Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone?...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that...

GeoSMS – Google Maps SMS Mashup

Google Maps mashups are always fun, and there’s a new one that seems a bit like Twittervision by letting you send an SMS with your location. GeoSMS is a site that lets you send a text message to their number, along with a message of some sort, and they overlay this on a Google Map.

Participating is as simple as sending an SMS to +7909 9213670. Note that while this may be an international number for you, it is not a premium rate number, so your standard SMS rate will apply. All messages that are received are displayed on the Google Map, and update in near-real time.

To show your location, your first SMS should begin with *yourlocation* (i.e. *Fort Worth, TX*) followed by whatever message you want to send. After the initial SMS, there is no need for the location tag, as the system will recognize your mobile number. You can also send an SMS with only your location to update the system, if needed.

All that’s neat, but the REALLY cool part is when you access the WAP-site on your mobile. There is a box to type in your mobile number, and, assuming you’ve updated the system with your location at least once, the site will show you all the messages within a 20km radius of your location.

So how is this useful, beyond novelty? It’s somewhat like having Location-Based Services without GPS, on any mobile handset. Especially through the WAP site, the system could easily be used to connect with people locally. One use that immediately struck me is finding a specific type of business, such as a restaurant or nightclub. These businesses could also broadcast an SMS using this system to draw in local users. An SMS sent periodically from a night club owner’s handset that says “Drink specials tonight, $1 wells” followed by the name of the club and perhaps an address would allow users within a 20km radius easily find the club, and draw in more customers.

What do you think about mashups such as GeoSMS? What other uses can you think of?

3 COMMENTS

  1. Personally, the thought of giving some dodgy looking russian site my mobile number does not appeal. The main website is a Link portal! Could it just be way to capture mobile numbers to spam? Am I too cynical?

  2. >The main website is a Link portal!
    yes, some Digg-like voting system. And here: http://map.linkstore.ru – geocoding system etc. It is actually a whole hub of our internet applications

    >Could it just be way to capture mobile numbers to spam?
    and what can we (or someone else) to do with them?

    >Am I too cynical?
    I am afraid yes 🙂

  3. Two more options:
    – RSS feed for the messages in the selected area
    – Replay for the old messages

    And the next version you will see some “social” elements for the message system

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recently Published

Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an HP LaserJet printer (version 3, if memory serves), I have been printing with an HP. Over the...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone? I'm asking because I'm thinking about what I should be doing. When I was living in Oman, I...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that next to nothing from Mobile World Congress would break through into the mainstream media. I was right,...

How Wireless Will Pave the Path to Neobank Profitability

I'm delighted to bring you an opinion piece from Rafa Plantier at Gigs.com. I think it's particularly relevant given the recent eSIM news from...

An end of an era: Vodafone UK turns off 3G services

I thought it was worthwhile highlighting this one from the Vodafone UK team. For so long - for what feels like years, seeing the...

Mobile World Congress: Did the mainstream media notice?

I resolved this year to make sure I wrote something - anything - about Mobile World Congress, the huge mobile industry trade show taking...