Posted 07/20/2010 - 4:31pm by Julia M
Foursquare, the leading location-based mobile social networking site, has shown impressive growth over the last year. Usage now tops 1.6 million in the US. Foursquare applications are available for the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and Windows Mobile. Users can check in from various sites to let their friends know where they are and what they’re doing. In the process users earn badges and mayorships.
To this point, the service has been little more than a location-based game. Badges and mayorships have little use beyond status within the network of users. But now, with the service’s growth, Foursquare is becoming more of a player in brand promotional plans. Brands can use the service to encourage in-store traffic, giving incentives to loyal customers, as well as new ones.
Venture capitalists seem to see a strong future for location-based services in general and Foursquare in particular. Foursquare recently announced that it has raised another 420 million in funding .
Now the company is considering expanding its use of badges. At Internet Week in New York, users could earn an Internet Week badge merely by checking in from the event. That badge then gave users access to special VIP parties. Other badges let them earn bottles of wine and other perks.
To read the full "Tech Trends" for the week of 7/19/10, click here.
