The Future of Mobile Social Networks: 4 Promising Services
Recently we discussed some of the problems plaguing mobile social networks. These problems include location, marketing strategies and compatibility issues. Our readers also contributed their thoughts on hardware compatibility and GPS. While no network is perfect, in this post we profile some of the key players in the market. Here's a look at four mobile social networks that may have what it takes.
Brightkite
We've already profile Brightkite as a winning mobile social network in the arena. Brightkite allows for your network of friends to keep track of where others may be at any moment. Since no GPS is required, users can send updates to the service via text messaging or email, to update their profile with location updates, pictures, and notes. With a host of privacy settings to prevent any form of stalking, Twitter users are increasingly using the network to update friends with status locations sent to their Twitter streams. Brightkite may be one of the best mobile networks to use, especially when going to a conference or big event in town.
Update: We've got 100 Brightkite invites for you. Just leave us your info below. (Remember, OpenID users, email might not be displayed so make sure you let us know what it is).
Zyb
Taking a different approach from Brightkite, Zyb aims to be a mobile contact organizer for your social network. While we already have our address books for this, Zyb looks to provide a way for you to backup and synchronize your contacts online. You can store your phone numbers, calendar and texts, manage this information online, and transfer your information to a new phone if there ever comes a time. You can also use Zyb to find out who has you in their phones as a contact and even discover friends of friends. Think of Zyb as an expansion on your Facebook pictures and contacts only more mobile.
Groovr
Groovr is your mobile network's night out on the town. Post a picture, message, or video to your Groovr profile and have it sent to all your friends too. Instant chat? Groovr's got you covered. However, some of these features are redundant. Can't we already send messages, pictures, and videos to our friends without a third party? The only feature we found remotely unique is a city's Explore page on Groovr. All of your posted items are sent to the corresponding cities Explore page. Here's a peek at San Francisco on Groovr:
Fon11
Developed by MoBlast Technologies, Fon11 could become the hottest mobile social network for the iPhone. With a nice UI (of course) and great features like the ability to see just how far away your contacts are from you, availability status messages, visibility settings and more, it seems Fon11 has a lot more to offer than the rest of the pack. Fon11 has already been ported to Android and Nokia Web Runtime with development plans in the works for J2ME and Windows Mobile platforms. While GPS remains an issue through no fault of Moblast, we've been assured that there are many strategies in development to find a resolution.
Has the Future of Mobile Social Networks Arrived?
With so much to offer, it's not hard to envision mobile social networks taking off on the coattails of the social web. Brightkite is already seeing a steady climb, Groovr could become the best mobile social network for finding out what's going on in town, and Fon11 may see its moment of fame well before the 3G iPhone hits. Has the future arrived? We'll leave that for you to decide, while we sit and wait anxiously for more.
Comments
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Great coverage, however, I would like to point out that it's incomplete without mentioning the mobile versions of myspace and facebook. I believe they,re part of the mobile social networking our as well.
Posted by: Sachendra Yadav | May 18, 2008 7:32 PM
Hi,
Thanks for the round-up... interested in a brightkite invite. Email address is: gcn(-at-)yahoo.com
Posted by: Gabriel N. | May 18, 2008 7:37 PM
I've been wanting to try BrightKite after seeing a friend on Twitter provide location updates. An invite would be appreciated.
Posted by: Britt | May 18, 2008 8:44 PM
Great round up. I would definitely appreciate an invite to brighkite!
montygray (-at-) hotmail.com
Posted by: Monty | May 18, 2008 8:44 PM
I would like a brightkite account. jamierytlewski*AT*yah00.com - Thanks
Posted by: Jamie Rytlewski | May 18, 2008 8:50 PM
Nice article, as usual. I would love to try out Brightkite.
jachbla (at) gmail (dot) com
Posted by: Christopher Black | May 18, 2008 8:50 PM
Interesting stuff. Hadn't heard of most of those. Could I get a Brightkite invite? derek.tallon at gmail.com. Thanks.
