Foursquare Teams Up With Living Social To Offer Additional Discounts

The location-based service, which enables users to share their location by checking in to venues, announced it had partnered with five daily deals companies—LivingSocial, Gilt Groupe’s Gilt City, zozi, BuyWithMe and AT&T Interactive—to offer Foursquare members additional discounts that can be purchased through the social network’s app.

Users will be able to access the “Deals,” which will initially be available in the U.S. UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia and Zealand, under the “Explore” tab on the Foursquare app. The company noted that the deals that appear on the app will be customized for each user according to factors such as whether multiple friends have visited an establishment.

This is a smart move by Foursquare because Foursquare fatique seems to be catching on amongst many of its users. Just today my co-worker mentioned that she was getting tired of checking-in on Foursq because it doesn’t really mean anything to her anymore (even though she is mayor at work! Grrr). Maybe this new integration will make her continue using the app.

I also especially like this feature because it prompts deals based on my past check-in behavior or friends past check-in behavior. I’m tired of receiving random and more often than not, useless daily deals from Groupon, Living Social, etc. 

(Source: The Huffington Post)

ExcellBook: Diesel App Makes Facebook Look Like Excell

Excellbook is an app by Diesel that makes Facebook look like an Excel spreadsheet, allowing you to continue circulating unfunny memes when you’re at work.

Lol.

You can download the app on your PC or MAC: http://www.bestupidatwork.com/

Great concept, but the app is not very practical. I tried installing it at work, but it apprears that one needs admin priviledges to install it (like with any software at work). If Diesel finds a way around this loophole, it would be well, notstupid smart.

W/ App: Share Who You’re With

W/ (With.me) is a fun and simple app that lets a user share who they’re with.

I really like the simplicity of this app. It might seem limiting, but sometimes you just want to share who you’re with without giving away too much info :)

It is available only on the iphone (UGH) and can be synced to your Twitter account. Note: A Facebook sync is not yet available. 

Check it out if you have an iphone :) - http://with.me

SoftSign

Softsign lets users add their signatures to documents by signing directly on the device’s screen with a finger or stylus. No printing, scanning or faxing is required; rather, users can simply keep key business documents on their mobile devices and collect signatures on the go as necessary.

The app is available on the iphone for $4.99 and will be on the android soon. 

Such a great, simple, and enviromentally-firendly idea. Can’t wait to get it once its available on the android. 

(Source: springwise.com)

Check-ins: Here To Stay!

Digital analytics firm comScore released a study that says that 7.1% of the entire U.S. mobile phone population uses location check-in services and 17.6% of smartphone users checked in during the month of March.

So much for the idea of check-in and location-based games being a fad.

ComScore says that 12.6 million smartphone owners used check-in services like Foursquare, Gowalla, and Facebook Places.

Check-in fervor is driven primarily by open by early adopters, who have “a high propensity for mobile media usage, including accessing retail sites and shopping guides, and displayed other characteristics of early adopters, including a stronger likelihood of owning a tablet device and accessing tech news, when compared to the average smartphone user.”

The study finds that check-in users tend to be young with 18 to 24 year olds (26%) and 25 to 34 year olds (32.5%) making up more than half of all users. They tend to be students (23.3%) and have full-time jobs (46.4%).

Android users account for the largest share of check-in users with 36.6% versus iPhone users at 33.7%. BlackBerry came in third at 22% with Palm, Sybmian and Windows all account for less than 5%.

Android user here! :) Its funny how Android users are number one when it comes to using check-in services, but they’re still a lot of apps (yes I’m talking to you GIGWALK & INTONOW) that don’t offer their service on the Android. Well, I hope this study changes that and more apps offer their services on Android phones. 

(Source: readwriteweb.com)

35% of Smartphone Users Load Apps Before Getting Out of Bed

Is this study supposed to surprise us?

According to an Ericsson ConsumerLab study, 35% of people are firing up apps on their smartphones before getting out of bed.

Furthermore, 18% of consumers use social networking apps before they rise for the day; 10% use them while commuting, 34% use them late in the evening and 20% use them in bed before going to sleep.

