From walking tours of China to GPS-driven handheld games, location-based services are getting hotter than David Hasselhoff in a sports car.
The biggest reason for this is that even “basic” phones aren’t so basic anymore. GPS is becoming a standard feature, and developers are learning to harness its power. This is driving a wave of services that mesh mobile life and real life into an ultra-efficient (and cool) social entity.
The point is not just to move onto digital or mobile, but to use both to enrich the user’s life and experiences, to provide branded utility. With Android buzzing and the iPhone’s continued market dominance, there is no doubt we will be privy to many various LBS applications. Here’s a snapshot of what’s out there now:
Navigation
- Myrimis: Myrimis offers turn-by-turn directions to searched locations and a way to “tag the world.” However, it also allows you to monitor and control your home, cars, boats and more using ZigBee or In-Vehicle-Devices.
- Breadcrumbz: Breadcrumbz is all about finding where you want to go, but instead of a map, uses pictures.
Friend-finding
- MyGamma: MyGamma won “Best Social Networking Service” at the 2008 Global Mobile Awards and is owned by BuzzCity - conveniently - a mobile advertiser.
- Loopt: Loopt is one of the Apple App Store’s brat pack - highly-touted and, though imperfect, still shows great promise.
- Limbo: The cool thing about Limbo is the way you are able to view friends. For example, you can see what friends (and how many) playing football right now vs. who is watching a movie. You can also put your friends in groups and view updates selectively. Finally, by playing games hosted on Limbo, you are able to win “loot” which can be redeemed like Kool Aid points for swag.
- GyPSii: GyPSii allows users to create “places” through pictures, video and words – then share them with everyone on their network.
Sharing
- Bliin: Located in the Netherlands, Bliin is all about sharing pictures, video and comments in realtime on a map. As cool as it sounds, good luck trying to lie about why you couldn’t make it to the party.
- Map My Tracks: Map My Tracks allows you to share your sporting adventures on air, land or sea.
- Whrrl: Another iPhone application, Whrrl is leading the way in location-based marketing. Fans of the show “Entourage” can follow their favorite characters via Whrrl and visit real-life locations from the show.
Dating
- MeetMoi: A GPS dating service was probably inevitable. Will using French in the title make it less creepy though?
- BEDD: Despite the name, BEDD isn’t so risqué. With support from Nokia, BEDD was able to attain some major, international growth. Not specifically about dating - though not shying away - BEDD is all about meeting new people and, um, “bedding” them …
