TalkingMobile » Mobile Social NetWork http://talkingmobile.com Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:48:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Wefi Comes To (Mini Appstore) S60 Download Catalog http://talkingmobile.com/2009/03/26/wefi-comes-to-mini-appstore-s60-download-catalog/ http://talkingmobile.com/2009/03/26/wefi-comes-to-mini-appstore-s60-download-catalog/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:47:36 +0000 Harel Shattenstein http://talkingmobile.com/?p=692 Wefi, the “Hotspot” based social network is now available to download  through the S60  download catalog.
Wefi mobile client (that we have reviewed) ranks hotspots based on the  users that have previous logged on a specific hotspot giving it a higher rank.
Once a Wefi user is searching for a hotspot, the client will try to connect the “high ranked” hotspot first.
As I wrote before the client is easy to use, just chose the Wefi access point and you are done.
By the way I hope they took in to account my remarks about the potential of the client to serve as a wefi-mobilemobile social network specially, when LBS and mobile social networks are prospering.
There are two issues that disturbs me with the client, the first is that it runs on background, but that can be partly solved by opening Wefi before every search for a wi-fi spot.
The second is that the client is powered by users and for a better experience more hotspots need to be found by users.
That is why Wefi are working on enlarging their user base, recently they added a Fring add-on, run a campaign with ROK, and now they will be available through the S60 download.
It seems that like any mobile client it is all about distribution channels, and as for Wefi they are on the right track.

]]> http://talkingmobile.com/2009/03/26/wefi-comes-to-mini-appstore-s60-download-catalog/feed/ 0 “Facebook Phone” Is Already Nearby http://talkingmobile.com/2009/02/07/facebook-phone-is-already-nearby/ http://talkingmobile.com/2009/02/07/facebook-phone-is-already-nearby/#comments Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:51:36 +0000 Jeb Brilliant http://talkingmobile.com/?p=608 Social networks have been the greatest phenomenon in the last two years.
Well known Facebook have recently celebrated its 5th birthday with more than 150 million users.
The success soon invaded  the mobile web and for example 15 million users entered their account on Facebook via a mobile device.
In addition, the most popular sites on mobile are social networks , they are even more popular than that on PC internet.
Like it or not the phenomenon has come to the mobile, big time.
Recent developments and the launch of Google Latitude will soon determine if the mobile device will become the “Facebook Phone” too.

As ReadWriteWeb mentioned location based social networks are already available on an increasing number of carriers, but all of the services have yet to hit the mainstream.
The lack of GPS-enabled devices and application awareness contributed to the situation.
Moreover, the mobile social network do not have a web presence, unlike Facebook that grew from the web to  mobile, Loopt and brightkite that have started their way on the mobile.

The evolution of social networks will definitely take place in the mobile world.
That is why  Google Latitude is a true innovation. the Geo Information comes as an additional information for an existed social network, in this case Google “Social Networks” (Google users).
The data will help you locate friends that are already a part of a relationship that is based on email contacts, close friends, etc.
While chatting with a colleague, the information can save him an SMS because he will know already where you are.
The mobile device is used as a tool to enhance the connections and communication ways, connections that are taking place on the web.

Another advantage is that Google can bring  Latitude to the masses by itself or with the help of developers.
The service will automatically be installed on all HTC G1 devices, and will hit all Android based devices from day one.

The launch of Google Latitude was just the opening shot, more and more mobile devices equipped with GPS receivers are soon to come,  and giants like Nokia are already working (and working) on its “Latitude”.
Then the main fight will start, will it be the major web social networks like Facebook that will take control over our mobile devices or will it be Nokia or Google.
Nokia’s intentions for it’s social network is still unclear , but it cannot ignore the momentum of web social networks like facebook, My space etc .
One way or another it seems the “Facebook phone” will be available sooner than we thought.

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