Interestingly, consumers’ behavior on the web has changed due to the Internet’s constant availability on smartphones and tablets. “Prior to the introduction of smartphones, consumers tended to use the internet in “chunks” – they would tend to confine their internet activities to when they had an opportunity to sit in front of a computer,” the study says. “Smartphones allow people to go online the very instant they get the impulse. Internet access is thus becoming more spontaneous and unplanned.”

According to the study, many consumers cannot imagine their lives without apps that reside in the cloud. “Consumers expect, and increasingly depend on, the ability to access online services easily at low cost and complexity from multiple locations during the day,” the study says.

Are you one of the 35 per cent? Would you be able to live with your smartphone? I think I could if I HAD to. But, why would I want to do such a silly little thing like that… :)

Ps: Here’s a link to the full report.

(Source: Mashable)

Gigwalk: An App That Pays You To Use It

Say what?????

Gigwalk is an app that essentially puts you to “work” and pays you for completing the task job at hand. You can see a job in your area, the money that you will earn for it, and the instructions for completion. Jobs may consist of a variety of tasks, all of which can be completed right from your smartphone.

A typical “gig” might consist of visiting a local restaurant, checking in at the location, shooting some pictures of the menu and decor, answering a questionnaire about the state of the business and posting that information to the Gigwalk system. The process can take a few minutes or require more time, depending on the complexity.

Gigs are priced starting at $3 for simple tasks but ramp up as you earn more ‘street cred’ from successfully completed gigs.

It’s not exactly a fulltime job, but it is an easy way to score some fast extra cash. The highest paid “Gigwalker” in the six-month long private beta earned $2,173 for 277 completed “gigs.”

Its an interesting concept. It sounds a lot like SCVNGR, but instead of badges or rewards, it pays you. I think its smart for both the consumer and business. Businesses are able to basically uncover local insight (by making consumers perform tasks and answer questions) in a very economical way, and consumers, well, get paid!!

I would love to test it out for myself; however, it is not available on the Android just yet. Angrily Waiting!

http://gigwalk.com

(Source: thenextweb.com)

Zapaday: Wikipedia For Events

Zapaday, currently in private beta, compiles world and local events on every topic in one place. Events like state visits are scraped from more than 4,000 news, company and government websites and then approved by editors. It also imports important public calendars and allows wiki-like additions.

Without leaving the site, it’s possible to find out what holidays, new product launches, court hearings, conferences and sports events are set for any future day. Though users can also set a default location for local events, the site is focused on creating the first comprehensive global calendar before getting more specific.

The calendar can be accessed without signing up for an account, but users who do sign up receive notifications when a new event is added to days or categories that are important to them. 

I think this is a great idea. Its a great way to be aware of the important events happening in the world everyday. It would also be nice to know about all the local events taking place on a particular day, especially because I live in the vibrant city of San Francisco, where theres always something happening. 

(Source: Mashable)

SCVNGR

SCVNGR, a location based game that competes with the likes of Foursquare and Gowalla, offers a deeper gaming experience than most of its competitors - instead of just ‘checking in’, the game prompts users to complete various challenges, which can involve things like taking goofy photos or solving a puzzle. These challenges are set either by businesses or other users.

Completion of challenges is rewarded by points, badges or real-world rewards.

SCVNGR also offers a special feature, ‘Social Map,’ which plots where your friends have recently checked-in on a map and lets you see how long ago they were there. 

SCVNGR’s users just recently reached over a million. 

I haven’t heard about SCVNGR even though its been around since 2009. I like the concept, and can’t wait to test it our. I’m curious to see what some challenges are and more importantly, what real-world rewards I can expect by using this app.  

Untappd: Foursquare For Beer!

Untappd is basically Foursquare for beer lovers. Rather than checking in at a location per se, you check in with what type of brew you are enjoying. You can also attach the physical location of your hops-flavored concoction.

What makes Untappd different from just a “Foursquare with beer badges” concept is that you can comment on what beers your friends are drinking. You can link your Facebook and Twitter accounts to find your Untappd friends, see what they are drinking and then comment or toast that drink. The app also shows you beer recommendations and shows a list of what beers are currently trending.

