Disqus
Mobile social networking is booming and we see new entrants hitting the market every day. iFob 2.0 is an interesting service that will enable iPhone owners to location other iFob users around themselves, start conversation and take it from there. The so called “real-space-real-time” approach uses GPS-like cell-tower triangulation and WiFi to sense iBuddies in the neighbourhood.
iFob is unique software which uses the built-in Wi-Fi communication of Apple iPhone, iPods and PCs, and turns these devices into homing beacons, broadcasting, or just listening, for other close-by copies of iFob. With iFob, people create tiny social networking profiles that are carried around on their iPhone or PC, which are easily changed depending on the situation and presence of other iFob users who are close by. Unlike social networking sites such as Facebook or My Space, iFob only displays lists of iFob users who are actually in the same hotspots at the same time as each other, meaning that iFob users will be close enough to look up and exchange smiles. iFob is used as an icebreaker to real conversations.
iFob PC version is already available on iCloseBy.com, a site of the company behind the project. iPhone version is currently awaiting Apple’s approval to be distributed through the AppStore for free. In the meantime, you can download the application for jailbroken iPhones/iPod Touches is also available.
About The Author
Dusan Belic
Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.
