Location-based upstarts Foursquare and Gowalla may not have a lot of users, but they sure have the buzz (and millions in backing). Thanks to them, “checking in” is the new black — even Flixtser is jumping on the location-based bandwagon. Here are three news items from today:
- Gowalla is working with Alice Radio and others in an effort to raise funds for Haiti earthquake victims. As past of the “Hearts for Haiti” efforts, Gowalla is encouraging its users to contribute to relief efforts by checking in at two Bay Area Peet’s Coffee & Tea locations on Monday, Feb. 8, or at a special Barenaked Ladies concert that evening. As part of the campaign, for each person who checks in with Gowalla, $50 will be donated to the American Red Cross, with a goal of reaching a total of $20,000. Good work, Josh Williams and team!
- Foursquare, my favorite location app, has signed a deal with Bravo Media, the company behind kitschy pop-fashion TV channel whose intellectually bankrupt television offerings include reality shows such as “The Shear Genius,” “The Millionaire Matchmaker” and “The Real Housewives” series. As part of the deal, Foursquare will offer network-branded “badges” and special prizes for “check-ins” at Bravo-themed locations. For its part, Bravo will create on-air spots aimed at driving users to “check in” at Foursquare from various locations across the country that have been featured on Bravo series, as well as venues recommended by Bravo talent.
- Skyhook Wireless says it will help add more location-related information to Flixster’s “Movies” Android app. Flixster’s “Movies” iPhone mobile app is also Skyhook-enabled.
Speaking of all these check-in apps, did you see this comic that made the rounds last week? It’s definitely how I feel checking in with all these apps… http://www.statusthis.com/2010/01/check-in-please/
I use Brightkite (primarily for status updates / posting photos) and <a href=””http://foursquare.com”>Foursquare (for the game aspect).
In response to Jeff’s comic link; Brightkite updates Facebook, Twitter and also Fire Eagle with your location data when you check in somewhere. However, with all these location-based services, I think you just have to make a decision and stick to it!
There are lots of people who are really uncertain about location-based services anyway. Many of my friends will tell me “but now everyone knows that you’re not at home and can steal your stuff”, but they’re quite happy to post a Twitter or Facebook status update, telling everyone where they are – just that linking it to a map of their actual location seems to freak them out.
OMG, please quit providing the “buzz” around Foursquare. It is completely unwarranted, I am sorry.
Now look at this idiotic list: Gowalla, Flixster, Foursquare, MyTown, Yelp, Loopt.
It is already commodotized before ever becoming a real business.