FindWhere Launches Beta of Free Buddy Finder Service, Livecontacts
FindWhere offers location based services through the mobile phone
Potomac Falls, VA (PRWEB) April 15, 2008 -- FindWhere, a global leader of precision tracking and location services, announced today the beta launch of Livecontacts, its free buddy finder service for socially connected users. The free service changes the paradigm of how location information is shared. The vast majority of existing buddy finders charge for service.
"Web 2.0 democratized media, freeing speech, video, product reviews and much more to every person with Internet access," said Jaap Groot, FindWhere's CEO. "Because Internet users expect location information for free, pay-for-use plans have dramatically inhibited the growth of location-based applications. As FindWhere extends this online revolution to the mobile phone, the next frontier includes integrating free location information to catalyze a wide variety of social applications. Our existing "peace of mind" centric FindWhere services, active globally for more than 200,000 users, are a premium service including panic button, safe zone and speed notifications."
Through Livecontacts, individuals use their mobile phones to make their current location known to their trusted contacts, and can track the location of friends who are also using the service. A user can turn the finder on and off as needed to hide or show his/her location. The user never needs to manually input their location; this happens automatically through GPS tracking.
"People spend an enormous amount of time in front of their computers. Livecontacts provides a fun and easy way to see the current location of your buddies/connections," said Melanie Davidson, Director of Marketing at FindWhere.
Location sharing can be determined through GPS chips on smart phones. Livecontacts works on any GSM mobile phone network around the world. In the United States, that includes AT&T and T-Mobile. FindWhere plans to extend Livecontacts to non-GPS phones in coming months. Also coming soon, Livecontacts buddy maps will be available on mobile phones.
"We're receiving excellent feedback from our 8,000 early beta users telling us what to focus on. Even better, after these modifications are made, we still plan to offer Livecontacts for free," said Davidson. "People want location data for no cost."
Livecontacts is device and network agnostic. The buddy finder can distinguish between domestic and international roaming, thereby reducing data charges. Frequency settings determine how often a Livecontacts user's location is transmitted and motion detection is used to optimize battery life.
The geographic data now available through the Livecontacts buddy finder will be further advanced by FindWhere's forthcoming LAMP (Location-Aware Mobile Phone) widget. LAMP will empower the democratization of location information in instant messaging, social networks, gaming and local search.
The Livecontacts beta is available for download on select phones at livecontacts.com. Further Livecontacts and LAMP developments will be announced over the ensuing months.
About FindWhere
FINDWHERE, a Virginia based private company provides consumers and business peace of mind with precision tracking and location services. Through a unique and proven web-based tracking solution, FindWhere provides a complete solution to locate anyone or anything anywhere in the world. FindWhere offers; Parents & Families safety and security in knowing the location of their loved ones. Socially connected users fun by sharing and receiving location information with their trusted contacts. Businesses an improved bottom-line with asset monitoring and remote workforce management.
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