Sunday, October 4, 2009

Dialog Buddy Tracker

Just found out about the dialog buddy tracker. Since I'm a fan of Google Latitude and wished i had an iPhone on which i can use it i thought dialog's new service might be worth checking out. As always I googled it first but since there were no useful posts on it thought i will try it out myself and see. Now im putting up a post about it as a guide for anyone interested in checking it out themselves.

- First activate the service by SMSing the word REG to 779

- U will then receive an SMS with instructions on how to use the service ( in fact through-out the use of the service you will receive many SMS from dialog with lots of instructions - i found this a tad bit annoying)

- To track a buddy u must first add him/her to ur buddy list. SMS the words ADD [friend's number] [friend's nickname] [a group name] to 779 ( don't forget to remove the [] marks)

- Now your friend would receive an SMS asking him/her to accept your request. Once he/she accepts you will get an SMS confirming this.

- Now you can find out your friends' location whenever you want by SMSing the words TRACK [friend's number] to 779 or SMSing the words TRACK [friend's nickname] to 779

- Soon you will receive an SMS with your friend’s location. At the same time your friend will receive an SMS notifying about the tracking and giving them the option to stop this person from tracking him/her.

The service also includes functions to find friends in the vicinity and to send secret messages(?) I didn't check those functions out yet.

Overall I think dialog's buddy tracking service is smethng new and interesting but it has some flaws..

1. It’s difficult to use. You have to send many SMSs with correct format in order to receive the service properly.

2. Dialog floods you with sometimes unnecessary SMSs when u use this service ( which is not harmful but can be pretty annoying)

3. Privacy issues are controlled well but it doesn't allow friends to mislead each other by pretending to be somewhere else. Its great to be honest with your friends but sometimes you don't want them to know where you are ALL THE TIME.

I think dialog should modify this service by giving user's the option to set their location in addition to allowing dialog to detect it automatically ( just like in iGoogle).

Finally i think it's cool that dialog will take the effort to provide new and interesting applications to users even if they are probably only doing it to make more money:D

If you have comments about this please post them here:)

13 comments:

  1. So basically, this is no different than sending a SMS to your friend and asking "Where are you?"

    Atleast they should have come up with a mobile app, that shows the buddies in close vicinity. Until then not much use..

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    Replies
    1. it has a different, you need a higher cost than asking him...

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  2. Something like that, but the difference with this is you can't lie about your location. If dialog can simply integrate with Google Latitude like they do for Facebook the problems will be solved and that way you can share your location with friends all over the world easily from your mobile (you wouldn't have to have an iPhone for that!).

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  3. thanks for info dear

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  4. How do they charge??is there any rental?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No monthly rental, they charge 2.30rs or something per sms

      Delete
  5. How do they give the location? As Latitude and Longitude, or do they send the name of the place?

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  6. Thankz a lot 4 the post, Harini.
    Found it to be very useful.....
    Guess "Dialod Buddy Tracker" is worth checking out!

    ReplyDelete
  7. its only SMS charges. i.e. only 2+ tax for a single message you sent.

    I suggest it will not be usefull. Nobody would like to be tracked in every place where he goes.

    Servise is innovative but not productive

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  8. Dialog Buddy Tracker has been renamed Dialog Friend Finder.

    http://www.dialog.lk/personal/mobile/features-and-vas/messaging/friend-finder/

    If only Dialog provided a way to set location (just like in Google Latitude) people will be more inclined to use this.

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  9. Detailed list of commands for Friend Finder can be downloaded from here

    http://www.dialog.lk/content/uploads/pdfs/4166-dialog-friend-finder.pdf

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  10. hey buddy thanks for the info...i think this is a cool app by dialog...thanks again

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  11. How can i track my buddy without notifying him/her?

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