Asurion: Next Generation Address Book
Asurion Mobile introduced their new open mobile address book at DEMO 09 which they are calling the next generation address book. The app itself is pretty amazing, allowing you to add social elements to your contact list including Flickr photos, Facebook pages, and Twitter feeds. This may sound a bit familiar and remind you of the Palm Pre we reviewed at CES. However, because of the app’s open framework, it is not limited to the functions it comes with. Developers can build upon it and make it even more amazing.
Currently the Asurion app is only available for the Andriod, however they did show a demo with it on the iPhone. The Asurion app is far more than just a new way to see your contact’s social information. The app allows you to return a call via IM, email or even status update. It also makes it easy for you to share with multiple people at once by giving you the ability to create groups.
Another very interesting element is the people behind the Asurion app. Nancy Benovich Gilby and Steve Pretre. Nancy brings over 20 years of successful startup experience to Asurion Mobile Applications as VP of Engineering. Prior to joining, Nancy co-founded and served as CEO of PocketThis. Before that she co-founded and was VP of Engineering and Product Management at MarketSoft. She has helped raise eight rounds of venture funding. Nancy’s leadership in product strategy and development contributed to another four successful companies, including Firefly, purchased by Microsoft; Wildfire, purchased by Orange; Component Software, co-founder, folded into Sun to become what is Java today; and On Technology, a successful public company. Steve gives us an inside look of what start-up looks like within a bigger company. Also they have a big parent company Asurion is run and feels like a start-up.
If you want to get in on the Asurion Mobile AddressBook beta, you can sign up here: asurionmobile.com/beta.
