NeedYou|NeedMe is a mobile-based social networking service that allows subscribers to quickly contact one another to trade favors and fulfill needs. It is designed to improve urban communities and build communication and friendships between those who may not otherwise know each other.
NeedYou|NeedMe was created as an entry in the Excitera 2007 Innovation Challenge: Bästa nya mobiltjänsten (Best New Mobile Service) competition, sponsored by Telenor and Ericsson; Stockholm, Sweden. It was awarded the runner-up prize of 50,000:- SEK (Swedish Kronor; approximately $8,000 USD) and is in the first phases of development as a new mobile service for the Swedish market.

More information:

NeedYou|NeedMe is a platform, rather than a fixed product.
The service is centered around:

• A free Java (or equivalent) mobile application, downloaded to individual mobile phones
• A “points” system, wherein users trade in a micro-economy as compensation for favors and advice
• The sale of “business-level” accounts, whose results are returned via SMS to every related query, thus bringing contextual advertising out of the web and into real-life communities.

How does it work?
An example scenario:

	1. Karin subscribes to NeedYou|NeedMe. She downloads the Java application onto her phone.
	2. She creates her account and profile, where she can specify her areas of interest (pets, cars, Do-It-Yourself, food, etc).
	3. When subscribing, Karin receives a small number of free points. These points are traded when asking for help, and can be collected by helping others or by buying them from the service provider.
	4. Two days later, Karin has to leave overnight and needs someone to take care of her dog. In the mobile application she selects the “pet-lovers” request category and writes a short text describing her need. She offers three points to anyone that can help her.
	5. The application sends an SMS with her text to all subscribers in the pet-lovers category that live in her neighborhood or area of the city.
	6. Jonas and Mark both live nearby and offer their help to Karin.
	7. Karin can easily check their profiles via her phone, where she finds the feedback left by previous users. She discovers that Jonas got 1 very good feedback (90% satisfaction) while Mark got 2 (but with only 60% average satisfaction).
	8. Karin opts for Jonas. They get in touch through SMS or call, and decide to meet in the late afternoon. Karin uses the application to send the promised three points to Jonas’ account.
	9. Jonas keeps the dog for the night. The next day, Karin comes back home and retrieves her pet.
	10. Karin is grateful to Jonas and decides to post a good feedback on his profile, just like the last person he helped.

Other possible requests…

• - Ulrika is giving a party and has no clue where to find a particular ingredient. (Advice request)
• - Kalle needs a electric screwdriver for one day to mount his new bookshelf. (Tool request)
• - Lina’s bike broke and she wants to know if someone can help her repair it. (Service request)

…and infinite others.

More detailed information, including distribution, providers’ benefits, profitability, promotions, and market competition are included in our detailed ‘Innovation Plan,’ which will probably be posted here after the dust settles from this competition. This is a collaborative project with a dear friend, designer Andrea de Angelis.