NearBio, the latest application deployed by WHCD LLC, a company specializing in mobile applications went live November 13. It is leveraging the ubiquity of mobile phones to connect biodiesel consumers with the nearest biodiesel fueling stations. When users enter the city, state, zip code or GPS location into their mobile phones via the Internet or text message their query immediately taps into a comprehensive national database of 1000 biodiesel stations. Within 3 seconds users will get directions, the distance, the address, phone number, and information on blends when available. The locations are updated daily and the addresses are verified and map-able.

Jeff Plowman, President of Austin Biofuels, LLC was quoted in NearBio’s press release saying, “ The Nearbio service is a major step forward in bringing biodiesel availability and awareness to the next level. Now, commercial and consumer users can find the closest of our many Texas locations all from their cell phone.�

I went to NearBio’s website to give it a try. The parameters I used were Austin, Texas, stations within a 25 mile radius. Within a few seconds a page popped up with 23 stations listing the name of the stations, addresses, blend information, and hours of operation for most stations and if the stations took credit cards. I clicked on the address and was taken to mapquest where I entered my current location to get driving directions. Then I tried the “send to cell� feature and received a text message with location, phone number, hours of operation, and that this station does accept credit cards within 3 seconds just as promised.