Mobile Social Networking is a concept where one or more individuals who have similar interests or commonalities, converse and connect with each other with the aid of a mobile phone. Just like the web based social networking, mobile social networking too occurs in virtual communities.
Mobile social networks constitute two basic types.
1. The network companies partner with the wireless phone carriers for distributing their communities through the default start pages on the mobile phone browsers. The examples comprise of: Atchik-Realtime, JuiceCaster, Jumbuck, and AirG. These wireless network technologies constitute of SMS, WAP, Java, BREW and i-mode.
2. The second type comprises of those companies which are called ‘off deck’ since they do not enjoy any such carrier relationships. They resort to other methods in order to appeal to users. The examples are: JAXTR myCube ZKOUT, Fotochatter, MocoSpace, Mobimii, Next2Friends, Reporo, Bluepulse, CenceMe, and NewsNomad.
The Asian markets of Japan, Korea and China are substantial users of mobile social networks. They are basically extensions of PC based services like Mixi (Japan), Cyworld (Korea) and QQ (China).
Due to rapid software development, interactions inside the mobile social networks has gone beyond the exchange of simple text messages on an one to one basis and is sprouting to more sophisticated interactions of internet virtual communities.
The currently emerging mobile only social networks comprise of ZYB, Mocospace and Mig33. Mocospace is incredibly simple, ZYB boasts of a rich set of potential users who are members from their address book back up service and Mig33 has a VOIP tool which already has over seven million users.
What is now on the threshold is the detection of physical presence and exchange of information with other users. Depending on privacy settings, the information can range from name, picture, dating status to resume information. The information would be available relevant to the setting, say, a quick Linkedin type information can be there for a business meeting and for a bar there could be a Facebook dating status.
But unless there is a critical mass of users, no service gains popularity. Today technical barriers are no longer an issue. Bluetooth and cell phone tower triangulation can locate users and transmit information between phones.
The German mobile networking system, Aka-Aki is in its nascent stage. The user needs to create his profile and download the Java application on his phone. When the user happens to be near people who also are members data is transmitted between them via Bluetooth.
Imity is based in Copenhagen. It can detect other members through Bluetooth to send and receive profile information. The user can check on his normal computer to track people on its website.
MeetMoi is a US based service which resorts to text messaging to connect people. It texts the location of the user to the service, which in turn notifies the other users that the person is there.
MobiLuck, based in Paris, is similar to the other Bluetooth networks.
The communicative differences between the mobile technology and the internet are being gradually blurred by the mobile network system which aims to facilitate social connection and co-ordination.
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