As Spring warmed our lunchtime planning expeditions, we sat in a yellow wood to discuss that which had always been understood without the need for such trivial things as words;  The initial DigiCase would be for an iPhone.

As the planning stage continued we begun to dig deeper into the marketplace to search out potential competitors.  It wasn’t long before we found the product we would view as our first nemesis- The PopSlate.

They had undertaken 2 breathtaking Crowdfunding campaigns, storming past the $1,100,000 mark as they basked in the plaudits of online blogs, tech journals, gadget gurus and a host of excited backers. It did not give us pause though, as their product was a mere ink screen that ran widgets.  As such they did not appear to have actualised the potential we saw.

Many days, and an equal number of nights passed as we continued to delve into the patents and certification requirements abounding in the DigiCase domain.  It was then we came across three letters that did give us pause...

At first we pondered what part a defunct British furniture retailer could have in the scheme of things, but we soon realised that it was not MFI, but MFi.

With a minimum requirement of being a well versed Philadelphian lawyer to understand the Apple FAQ’s page on the MFi topic, combined with our previous experience developing an App game on the Apple online store, it became clear that the fickle nature of Apple would be a bridge too far.

It would be costlier to tread a track with so many hurdles.  We would need to change tack. We would take the path, just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim of being the most advanced phone, to the Galaxy S8 series.

In early 2017 PopSlate would implode leaving its 12,000 backers with no product and no refund, due to being unable to comply with Apple’s OTA Requirements - whatever these may be.   

We knew then that our decision to take the path less travelled would make all the difference. 

Whether it was lifelong subliminal conditioning by the likes of the Blind Mice, Bob Dorough or Alexandre Dumas, we instinctively knew that DigiCase required an additional skill set to help furrow its field of dreams.

As the early August chill swirled around our lunchtime reverie, the conversation again turned to DigiCase and Dave the Sourcerer’s mission.  One of the Villagers, by the name of Tom, listened keenly.

Our guts whispered to us that this colonial cider drinker, with his sobering no nonsense approach to life and not in your face laissez-faire attitude, could well be the one to help push the DigiCase across the hazy barrier of non-existence to reality.

Sometime later that evening as we charged a trio of glasses affirming our newfound unity, echoing Athos, Porthos and Aramis before us, the air acquiesced with a melody that spoke a fundamental truth to each of us.

It was clear by now that Tom would be the Spock to our Quixote.

As we begun to delve deeper into the potential marketplace that we would find ourselves, the next hurdle loomed large: Patents. Legal meetings were arranged and held in smokeless rooms and soon the path was clear.  Except one small thing:  Could we sell in the US of A?

In unison we raised or non literal swords and vowed to continue.

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As July became later in July we continued to wear down the good Belgian wood of our chosen benches in our lunchtime beer garden.  As new idea after new idea crashed and burned on the altar of Excessive Initial Outlay, the digital photo frame as phone case seed continued to germinate like Lance Armstrong’s beanstalk.

Following the lunchtime disassembly of a digital key-ring and a thorough examination of same, with our layman level of expertise, we knew it was doable. We just needed a Sourcerer. 

We needed someone who knew how to get things done and with more contacts than SpecSavers, but how to source a Sourcerer?  It turns out the internet is a viable option, and soon First Contact was made.

We had found Dave the Sourcerer!

A face to face meeting was to be held, via Skype, to discuss feasibility.  This meant the fledgling dream of DigiCase had to step out of its beer garden beginnings, into the al fresco drinking areas of Federation Square.

It was back in the winter of two thousand and sixteen, sometime in July, to be somewhat exact, during another soul sapping day at work when Dale suggested a pub lunch, less the lunch. 

I need not go into the beauty of this building, nor the fantastic beer garden - but on that day this was the level of patronage. 

We sat lamenting the fact that lunchtimes must end; and like inmates we dreamt only of escape. 

Our flights of fancy often took the shape of conversation, and on this crisp day one of Dale’s wings touched upon a small key-ring.  A small key-ring with a screen.

Dale pondered aloud “Could this be blown up and put onto a phone case for the back of our phones?” 

Michael replied “That idea has got legs.”  He meant this metaphorically. 

Dale agreed his idea was a good one, and with the first circle of acknowledgment complete we knew there was only one thing for it.  We would need to come back for pints (of a rather delicious ale) tomorrow lunchtime to continue to discuss how such a thing could be done. 

That evening, like Mr Eastwood, we dared to share a dream...