Posted by: Derek Tallon | May 18, 2008 8:53 PM
Check this out http://socialiphone.blogspot.com/
Posted by: SocialIphone | May 18, 2008 9:18 PM
Check this out http://socialiphone.blogspot.com/
Posted by: SocialIphone | May 18, 2008 9:20 PM
A BrightKite invite would be appreciated.Thanks!
joel.price (at) gmail (dot) com
Posted by: Joel Price | May 18, 2008 9:27 PM
brightkite invite please! thanks.
Posted by: asif | May 18, 2008 9:31 PM
brightkite invite please! thanks. asifbaki at gmail dot com.
Posted by: asif | May 18, 2008 9:32 PM
brightkite me por favor...thx! brianaphillips(-at-)yahoo.com
Posted by: Brian Phillips | May 18, 2008 9:35 PM
Great article. If you still have a spare "Brightkite" invite, Iwould love to try it out :) Many thanks, AlanLB.
Posted by: AlanLB | May 18, 2008 9:48 PM
Pick me, pick me! :)
Posted by: Paul J | May 18, 2008 9:54 PM
I'd like a brightkite invitation. Many thanks.
Posted by: maousse | May 18, 2008 9:58 PM
This is new for me. I have seen the mobile version of myspace only, but as all their products it seems like an eternal beta.
Posted by: jc | May 18, 2008 10:50 PM
Brightkite invite plz.
quixot3 at gmail.com
Thx
J
Posted by: Jimmy | May 18, 2008 11:08 PM
Brightkite invitation please :D ! jonas (*at*) zertox (*dot*) com
Posted by: Jonas | May 18, 2008 11:10 PM
Can you hook me up with a Brightkite invite? Please? t2urner [at] gmail [dot] com.
Posted by: t2 | May 18, 2008 11:43 PM
Hi there, I would be very interested as well in the BrightKit Invite, could you send me one?
Thanx already in advance.
See you soon on RWW.
cheers
Jaap Willem (jaapwillem at gmail dot com
Posted by: Jaap Willem | May 19, 2008 12:07 AM
I'd love to check out BrightKite! Can you hook me up? reinierl #at# gmail +dot+ com
Posted by: Reinier Ladan | May 19, 2008 12:08 AM
Looking for BrightKit Invite. Thanks! manamex at gmail dot com
Posted by: Manamex | May 19, 2008 12:29 AM
Hi, a Brightkite invite would be cool!
Interesting to follow how this flurry of social tools is going to play with email. Particularly whether there's going to be new tools combining the mass adoption of email, with the presence and people centricity of some of these emerging social genres and practices.
Posted by: John Kellden | May 19, 2008 1:29 AM
Interesting review, we are a group of people looking at these tings in Denmark. -- I'd love a invite too, that is, if Brightkite works in Scandinavia/DK! Atlantagrrl AT gmail dot com
Posted by: Lisbeth Klastrup | May 19, 2008 1:38 AM
I would like to test brightkite
Posted by: Robert | May 19, 2008 1:43 AM
Interesting read - could you pls send me a brightkite invite?
think_ink(at)gmx(dot)de
Posted by: Inken Petersen | May 19, 2008 1:47 AM
looking forward for a invite as well..
and thanks for the post, good overview!
Posted by: suls | May 19, 2008 1:59 AM
Zyb is one of the productive & useful apps for working people, especially those with more than one phone, which is not rare these days.
I love Zyb's "Suggested merges"function, which finds duplicated contacts and merges them together so you can get a cleaner contact book.
I also would love to try Brightkite, please: thaisontran [at] gmail [dot] com
Posted by: Sonny | May 19, 2008 2:01 AM
Nice effort but I think you are missing some other important Mobile Social Networks, like Wadja.com, Mig33 etc.
As far as FB is concerned the Mobile version is just an extension of the site without adding to the experience.
