Thanks to Mingleton, a new dating app that helps you find nearby strangers, chatting up that cute guy at the bar is easier than ever.
Much like Tinder, Mingleton connects you to the people in your immediate vicinity - literally in the same room as you! The app was launched by Harvard grads Obi Ekekezie and Joel Ayala, who call Mingleton "an easy, low-key way to break the ice with the people literally around you and find out who wants to meet you." Instead of GPS, Mingleton uses iBeacon technology to find people who may be of interest to you.
"When another user detects your beacon configuration and then taps ‘See Who’s Nearby’ to see who it is, he or she pings our server to figure out who you are and if you’re relevant to him or her based on both of your stated preferences – for now just gender and age range," Ekekezie says. "From there, he or she can decide whether to ask you to mingle. If and only if you both express interest in mingling, we let you both know.”
As of now, the app uses data from Facebook to find relevant nearby users. According to the founders, Mingleton is different from other dating apps because it allows you to first see someone you find interesting in real life, which means that you don't have to worry about someone looking totally different from his or her online photos (or ending up on an episode of Catfish!).
Although there are some potential downsides to the app, like dealing with the awkwardness of running into someone you don't want to "mingle" with, Mingleton would be the perfect way to find guys at a bar or concert. As NBC puts it, it's great for "places where you often see someone you wish you knew was single and not crazy."
Mingleton is free to download from the App Store.
