Whereboutz
Rating:

GPS makers TeleNav recently launched a Facebook app called Whereboutz that shows early promise for some intuitive functionality. The service works on two levels. The core of Whereboutz is built around a Facebook app that utilizes Google Maps.

From Facebook users can login and set their locations and current activities. Friends using Whereboutz can then see your whereabouts and stalk you accordingly. More progressively, however, Whereboutz also incorporates a phone app that works on all Java enabled phones (with the exception of T-Mobile, which imposes a draconian stranglehold on SMS). The phone app enable users to update locations from anywhere, further enabling stalkage.

Now, some of you are probably thinking, “Hey, this is familiar.” It is. The service is exceptionally similar to Google’s often derided Dodgeball. While the two services share key similarities, what sets Whereboutz apart is its Facebook integration. Users need very little extra initiative to make use of the service, whereas Dodgeball required an independent website, account and whatever else, Whereboutz works with things you already have.

What’s more, TeleNav makes quite a few GPS devices that work with cell phones. Although the service isn’t location aware at the moment, it’s not a stretch to envision TeleNav integrating automatic location options and other features that make use of GPS capabilities.

So, despite the fact that Whereboutz isn’t yet all that it can be, it is a functional service that’s bringing something new to Facebook platform. Couple that with the potential of TeleNav GPS integration and I feel that we have a considerably powerful app in the making.

Technorati Tags: GPS, TeleNav, Facebook, Whereboutz, Google, Dodgeball, location aware

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