Mobile 2.0: Localized Applications
I’ve been following with interest a new breed of mobile applications. They enable users to contextualize their mobile experiences in different ways. This interests me because these applications make up a small piece of Swirl’s competitive landscape. We’re all trying to solve similar problems, but approaching it from different directions.
Rabble enables you to place virtual sticky notes on a location. Snap pictures, create a post, and tag it with location-based information, and find what others had to say or share about the location.
Flaggr is similar in concept, although execution differs dramatically. Snap a picture, and MMS it to Flaggr with your tags. They will SMS you back with people and places near you. Online, this resembles a Google Maps and Social Networking mashup.
Bridging the gap between desktop and mobile messaging is the Mabber IM program, built on the open source Jabber platform. And moving to the desktop realm, we have Meetro and Jambo, which are both exceptionally powerful (desktop application, after all).
The approach we’re taking is a bit different, and my guess is that one of the biggest reasons others haven’t gone this route is the sheer technical complexity and significant development hurdles. But the rewards for success are substantial.
One thing I don’t like about Flaggr and Rabble is that they’re very active. Snap a picture, send an MMS, wait for a response, cross your fingers and hope you get some results. Our approach is to offer connections passively. That is, we push directly to you according to your preferences, rather than you being required to pull from us. Then again, some people like active – Flaggr and Rabble can be looked at as hobbies, and I think there is a big market for something like that – but I prefer to let my doorbell ring when company comes, rather than checking the front door every five minutes.
In addition to passive operation, some other drawbacks to many of these services are the limited number of potential connections (due to the active vs. passive nature), costs associated with data transfer, MMS, and SMS, cumbersome data entry. Of course, all mobile applications have to face considerable difficulties in device and carrier support, which Flaggr largely overcomes thanks to the fact that it is messaging-based. Rabble seems to be doing very well in this area.
Tags: Jambo, Meetro, Rabble, Flaggr, Swirl, Mabber, Mobile Applications, Mobile Development. Mobile 2.0
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