The new wave of mobile phones brought with them many new software improvements, marketplaces and overall just a nicer sense of usability for the user. One hardware addition to these phones that many people are still to recognise the potential of is the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) chip that can turn these phones into miniature navigation and positioning devices.
What I mean by the above statement is that phones have now become social platforms instead of just a way of Mr A speaking to Mr B. A case in point are two services that aim to allow you to check what your friends are up to whether you call them or not, these being Brightkite and the latest offering from Google; Latitude.
What Do They Do?
Brightkite
Brightkite is a service that has been running for a couple of years now and was one of the first services to focus on networks built around location.
How the service works is largely down to how you access the site. If you log into Brightkite with simply a desktop browser, Brightkite will allow you to “Check In” where you are at that physical moment using your computers IP address. This can be fine tuned by manually adding your location.
If you have an iPhone or an Android powered phone, the Brightkite app will automatically check you into your current location using the built in GPS chip inside your phone.
What Brightkite does next is the clever part and is what really makes the service a winner in my eyes. Brightkite will automatically match other Brightkite users in the area you are currently, allowing you to possibly message or interact with these people. This can allow you to meet likeminded people in your area or even schedule a last-minute random meet up with some you happened to see listed by the service. Because Brightkite can cross-post to Facebook and Twitter, friends from other services may be able to get in on the act.
Photos and notes will geotagged with your location also, meaning people can see what you are doing at that particular place.
These features help built a social network of people who you wouldn’t necessarily meet everyday, it helps virtual communities locate and meet with people in real life.
Google Latitude
Google Latitude is predominantly a browser based service, mainly because for desktop and iPhone users, this is the only way to access it. What Latitude does is allow you to share your location at any given moment with established friends that you have connected with via your Google account.
When you log into your Latitude account, you will be presented with a list of your friends and a map of where they are in the world, keeping in mind your location will also be available to see by to the connections you have made.
Which Is The Best?
Of course, this always comes down to each persons opinion. For me, Google Latitude is very limited in what it can offer, the one thing it can do is locate you and nothing much more. Brightkite on the other hand is able to connect you to people you don’t already know, allowing you to communicate with these people if you wish.
Brightkite is browser based and available on mobile handsets in a dedicated app, you are able to use all of the networks services on whatever platform you choose. Latitude does not have a dedicated app for the iPhone but it does for Android phone.
Whilst there was a lot of buzz behind Google Latitude, the products launch left many people disappointed. People who were already acquainted with Brightkite where left with a “Is that it?!” feeling in their mouths, especially as it was a Google offering and many of their other services were expected to play nicely with their new service.
The one sticking point for me is that unless you are a jealous husband or wife that needs to know where their spouse is at all times, Latitude doesn’t really offer me anything to keep me using the service. At least with Brighkite I can post location aware notes and photos and meet brand new people, something for me that encourages frequent use of the service.
