The online social networking trend seems destined to get together somehow with the handheld, GPS-equipped device.

Gather.com founder and Bethel Park native Tom Gerace envisions that. He’s mapped out a relationship, in fact.

By year’s end, Gerace said his Boston-based networking site will allow owners of the upcoming iPhone 3G to share their locations with friends, former co-workers — anyone with whom they keep in touch — via the phone’s global positioning system feature. Apple will start selling its latest iPhone July 11.

Gather is fine-tuning other ways to continue building what has become a leading social networking site for adults, with a half-million registered members and twice as many “unique visitors,” or casual viewers, each month.

Gerace, Gather’s CEO, spent last week in Pittsburgh working on details for the redesigned Web site, to launch in mid-July.

Gather Inc.’s local office in Gateway Center, Downtown, employs 18 folks and is where product development and design

work take place. Overall, Gather’s full-time work force totals 42.

“Every duration we go out to talk to adults, they want simpler, simpler simpler,” Gerace said. The redesigned site will be rooted in four main areas — My Gather, Groups, public and Explore — where visitors can find the substance and contacts they’re seeking related to their interests.

Janet Loraine, 52, found Gather through a promotion on another Web site.

“I just loved it. It’s like a MySpace for adults,” said the Mt. Washington resident, who posts her games, stories and photos on the site, and communicates with friends and relatives.

Gerace, 37, got the inspiration for Gather while working in the travel industry, as vice president of marketing for National Leisure Group in Port Washington, N.Y. He envisioned an online community where informed adults could share ideas about travel and related topics, such as food and wine….

Orginal post by Top Tech News