Beepmo: A New LBS Social Network for Professionals in Asia

Beepmo describes itself as “a location-based social network for business professionals focused on Asia.”

All users have to do is to key in their LinkedIn login to start using the mobile app. Beepmo helps professionals to track other professionals who are nearby. If you find someone whom you wish to meet, simply connect with him/her, and then send a message to arrange a meeting/coffee. The app also has an “ice breaker” feature that helps you to find out who are your common friends on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. It could be said that Beepmo is like Badoo for professionals.

This app would come in handy at conferences where participants could use it to find and connect with other folks who are in the same area and also on Beepmo. It also has an event tab which helps users keep track of what conferences are coming up in the region. The app is well-designed and intuitive to use and I have no complains (for now) after using it for about an hour.

Beepmo just recently launched on February 1st, and is now available for iOS users. The Android and BlackBerry versions will soon be released. The founders behind Beepmo are Simon Lower and Mark White and their venture is funded by Greencloud Labs, a startup idea lab which they founded themselves.

Some of you might remember Simon Lower, who founded Soundbuzz, a Singapore-based digital music distribution site, which was later acquired by Motorola in early 2008. Lower explained to me the inspiration behind Beepmo:

First, the opportunity to build a mobile-centric social network for business professionals focused on Asia. We think the time is right for that. And second: the opportunity to disrupt the way people network at events and conferences – this really hasn’t changed for centuries! It still pretty much consists of a name badge and an outstretched hand.

We figured a service that used existing social networks like Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter to show you what you share in common with people you’d like to meet, coupled with location, would be a powerful tool that both professionals and event organisers would want.

Reviewing Beepmo reminds me of China’s Zaizher which is another professional networking mobile app which depends on not LinkedIn but Sina Weibo for data. But Zaizher is solely focused on the Chinese-speaking market while Beepmo is aimed at English-speaking parts of the region, specially India, Australia, and Southeast Asia as a whole.

For iOS users, you can give Beepmo a try here (iTunes link) and let us know what you think in the comments.