Foursquare is addicting, and, no, I don’t mean the playground game. I’m talking about the mobile Foursquare iPhone app (free). Combining a little competition with useful information, foursquare is poised to be the next big thing on the Internet. Foursquare is one iPhone app I think I’ll keep on my springboard for a while. Not only is it a decently fun game on its own, it also offers friend-finding capabilities, insider information on your particular city and special deals.
The premise is simple: When you go somewhere, you “check in” via the Foursquare iPhone app. Common nearby destinations—a bar, an intersection, someone’s house, whatever—will appear. You can also add a destination to the list or keep it hidden from others. The more you visit a place, the faster you’ll move up the Foursquare ranks, ultimately becoming mayor (that means you’ve visited more than anyone else). The iPhone app also uses points and badges to keep people interested, and local businesses have also joined in on the fun, offering special discounts for checking in or even super special deals only for their mayor.
In addition to checking in, users are encouraged to leave comments and tips about establishments. When you check in near a location, you can unlock user tips, which you can then add to your in-app “to-do” list, ensuring you won’t forget a good piece of information.
I like that I don’t have to configure my own contact list—after registering for the service you’ll be able to comb your address book, Twitter followers and Facebook friends for other Foursquare users near you. However, since Foursquare is a location-based iPhone app, you may want to think carefully about who is in your network.
