Welcome to ZigBeef’s ActiveKite. This program allows you to automatically checkin to BrightKite using two techniques: through the use of a personal radio ID (RFID) tag when in proximity of a tag reader, or by triggering on the exit of your PC's screen saver. The RFID tag option, in particular, offers the ultimate in convenience.

The ActiveKite-compatible RFID tag and reader can be purchased through eBay. This affordable personal RFID system will trigger an automatic BrightKite checkin when a tag first enters radio proximity of a ZigBeef USB-stick RFID reader. Typical proximity of a tag to a reader in an office or home environment is any position within a radius of 50 to 150+ feet. Thus, a BrightKite user can be in proximity of their home, office, or any other PC with a radio tag reader and can checkin to BrightKite completely automatically and hands-free.

ZigBeef's ActiveKite software also allows an automatic BrightKite checkin to occur when a user's PC leaves screensaver mode because of a keyboard or mouse movement. This is a convenient way for an automatic Brightkite checkin to occur when a user, say, touches their computer for the first time upon arriving at work.

ActiveKite leverages SMTP to send a location-containing email to a user's BrightKite email address. Google's Gmail SMTP service works great with ActiveKite. However, ActiveKite should work with any SMTP service. Just input smtp.Gmail.com as your SMTP with your appropriate user name, password, and SMTP port. In addition, you will need to log on to BrightKite and get your BrightKite email address.