AOL is offering users of its AIM instant messaging service new capabilities to see where people on their buddy lists are physically located.

This innovative feature is enabled from a plug-in developed in conjunction with Skyhook Wireless, a Stage 1 Ventures Portfolio company. An excerpt from the Associated Press article:

AOL, a unit of Time Warner Inc., told The Associated Press that the Skyhook application was the first of several new location-aware capabilities it plans to add to AIM in the next couple of months, but the company declined to elaborate.

"As we build these platforms for people to connect, we find that context is very important," said Marcien Jenckes, who heads the AIM business. Jenckes said that when deciding whether to contact someone via phone, e-mail or IM, "people think through what’s the right mechanism. It might depend on how much time I have to talk or how involved I want to be in the conversation or what I’m doing. Proximity or location is another one of those factors that will play an increasing role."
"I am a big admirer of the logistics and effort that goes into creating the kind of database that Skyhook has built," Jenckes said.

Stage 1 Ventures couldn’t agree more. The complete Associated Press article can be read here.