The document discusses Nearyoo, a location-based social networking service that allows users to share their real-time location through text messages. It can determine a user's location based on simple text-based location tags added to tweets, like ">Barcelona<" or ">EsadeForum<", without needing GPS. This takes advantage of the large existing user base on Twitter to provide location sharing in a simple, low-tech way using just text messages. The presentation outlines how Nearyoo works and its benefits for users, businesses and advertisers by building local communities around shared locations.

1. Real Time >Where
for the ‘statusphere’
Simple text-based >Location
Eric CHARLES
Mobile Monday Brussels – 22.06.2009 in >MIC,
Mons<

2. Agenda
• What is Twitter?
• Location based Social Networking
• Location through Texting
• Nearyoo Service

3. • Free social network and microblog service
• Allows users to send and read other users' updates
(tweets)
– Text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length
– Answering one simple question: What are you doing?
– Many Mobile Clients (SMS - Apps)
• Founded in 2006 there are now 30.328.421 twitterers

5. • Real Time WEB
– Plane crash in Hudson River
– Iran Election
– => Medias are late
• Sharing Will
– Secret => Private => Public
– Be Private in Public (140conf)
– => Focussed on Information
• Nearyoo will bring the Real Time WHERE

6. Location based Social Networking
• Said to be “the next big thing”
(one of them)
• Many players
• Still no winner !

7. Why hasn’t it taken off…yet ?
• Need for fancy tech : GPS, wifi, antennas,…
• Need for fancy phones
• Need to install new apps
• Need to invite friends
In short :
• No simple way
• No existing user base

8. Location through Texting
Simple MicroSyntax
Twitter User Base

9. Location through Texting
• Let’s ride the Twitter wave: 30+ mio users
• ‘Sign up’ : follow @nearyoo

10. Location through Texting
• Introducing ‘Location Tags’ :
( Like hashtags: #m20eu )
– I’m going to >Barcelona<
– Now at the >EsadeForum
• Simple new habit, in the flow of texting
( #microsyntax.org initiative, Stowe Boyd, Ross Mayfield…)

11. http://beta.nearyoo.com
B2B
C2C
B2C
(Revenue)

12. Nearyoo puts you on the map
Our tiny urls :
near.st/in/Mons
(works with hundreds
of cities)
near.st/in/Mons/MIC
near.st/u/echarles
(works with millions
of twitter users)
Enabling meetups !
Note : thousands of twitter
users (also) located
through GPS clients

13. Location Tags & GPS
• Nearyoo Location Tags (I am in >MIC, Mons< to
present Nearyoo)
– Indicate a real place (bar,...) and not only a GPS
coordinates.
– Plan your locations (time extensions).
• GPS
– No relations with your social networks (to meet, get
recommandations on places,...).
– Does not work if you are inside a building (what about
numerous places in buildings)
– Up-and-running performant mobile

14. Coming: Full SMS-based Version
• Even more “low tech” and “hi text” !
• Rides on the ‘status’ craze
– “Where are my friends” -> Answer through SMS
– “Your friend Jane is at >Macumba, 80m from you”
• Opportunity for :
– Operators ( “Social texting” )
– Place owners ( it builds them a community )
– Advertisers ( local advertising will be BIG )

15. Minimum Requirements

16. Minimum Requirements
• No GPS
• No wifi
• No base station
• No new app
• No need to invite friends

17. Minimum requirements
• No GPS
• No wifi
Just TEXT • No base station
• No new app
• No need to invite friends

18. Still Coming on Beta
• Synonyms
– “MicrosoftInnovationCenter” becomes “MIC”
(http://near.st/in/Mons/MIC)
• Location algorithm enhancement
– Cities with same name in different countries,...
• Retweets
• Reply with and Show Friends near
• GPS Integration (Google Latitude, Twitter Clients,...)
• Optional follow @nearyoo

19. Thank you !
Eric Charles
Founder, CTO
eric.charles@u-mangate.com
http://twitter.com/echarles
Try it !
Follow @nearyoo and tweet with
>MicrosoftInnovationCenter, Mons< for example
http://beta.nearyoo.com
http://near.st