Nokia 
This sure came out of nowhere. Earlier today, Nokia Beta Labs launched a new application and service, called Nokia Friend View.This basically allows you to get status updates, something like Twitter or Jaiku or Facebook‘s Status updates, but the new added feature in Nokia Friends View that isnt in the other services is, that it also allows you to broadcast your GPS location to your friends alongwith your status update, using your device’s inbuilt GPS or using the network.
I installed it on my Nokia N96 to check it out (the application should be compatible with all S60v3 or newer devices). To sign in you need a Nokia or Ovi.com account (not Share on Ovi mind you, as that account is different). If you already have one then you can sign right in as soon as you install the application.
Once you start the application you’ll see that it basically consists of a map view (Similar to the Sportstracker Beta and NokiaviNe), with your location pin-pointed directly on the map. The good thing about this application, like i mentioned earlier, is that if you have a S60v3 device without built in GPS, you can go on over to the settings, where you can choose network-based location. If you do have builtin GPS, You can choose between GPS-based or a combination of both, which should be faster. Thankfully, for people who want to keep their location private, you can choose to not allow your location to be shown to others.
If you choose to show your location, when you post a status update, your friends can see this, to know where you are and what you’re upto. You can also add a custom avatar, from your computer, or using your phone’s camera.
Like NokiaviNe and SportsTracker Beta, maps are downloaded over the air, so you’ll have to make you have an unlimited data connection or WiFi nearby since this downloading is kinda data-intensive service from my experience with it.
You can find out more info on Nokia Friend View over on the Nokia BetaLabs post. Or watch the video below where Stefan Constantinescu from Nokia, gives you a short introduction to the application.
Here’s a couple screenshots to give you more of an idea of Friend view :
You can download the application over on the Download page of the Friend View website (where you can also sign in and update your status just like Jaiku and Twitter). The application isnt very large at just 353 kb. And if you’re still a little confused, there’s the Tips and Help Page to help you out.
I’m hoping for a Facebook application for Nokia Friend View down the line, so any status updates I post there, are pushed to Facebook as a status update there, like how Jaiku does it. Also hopefully Nokia will make it so that Sportstracker Beta, NokiaviNe, Nokia Maps and Nokia Friend View use the same maps. And to add to the list, I wish friend view would share contacts with Nokia Chat or atleast let me import them in. Separate lists is annoying and I hate having to add everyone again. Also, there doesnt seem to be any RSS feed or your own profile address like other Micro-Blogging sites have, which would be nice to link a friend over to your status updates etc. That being said, I do know that only people on your friends list can view your updates so far. Maybe they’ll allow you to let anyone view it, if/when they fix these things.
Other than these little issues, I’m really liking it so far though. I dont know if it’ll tear me away from Jaiku or not.
-Teh Cj
Clinton is currently based in New Delhi, India and is executive editor for UnleashThePhones. He is responsible for all editorial decisions, and covers all forms of Mobile and mobile-related accessories.
Cj is addicted to caffeine, social media, and technology. Always up for a good conversation, you can reach him through the contact form, his website, on Google Plus 
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[...] which is a way of sharing your location and finding your friends on the map, very similar to Nokia’s Friendview [...]