Foursquare is a web and mobile application that allows registered users to connect with friends and update their location. Points are awarded for “checking in” at venues. Users can choose to have their check-ins posted on their accounts on Twitter, Facebook or both. In version 1.3 of their iPhone application, Foursquare enabled push-notification of friend updates, which they call “Pings.” Users can also earn badges by checking in at locations with certain tags, for check-in frequency or for other patterns such as time of check-in.[3] The company has stated that users will be able to add their own custom badges to the site in the future. If a user has checked-in to a venue on more days (meaning only one check-in per day qualifies for calculating mayorship) than anyone else in the past 60 days, the check-ins are valid under Foursquare’s time and distance protocols, and they have a profile photo, they will be crowned “Mayor” of that venue, until someone else earns the title by checking in more times than the previous mayor. Users can create a “To Do” list for their private use and add “Tips” to venues that other users can read, which serve as suggestions for great things to do, see or eat at the location.
Foursquare started out in 2009 with limited availability in only 100 worldwide metro areas. In January 2010, Foursquare changed their location model to allow check-ins from any location worldwide. As of March 2010, the service had 500,000 users internationally.
Foursquare currently has iPhone, Android, webOS, Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry applications. A Maemo application is in early development stage and is not featured on the Foursquare website. Users with Symbian phones and Pocket PCs (Windows Mobile touchscreen) can use Foursquare via Waze, which is also available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. Users may also use their mobile browsers to access Foursquare mobile, but feature phone users must search for venues manually instead of using GPS that PDA applications can use.
In February 2010, the company entered into new commercial partnerships with Zagat, Bravo, Conde Nast, The New York Times and several other firms to offer tips, specials and new badges to followers.
Foursquare acknowledged a grass-roots effort that started in Tampa by declaring April 16 “Foursquare Day” via both Twitter and Facebook. The city of Manchester, NH is officially declaring April 16 “Foursquare Day.”
