25 exclusive invites for business cards-killer Project E (and another 25!)
Written on 24th September 2008
47 COMMENTS 
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Last week I wrote an angry post about people who try to kill the business card. Although I’m friends with a couple of these wannabe killers, I felt I had to defend the ultimate tool for self-expression during first impressions. But now, with pain in my heart, I have to give a couple of these guys a stage. After all, I cannot appear too biased. So here it is, a business cards-killing service which just launched in private beta: Project E.
Next Web Editor David Petherick & Robert Scoble with ‘E’ Prototypes
Three Dutch designers Paul Geurts, Arjen Sondag, and
Renato Valdés Olmos want to get people connected with “a device operated by a single gesture. “Exchanging contact info and social networking info with E takes as long as a formal handshake”, Renato explained when I interviewed him at The Next Web Conference.
Eventually, the three guys want to have specially designed hardware that makes this contact exchange possible. While they’re looking for investors to make this production process possible, they’ve also worked on a service that does the same thing, but with (most) mobile phones. Just a few clicks and you’re connected with your new contact on the services you desire, like LinkedIN.
This social network isn’t actually yet integrated. The beta now works with Twitter, Soocial, and the network of the conference they’re launching at this week, Picnic. Integration with delicious, Netlog, and Last.fm is coming soon.
For now, Renato told me he’s excited to hear your feedback about the UI and the connectivity between different devices. So give it a shot, the first 25 lucky people who leave a comment will receive an invite from me.
Hello, my name is E from Renato Valdés Olmos on Vimeo.
The Next Web Blog is closely associated with The Next Web Conference which is held annually in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. At this event speakers from all over the world come together to talk about, and show off, the future of the Web. (More info 
By Maarten on Sep 24, 2008
This looks like a real promising project. I like the old fashioned business cards, but I always forget to bring them with me. Using a mobile phone as a business card ‘exchanger’ is really smart! Would love an invite for Project E!
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By Paul Fabretti on Sep 24, 2008
Always keen to give new things a go and haven’t yet got my moo cards ordered so maybe I won’t need to order them if this is any good?
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By Loes@Twitter on Sep 24, 2008
Cool initiative! Looking forward to new versions with added social networks and would love an invite :-)
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By Jaap Stronks on Sep 24, 2008
Ooh, I *heart* business cards too. And I’m gonna need new ones as well, so, sign me up!
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By Dubla on Sep 24, 2008
It sounds a really good idea. I’ve a lot of old bussines card and when I really need one’s information I can’t find it. This project will be really interesting. I would love an invite!
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By Igor A. on Sep 24, 2008
Problem with regular biz cards that you always forget them when you need them. Maybe this will help…
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By Wouter on Sep 24, 2008
Interesting, I usually forget to bring my business cards, so the phone version of e sounds interesting. I’d probably forget the device too. Would love an invite.
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By John McFarlane on Sep 24, 2008
Sound great, really been thinking about business cards lately, would love an invite to the beta.
Good luck :)
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By boskabout on Sep 24, 2008
I’m curious to see how it works on my mobile phone, so sign me up too :-).
Cheerio!
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By BasL on Sep 24, 2008
Very curious too… invite me please.
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i want invitation too! please invite me!
http://www.digg-business.cn/News
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By wannez on Sep 24, 2008
Wow, this would be really cool. Checking the video as I type. Would love an invite too.
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By Jerry on Sep 24, 2008
Looks neat! Invite me please :)
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By Timo Paloheimo on Sep 24, 2008
I’ve always hated the traditional business cards. I hope this service will help in their decline.
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By Elf on Sep 24, 2008
This sounds very interesting. Sign me up.
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By Edwinek on Sep 24, 2008
Sounds good, I’d like one.
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By Ørv on Sep 24, 2008
Nice concept!
Invite me please :)
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By Manogr on Sep 24, 2008
I would really like to try it on my iPhone !
