Some drivers were paid almost entirely in advances via ComChecks.  Fees are outrageous on both sides of the transaction, and the truck stops even have to spend money to host the ComCheck / fuel card terminals.  I can't believe Visa/PayPal/Western Union hasn't broken into the ComCheck thing, as it'd have to be lucrative even at half the fees.

Bitcoin could easily be used to transfer value to a driver from their dispatcher, but the truck stop doesn't accept BTC for diesel.  Need to integrate a bit-pay type service into this equation.

Every truck driver has a cell phone, and almost all of them have a smart-phone (a backup-GPS+Inet+games is too high-utility to pass up, esp if you get stuck at a dock for hours waiting for load/unload).

Killing off ComChecks would kill off a seriously evil drain on the transportation industry.

Love this idea.

That, in of itself, would lower costs for all products across the board--perhaps globally. And that's only if the savings is passed down to the consumers, otherwise those at the top should see the beauty in its design and take full advantage of Bitcoin----and pocket the PROFITTTTTTTT!!!

~Bruno~

[2112]

That, in of itself, would lower costs for all products across the board--perhaps globally.

US-ians are funny people, just like in that sentence above. How about you guys upgrade your Constitution to allow uniform collection of per-state sales taxes? Large segment of the interstate transportation industry exists purely for tax-avoidance purposes by double-shipping. Why worry about a pittance of fuel-fee skimming?

[notme]

That, in of itself, would lower costs for all products across the board--perhaps globally.

US-ians are funny people, just like in that sentence above. How about you guys upgrade your Constitution to allow uniform collection of per-state sales taxes? Large segment of the interstate transportation industry exists purely for tax-avoidance purposes by double-shipping. Why worry about a pittance of fuel-fee skimming?

[Citation Needed]

[farfiman]

..........based on that observation, I am seriously considering a window sticker on my car: "Bitcoin will do to money and banking what BitTorrent did to music and movies.")

What BitTorrent did to movies and music is ILLEGAL.  Not as bad, but that example is like the "silk road" example we have to hear about over and over in the negative press.

Using the email/standard mail example is much more accurate although not as "sexy"

[Matthew N. Wright]

I still think we are marketing to the wrong types of people. Nerds use bitcoin, so we should market more to nerds.

On that note: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=56891.msg691128#msg691128

[casascius]

What BitTorrent did to movies and music is ILLEGAL.  Not as bad, but that example is like the "silk road" example we have to hear about over and over in the negative press.

Using the email/standard mail example is much more accurate although not as "sexy"

If BitTorrent is so illegal, why is the BitTorrent company still around? http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BitTorrent_company - this is an argument like guns don't kill, people kill.

If you're trying to explain what a gun does to someone who has never heard of one, do you avoid telling them they are useful for killing people simply because that's illegal?  Or because you are afraid you'll be promoting murder?  No, not if your purpose is to convey an understanding of what makes a gun valuable.  Not all torrents are illegal either.

[fornit]

I still think we are marketing to the wrong types of people. Nerds use bitcoin, so we should market more to nerds.

specifically, we should market more to gamers.
they already use virtual currencies, half-finished software and buy stuff online.

[SgtSpike]

What BitTorrent did to movies and music is ILLEGAL.  Not as bad, but that example is like the "silk road" example we have to hear about over and over in the negative press.

Using the email/standard mail example is much more accurate although not as "sexy"

If BitTorrent is so illegal, why is the BitTorrent company still around? http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BitTorrent_company - this is an argument like guns don't kill, people kill.

If you're trying to explain what a gun does to someone who has never heard of one, do you avoid telling them they are useful for killing people simply because that's illegal?  Or because you are afraid you'll be promoting murder?  No, not if your purpose is to convey an understanding of what makes a gun valuable.  Not all torrents are illegal either.

Yeah, but the vast majority of torrents are illegal, and they certainly have a negative connotation in the mind of most anyone who doesn't actively use it.  It's a correlation to be avoided.

[farfiman]

What BitTorrent did to movies and music is ILLEGAL.  Not as bad, but that example is like the "silk road" example we have to hear about over and over in the negative press.

Using the email/standard mail example is much more accurate although not as "sexy"

If BitTorrent is so illegal, why is the BitTorrent company still around? http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BitTorrent_company - this is an argument like guns don't kill, people kill.

If you're trying to explain what a gun does to someone who has never heard of one, do you avoid telling them they are useful for killing people simply because that's illegal?  Or because you are afraid you'll be promoting murder?  No, not if your purpose is to convey an understanding of what makes a gun valuable.  Not all torrents are illegal either.

I didn't say bittorrent is Illegal. The service can and is used also for legal reasons. (just like guns, drugs and cash......)

But your movie/music sentence DOES imply the illegal uses of bittorrent.. 

I'm not a prude and I have seen movies from torrents as well (mostly junk that i would never see in the theaters...)
But i still don't go about promoting the use of bittorrent for such purposes.

[BitPay Business Solutions]

Since I was there and went to dinner with these guys, I got to hear what some of these things were.  Some of them were not things we would want to post in the forums - about how X person at Y company was totally interested - as we anticipate that those very same people will be browsing these forums and aren't going to want to see their own name in our brags before they even get a chance to do their research and take the temperature of what people think of Bitcoin when they get back home.

