This article was published on May 25, 2011

NearVerse launches its LoKast 3.0 app to digitally connect in a physical space


NearVerse launches its LoKast 3.0 app to digitally connect in a physical space

NearVerse, a proximity Internet company based in New York City has launched its LoKast 3.0 iOS app today, which allows users to connect, message and share media with each other directly within a “social browser” when in a shared location over WiFi, 3G, and Bluetooth.

Boris Bogatin, NearVerse’s CEO explains proximity Internet in contrast to the upload-and-download-based realities of the past. Bogatin believes that LoKast 3.0 is the first mobile app service to holistically address the proximity Internet needs, and to set the stage for rapid emergence of this critical mobile market. NearVerse, the parent company recently started working with Qualcomm’s Innovation Center around the use of its AllJoyn technology.

“We focused on optimizing LoKast for a few, critical capabilities to proximity Internet – a) discovery, space creation, messaging, and media sharing have to be as close as possible to 100% real-time; b) users need access to accurate and contextual, address-less discovery of others and spaces where they are; c) users need to be able to instantly organize in 1-to-1 and group social interactions that match the privacy requirements within their physical settings; and d) users need to be able to stay connected after they leave and continue right where they left off during those physical interactions…This approach now sets the stage for us to effective proliferate proximity Internet – from opportunities to effectively monetize this market to means for gaining adoption in a way that’s suitable for the physical world scenarios,” says Bogatin

In the year of group messaging apps, LoKast not only provides real-time messaging with others in the same physical places, but also real-time sharing of photos, videos, contacts, music links and web links. The LoKast app gives users the ability to create “spaces”, which are essentially location based group chat rooms instantly visible by others in the same physical place. Users can also create invite-only private spaces. It’s one feature that sets it apart is the ability to share media, primarily music with friends within a “space.”

Watch this instructional video for LoKast here:

While LoKast is in a very crowded market, it aims to define itself by focusing on “proximity Internet,” which rests semantically between the LBS apps, Bump and upcoming NFC enabled services. LoKast is a free app that makes money from its advertising. Download it from the app store here.

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.