Sprint Nextel said today that it was launching a service to make it easier for camera-phone-wielding subscribers to update groups of people on their whereabouts.

The idea has become increasingly popular in the wireless industry, which is trying to bring the blogging phenomenon on on the Internet to the mobile phone.

The company said Sprint PCS Picture Mail subscribers will be able to create an online community about any subject and invite friends with an e-mail address or Sprint phone to add pictures, video clips and text of their own, whenever they want, at no additional cost. The members of the community will stay on top of the action by receiving instant notification whenever new content gets posted.

According to the Sprint U.S. Consumer Wireless Usage Study, 53 percent of camera phone owners take pictures with their phone. And, nearly one-third of those "phone-tographers" take pictures at family gatherings or of their pets.