Nearby (previously named WNM Live / Who's Near Me) was a location-based social networking service launched in June 2010 [1][2] and discontinued in September 2021 following a significant data breach.[3] The service was created by Brian Hamachek and was known for leveraging the GPS technology in mobile devices to help users discover and interact with others located nearby, although explicitly not intended for dating, dating was the primary use case for the app.[4]
 Nearby Logo | |
| Original author(s) | Brian Hamachek |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Brian Hamachek |
| Initial release | June 2010 |
| Platform | Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, Windows Phone, Web, Facebook, Android |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Social Network |
| Website | web |
Background
editNearby was founded by Brian Hamachek, a software developer with a background in creating interactive social applications.[5] The platform was initially part of the Microsoft BizSpark program, reflecting its early adoption of Microsoft technologies. In November 2013, it was accepted into the Fall 2013 session of the Stanford StartX accelerator, signaling its growth and innovation in the social networking space.[6]
The application was designed to facilitate communication among users based on geographical proximity, a feature that distinguished it from competitors by focusing on building community ties and local networking rather than explicitly dating.[7] It underwent several name changes, from Who's Near Me to WNM Live, and finally to Nearby.[8]
Development and features
editNearby started with a Windows Mobile 6 application in June 2010, followed by a Windows Phone 7 application in October 2010. The platform expanded to include a web portal in April 2011 and applications for iPhone in January 2012,[9] Windows 8 in May 2012,[10] and Android in early 2013[11][non-primary source needed]. The service was notable for its user-friendly interface, which underwent significant transformations to improve user interaction and engagement.[12]
User milestones
editIn 2012 the social network announced over 5 million users on the platform. The Android application has been downloaded over 5 million times and reviewed over 50,000 times.[13] Prior to the platform's closure in 2021, the social network had over 13 million active users. The social network was most popular in the United States, United Kingdom, and India.[14]
Legal and trademark disputes
editIn 2011, a trademark dispute arose with WhosHere, another location-based social networking service, which claimed that the name Who's Near Me was too similar to its own. The dispute resulted in a legal complaint against Nearby, leading to a settlement where the service agreed to rebrand as WNM Live. This episode was well-documented in tech media, highlighting the challenges of branding in the competitive app marketplace.[15][16][17][18][non-primary source needed]
Awards and recognition
editThe service received multiple accolades, including being named the second-best application at the 2011 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference[19] and recognition in Nokia's Create competition within the NFC category.[20][non-primary source needed] Nearby was selected by Microsoft as a Bizspark Featured Startup on April 30, 2013.[21][unreliable source?]
Closure
editNearby ceased operations in September 2021 after a data breach compromised user information. The closure marked the end of an era for the pioneering social platform, which had accumulated over 13 million users globally. The company's departure from the market left a noticeable gap in the geosocial networking landscape.[22]
Data
editAfter the service was shut down, the company released the service’s non-private data, including all public news feed posts and comments and the network’s followers graph, to Kaggle. This was done to support future research efforts. [3] [4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "[APP] Who's Near Me (Mobile Geo-Proximity Social Networking)" URL accessed April 22, 2013.
- ^ Perez, Sarah (2015-01-08). "Nearby Live Lets You Anonymously Meet New People Via Your Smartphone". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ [1] Archived 2013-04-08 at the Wayback Machine (statement on home page)
- ^ "This App Lets You Chat With Nearby Users…And Call Them On The Phone" URL accessed April 22, 2013.
- ^ "King of Code finalist Brian Hamachek is riding Windows Mobile to success" URL accessed May 7, 2024.
- ^ "StartX Companies". Retrieved 2024-05-07.
- ^ "Windows Phone Mango: 10 New Apps You Must Check Out" URL accessed April 22, 2013.
- ^ "Startups Vs. Startups: App Developer Gets Sued by Lightbank-Backed WhosHere". 2 June 2012.
- ^ "This App Lets You Chat With Nearby Users…And Call Them On The Phone" URL accessed April 22, 2013.
- ^ "WNM Live – meet the people around you without leaving your house, now for Windows Phone 8". Windows Central. 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ "WNM Live Android App" Archived 2013-08-16 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed April 22, 2013.
- ^ "This App Lets You Chat with Nearby Users...And Call Them on the Phone". 23 March 2012.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20210917144335/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.synergetechsolutions.nearbylive [bare URL]
- ^ "WNM Live Gets Updated Again – Publishes Infographic on Usage" URL accessed April 22, 2013. Archived September 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network – help!" Archived 2013-03-29 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed April 22, 2013.
- ^ "The Other Side Of The Story: WhosHere vs. Who's Near Me Live". TechCrunch. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ "WhosHere vs WNM Live" URL accessed April 22, 2013.
- ^ "In Response to WhosHeres Statement" Archived 2013-03-29 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed April 22, 2013.
- ^ "Who's Near Me wins 2nd place in Microsoft Windows Phone 7 App Challenge at WPC 11" URL accessed April 22, 2013. Archived February 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Oy, Microsoft Mobile. "Microsoft". Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
- ^ "Featured Startup on Windows 8 and Azure – WNM Live" URL accessed May 5, 2013.
- ^ [2] Archived 2013-04-08 at the Wayback Machine (statement on home page)