What is it that connect social networking activities with mobile phone? If mobility is your answer, then you're only got the half answer right. Because the other answer is: GPS, the newest feature that is being integrated more and more everyday into modern mobile phones.
An easy example was invisioned at one of my post here at PalmAddict, although at there the handset mentioned is iPhone. But the basic idea is the same, using GPS and cell towers triangulation to pin-point your current location, etc.
And now, Nokia is planning to enfuel social networking into its vast handset models by acquiring Plazes, a privately-owned German company. Plazes is developing a social networking platform which is used to plan, share and record social activities, using both PCs (Windows as well as Mac OS X operating systems) and mobile phones, via SMS (Short Message Service). Its motto is: right "plaze," right people, right time. For example, users can create activities and let friends know what they are doing, where and when, and see what friends are up to.
As reported by PCW Business Center, the acquisition worth is not disclosed yet. "If all goes well, in the near future Plazes will be made available to millions of Nokia customers both online and on millions of mobile devices," wrote Plazes co-founder Felix Petersen in the company's blog. He also reassures users that despite the acquisition, the development of a new version of Plazes will continue, and the company will still release a client for the iPhone.
A quite surprising move indeed, to help one of Nokia's toughest competitor: iPhone, by providing a Plazes client for it. But then again, perhaps they have their own hidden agenda by doing so. We'll see...
Nokia expects the deal to close in the third quarter 2008. After closing, Plazes will become part of Nokia's Services and Software unit, according to a statement.
[blogged with my Treo 750v]