Haha, I love the concept. Infact, I just joined Untappd and even unlocked my first badge :) -

If you’re a beer drinker, you should give Untappd, well, a tap.

#rad

Geoloqi: Foursquare on Steroids

Geoloqi is a fully customizable GPS-based application that lets you set your own reminders, rules and notes based on your geographic location. It uses GPS technology to map users, but not broadcast their locations to the world—only those they choose to share it with and when.

Uses:

• - Automatically check in to your favorite places on Foursquare if you’re there more than 10 minutes.
•  - Grocery list texted to you the next time you’re at the grocery store.
• - Get a text message when you’re nearby apartments that match your Craigslist search criteria.
• - Automatically send your carpool buddies a text when you’re half a mile from the pickup spot.
• - Automatically send your boss an email if you’re not at work at 9am saying exactly how late you’ll be.
• - Turn on lights when you get home, turn them off when you leave.
• - “Geonotes” lets you leave messages at specific locations like “Don’t forget how delicious the Cafe Mochas are here,” “WiFi PW here is LOLDogz,” and “Sip in the sunshine” at McCarren Park. The messages then pop up when users pay the place a visit again.

A special feature, “USGS Earthquakes,” likely targeted towards those out in San Francisco, warns them of nearby rumbles.

Since privacy is so deeply embedded with location sharing, Geoloqi offers time-limited location sharing, so you can share their location for 10 minutes, 7 days or forever. You can then share your location by email, SMS, Twitter, Facebook or copy the URL and paste it anywhere. 

I think what makes this service so great is that it is intuitive and automatic. With no slowing down of the ‘check-in,’ I think there will soon be a need for automatic check-ins. So, this app is definitely something to watch out for.

(Source: blogs.forbes.com)

Why The Check-in Will Live On In 2011 and Beyond

Check-in Evolution

The concept of checking in is taking on a life of its own as it moves way beyond the confines of a location based nework. Checking in is evolving as the shorthand for tracking your virtual life. You can now check into places, media, things, topics, and even a state of reality.

We will always check-in for free stuff

As simplistic as this may seem, as consumers we will pretty much do anything for a brand if it means we get something for free, cheap, or can avail of discounts. This is perhaps the biggest reason that check-ins won’t die. Companies are hungry for data about their customers or potential customers. Location-based data is about as useful as it gets and brands will get even further into the concept of offering deals or rewards in return for checking-in. And as much as they’re willing to do this, people will respond.

Studies frequently site that the main reason for following a brand online through Facebook or Twitter, is to avail of discounts. The same will apply for check-ins. As the author in the Read Write Web article rightly claims, the shine of checking in somewhere rubs off after a while as we get used to what we’ll fine when we do. But as long as we can get something in return, the check-in will only increase. And the introduction of Facebook’s new Deals product (separate to Places deals) will signal even more opportunities for brands to incentivise check-ins.

Businesses want check-ins

As long as businesses are fueling the demand for checking in, consumers will respond.  As we see new concept sites take off, such as Groupon, it’s plain to see that these services live and die by the investment (in time and money) made by businesses. If businesses take to Places like they have done to business pages, then the checkin is certainly here to stay. And with Facebook offering analytics for Place owners through Facebook Insights, the offering just becomes even more attractive. Businesses might be able to respond to the demand, but they can also set it as well. As mobile Facebook Deals roll out across Europe making it easier for a company to offer a deal, the number of check-ins will rise with this.

Smartphone penetration

A point overlooked perhaps in both the commentaries of the journey of the check-in, is the penetration of smartphone apps and how this contributed to the very mechanic of checking in. The type of person who would be interested in checking it to tell their friends where they are, is different to the average smartphone user. As smartphone usage grows however, this will only contribute to the amount of people checking in both virtually and physically. Let’s not forget either that Facebook has over 200 million active mobile users that they can tap into, and this is slowly translating into numbers.

