Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for providing and reading status. In general, a user may select from a wide variety of status indicators so as to define his/her current status. The status indicators may correspond to any combination of the user's mood or location, as well as location at a specific time. A status indicator may also promote an item, business, or concept for the user. A status indicator may also be automatically selected based on a particular action of the user. Mechanisms for posting one or more portions of a particular status-providing user's current status indicator to another user's device may also be provided. The status-providing user may also select permission settings for one or more other users to receive specific portions of the status-providing user's status indicator so that a requesting user only receives the portions of the status-providing user's status indicator to which he/she is authorized.