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I don't really understand why this is being considered technology news. This isn't Tesco entering into the technology sector. This is just a classic case of a

by jpswade 13y ago

I don't really understand why this is being considered technology news. This isn't Tesco entering into the technology sector. This is just a classic case of a retailer maximising their profits in a particular sector. It doesn't matter what it is, if it's popular and profit margins, they'll sell it. This is no different.

Toenex 13y ago
The article certainly suggests that Tesco has had some role in the manufacturing of the device - the link through to their announcement even states they were involved in the design. Obviously there is a broad spectrum of meaning to this from simply badging an existing product to digging up the silicon and everything in between. However, the decision to do something beyond selling another brand is different. Tesco have also invested heavily in the BlinkBox brand too and my guess is this device is meant to compliment or even drive people to their video on demand offering. Is this being branded under their 'Tecknica' moniker?
- PaulHoule 13y ago
  It might not be a big technology story but it's a big business story. I think it's big deal not because it's Tesco, but it's a big deal because it could be Target, Wegmans, Wal*Mart, Nasty Gal or any other retailer. Retailers are happy to give substantial discounts if you have a loyalty card, so I think they get the concept of a subsidized tablet that collects usage data and keeps you in contact with the brand. On top of that, if Wi-Fi is provisioned in the store, the tablet can be customized to provide in-store experiences. For instance, the Nook always shows "Barnes and Noble Store" in the network connections chooser which advertises that you can go there when you're on the road. On top of that, it gives retailers all the more incentive to develop better mobile experiences. In the Android ecosystem, we'll probably see "white box" tablets made in China that can be easily branded by any company. Perhaps we'll even see contests where you can win a "Red Bull" or "Budweiser" branded tablets.
jon-wood 13y ago
In a way this almost seems to make sense. If Tesco are going to sell a tablet in store then it may as well be one they can preload with software that makes them more money, either through video rentals or food delivery. There's a part of me that wonders how many they're likely to sell at that price point, since it doesn't really feel like an impulse buy, however my local Sainsbury had 42" TVs prominently displayed as you walked in the other day, so presumably there are people who pop out for a bottle of milk and then come home with a TV.
- Nursie 13y ago
  Apparently you can use your Tesco card points to bring the price down to £60, and in a manner that doesn't use £60 worth of points, which moves it further into impulse territory.
TheAnimus 13y ago
>I don't really understand why this is being considered technology news Tesco have been hiring a lot of Silverlight and similar discipline developers. They have been working on their own TV streaming service like Netflix, but this one is free. It is supported by advertisements. For those not from the UK Tesco has a very popular loyalty card system called ClubCard. They where pioneers of it in the UK market IIRC. They know what a lot of people shop for, when they shop for it, and often can guess very accurately what will be a conversion to a sale, and what won't. They do this at the moment with vouchers. But now they have the streaming TV. They can charge (or they hope!) more for an advert than a competitor. It doesn't matter that Google knows you searched for xxxx or that in an email your friend mentioned that you liked yyyy. Tesco know what you actually bought. They can measure the effect of showing the same person 10 impressions, and if it results in a conversion. Google and their ilk can not say if it worked. Did more people buy your nice brand of soup because of that slick new advert? Or was it just because the weather was a bit gray that week? Tesco will be able to tie up those exposed to adverts and those who then convert. They can get a beachhead in your digital life, when for many they already control most of their physical. This isn't just about selling a tablet, it is about moving advertising in a way we've never seen before in the digital world. I am very impressed by them for doing this. Rather than re-act to the digital world by using their physical world tactics, or buy just buying some trendy startup. They've taken the best bits of both creating a platform to allow them to fully exploit it. However, I absolutely hate targeted advertisements, so they won't be getting me near their damned ecosystem (or ClubCard!)
- JonoW 13y ago
  The free TV streaming service has been live for some time - www.clubcardtv.com . There's an Android app of course for the Hudl

by jpswade 13y ago

Toenex 13y ago

The article certainly suggests that Tesco has had some role in the manufacturing of the device - the link through to their announcement even states they were involved in the design. Obviously there is a broad spectrum of meaning to this from simply badging an existing product to digging up the silicon and everything in between. However, the decision to do something beyond selling another brand is different. Tesco have also invested heavily in the BlinkBox brand too and my guess is this device is meant to compliment or even drive people to their video on demand offering. Is this being branded under their 'Tecknica' moniker?

PaulHoule 13y ago
It might not be a big technology story but it's a big business story. I think it's big deal not because it's Tesco, but it's a big deal because it could be Target, Wegmans, Wal*Mart, Nasty Gal or any other retailer. Retailers are happy to give substantial discounts if you have a loyalty card, so I think they get the concept of a subsidized tablet that collects usage data and keeps you in contact with the brand. On top of that, if Wi-Fi is provisioned in the store, the tablet can be customized to provide in-store experiences. For instance, the Nook always shows "Barnes and Noble Store" in the network connections chooser which advertises that you can go there when you're on the road. On top of that, it gives retailers all the more incentive to develop better mobile experiences. In the Android ecosystem, we'll probably see "white box" tablets made in China that can be easily branded by any company. Perhaps we'll even see contests where you can win a "Red Bull" or "Budweiser" branded tablets.

jon-wood 13y ago

In a way this almost seems to make sense. If Tesco are going to sell a tablet in store then it may as well be one they can preload with software that makes them more money, either through video rentals or food delivery. There's a part of me that wonders how many they're likely to sell at that price point, since it doesn't really feel like an impulse buy, however my local Sainsbury had 42" TVs prominently displayed as you walked in the other day, so presumably there are people who pop out for a bottle of milk and then come home with a TV.

Nursie 13y ago
Apparently you can use your Tesco card points to bring the price down to £60, and in a manner that doesn't use £60 worth of points, which moves it further into impulse territory.

TheAnimus 13y ago

>I don't really understand why this is being considered technology news Tesco have been hiring a lot of Silverlight and similar discipline developers. They have been working on their own TV streaming service like Netflix, but this one is free. It is supported by advertisements. For those not from the UK Tesco has a very popular loyalty card system called ClubCard. They where pioneers of it in the UK market IIRC. They know what a lot of people shop for, when they shop for it, and often can guess very accurately what will be a conversion to a sale, and what won't. They do this at the moment with vouchers. But now they have the streaming TV. They can charge (or they hope!) more for an advert than a competitor. It doesn't matter that Google knows you searched for xxxx or that in an email your friend mentioned that you liked yyyy. Tesco know what you actually bought. They can measure the effect of showing the same person 10 impressions, and if it results in a conversion. Google and their ilk can not say if it worked. Did more people buy your nice brand of soup because of that slick new advert? Or was it just because the weather was a bit gray that week? Tesco will be able to tie up those exposed to adverts and those who then convert. They can get a beachhead in your digital life, when for many they already control most of their physical. This isn't just about selling a tablet, it is about moving advertising in a way we've never seen before in the digital world. I am very impressed by them for doing this. Rather than re-act to the digital world by using their physical world tactics, or buy just buying some trendy startup. They've taken the best bits of both creating a platform to allow them to fully exploit it. However, I absolutely hate targeted advertisements, so they won't be getting me near their damned ecosystem (or ClubCard!)

JonoW 13y ago
The free TV streaming service has been live for some time - www.clubcardtv.com . There's an Android app of course for the Hudl