Neer aims to help everyday mobile users -- read: not the badge hungry types -- automatically share their whereabouts with their most trusted connections. The service deviates from the likes of Foursquare or Loopt with a focus on small contact groups and always-on location features that are less social and more practical.
The application [iTunes link] works in the background to update a user's contact groups when he/she arrives at, or departs from, a pre-defined place -- think "work," "school" or "home." Neer, however, never reveals the user's physical address.
"With Neer, users don’t have to take their eyes off the road to let their families know they’re on the way home, or that they have stopped at the grocery store,” says creator Ian Heidt. “Neer does it all automatically.”
The Android version has been available for several months, and Neer actually built a version for the iPhone months ago but delayed release until the team could better optimize battery life performance. Today's release should help fuel growth and better connect users across iOS and Android platforms.
