I'm addicted to Yobongo.
I was just remembering an idea I pitched to the product team at Whrrl long ago about having a chat box at a place. Â My idea didn't have the right ingredients, because it required critical mass at a specific place and we didn't really have any users or critical mass beyond at our office. Â Yobongo is much smarter than that, it is like a living organism at expands and contracts depending on the amount of proximity based engagement. Â I think the idea that there is a shape on a map that is drawn and changes depending on various factor is fascinating, I'd love to understand the algorithm for it.
I like that Yobongo is smart, and it is learning all the time about who you know and who you should know. Â It's so early in the community, and its really fun to use with people I know in real life, and I'm finding myself on there every day.
The one time I didn't use Yobongo, and expected to, was at SXSW. Â I can't tell you what the density was like there, but that had more to do with me being busy than with the app. Â I think Yobongo is something you use in your free time or downtime, instead of playing games or checking Twitter. Â The immediate gratification I get from it is greater than other options that are competing for my attention. Â The idea of always having someone to talk to. Â It seems like each day there are more people, and I am ending up in rooms with a broader mix of people.
It's just a simple iPhone app, try it if you are in San Francisco and you might find it fun. Â It's isn't big in other geographies yet.