..duo Beta has Launched! Connecting The Real World To The Digital World
By Linda Forrest on Aug 29, 2012 / Categories: Blog, Partners
The following post was originally published to the blog of CDMN node Accelerate Okanagan. It is posted here with permission.
Venture Acceleration Program company, ..duo (dotdotduo), has this week launched its mobile web app and website.
They provide a new kind of Internet address for customers who are keen to use plain, everyday language for their web links. By subscribing to ..duo’s service, businesses and individuals are able to substitute their complex and unmemorable URLs with meaningful, branded links that are easy to say and easy to spread, both off and on the web.
..duo has created a website that lets anyone register keywords that lead directly to places on the internet.
A “..duo” is similar to a QR code in that it links to online content; however, instead of a generic barcode that says little about your company and clutters your poster, sign or website, a ..duo harnesses the words used in your brand, slogan or name.
For example, a QR code or link (http://www.nhl.com/ice/m_player.htm?id=8471675) on a hockey poster becomes ..Crosby 87.. The reader opens up the ..duo app on their smart phone, types the word in and get stats on Sydney Crosby. Try it out.
To create a ..duo, a business or individual needs to identify a unique phrase or keyword(s). Then, all they need to do is link up any web content and surround the phrase with two pairs of dots. It’s as simple as copying and pasting a URL or web address. No programming skills required. We just set up ..AO News.. in less than a minute.
An interested person is now able to search, remember and share this branded phrase and connect with digital content. All they have to do is enter the specific “..duo” at dotdotduo.com and they’ll be redirected to the associated site or landing page.
About the Team
Daylin Mantyka, co-founder of ..duo started off as a Biologist. She won a 2008 INNOVATION scholarship through BCIC whilst studying towards a Biology Masters at UBCO.
She teamed up with Barry McDaid, a pilot with Air Canada, and together they began toying with their first startup idea, ShlinkIT. The ShlinkIT concept had some limitations and so a recent pivot has led to ..duo.
Barry has always wanted to operate his own business. Teaching himself code and taking a leave of absence from flying, he is thoroughly committed to the ..duo project.
BCIC introduced Barry and Daylin to AO when they started to conceptualize their project. Daylin said, “We needed help. We were two non-techies trying to do something with no experience.” They joined the Venture Acceleration Program in November 2011 where they receive mentorship, workshops and expert business advice.
For ..duo, searching on their website or mobile web app is just the beginning. The greater vision of this company is to have people access ..duos by typing, speaking or using optical character recognition on a variety of platforms, apps, browsers, search engines and other websites. One day they hope ..duos will even be clickable in texts, tweets and emails.
Reserving ..duos are free for a limited time and can be registered here.
Check out their website, blog, Facebook and Twitter (@dotdotduo). Or, for quick access, enter ..duo connect.. into their search bar.