[London, ENGLAND] Swedish mobile software and services developer
room33 has acquired what it
says is the world’s first mobile Internet drink and cocktail
recipe guide, WAP2Bar.com.
WAP developers have long believed that mobile phone users have
an insatiable thirst for trivia. Now the theory will be put to
the test with the integration of WAP2Bar.com into the next release
of room33’s mobile portal later this month.
“The room33.com target audience is students and young professionals,
all of whom are highly mobile and interested in fun. Bar33 is a fun
zone,” said Zaheed Haque, founder and chief executive of room33.
WAP2Bar is a concept that will probably play better in Europe than
the United States, as Europeans are less well informed than Americans
about the contents of a Manhattan or a Brandy Alexander. John Cleese
immortalized this cultural difference in the TV series “Fawlty
Towers” by attempting to serve two very non-drinkable screwdrivers
to American guests.
The WAP2Bar service will be renamed “Bar22” and will let users
search for drinks by type, by ingredients, by the glass, or by
drink name. Users who are unable to think of any cocktail names
whatsoever can call on the random drink generator for suggestions.
In June this year, room33’s cutting-edge ideas in the mobile
phone market attracted investment of US $40 million from TecCapital
Limited, a U.K. company controlled by David and Frederick Barclay.
At the time of the investment, TecCapital’s Richard Faber said
room33 was ideally positioned to take advantage of 3G technologies
which he said would shape the future development of the mobile
services market.
If the market does not perform as predicted, the investors should
have little trouble ordering a stiff drink.