Posted by: George K. | May 19, 2008 2:12 AM
Eager to check BrightKite out... an invite would come in handy :)
Posted by: gmork | May 19, 2008 2:29 AM
I would love a BrightKite invite, if you have any left.
Posted by: Ben McDonald | May 19, 2008 2:50 AM
Sort me some Brightkite, yo
Posted by: Nik | May 19, 2008 2:51 AM
wanting a brightkite invite - thanks.
Posted by: Matthias | May 19, 2008 2:53 AM
Thanks for the post. I'd appreciate an invite to Brightkite (email: sandina[at]gmail[dot]com. Btw, Zyb does not work in Europe, at least not in Spain.
Posted by: sandy | May 19, 2008 2:55 AM
Nice review because I'm really exited about the future of mobile SNS. Therefore I would be glad if you could send me an invite on: damjan.obal(-at-)gmail.com
Tnx!
Posted by: Damjan (drLisica) | May 19, 2008 3:45 AM
Handy update- thanks. Could you send me a BrightKit invite. Many thanks: gus@playgroup.com
Posted by: Gus | May 19, 2008 3:49 AM
Hi!
I'm interested in a Brightkite invite.
My email: adrianzzzz@gmail.com
Posted by: Adrian | May 19, 2008 3:52 AM
Brightkite invite, please.
Good article. Thanks.
Posted by: rick | May 19, 2008 4:10 AM
Would love an invite sent to crestien - gmail.com
Thanks!
Posted by: Chris | May 19, 2008 4:46 AM
I believe Zyb is working on different idea thats why vodafone has made there move and recently they have purchased Zyb. Social networking future is bright, no doubt.
Posted by: SKhan | May 19, 2008 4:48 AM
Can I have a brightkite invite please. jobellingham at gmail dot com
Posted by: jo | May 19, 2008 5:31 AM
I'm eager to check out this new service. An invite would come in handy.
Thanks!
Posted by: Nicke | May 19, 2008 6:35 AM
I would like to try BrightKite please.
Posted by: Mike | May 19, 2008 6:38 AM
Very interesting, especially fon11.
I´m also interested in one of those Brightkite invites:
contact at franktentler dot com
Thank you!
Posted by: frank_tentler | May 19, 2008 6:44 AM
Just looking for a Brightkite invitation :) thanks
Posted by: Tom | May 19, 2008 6:45 AM
I would also like to try BrightKite please, thanks.
The email is dbai2.0@gmail.com
Posted by: David Bai | May 19, 2008 7:27 AM
Hi
I'm interest in brightkite invitation, thank you
Also our new technology www.mobilenob.com
allow every web video to be sent to mobile, in real time
Think of our 'send to mobile' button on every video site, we are able to optimizes and convert every online video to any mobile handset in real time and send it to more than 212 countries around the world
http://www.mobilenob.com/c/index?lang=&m=&page=video_portal_owner
Posted by: Kobi Gamliel | May 19, 2008 7:31 AM
Hi
I'm interest in brightkite invitation, thank you
Also our new technology www.mobilenob.com
allow every web video to be sent to mobile, in real time
Think of our 'send to mobile' button on every video site, we are able to optimizes and convert every online video to any mobile handset in real time and send it to more than 212 countries around the world
http://www.mobilenob.com/c/index?lang=&m=&page=video_portal_owner
Email: kobi@nortcon.com
Posted by: Kobi Gamliel | May 19, 2008 7:31 AM
I think mobile social networks are going to be the next big thing especially once more people get smartphones in their hands - iPhone2.0 this June will be a huge catalyst.
I wrote about the effect of social networks in the smartphone market on my blog interwebers. I referenced an article out of the New York Times discussing RIM's decrease in market share.
Here's a link to the article: http://interwebers.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/smartphone-markets-a-changin/
Posted by: Chris Leone | May 19, 2008 7:52 AM
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