The Outsidr

Schmap might have a funny name but there is no question that it means business. I must admit, I have a special place in my heart for companies that offer internet-based solutions to brick and mortar companies. At the risk of sounding un-2.0, I’m growing tired of the countless solutions to problems no one has. Do we really need another web app that aggregates the shared content we aggregated from 12 other web apps aggregating feeds from the 57 microblogregators we use? Maybe I’m just getting grumpy in my old age (28) but the answer to that question is no.

So when an email hits my inbox from a company using web technology to actually solve a problem, my interest is piqued instantly. Compound matters by solving a problem facing brick and mortar business owners and you’ve won me over. Why? Because it’s smart. An average restaurateur doesn’t have the time or money to scour the internet sourcing web apps that might prove useful, let alone the time and money to implement something (s)he does find. In fact, a restaurateur is lucky if (s)he can find a few hours to sleep each night. It is also fairly likely that said business owner isn’t spending money on an SEO and/or online marketing expert tasked with improving the restaurant’s website, ensuring it plays nicely with search engines and so on. In all likelihood, the website was built by a friend of a friend who did the job on the cheap as a favor.

So when this restaurant (or hardware shop, or hair salon, or nail salon, or dry cleaner, etc) does get a hit on the web, it damn sure better make it count. That’s where Schmap comes in. If someone is sitting at home looking for a place to eat, it is simple enough to look a site over and then control-click a Google Maps bookmark to figure out directions. If this person is using a mobile handset on the go however, the easier it is to find the establishment the better. Could it be any easier than a single tap?

Schmap “allows a website to serve a map and contact details perfectly formatted for iPhone visitors.” Period. End of sentence. “But, umm, that’s it?” Hardly. Beyond the end result, the beauty of this service is in the setup; if you can even call it that. Go to the site, enter the contact details for your business, copy the code that appears at the bottom of the page and paste it onto the homepage of your website. The result will be completely invisible to users visiting the site from any other browser. Hit the site from an iPhone browser however, and a tap on the bar across the top of the screen will instantly load a contact page. When rotated, a map is exposed that will help guide potential customers right to your door. What’s more, Schmap is free and doesn’t even require you to register for the service.

This service really is an invaluable tool for business owners who simply don’t have time to embrace the fact that the world is moving further toward “web” and “mobile” each day. Utilizing the internet WILL bring you more business. Ensuring your online presence is mobile-friendly WILL bring you more business. Now, instead of stressing over those two statements, business owners can implement Schmap in a matter of minutes and then maybe even catch an extra hour of sleep.

Schmap is scheduled to enter public beta tomorrow, though it looks like the requirement for a preview access code has already been lifted. I highly suggest you check it out if you or someone you know owns a brick and mortar business. Schmap also has plans to add S60, Android and BlackBerry browser support in the near future. These additions, by the way, will require no changes to the code that has already been published on a site. Fantastic.