Thanks :)
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By Vincent Hoogsteder on Sep 24, 2008
Sounds good! Invite please :-)
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By Jeroen on Sep 24, 2008
Left a message in their inbox quit some time ago — and it still looks promising. Very curious to see what can be done with APIs :-)
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By Ryan Moede on Sep 24, 2008
Here’s hoping it lives up to it’s potential! Would love an invite.
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By Josh Chambers on Sep 24, 2008
Right on! Cool to see these services popping up. Thanks for offering an invite; hope I made the cut!
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By Yvo Breuer on Sep 24, 2008
I’m curious as well. So I’d like to receive an invite too!
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By Paul on Sep 24, 2008
I was just forced to order business cards because it’s what people do. I would happily accept an invitation to this alternative.
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By Tim on Sep 24, 2008
Great concept!
Love to get one of those! I would love an invite…
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By joren on Sep 24, 2008
This looks just great
been following this project for a longtime now, know one of the developers and hope to be able to be one of the first beta testers soon.
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By KGB Advertising on Sep 24, 2008
One of our employees just got in to the Beta and was talking about this today in the office. It really seems like a great tool for managing multiple online identities, especially since we seem to get more and more each day.
While the mobile phone side of things looks great, the actual device is going to be what really pushes E over the edge in to the “must have” market.
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By Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten on Sep 24, 2008
Aaah, I didn’t make it to the first 25! Bummer…
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By David Petherick on Sep 24, 2008
Wow, that did not take long to fill up with requests!
Nice to see this becoming so viral – both Scoble and I loved the idea at The Next Web when we first saw it in April, and it’s great to see it developing.
Great people behind it too.
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By Sander on Sep 24, 2008
I know I’m too late, but I will give it a try!
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By Sasha Kovaliov on Sep 24, 2008
You kidding. 25 already up? I was hoping for one.
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By Simon on Sep 24, 2008
guess i’m out of luck?
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By Patrick de Laive on Sep 24, 2008
Pick me, pick me!
Get more invites!
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By Jason on Sep 24, 2008
Looking fwd to that invite.
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By Robert Mark White on Sep 24, 2008
I am excited to hear about project E. I love business cards. I have saved them for 30 years now, but getting them into my computer and keeping mine current is what i hate. I wish them the very best of luck. Are you going to extend the 25 to 250 invites?
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By Carlos Granier-Phelps on Sep 24, 2008
Sounds interesting… would love an invite if you have any left.
However, we seem to be headed towards unification of social ids around one of two handles: an @name (a la twitter) or a simple email address. Most smart social networks can figure out where else you’re online with just one of these.
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By Janowski on Sep 24, 2008
Sounds great. Can I also have an invite, please.
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By David van Ballegooijen on Sep 25, 2008
start counting at the bottom please! :) cause I’d love an invite! I’ve got an idea for a “similar” phone app and love to see their ideas!
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By Manogr on Sep 25, 2008
Any news about the invites? I posted before the 25 mark but I didn’t receive anything yet :)
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By Russell on Sep 26, 2008
I’m #40, but it would be nice if you could send me one. Thanks!
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By Ernst-Jan Pfauth on Sep 26, 2008
first 25 invites have been sent! I’ll ask Renato if he has some more for the other 15 commenters…
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By daniel on Sep 26, 2008
E will always be Elvis
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By Ernst-Jan Pfauth on Sep 29, 2008
Great news! Here are 25 more:
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By Jonathan on Oct 4, 2008
Hi, could i get an invite please? How do i use the invite codes on the previous post by the way?
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By Yotam on Oct 4, 2008
Hey, I would love to get an invite if there are any left…
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By Marcel on Oct 10, 2008
Do you still have any invites available?
thanks in advance
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By Tom on Mar 16, 2009
hey
check out this website swapbusinescard.com they offer a new way of exchanging business cards. you can create own cards and exchange then online, once you ate connected to your contact you can have their address and location in the map provided, in case your contact changes or adds another number you need not spend time to update that in your address book. it will get updated automatically. they are coming with a desktop version and a mobile application as well.
Link http://swapbusinesscard.com/
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