AIM Signs on Skyhook Wireless to Locate Nearby Buddies

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America Online is announcing a location-finder feature for their AIM service today. Users can now see which of their buddies are in the same proximity as themselves. The service is powered by Skyhook Wireless, which can track other users based on their Wi-Fi signal emissions to let you know who is "nearby."

The free add-on, once downloaded, will create a group on your buddy list to show your "Nearby" friends. This is very similar to the AIM buddy group that shows who is available via their cell phone. Concerning the Skyhook add-on, it is only limiting in the fact that it displays Wi-fi friends only. The natural progression would be to include this service for those connecting through their cell phones as well, much like the features currently offered by Twitter.

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