AIM users can now see where their friends are
This post was published 2 years 8 months 4 days ago and its content may not be valid anymore.If you visit the AIM plugins page you’ll see something fairly new [and interesting] in the form of an AIM Instant Messaging "Locations" plugin (Windows only). More information on the plugin can be gathered from the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) portion of the site.
AOL is offering users of its AIM instant messaging service new capabilities to see where people on their buddy lists are physically located.
The first phase of this push is with an unusual software plug-in developed by Skyhook Wireless, whose backers include Intel Corp. Skyhook tracks locations by using the continuous wireless pulses emitted by all Wi-Fi transmitters and Wi-Fi-enabled computers, rather than more common satellite-based approach.
The Skyhook plug-in, available as a free download, adds a new grouping to AIM’s buddy list window called “Near Me.” That group will feature the names of any buddies who opt to share their locations and who are within a set distance from the AIM user. The application also can display a buddy’s location on a map. For now, these capabilities will be available when using AIM on a computer, but not on a mobile phone. [source]
It looks like AIM see’s the light of interest for location based instant messaging following in the footsteps of Meebo (oops – meant Meetro). If you’re an AIM client user, will you be installing this plugin on your laptop to let your contacts know where you are?
nice idea, but why dont they use http://beta.plazes.com as sevice to discover the location of the user.
a lot of people still using it and the plazes client app is still able to add location information to the status messages of your client.
so check it out
I’ll check em both out.
When are they going to come out with a cocoa Version of AIM for Mac, so we can use plugins, etc!? Mac OS 9 died nearly a decade ago. seriously. I’m not gonna even bother asking for a Universal Binary version.