Brightkite is a relatively new service, still in private beta, that combines Twitter-like microblogging with location-awareness. Up to this point, it's taken that location via user input: you type your address into Brightkite or alternately have it search for the location based on a business name. This is a clunky way to indicate location, which is why I rarely use it. Obviously, getting coordinates directly from a GPS-enabled phone would make the service much more useful.
Unfortunately, Brightkite's iPhone 3G app does not take GPS input. This is a big issue, and I am not sure how Brightkite will recover unless it can pair a GPS-enabled client with another major launch such as the upcoming Android or RIM touchscreen launches.
I dont think Brightkite will be successful as a single app. It would be a great great plug-in like tool for other social medias such as Facebook & Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI just signed into brightkite with my new Iphone 3g -- never going back if I have to type in my location -- you called it right!
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