Ether = Questico 2.0?

Ether is a decentralised riff on the original keen.com anno 99 model of allowing people to charge for advice over the phone. As for so many startups, keen.com had a German cousin, Questico. It took Questico a few iterations and unblinking investors to come up with a business model that works, but thanks to focussing on Astrology advice the company now grows like wildfire. They presented at the German Tech Tour last year and when they showed their growth rates the sharp intake of breath was audible ;-).

Will it work? I don't know; what I find most interesting about it is the decentralised approach. It seems to become more and more a defining feature for web2.0 type companies with potential. Having said that, just offering a platform (without a trust/ratings system it seems) won't be enough, you have to become a sort of market maker in specific niches just like Questico discovered and now owns the astrology/horoscope market in Germany now.

One wonders why Skype hasn't long since offered something similar, but that's another story. Would be nice to publish your own number to telemarketing firms though.

Via TechCrunch » Super-Stealth Ether to Launch Tonight (Hat tip to Oliver)