Creepy alert: Stalk friends in real-time with WeFi's Facebook app

Privacy--who needs it? The creators of WeFi don't seem to think much of it, although that might not be a bad thing

Today the company, which offers up a pretty svelte little replacement for Windows' clunky Wi-Fi manager, is launching two new items: a mobile application for Windows Mobile users (which could soon be SideKick users too), along with a Facebook application to help users track people using the service. Oddly enough, in all its news release bravado the company failed to offer up a link to said Facebook application, and it's not in the directory--so I can't get my hands on it.

The Windows Mobile application is similar to the desktop version--letting users discover and log Wi-Fi spots, as well as add them to a central database which can searched and referenced. Think of it a little bit like Wi-fi Hotspotr (review), but integrated at a system level.

What's interesting here is the new Facebook application, which like Whereboutz (review), will let users track Facebook friends if they're using WeFi. This all happens in real-time, meaning if a friend is at the local coffee shop and they decide to check their e-mail using a Windows Mobile smart phone, WeFi users will see them pop up on a map. Users can even get these status alerts to show up in the Facebook news feed.

WeFi has had a similar program going through Twitter, letting members automatically note where they are grabbing Wifi via a WeFi-marked access point. To some this might be a little more information than they're comfortable sharing. I'm hoping that WeFi has setup the application to limit who can see the information using Facebook's default privacy settings, or at least let users pick out who gets to see what off a short list.

I'll update with links to the Facebook application when the WeFi folks get back to me. In the meantime check out the service in action here.

Related: Two ways to geolocate your dog

Check out local Wi-Fi hot spots or add your own. Wefi's desktop, mobile, and Facebook application let you find hot spots, and show others where you are in real-time.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

[iswirl]

Slightly less creepy (although it doesn't work with Facebook yet) is Swirl Connect (http://www.iswirl.com). We interpret 'friend' much more literally, providing real-time mobile and PC alerts on fewer people, but with more detail, e.g. latest photos, location updates, and so on. We like to think of it as rich presence or friend finder, but 'stalker' is a word with which we're familiar!

Shaun Taylor

[Amit_at_wefi]

Hi Josh

WeFi's Facebook application was (finally) published by Facebook. It is titled "I Am Here Now".
Apparently it was stuck in Facebook's congested application approval pipeline.

WeFi?s application for Facebook ? ?I Am Here Now? ? has been published (it was stuck in their congested review pipeline for about three weeks).
You can find it now in the Facebook application directory searching for keywords like WeFi, Wi-Fi, I Am Here Now, hotspots etc.

This is the direct link to the application:
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=7582558083&b&ref=pd

I will be happy for feedback and suggestion - it is a first shot at sharing WiFi over Facebook so there are bound to be many things we can improve.
Note that in order to really enjoy its full power you need to have WeFi installed on your (WiFi-enabled) computer. But if you haven't installed WeFi (yet...) the location will be based on the "home town" you entered in your Facebook profile.

[suzie_tome]

thnx