AddThis SmartLayers

Trial service which beams local news to people’s phones launched

OtherWorldA new service which uses Bluetooth-style technology to beam local news relevant to people’s locations straight to their mobile phones is to be piloted.

The OtherWorld news service is set to be trialled in Manchester after start-up studio Like No Other receiving funding from Google’s Digital News Initiative.

The service will use cutting-edge beacon technology to provide on-the-go local news stories relevant to an individual’s current location – without the need for an app.

The studio says it will help new audiences to discover the news on their doorstep and to act on the stories they read, while it will offer news organisations the opportunity to distribute stories right to the very location where they happen.

Stuart Goulden, lead consultant at Like No Other, said: We’re excited to put our concept of ‘living media’ to the test and provide an accompanying real-world experience to digital news.

“Many sectors have woken up to the potential of beacons and are doing some interesting things in the space, however it’s relatively uncharted territory in news. We think it’s a potential game changer.”

The pilot is expected to run from Summer to Winter 2017, before full roll-out.

Anybody wishing to find out more or to collaborate as content partners for the pilot in Manchester is encouraged to do so here.

4 comments

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • March 31, 2017 at 8:02 am
    Permalink

    We have this already , it’s called the internet …
    and it uses a cutting edge method called ‘ social media’ to deliver and receive it.
    Seems like a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist

    Game changer?
    Game over more like

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(13)
  • March 31, 2017 at 10:35 am
    Permalink

    Beacons?news on the go ? @nelson sums it up, there isn’t a need for this as it’s already here , working very well, via Bluetooth and the hyper fast network service, very effectively delivering instant news as it happens and on the go direct to my phone or tablet,forget beacons and satellites ( phones use them so it’s hardly innovative) anyone can get hyper local news now and from providers and sites ( yes even the local papers site or local broadcaster) free and in real time.

    If they think that’s a game changer they clearly atent in the game

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(4)
  • March 31, 2017 at 4:02 pm
    Permalink

    ” ..it will offer news organisations the opportunity to distribute stories right to the very location where they happen”
    Presumably where the news organisations already have their own presence called a website? And whilst they point out not having to have an app as some sort of benefit who has a phone that doesn’t have the internet or an app in the form of a news feed( BBC/Sky/Google) already installed or freely available at no cost?

    A hair brained idea without an audience into an already flooded market of free local news services.
    .

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(4)