AOL introduces location awareness plug-in for AIM

[Jeff]

AOL has announced the availability of a new plug-in for AIM that allows you to share your physical location and see the location of your buddies.

The free AIM Location plug-in was developed by Skyhook Wireless, and can track your general location using the continuous wireless pulses emitted by all Wi-Fi transmitters and Wi-Fi-enabled computers.

Installing the optional Skyhook Wireless functionality will create a new group in your buddy list called "Near me." It should be noted that it will only display your location information with your buddies who have also installed the plug-in.

This functionality is very similar to Meetro - a multi-network IM program that also provides proximity awareness. Of course, AIM has the advantage of its huge user community.

Where do you stand on location awareness via IM? Love it or hate it?

Related Links

• AIM Location FAQ
• Download AIM Location
• Article on AIM Location in Forbes

[vinnie]

skyhook is working on some interesting stuff as well. A key differentiator for meetro is that we show both your friends and people you may not know who are nearby (friends of friends, former classmates, neighbors, etc.) So meetro helps you meet new people in the real world, instead of just online.

vinnie from meetro

[Jeff]

Thanks for pointing out that important difference, Vinnie. Now that I live in a more populous area, Meetro might actually work like that for me. When I lived in the sticks, there was *never* anyone nearby.