May 07, 2009, 10:13 AM — Mobile social network GyPSii has launched CONNECT, a Web-based service that allows its users to automatically update and share their status across Twitter and Facebook as well as its own network, the company announced on Thursday.
Many GyPSii members are also using Twitter and Facebook, according to Sam Critchley, vice president of products and co-founder of GyPSii.
"A lot people were saying to us that it would be great if they could publish GyPSii content on Facebook, and the other direction as well," said Critchley.
The main feature of CONNECT is the ability to create a place -- either using a mobile phone or on the Web -- and then publish it on GyPSii, Facebook and also send it as a Twitter message, according to Critchley.
The PlaceMe feature is one of the cornerstones of the GyPSii service. It lets users record a moment or an experience using photos or videos, geotag it and share it with others by publishing it on GyPSii or Facebook and also sending it as a Twitter message, according to Critchley.
"If you are out and about, and you see something interesting ... you can record that in GyPSii on the mobile by creating a place, and you take a photo, the location is grabbed as well, you press send and of course it's published on GyPSii, but then it also gets published straight onto Facebook and to Twitter, depending on how you have it set up," said Critchley.
For Twitter, this means a URL within a message that links directly to the GyPSii Place. In Facebook friends can view a thumbnail of a place, and then find out more by clicking on it.
Other integrated features are status updates and friend additions.
Setup is done on the GyPSii Web site.
GyPSii isn't the only company that has seen the need for integration between different social networks. Startups including Ping.fm and Cliqset are working on software that lets users update multiple social networks at once. Unlike GyPSii they aren't social networks in and of themselves. They also offer a much wider support for different networks. GyPSii is planning to integrate with other big social networks in the coming weeks and months, according to Critchley.
The GyPSii mobile application is available for BlackBerry, phones that support Java ME (Micro Edition), Symbian OS and Windows Mobile. The company will also launch a native application for the iPhone in the near future, according to a spokeswoman.
