Grindr
Encyclopedia
Grindr is a geosocial networking
application for the iPhone
, iPod touch
, iPad
, Blackberry OS
and Android devices. Available for download from the Apple App Store and the Android Market
, Grindr comes in both free and subscription-based versions (Grindr Xtra). The app makes use of the device geolocation
, which allows users to access other gay
and bisexual men within close proximity. This is accomplished through a user interface that displays a grid of representative pictures of men, arranged from nearest to farthest away. Tapping on a picture will display a brief profile for that user, as well as the option to chat, send pictures, and share one's location.
and Joe My God.
Though based in the United States
, the app quickly gained worldwide popularity through word of mouth
and various media outlets. On June 10, 2011 Grindr announced that it had officially hit 2 million users in 192 countries across the globe, with some 45,000 users online at any given second. Joel Simkhai, founder of Grindr, has reported activity in countries as far as Iran, Iraq, Israel and Kazakhstan. As of September 2010, the United States hosted the highest number of Grindr users with nearly 500,000, while London
topped the list of cities with 62,000 users. British users increased by 30,000 alone after the app was mentioned by Stephen Fry
on the popular TV show Top Gear.
In January 2011, Grindr won the award for "Best Mobile Dating Site" at the iDate Awards 2011. Grindr announced in March 2011 that a straight version of the application was under development temporarily titled Project Amicus
.
On September 8, 2011, Grindr launched Blendr
, a similar app for people of all sexual orientations, with additional features intended to facilitate non-sexual friendships.
-free, subscription version of Grindr, which makes use of the Apple Push Notification Service
. Additionally, Grindr Xtra contains features such as loading up to 200 users at once and quickly swiping between profiles. Users have the option to renew their subscription via iTunes
in one, three, six, and twelve month purchases.
Geosocial networking
Geosocial Networking is a type of social networking in which geographic services and capabilities such as geocoding and geotagging are used to enable additional social dynamics. User-submitted location data or geolocation techniques can allow social networks to connect and coordinate users with...
application for the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, iPod touch
IPod touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
, iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
, Blackberry OS
BlackBerry OS
BlackBerry OS is a proprietary mobile operating system, developed by Research In Motion for its BlackBerry line of smartphone handheld devices...
and Android devices. Available for download from the Apple App Store and the Android Market
Android Market
Android Market is an online software store developed by Google for Android OS devices. Its gateway is an application program called "Market", preinstalled on most Android devices, allows users to browse and download mobile apps published by third-party developers...
, Grindr comes in both free and subscription-based versions (Grindr Xtra). The app makes use of the device geolocation
Geolocation
Geolocation is the identification of the real-world geographic location of an object, such as a radar, mobile phone or an Internet-connected computer terminal...
, which allows users to access other gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and bisexual men within close proximity. This is accomplished through a user interface that displays a grid of representative pictures of men, arranged from nearest to farthest away. Tapping on a picture will display a brief profile for that user, as well as the option to chat, send pictures, and share one's location.
History
Grindr was launched on March 25, 2009 by Nearby Buddy Finder, LLC. Initially, cautious but positive remarks circulated through the gay blogosphere on sites such as QueertyQueerty
Queerty is a popular online magazine covering gay-oriented lifestyle and news, founded in 2005 by David Hauslaib..-Description:It is frequently referenced and quoted by mainstream media including the Los Angeles Times, ABC News, The New Republic, Entertainment Weekly, Salon, San Francisco...
and Joe My God.
Though based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the app quickly gained worldwide popularity through word of mouth
Word of mouth
Word of mouth, or viva voce, is the passing of information from person to person by oral communication. Storytelling is the oldest form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others of something, whether a real event or something made up. Oral tradition is cultural material and...
and various media outlets. On June 10, 2011 Grindr announced that it had officially hit 2 million users in 192 countries across the globe, with some 45,000 users online at any given second. Joel Simkhai, founder of Grindr, has reported activity in countries as far as Iran, Iraq, Israel and Kazakhstan. As of September 2010, the United States hosted the highest number of Grindr users with nearly 500,000, while London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
topped the list of cities with 62,000 users. British users increased by 30,000 alone after the app was mentioned by Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
on the popular TV show Top Gear.
In January 2011, Grindr won the award for "Best Mobile Dating Site" at the iDate Awards 2011. Grindr announced in March 2011 that a straight version of the application was under development temporarily titled Project Amicus
Project Amicus
Project Amicus was the codename for a new geosocial networking app called Blendr that allows users to discover, interact, and meet with nearby people with similar interests...
.
On September 8, 2011, Grindr launched Blendr
Blendr
Blendr is a geosocial networking application for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Facebook. It was created by Joel Simkhai, and patterned after his successful app Grindr, which focuses on connecting the gay and bisexual male community and is popular with gay men...
, a similar app for people of all sexual orientations, with additional features intended to facilitate non-sexual friendships.
Grindr Xtra
Grindr Xtra is the advertisementOnline advertising
Online advertising is a form of promotion that uses the Internet and World Wide Web to deliver marketing messages to attract customers. Examples of online advertising include contextual ads on search engine results pages, banner ads, blogs, Rich Media Ads, Social network advertising, interstitial...
-free, subscription version of Grindr, which makes use of the Apple Push Notification Service
Apple Push Notification Service
The Apple Push Notification Service is a service created by Apple Inc. that was launched together with iOS 3.0 on June 17, 2009. It uses push technology through a constantly-open IP connection to forward notifications from the servers of third party applications to the Apple devices; such...
. Additionally, Grindr Xtra contains features such as loading up to 200 users at once and quickly swiping between profiles. Users have the option to renew their subscription via iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in one, three, six, and twelve month purchases.