Social networking is quickly expanding from keyboard to keypad.Bummed out by the confines of your desktop? Wish you could interact with your friends over the Web, regardless of your physical location? Itching to make the most of your new cell phone or PDA? You're in luck: Social networking is quickly expanding from keyboard to keypad, and we've rounded up some of the best ways to bridge your handheld device with your virtual life.
Flagr
www.flagr.com
Flagr is a free social community themed around the sharing of geographical tidbits among friends. When you're out and about, just send a text message to x@flagr.com (the x is for "x marks the spot") with the name, location, description, and even photos of where you are, and Flagr will place a flag with your info on a TeleAtlas map.
Rabble
www.rabble.com
A site for posting location-based info and connecting with others around you, Rabble lets you submit photos and info on places and events. And you can search to find cool stuff—or people—wherever you are. Unfortunately, Rabble is restricted to Verizon, Cingular, and MetroPCS phones; if you're eligible, the site's worth checking out. Rabble's integration is both time-saving and top-notch: LiveJournal, Blogger, and Zoto content can all be imported into the site.
Socialtext Miki
www.socialtext.com/node/75
Miki is what it sounds like: a wiki, but a mobile one, optimized for cellular and handheld devices. Though Socialtext's services are mainly styled for corporate entities, its free wiki offering—limited to five users—is ideal for small communities such as a core group of friends.
YouTube
www.youtube.com
This community video site recently opened its uploading system to mobile devices. If your phone can take videos and send MMS messages, you can create a mobile profile on the Web site. YouTube will then create a customized e-mail link you can ship your videos to.
Flickr
www.flickr.com
Like YouTube's, Flickr's mobile service lets you e-mail pictures to your Flickr account using your camera phone or another handheld device. Or if your device supports it, you can also use ShoZu or Nokia's Lifeblog to put your pictures online.
