Google reveals new photo-sharing mobile social network

Google has unveiled its new social networking photo service.

The service, called Photovine, started to roll out last week and is still shrouded in mystery.

Google has released few details about the service and did not even make an official announcement to say it had gone live.

Photovine allows people to take photos on their mobile phones before uploading them into a stream of pictures, making it a kind of Twitter for pictures.

Those who visit the site at the moment are allowed to request an invitation to join the site. There is also an introductory video that shows Google’s vision for the service.

The video shows people taking photos with their iPhones, but there is as yet no Photovine app available on Apple’s iTunes store. Industry insiders are now wondering whether Photovine will be made available for Android phones, and if so, whether that will happen at the same time as an iPhone app launch.

The site comes hot on the heels of Google+, Google’s rival to Facebook which sent the online world into a frenzy. Google had to shut down the number of invitations issued to the site after the massive response when it opened.

Google said in a statement: “Photovine is a photo-sharing service built by a few folks at Slide [the social media company Google bought in August 2010].

“It’s a fun way to learn more about your friends, meet new people and share your world with others.”