Twitter augmented reality search: Tweetmondo and Layar team up

A still from Twittaround, the original augmented reality Twitter search appLess than a month ago, a fascinating, if slightly creepy, mobile app called Twittaround launched — overlaying nearby tweets onto a smartphone camera.

The concept was intriguing enough to spark immediate competition: SPRXMobile, the company behind the augmented reality browser Layar, is partnering with Tweetmondo, which handles local Twitter search, to build it.

The partners are offering slots for alpha testers on the Android phone and plan to release an iPhone version later this year.

The alliance makes sense: SPRXMobile is trying to add more location-sensitive content to its mobile phone browser. Augmented reality browsers work by overlaying information over a live camera feed in a smartphone. (Imagine walking around your neighborhood, holding your camera up and seeing real estate listings pop-up over nearby buildings in your viewfinder.) The more data — such as local restaurant reviews and tweets — that SPRXMobile can include, the more useful Layar becomes.

For Tweetmondo, augmented reality Twitter search makes their service seem more immediate. It might be a boon to tweeting local vendors and small businesses, too. Amsterdam-based SPRXMobile is angel-funded.

Below is a video explaining the Layar augmented reality browser:

And here’s a still of Tweetmondo’s current service:picture-26

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About the Author, Kim-Mai Cutler

Kim-Mai was born and raised a stone's throw from Apple headquarters in Cupertino by a devout Hewlett-Packard family. After attending UC Berkeley, Kim-Mai worked for Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires in New York, Los Angeles, London and Buenos Aires. Follow her on Twitter at @kimmaicutler, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.

  • Evan Savar
    I can even begin to think if this was available on multi platforms , what opportunities could arise!
  • Enjoyed this. Augmented reality has a great growth story ahead of it.
  • chair876
    I think a lot of money is going to be made from Layar. Hope I can get in on the action somehow ;)
  • Science fiction has arrive and more to follow for the blending of augmented reality and gps for mobile search. Can't wait!