Full details of the technology inside The O2

The Millennium Dome is dead! Long live The O2! Especially if someone can nab me Prince tickets… No, seriously, O2 has started talking publicly about the mobile technology that’ll be in place when the revamped Dome reopens as The O2.

As you’d expect, much of it will only be available to O2 customers. For example, before every gig at the venue, they’ll be able to download exclusive interviews, rehearsal footage and other content relating to the bands. They’ll also be able to get their hands on priority tickets up to 48 hours before everyone else by registering here, and join fast-lane queues at the gig itself.

As you’d expect, mobile ticketing will play a big role at the venue, with tickets being sent direct to people’s phones as scannable barcodes. Here again, there’s a sweetener for O2 customers, who’ll get sent an extra barcode to get into an ‘exclusive’ blueroom bar.

Bear in mind that 10% of tickets for gigs will be offered early to O2 customers, so don’t expect to be sipping champers in peaceful solitude. There’s also an even MORE exclusive bit, The O2 Lounge, which O2 customers can text to win entry to.

Other stuff: there’ll be an O2 Chill Zone to relax, and an O2 Create area (pictured) that’ll let you “choose from a choice of videos and then dance and singalong whilst it is filmed adding special effects”. And then get it sent to your phone or email address. Good lord. Plus, there’ll be an O2 Concept Store showcasing the latest handsets.

And the whizziness goes on. If you make it into the blueroom bar, you’ll be able to text-vote to change the wallpaper on the room’s 45-metre projection wall, plus you’ll be able to text requests to the bar’s jukebox (RENE & RENATA PLS, CHRS!).

After gigs finish, you’ll be able to buy “concert images” to use as wallpaper on your phone – presumably your blurry camphone snaps of the lead singer taken from 86 rows back while some drunk bloke jumps on your back will pale in comparison. There’ll be an online forum to chat about gigs afterwards too.

Meanwhile, , O2’s new Cocoon phone (see Kat’s review from last week) will interact with the venue, automatically downloading a customised wallpaper when you walk into The O2, as well as supplying a venue map, tips and news.

And lastly, Wi-Fi will be available in all public areas of The O2, with O2 customers able to blag free vouchers to use it. Cor, eh? Rumours that Vodafone is sponsoring the pork scratchings behind the bar at the Camden Falcon as a spoiler gesture are, as yet, unconfirmed.

Shiny Shiny’s Alex went for a tour of the venue yesterday, so watch out for some videos coming later today from her.

The O2 website