For example, I understood that somebody responsible for managing the point-of-sale networks for large chain of truck stops had a lot to ask.  Do I dare say who in the forums?  Of course not, my interest in not alienating them by having them see their own company name in our forums exceeds my interest in satiating everyone's desire to know who it is.

I don't expect an influx of 4chan newbies suddenly dumping bazillions of dollars into Bitcoin just having heard of it for the first time due to their first encounter at CES.  If they had never heard of Bitcoin, their first impression from seeing a Bitcoin booth is that it's another company just trying to peddle a whiz bang product, and CES is overflowing with of those.  (I did notice though, that people who understood and used BitTorrent were much quicker at grasping the magic sight-unseen than those who did not - based on that observation, I am seriously considering a window sticker on my car: "Bitcoin will do to money and banking what BitTorrent did to music and movies.")

But on the other hand, what keeps me excited, is the people who came up to the booth and say things like "Hey! I've heard of Bitcoin. I don't yet know what it is, but I heard <whatever>, and want to ask questions, because we do <this> and <that>, and I was wondering if Bitcoin could help us do a better job of <this>".  These are people who are already well-situated in a career where their buyoff on Bitcoin can be a major part of a big company's decision to take a real look at it.  Those are the ones who will make a serious difference when they get home.

Thanks Mike for your help in the booth!  We did speak to pretty much every major bank, VC firm, and retailer that you could think of.  Most of them specifically seeked us out.  Many of them were very interested in us, and some of them specifically said "this is the most innovative thing we have seen at this show."  That is quite impressive considering all the gadgets that the media is all hyped up about.

Square was getting alot of attention at the show as well.  When people came to our booth after they talked to Square, they were really impressed with what bitcoins could do.  We have, hands down, the most business friendly payment system in the world.  We got that point across to some very influential people this week.

[sadpandatech]

  We have, hands down, the most business friendly payment system in the world.  We got that point across to some very influential people this week.

soooo, when can we begin to purchase shares of Bit-Pay on GLBSE or other stock exchange? 

[notme]

  We have, hands down, the most business friendly payment system in the world.  We got that point across to some very influential people this week.

soooo, when can we begin to purchase shares of Bit-Pay on GLBSE or other stock exchange? 

+1

[cypherdoc]

To Booth Sponsors:

next year you ought to make a "Call to Bitcoiners" to descend upon the CES to man the booth.

the higher numbers alone would attract newcomers but having the extra manpower there to answer questions of the newbies would be more efficient.  during slow periods, Bitcoiners could fan out across the floor to other booths with flyers or handouts.

its a built in curious audience hunting for new innovations and would provide the Bitcoin community a Mission and a sense of purpose in an ideal setting with high numbers.

the partying after would be improved too!

AND we'd all get to meet Alison!
      
in fact, now that i think about it, what about the Apple Conference?

[cypherdoc]

in fact, now that i think about it more, i think future Bitcoin Conferences should be piggybacked onto other major conferences like CES or the Apple Conference.

attendees and sponsors could contribute to the cost of a booth which would provide major visible publicity for Bitcoin.  the interaction with other non Bitcoin attendees would be an opportunity to educate and expose large numbers of newbies to the concept.  Bitcoiners could even hold strategy meetings at the beginning of each day to coordinate "The Message" and be sure everyone is on the same wavelength.

certain Bitcoiners could be assigned to "Manning the Floor" spreading out to all corners of the conference floor with flyers, handouts, stickers, laptops, Androids, etc to demonstrate the various clients.  we could go out in pairs and and demonstrate the speed and ease of sending and receiving a few Bitcoins.

the comradery and spirit developed amongst Bitcoiners sharing a Mission and Purpose would be highly beneficial as well.

the Bitcoin Conference would be held next door in another facility and attendees could track back and forth btwn talks and attending the booth.

what a great way for Bitcoiners to meet each other and begin networking with each other and newbies.

edit:  booth workers could don Bitcoin T shirts.  perhaps Bitcoin merchants could bring their wares to sell altho this would require rules and a coordinated plan.

the key thing is matching the numbers of CES attendees with numbers of Bitcoin volunteers.

edit:  who knows, the Bitcoin conference could even get some spillover effect from CES attendees.

[finway]

Who's Square?

[GoWest]

Who's Square?

Here you go.

[BitPay Business Solutions]

To Booth Sponsors:

next year you ought to make a "Call to Bitcoiners" to descend upon the CES to man the booth.

the higher numbers alone would attract newcomers but having the extra manpower there to answer questions of the newbies would be more efficient.  during slow periods, Bitcoiners could fan out across the floor to other booths with flyers or handouts.

its a built in curious audience hunting for new innovations and would provide the Bitcoin community a Mission and a sense of purpose in an ideal setting with high numbers.

the partying after would be improved too!

AND we'd all get to meet Alison!
      
in fact, now that i think about it, what about the Apple Conference?

Great idea!  This year we had Roger Ver from Bit Instant and Memory Dealers help with the booth.  Casascius was also here for 2 days helping in the booth.  And Julian (Tuxavant) helped out in the booth as well. But more help is always welcome!

Sometimes the show does not allow soliciting outside your booth space.  And they only allow a certain number of booth personnel.  But next year we will try to get multiple bitcoin booths and get in the same area.  A booth costs around $6000 for a 10x10 space at CES, incase you are wondering.  Give this another year and we could have a number of bitcoin companies in a position to get booths!