Abstract: A system and method for operating a proximity-based application on a hand-held communications device utilizing a GeoData Bar is disclosed. The system can be configured to extract proximity-specific intelligent search results from social network services, local contact services and information regarding proximity-specific contents. The search results simultaneously display with an active proximity search range on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the device corresponding to the settings of the GeoData Bar associated with the hand-held communications device. The active proximity search range includes a numeric indication of the magnitude of the active proximity search range, for example, in miles or kilometers. The GeoData Bar enables a user to interact/update/change the active proximity search range without entering any additional navigation windows or menus.