Dash’s Hopes Get… Well, Dashed
Dash, the web enabled GPS unit is slashing 50 jobs and exiting the hardware business, according to GigaOM.
The futuristic unit pulled data from the ‘net and mashed it it up with turn-by-turn directions – a pretty slick idea, all things considered. In real estate they had deals going with content partners Coldwell Banker (see Dash GPS Get Real Estate Search) and Trulia (see Trulia Goes Mobile, Adds Feeds).
Mobile real estate search and location-based navigation technologies seem to me to be the perfect marriage. Personally, I’d love to be able to have the ability to output the results of a property search and then have the whole viewing tour guided via GPS.
I think the real problem in this case was not the concept, but the execution. Standalone units like the Dash are quickly being outpaced by smart devices like the iPhone and Blackberry Bold, which already incorporate GPS and do not require additional fees (beyond their monthly data plans).
And while applications on each of those platforms are not quite there yet to do a multi-stop property tour, they’re close (see iPhone real estate app showdown).
Dash seems to have recognized this, and by retooling their business for B2B, we may still see their technology show up in onboard navigation systems and other devices someday.
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Mary Pope-Handy | Nov 5, 2008 | Reply
Seems like a great concept. I imagine that part of the problem could be timing – agents (and brokerages) generally don’t have a lot of spending money right now. It might be that CB and Trulia were just not enough to carry it.
Mike Stewart, Downtown Vancouver Realtor | Nov 6, 2008 | Reply
Smart move to get out of that game. Blackberry’s can handle all that stuff fine now. In a few years we’ll be blown away by what they can do.
Victor Lund | Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
zhiing is looking to hire the head of biz dev for dash – that just got…. well…. dashed out of his job.