XTIFY / INTUIT EXTEND LOCATION-BASED SERVICES CONTEST

Xtify (www.xtify.com) and Intuit (www.intuit.com) have extended the deadlines for their location-aware business application contest. The contest, announced in April, is intended to showcase applications that integrate Xtify's location-based services capabilities with Intuit's Platform as a Service. Intuit's Platform as a Service allows developers to make their web applications available to millions of Intuit users. Xtify's capabilities allow developers to integrate location based features into Internet applications.

The Intuit / Xtify Application Contest will provide up to $ 12,500 in prize money to the top location applications for two prizes: one determined by a panel of judges, and one based on user adoption of entrant applications. The deadlines are:

- August 24: applications must be completed and published;
- November 2: winners will be announced.

The Xtify API allows Web applications to utilize location data tracked by a thin client running on BlackBerry, Google Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian OS smartphones. No plans have been announced for Apple iPhone compatibility. Judges for the contest include:

- Ed Zander – Recent CEO and Chairman of Motorola
- Jeff Samberg – Managing Director of Acadia Woods Partners, LLC
- Alex Chriss – Business Leader of Intuit Partner Platform, Intuit Inc.
- Andrew Weinreich – CEO of Xtify, Inc.

Xtify launched the beta version of its location based platform in 2008. A thin client on users' cell phones pushes location data to Xtify's servers on a periodic basis. Website developers can write to Xtify's API to access the location of participating users and reflect that location in content displayed to that user. Xtify says it is able to know where users are throughout the day and whether they are on the Internet. Users must opt-in to each service for Xtify location sharing. Users control with whom and when their location information is shared.

MeetMoi (www.meetmoi.com), a location-based dating service, and SeeMyWhere (www.SeeMyWhere.com), a social network, have implemented the Xtify technology. MeetMoi offers a free service that allows users to review "matches" and respond to messages initiated by other users. A premium service offers unlimited messaging and other features.

Andrew Weinreich founded meetMoi in 2006, and founded Xtify in 2008. Xtify is privately held, funded by Acadia Woods Partners and ETF Venture Funds (www.etfventurefunds.com).-Stuart Whitaker