IPhone social networking & MVNO

iLounge: “A recently-published Apple patent application suggests that the company has done extensive research into becoming a mobile virtual network operator, allowing iPhone users to deal exclusively with Apple for mobile services and billing. The patent, called ”Dynamic Carrier selection”
and filed on Oct. 10 2006, covers a system that would allow the iPhone
to use whichever carrier’s service was available in the current
location, automatically switching to networks offering cheaper bulk
rates to Apple.

Michael Arrington of TechCrunch has posted an article detailing an iPhone-based social networking application
being developed by a currently-unnamed startup. The native application
would allow for proximity-based profile browsing and networking,
letting iPhone users see other iPhone owners nearby, as well as their
profiles, possibly facilitating face-to-face interaction. The
developers also claim to have found a work-around for the fact that
third-party iPhone applications can’t run in the background. Arrington
says to look for a launch “when the iPhone app store opens this
summer.” [via MDN]