Apple files patent for social networking platform: iGroups

Apple following Google as the latest company to jump into social networking. They have recently filed a patent on their token-based social networking technology titled "iGroups". This technology is yet another location based social networking platform following Four Square, MyTown and Gowalla to name a few. Apples technology allows uses utilizing either their iPhone or iPod Touch to broadcast and receive tokens. These tokens carry information of the contacts and proximity of the users. Users will also be able to exchange information from apps such as the calangar app, contacts, and so on. After the release of Google’s Buzz platform, I am not very convinced that this is a very effective social networking platform but only time will tell.