Vicinity: Proximity Chat

The goal of Vicinity is to give all nearby smartphones an instant, common channel of communication.

Vicinity is a social tool developed with a vision to bring people together in a time of increased social isolation. Its live chatroom and messaging features will give you the ability to connect with everyone around you—broadly interacting with smartphone users around you has never been easier. This app will allow entire cities and neighborhoods to chat with each other, all at once, in real time!

Other social media platforms, while having good intentions, have caused negative personal and societal effects. Vicinity aims to reverse this pattern—to help people form real-time connections with others in their community.

Connect instantly with neighbors, classmates, or anyone passing by in any setting or location. Join a live chatroom based on a radius of your choice and send messages to any member in that Vicinity. Send private messages to any other user participating in the chatroom.

There are many other apps for friendship and socializing, but Vicinity has been specifically designed as a tool to help you put down your phone and start talking with people in real life.

Feeling lonely? Set the radius and find real people nearby with mutual interests. Vicinity allows you to instantly connect and socialize in a unique way. Share thoughts and useful information, or ask questions about any topic to learn from others as well.

Potential uses

• Meet new friends

• Organize meetups by topic

• Interact with others at a sports game, bar, or any large gathering

• Coordinate a class study group

• Get help from a neighbor

• Invite others to a block party

• Recommend shows, websites or movies to others with common interests

• Ask for local service recommendations

• Coordinate group activities

• Query locals for tips when traveling

Core features

• Vicinity chat: a general chatroom based on location radius only

• Private messaging: privately message any user you see in private, public, or general chat

Dark Mode

Vicinity has both a light mode and a dark mode for an interface that is easier on the eyes.

Privacy and security

A private environment is designed just for you to safely chat with people around you. Member locations are never revealed.