Virtual FedEx [updated]
May 16th, 2007
FedEx’s new Launchapackage.com “service” is fantastic! Not only is it fun to use, but also a great example of effective online branding. It is very simple to send a virtual package. You start by filling out your FedEx delivery slip, of course.
Add the contents to your package; write a message to your recipient, upload pictures and documents. Then launch your package (the fun part). Pull back on your rubber band loaded package and let that sucker fly. Don’t pull hard enough and you are warned by messages such as these:
(Posting continued after images.)
Now to be more critical of a service that could be truly outstanding and useful. The service is fun and a great marketing tool for FedEx, but it really does not do anything my email cannot. The maximum size for document attachments is 3MB (1MB per document). The total picture size limit is 2.5MB (500kb per picture). Most email services can send and receive attachments up to 10MB.
So, how about increasing the capacity of the service to make it more like Senduit, which allows users to upload and transfer files up to 100MB in size. The virtual FedEx service would then truly be useful, because it picks up where email file transfers leave off.
A more useful FedEx online delivery service would make sense. Make FedEx the first company/service that comes to mind when shipping or transferring any type of information. After all, as online transfer speeds and capacities increase, many will no longer be using traditional FedEx shipping services to send information (via CDs or DVDs). FedEx might as well capture the online file transfer market while they can.
5/20/07 - Interesting tie-in:
Traditional FedEx delivery still faster than file-transfer over a high-speed Internet connection, when transferring more than 1 terabyte of data. In other words, if you have a lot (a whole lot!) of data to transfer, just send it via an overnight delivery service. It will get there faster than the online file transfer (even if ideal transfer speeds are sustained).
Keep in mind that 1 terabyte of info is more than any typical company would need to send. We are talking about more than 212 DVDs of data to equal the 1 terabyte. So this info is more trivial, than useful. Nevertheless, still interesting…if you’re into this kind of stuff.
Check out the Royal Pingdom post.
Entry Filed under: Business, Design, Email, Internet, Advertising