Mobile Social Networking
Harpreet Rooprai
Sub Editor
[email protected]
Abstract
Mobile Social Networking is the latest phenomenon to hit the LBS segment companies are trying to develop applications for mobile phones and mobile social networking.
The likely potential of this innovation is such that experts are calling it the killer application for 3G. The reason could be simple. People prefer to connect with their friends on mobile than on a computer. Who would wait to get home and switch on the computer to share the latest hot hangout with friends. The ‘traditional’ combination of web and cell phones provided a limited scope. Now adding GPS technology is giving a whole new dimension to the wireless social-networking by allowing users to know each others location. In this issue of TechWatch, we are listing some of the Mobile Social Networking sites/ services, which are different from each other in terms of services they offer.
Loopt
Loopt, a California based company has built a “social mapping” service that turns your cell phone into a friend finder with detailed maps that show the exact location of a person. Once users download the Loopt application to their cellphones, and invite and verify their friends, they can click on the application icon to view a map that will display their friends’ locations as green dots.
Helio’s Buddy Beacon
Helio, a wireless company is offering devices named Heat and Drift that offer GPS technology on mobile, enabling Helio’s Buddy Beacon application. GPS-powered Buddy Beacon application, also dubbed “Friendar”, is a useful tool when you want your friends to know your location or vice-versa. Other features include GPS-enabled Google Maps and Get Local Guidance.
Socialight’s Sticky Notes
Launched in the fall of 2005, Kamida Inc.’s Socialight service requires you to tell it where you are by sending it a text-message with your location. Once you “check-in” by doing so, it allows users to share geo-tagged “Sticky Notes” for other people who have checked into the vicinity.
There are 3 ways to access Socialight using your mobile phone. The first is using SMS (text messaging) – Socialight Text. You send an SMS to Socialight, and you get a response with a customized message. The second is the socialight.com mobile web site and the third is the Socialight Mobile Java application.
Family Locator
Sprint Nextel has launched a family oriented location based service called Sprint Family Locator. The service allows the users to track the location of their family members. The company is marketing the service as a way to give “Peace of Mind” to parents. It should be noted that Sprint Family Locator can only find phones that are in their coverage area and are turned on.
The application uses GPS technology to determine the location of authorized mobile phones, which it then displays on an interactive map. Sprint Family Locator also provides an intuitive interface for text-message communication and account management. These features are accessible from both a registered mobile phone and the secure Sprint Family Locator Web site.
Entourage
Rave Wireless, a USA based provider of mobile applications and mobile phone programs that strengthen college and university communities, is using GPS technology to power a new service called “Entourage”. It allows users to make their location available to friends in their Rave address book. Rave Entourage is a social networking service that enables users to create communities and determine the locations of community members who want to be located.
Mologogo
Mologogo (named for Mobile Location Go! Go!) is a free service that will track you and your friend’s GPS-enabled cell phone from another phone or on the web. The service combines real-time tracking system, location based search and alerts, mobile maps, social networking and location-aware chat. The Mologogo user himself controls the data and can specify who sees his location.
