If you haven’t tried location-based messaging application Zhiing yet, you must. Not only is it simple to use, but unlike many mobile LBS apps on the market it actually provides utility. The service lets you message a friend–or zhiing them–and upon receiving the message the person will see a map with turn-by-turn directions to your location. Pretty well anyone can use it as its supported by the iPhone and Blackberry devices currently, with support for Nokia S60 and Android devices coming soon. You can also download a browser plug-in that’ll allow you to zhiing people from your desktop computer or laptop.
Probably the biggest selling point for Zhiing is that it doesn’t require you to join yet another social network. There’s no profile to fill out or anything. You simply head to the website on your computer or phone, input your phone number and device type and you’ll be sent a link to download the app. That’s it. If you zhiing someone who doesn’t have the application, they’ll see a link that allows them to view the message anyways. It’s not an application that requires all of your friends and family to download before its usable.
Right now the application only works in Canada and the United States, with the exception of the Verizon network though that may change in 2009. It should be available worldwide by the fourth quarter of next year. Developed by Jon Ziskind, Russ Ziskind, and Alan Field, Zhiing is a product of ZOS Communications, LLC.
You can download Zhiing here. Then once you’re done Zhiing me on my Blackberry at 1 204 990 2619!
