You may recall that back in January of 2011 I posted a wish list of all the things I would like to see in a barter exchange’s smart phone app.  I’m pleased to announce that IMS now has a beta smart phone app for BOTH iphone and android that you can download from the App Store (for iphone folks) or Google Play (formerly Android Marketplace).   The app has a lot of the functions that I asked for.  The folks over at IMS were kind enough to give me a heads up about the new app that you should be able to find for download by simply searching for “IMS barter” where you normally download phone apps.  Please note that this is a beta version so you should not expect perfection yet.

Overall I’m quite pleased with IMS’s first attempt.   It’s a little slow to start when you first click on the application, but other than than the functionality seems flawless.   I’m an Android man so I was able to test it on an Android phone and tablet.  I did not conduct any iphone testing.  I should also mention that it is a FREE application.  The main functions are:

• Restaurant Search (complete with interactive map)
• Authorization Request (like the website it is for a seller only)
• Account info
• Transactions
• Contact IMS (makes it easy to contact your broker)

Criminals have a vested interest in barter.  It’s simple really.  Barter transactions are harder for enforcement agencies to track than cash.  I’ve mentioned in the past that the alternative electronic currency known as bitcoin is known to be used by drug dealers in an attempt to hide their business.  Now there may be a new and much stranger alternative currency that the underground economy is using:  Tide laundry detergent.  That’s right!  Based on the news articles I’ve been reading (just Google “Tide theft”) criminals have been specifically using Tide as an alternate currency.  If true, I’m sure this is just breaking hearts over at Proctor and Gamble.

Although there is some debate as to the voracity of the news reports about this (snoopes) I think the concept is still interesting.  There is no good reason why we should be trading government issued pieces of paper to buy and sell products/services especially seeing that the paper is a fiat currency that is backed up by no real assets and has no “real” value.  As such a jug of Tide is arguably much more valuable than US dollars.  When you combine that fact with the declining confidence that many Americans have in the Federal Reserve System it makes perfect sense that people are going to look for an alternative currency with real value.

More than anything else I would take these news reports as a sign of the times as to the current openness of folks to accept payment in barter.   As such I recommend to strike while the iron is hot and do your best to recruit as many of your vendors/customers/friends/enemies/etc. into the Cult Of Barter.

OK…what I really want to know here is who told A&E about my idea??!!!

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Exclusive-Orders-Barter-Kings-1044955.aspx

Seriously though…a friend and I came up with a similar idea about 6 weeks ago.  There is a difference between our ideas though.  Based on the article above it sounds like they are going to try to do the whole “trade a  paperclip up  to a house” type thing.  I understand why they are taking that route.    It’s a popular story that people love.  I wouldn’t do it that way though because that doesn’t reflect the real barter sub-culture.  Real traders aren’t going to limit their resources and try to trade a single item up as much as they can.  Real traders are always bartering everything.  I think a better framework for a show would be to show how people live every day  with as little cash as possible.  I’ve heard of people that depend on barter for 80 or 90% of their income.  That’s what I’d be interested in seeing.

BTW…thanks to Paul for the heads up on this one!