Google buys Dodgeball

Well, what started as a service for interactive mobile social networks grew up a lot today; that's right, Dodgeball, the little project that could borne of NYU's ITP program got bought by Google today for an undisclosed sum of money (we'll just assume they'll be able to pay off those student loans). For those of you who don't remember Dodgeball, they were started as a service wherein a registered phone can "check-in", and anyone in your registered circle of friends (or their friends as well) in the area will be notified of your proximity (and vice versa), so you can, you know, do lunch or whatever people do. It pretty much goes without saying that this is just begging for use with Google maps mobile and Google local (why do they keep building technology to make it easier to get out of the office and have a social life, anyway?), not to mention the obligatory Orkut integration we're likely to see. Now quick Dodgeball guys, cash out now and live like kings in the Balkans forever!

[Harley @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

The folks at Google are a bunch of jerks. They have a form that you can fill out and submit online to get your home/business phone number removed from the database. I had sent them two requests now to remove my phone number for privacy concerns. The website says it usually takes 48 hours to process the request. It's been a week now and the listing is still there. I know I can get my number unlisted with the phone company, but why would Google offer a service to remove it from their database if they don't bother honoring those requests? What's the point?

[Neil T. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Friendster? You mean Orkut? :)

[creamofcow @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

That Dodgeball logo has always confused me. I thought the red ball and background was a silhouette of a guy bonking that other guy from behind.

[luis @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

The company who started this was Imahima in 2000i n Japan.
http://www.imahima.com/www/en/ps/service_imahima.html
Dogeball is really rudimentary compared to Imahima.

[Tomas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Agree on the google maps integration. Actually blogged that last nite ;) http://www.swedegoingberserk.com

[E. Marrs @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

This would be a good idea for college campuses. How you woul dbe notified of ppl near you though? It would be cool if there was a java app that connected through wap so you can look at a list on your phone. I would not like getting this through a text message, because with Cingular, I pay both ways (thats what she said). At a college campus, you would be near people alot so I would get bombarded with messages. Cool still though, Ill ahve to check it out when I am at my hosue (site blocked at school)

[Andrew J Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

They're all rudimentary compared to playtxt ;-) www.playtxt.net