Reviewing Togethr

Last weekend I had the chance to beta test a new app that is scheduled to be released in September. Entitled  Togethr , the app focuses on seeing a person’s online connections become more personalized and make revolutionize the gift giving process.

Here’s the issue. Online social networks have become almost like micro blogging. For example, the average facebook user has 250 - 350 friends. Here’s the issue, these friends are usually not people you know very well – most likely acquaintances you have met a few times through your life. As a result, instead of a personal medium, Facebook has turned into a method for user’s to reach a large group of people. Usually, a person will not feel comfortable posting very personal status’, comments, notes or posts simply due to the fact they do not want an enormous people to know what they are feeling.

Togethr solves this problem. It keeps your friend list tight, and only lists first names. Usually, your close friends will be known to you on a first name basis – while acquaintances you would usually have to ask “Which Chris? Chris Summers or Chris Yummers? This allows a more intimate online experience that allows you to ensure your principle relationships are maintained. It is especially useful for days where you feel you need to reach out for emotional support from some of your closest friends – while on Facebook doing so would probably cause a comment from a person like me in the form of a taunting meme.

With the world becoming closer together, most of us are finding friends are growing more apart in terms of physical distance due to the amount of opportunity to travel and live in different places. For example, I have good friends nationally in Ottawa or Vancouver, or abroad in Washington, London (UK) and China. To sift through your Facebook feed and actually keep up to them is just too annoying. Togethr again solves this problem – by keeping your closest friends on your list.

Additionally, the app allows for gifting giving with a simple three clicks. It’s your friend’s birthday? Three clicks later they can have cupcakes delivered at their door courtesy of you. Best yet, the app uses an algorithm to suggest personalized gifts to your friend. However, what if your friend doesn’t like the gift? No problem, the app will suggest the gifts your friend can swap.

The app syncs with Facebook, so it’s nice in terms of not needing to fill in more account information.

More details will be released when the app comes out – but I encourage anyone to take a look at the slate of bloggers (including myself) who have guest blogged on  their site .

Follow Togethr on twitter (@TogethrApp) so you can be sure to be updated when the app is released.