A local entrepreneur is bringing the Eastern Cape into the digital age of information-sharing and networking. Port Elizabeth resident Dave Coates is the first and only Eastern Cape distributor of Poken – a digital, portable business and social networking tool that is taking the globe by storm.
In a world where global warming, online communities and information sharing are the ruling keywords, Poken offers a solution to printing, sharing (and losing) business cards. A small device, shaped either as a USB port or in various designs to make it both functional and fashionable, Poken has an internal communication device that offers users the means to marry online and offline data.
By touching another Poken, its users instantly share the information they wish to: it functions as a digital business card sender and receiver. Business information and contact details are stored on the device, and can be downloaded on to users’ computers. It has the additional security-perk of being able to accept or deny other users access to information when the data is being downloaded.
Poken has also been developed in such a way as to maximise the use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. It is immensely popular in the US and UK, with offices in Switzerland, San Francisco and London. Poken was developed in Switzerland when its founder became “tired of the social network clutter”. He found a way to keep in touch with people that was simple and effective – and digital.
Since its inception, Poken won the Best European/Real World Gadget (EMEA) award at the TechCrunch Europe Awards in 2009.
The device has been in South Africa for about one and a half years. Coates, who returned to South Africa from New Zealand 3 years ago, first saw someone using a Poken when he was at a conference. He was instantly impressed, and started selling them in the Eastern Cape in November 2009. He says, “It makes life so easy – especially when you are going to conferences!”
Coates adds, “My goal for Poken is that it replaces business cards as the main source of sharing contact information. I do believe that business cards have a place, but everything is becoming digital. That includes business cards.”
For more information, contact Dave Coates at {email_obfuscate address=”info@ilovepoken.co.za”}, or 084 548 0077