Fanatix launches fan service

A new service has been launched by Fanatix to allow sports fans to create private messaging networks around live events.

The service, which is available as a free iPhone app, automatically connects friends around live entertainment and enables group chat via iMessage, iPhone's new messaging service. Fanatix matches a user’s Facebook friends and their activities with a database of more than 200,000 sports events and concerts at some 16,000 venues in 186 countries, before connecting them via iMessage. For live sports fans, Fanatix will find out which friends are at the game or who is watching on TV, and will allow users to initiate private group chats and share photos and videos as well as opinions.