Location-based programs extend mobile users' 'wireless umbilical cord'

Social networking has been a huge fad in society nowadays thus mobile users moves more of their everyday lives into their phones including friends.

New feature for mobile phone users

Using cell phones, the social networking programs represent some of the location-based services. You can let your friends know where your other friends are geographically.

"It's just the logical continuation of the always-being-connected generation we have now, where everybody is tied to a wireless umbilical cord — and knows exactly where everybody is who is close and dear to their hearts," said Roger Enter of IAG Research.

Most services have started in the past couple of years but because of privacy issues not so many people have given much importance to it.

I don't have any friends that would have …(the desire) to use this app or service," wrote one person on a blog about Loopt. "Without other people who you know added to the app, it's a pretty lonely interface."

But the interest in these programs is high due to the extra revenue from data and text messaging charges when such programs are used.

By 2013, revenues from “location-based, mobile social networking” are estimated to reach $3.3 billion, ABI Research said in a recent report.

Locate friends via your mobile phone

Now, one phone provider is directly getting into action. Nokia said it will buy Plazes, a Berlin-based company whose mobile programs and Web let users share their activities at any given time.

"Mobile social networking sites allow avid net workers to constantly remain connected with their members and receive updates on the spot, weakening their tether to the PC. These programs target young adults and teens,” according to a Current Analysis research report by wireless data analyst Deepa Karthikeyan.


Entner, who has tracked wireless trends for many years, agreed, but said, "It's going to be similar to text messaging. It caught on, and now it's propagating through the age segments."

"It's without question a growth category," said Joseph Farren of CTIA-The Wireless Association, the cell phone industry trade group.