200,000 users have checked into LA Airport for example, from the launch of Places up to March 2011. Facebook is also responding to its large mobile user-base by expanding the check-in offering even a short time after launch. It recently announced the ability to check into Events via its mobile site, with this due to roll out to the iphone app soon. This further socialises checking-in and actually gives even more of a reason to do so. You might not expect to find friends while you’re checking into your local cafe, but Event checkins is an inherently social experience.

This graph shows why people check-in. Its surprising to see that Gamification scored so low, with only 7%. Apparently, the main reason people check-in is for deals and promotions, which I believe seems pretty accurate. 

The author of this particular article, Lauren Fisher, also said that she believes that check-in games (i.e. the gamification aspect of a check-in) are dead. While the poll might indicate this, I strongly disagree. I don’t think gamification is dead or is going to die anytime soon. Gamification makes the act of a check-in fun. The two main reasons why I check-in is because of gamification (points/rewards or badges) and deals and promotions. In fact, a lot of websites and apps are now tying in gamification with deals. For example, ScreenTribe is an app that rewards a user when they check into a TV show or movie with points and badges. Once a user accumulates enough points, they can redeem them for a gift or special deal.

(Source: thenextweb.com)

Yahoo Purchases IntoNow

Yahoo just made an important leap into the world of social television with the purchase of IntoNow, a company that allows users to check into their television shows and interact with friends via their mobile devices. 

This was always going to be a big opportunity area for the company that could get it right and while it seemed likely that people would just engage in this kind of activity on Facebook or Twitter, perhaps a dedicated environment could make sense. 

It would allow the user their own “TV” space, but on the downside it might just be one too many applications for the user to have to “check-into”. 

Yahoo’s purchase gives IntoNow the chance to scale across Yahoo”s massive user base and to try and gain a foothold against the social giants. 

For Yahoo, this is a chance to gain ad dollars in TV, that seems to be growing despite what experts might have predicted years back. 

These are early days for social TV, with a ton of players from the networks, to the cable providers and even the carrier networks wanting a piece. As usual, it will boil down to who can scale fastest with the best user experience. 

For advertisers, the opportunities to engage your audience across television and mobile simultaneously are really interesting- especially if it can get you lower down the purchase funnel.

This shows that media check-ins are here to stay for sometime. 

Facebook Deals

I’ve been hearing a lot of people complain about Facebook Deals, which officially launched in 5 major cities (San Francisco, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, and San Diego) across the US on April 26th, 2011. 

I actually think that Deals is a great Facebook initiative.

After subscribing to Deals on Facebook, I was able to unsubscribe from Groupon, LivingSocial, KGB Deals, and Homerun - which were all filling up my inbox with unnecessary offers everyday. Facebook Deals is convenient because all the local deals are listed on a single page (directly on my Facebook). 

The only thing that makes me weary about Facebook Deals is the payment feauture. Users have the option to pay via paypal or a credit card directly on Facebook. I suppose this is something that I will have to learn to get used to. 

Have u subscribed to Facebook Deals yet? What do you think about it?

Foursquare Newbie Badge Unlocked

I recently popped my Foursquare cherry unlocked the newbie badge on Foursquare (sounds so much classier!), which means I finally succumbed and joined. I figured that if I am going to be a self-proclaimed social ninja, I better experience popular social media websites and apps for myself, while commenting and blogging about them. 

I was hesitant to join Foursquare initially because I never understood the appeal to constantly broadcast your location to your social network. However, upon starting this blog I realized that check-ins are intrinsically smart because it allows you to communicate what you’re doing without using words. Now there is no need for boring status update messages like, “I am eating dinner.” You can now communicate this with a simple check-in, with an option to even add a picture of your meal. 

Location-based check-ins also allow you to discover new places by looking at your friends’ recent check-ins and your own past check-ins. Places offering special sales and deals in your vicinity are also viewable with a simple click of a button. 

While there are benefits of using Foursquare, Gamification makes it fun. Badges don’t really mean anything on Foursquare, but they’re fun to collect.

We’ll see whether this impulse of checking in will wear off anytime soon, or become a part of my daily routine.