Skyhook Wireless is powering a location-based plugin for users of AOL’s AIM service. The Wi-Fi based AIM Location plugin lets users set and share their location with other users who have the plugin.
Users can share their location and see the location of other users on their Buddy List who are also using the AIM Location plugin. Users who download the plugin, which is free will see a new feature on their Buddy List, called “Near Me.” The “Near Me” function will let users identify others on their list who are sharing their location and who are within a set distance from the AIM user.
“Rich presence brings additional flexibility and creativity to user
interactions.The Skyhook-enabled AIM Location plugin takes this even
further by integrating the user’s physical location, thereby giving greater
and more meaningful context to how people communicate,” said David Ferris,
President and senior analyst, Ferris Research.
The AIM Location plugin is an extension that allows users and their contacts to have a visualization of the locations of the people on their Buddy List. The “Get Location” feature displays the location and the distance of buddies on MapQuest. Users can also customize their location, based on where they are or what they are doing.
“By working with Skyhook on this next-generation AIM Location plugin, we are
expanding the social networking capabilities available to our AIM users. At
any given time, AIM users can now see where their buddies are, map their
location and quickly find out how far they are from each other so they can
meet in person,” said Marcien Jenckes, Senior Vice President, Messaging &
Social Media, AOL. “This new Skyhook-enabled plugin will provide AIM users
with a unique location-based experience.”
