Don’t just spend your downtime on business trips eating fast food and watching TV in your hotel room.
Even though you’re away from the office, you can still make useful networking contacts.
The Here on Biz mobile app can help you meet people with the same professional interests or background who happen to be in the city you’re visiting.
Just log in using your LinkedIn account, and Here on Biz will use that data to create your profile.
The app then uses your phone’s GPS to determine your location and tells you where your LinkedIn contacts are, allowing you to see if any are nearby.
You can also see other professionals who are in the same town or neighborhood.
In addition, the app lets you check into events to network with fellow attendees.
Here on Biz even makes introductions based on information in your LinkedIn profile and data gathered through your use of the app.
If the app finds someone you should meet, you get a push notification. If you want to get in touch with him, you can request a connection and see if he accepts. You can’t see other users’ full profiles unless you’re connected.
If your potential contact accepts your request, you can start chatting through the app. Just tap on a button and type out a text message.
You can then use this exchange to set up an offline meeting.
All the contacts you make through the app are saved in your network feed.
Here on Biz is free for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and it’s even optimized for the iPhone 5.
Versions for Android, and at least one other popular business platform (possibly Windows Phone) are in the works, the company says.