It's quite simple: it enables true micropayments on the Bitcoin blockchain by making access to mining ubiquitous.
Eventually their chips will be integrated into PCs. As the person you quoted above mentioned, this is the pilot version.
The amount of coins mined is negligible from a financial standpoint but not if someone is concerned with interoperable communication by devices using the Bitcoin protocol.

Eventually their chips will be integrated into PCs. As the person you quoted above mentioned, this is the pilot version.
The amount of coins mined is negligible from a financial standpoint but not if someone is concerned with interoperable communication by devices using the Bitcoin protocol.

I thought the Bitcoin protocol was off-limits for the free shit army and their coffee/micro-transactions?
Seems the devices aren't intended to be using the Bitcoin protocol... besides just trading hashes for proprietary credits from 21 co.? Eventually settled to the blockchain by some gateway?
I hope these guys are successful but it's looking like a long shot at this point. $400 for a 100GH device is pretty laughable. Joe Blow public can't be arsed to even figure out that bitcoin didn't die with mt gox, yet they'll be super interested in expensive high power consumption devices for... free articles on the web? I wish them luck, and it seems they'll need it in addition to 9 figures of VC money and some smart people.
Wake me up when the 30TH electric furnace/water heater comes out.
