Monday, June 9. 2008

CitySense Comes out of Stealth Mode

CitySense is attempting to use real time location data from those who download its client software as well as GPS enabled cabs and other "sensors." The goal is a near real time thematic map of activity in the city.

Currently available as a free download for BlackBerry and iPhone handsets, Citysense displays what look like heat maps to show where the most human activity is going on at that moment, down to the street intersection; future releases of the product may make those locations even more detailed, but [CEO Greg] Skibiski said that's not yet decided due to the important issue of privacy concerns.

For now it's San Francisco only. The big question: what do you do once you see these heatmaps? You use Yelp or Socialight to find what must be attracting the hoards. As the CEO puts it, the app is not about meeting people, but meeting places.

Biz plan: "The company plans to profit primarily from business clients purchasing deeper data from the Macrosense platform; Citysense and all future consumer applications are intended to be strictly icing on the cake."

- c|net