One of the biggest strategic errors in recent history goes to the managers of the yellow pages.  They had a chance to become the go to source for local information, but lacked the vision to see how to turn this into a long term goldmine.

Before the web became widely adopted the yellow phone book was “the source” for local business information.  When people required the services  of a new business it was the first place they searched.

When the internet started gaining momentum and users, the Yellow Pages management viewed the web as an add on product to the big printed book that was the core of their business.  They lacked the vision to see the day that the web would replace a printed book for most consumers.  Instead of building for the future they took the immediate profits from add on sales, forgoing the long term strategic advantage.

With a lack of vision they asked businesses to pay an exorbitant monthly fee to show up in the online search results of their obscure pages.  Many  if not most refused, making the online version irrelevant.

Automobiles should come with several USB ports that provide the 5V pin to power or charge devices.

Most devices have standardized on USB for charging. It makes charging and data transfer a snap with one simple port. With the depth of penetration it only makes sense that automobiles also provide a means of power.

Creative manufacturers could provide additional interactions, for example allowing entertainment to play through the automobile stereo system.

The old power adapter designed to light cigarettes in automobiles is showing its age, and needs replaced with a new standard. Instead of developing something from scratch automobile manufacturers could easily adapt USB power outlets.

The primary problem with cigarette power outlets is their size and reliability. The large size limits the amount of adapters available and the possible suitable locations to conveniently locate them. The connection was not designed as a power source is often temperamental and unreliable in that role.

The auto industry or an interested third party could easily develop a new standard from scratch, but adapting the USB standard has many advantages.

• Designed as a power outlet and thus more reliable.
• Simple to implement for power only.
• OEM and Third party power cords readily available at low costs.
• Allows creative extensions (i.e. play music from mobile device).

When the auto industry stumbled many bloggers and zines penned articles stating that the industry needs a visionary driver similar to Apple’s Steve Jobs. If Jobs was at the helm of a manufacturer the legacy cigarette connectors would already be relegated to their initial purpose, and only as an expensive build to order smoking accessory option.