Mobile is hot. Untethering from computers is the next generation of the web and I’ve said it for awhile.
FindWhere CEO Jaap Groot and my friend and DoC co-host Geoff Livingston have co-authored a white paper (they call it a manifesto) for mobile and location-based social networks outlining eight requirements for a successful mobile endeavor.
The true local, mobile and social breakthrough requires a completely converged product that will be so intuitive and robust that community members won’t have to wrestle with such a service. Instead, it will be so easy and fun, online community members will clamor to be a part of the craze. They will actively engage, and voluntarily spread the word about their experiences, in hopes that their friends will join them online. The winning service will be so compelling that it will be viral.
They go on to describe the eight factors:
- Provide a base offering free of charge. Today’s social network user does not tolerate paid-for services.
- Work on a wide selection of phones.
- Offer an intelligent, simple user interface for accessing information.
- Use GPS rather than force users to manually enter their location every time.
- Integrate intelligently into existing social networks rather than further inundate people with a new one.
- Allow users to share and use their location data in as many ways as possible.
- Enable individuals to set various levels of privacy control for personal security.
- Monetize in an intelligent, non-intrusive way
Some of these factors are implemented better than others and some are not technically possible with the mobile client and telcos the way they exist now. Things need to change within the four walls of the carriers.
| Brightkite | Facebook Mobile | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Partial | Some |
| Mobile/iPhone Interface | Partial | Yes | Partial |
| GPS Compatible* | No | No | No |
| Existing SocNet Integration | Partial | Yes | No |
| Location Data easy for Users to Use | Yes | No | |
| Privacy/Security Controls | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Low Impact Monetization | No | No | Yes |
| *GPS is carrier-sketchy. Verizon Wireless, for instance, disables in phones | |||
As with all white papers, it is a call to action. A spotlight on gaps in the industry. One day, all of these items will be inherent in the social offerings but it could take 5-10 years to see that occur.