Besides the privacy and security concerns with the biometrics, the other problem is that this will be obsolete by the time it's rolled out. There are companies working on wearable devices that will allow you to charge your phone wherever you are, using wifi signals to provide the wearable the energy needed, to charge your device. I'm sure the price point on these will be far less than the $2k that these cost.

Yep, and on top of all of that, all of the new cell phones that are coming out have pretty significantly better battery life to begin with. The way people use their phones these days, they're going to run down either way but like you said, the price point for all that needs to go behind something like this to make it work is ridiculous. Every shark on the panel took a giant crap on it. I actually like that show and have watched it a lot and I've never seen anyone get blown up like that.

I've seen pretty much every episode of Shark Tank and it's definitely not the worst idea I've seen pitched. Their first mistake was going on the show 'pre-revenue' and without a fully functioning prototype. The sharks tend to be interested in companies that already have some demonstrated success and could be at the cusp of huge growth with a bit of money and help. Companies in their infancy need to bring something really spectacular and innovative to get interest from a shark.

The right play for these guys is probably not to try and sell the unit directly to their target end destinations but instead to sell/license their product to companies who can use the unit to advertise and give it away for free. They could put in a cheap flat panel screen on the front and run targeted ads or whatnot. The price point would certainly need to come down no matter which way they go.

I think the biometrics issue was a little overblown. Current technology should be cheap and reliable enough to support what they are doing. My concern would be other tech changes and advancements making the product obsolete (new & variety of connectors, wireless charging, etc).

The worst idea I think I've ever seen pitched was a guy who wanted to start a company that implanted headphones & microphones into people's heads that would connect to their phone and charge them through a connector implanted in their neck.

My thought on it, get rid of the bio-metrics, have the user slide a credit card that will open the chamber, put the phone in, the chamber closes. When you come back later, swipe your card again, and it will open the corresponding chamber. The owners of the Amber (the bar, airport, etc.) could chose to actually charge the customers for use or they could have it be completely free and the credit card is only an identification method.

They could offer several different sales options including letting the venue buy the unit out right, or renting it (just like they pitched), or Amber could install and maintain the units and give a percentage of the sales to the venue. I am kind of thinking like the touch screen games at bars.

(09-28-2014 03:28 PM)lingerba Wrote:  My thought on it, get rid of the bio-metrics, have the user slide a credit card that will open the chamber, put the phone in, the chamber closes. When you come back later, swipe your card again, and it will open the corresponding chamber. The owners of the Amber (the bar, airport, etc.) could chose to actually charge the customers for use or they could have it be completely free and the credit card is only an identification method.

They could offer several different sales options including letting the venue buy the unit out right, or renting it (just like they pitched), or Amber could install and maintain the units and give a percentage of the sales to the venue. I am kind of thinking like the touch screen games at bars.

Yep. Like this. I would pay a couple bucks to re-charge. Also, beneficial to the bar/stadium/amusement park would be the likelihood I hang out longer and consume their product. I am not married to my phone, especially in the evening, but I would imagine some folks might up amd leave a place when their phone died if they did not have a way to charge it.

BTW. amusemnt parks would be a great place. Charge your phone while you go on the rides/ splash around in the water park, etc.

As stated, you would be betting you could get these out and make a few bucks before alternative technology was available.

Some Amusements parks already have them.
My wife used one for her iPhone this Summer and it was a nominal fee. 2 or 3 bucks I think.
One hour later after our lunch she was 100% charged

DVR'd it and just watched it. What does the guy say at the end in the post-pitch interview? He wants to punch someone? I couldn't make out what he said.

Yeah I thought he said something about punching the female shark but I couldn't make it out either. If so, aye aye aye what a douche.

I just watched it. It is the worst "pitch" I have seen on Shark Tank and I DVR every season. The idea of a charging station is good. The execution of Amber is terrible. $2,000 is absolutely insane. I can buy a power strip, 5 charging cords and 5 little steel lock boxes with key for maybe $25 with any sort of real output. I can add a real fancy looking stand and small tv screen to sell commercial time for another $100. The fingerprint stuff is way overboard.I have to enter my password on my 5s multiple times a day cause the phone wont read my fingerprint, super annoying.

Amber is a prime example of spending all afternoon in Home Depot and your garage turning wrenches when all you needed was duct tape.

Yes, Bill said he would "rail" the female shark in the teeth and then dropped a "they told me to be honest". What an idiot.

He said he would rail Herjavec in the teeth, a male shark. The shark acknowledged the comment in a couple tweets. Regardless, absolutely not an acceptable thing to say on national television.

humph. this is why i don't watch gameshow teevee.