In recent weeks, entertainment figures have topped the message lists. Recent sightings have included actress Reese Witherspoon and her actor-husband Ryan Phillippe, and Friends star Courteney Cox Arquette. As the name implies, New York Celebrity Sightings currently operates only in New York, although Konno expects it to expand to other cities after Upoc rolls out its service nationwide in early October. Konno also sees potential for expanding abroad to places like Tokyo, where her brother recently reported sighting actor Keanu Reeves in a men's bathroom. Although the big wireless service providers do deliver stock quotes, weather and other content to customers' mobile phones, few applications have caught on in a big way.
Celebrity watching fits both criteria.
It remains to be seen which other wireless interest groups take off. Early indications, however, are that groups offering more in the way of entertainment than utilitarian value are popular choices. Gould views the popularity of sites like Mullet Watch and Celebrity Sightings as proof that people are willing to accept an element of absurdity in their wireless data. Wired Digital Inc. All rights reserved.