Have You Checked In Yet?

by David Refaeli

Foursquare is a people and places smart-phone app (application) that has the connected nation caught up in a check-in frenzy!

Have your iPhone-carrying, Starbucks-drinking friends ever stopped the group before walking in to a place so they can”check-in”? Don’t laugh at your nimble-thumbed friends, because they just may be the “mayor” of the venue.

Ok ok, so for the rest of us who didn’t wait 16 hours in line for the new iPhone, why should we care about Foursquare?

Well, the genius behind Foursquare is that it quite possibly holds the answer of where to go and what to do, especially if your gaggle of gays seems to get separated on weekend outings.

Are you visiting a new city and want to find out what restaurant or bar near you is “trendy” on a given night?  Want to keep tabs on your friends to see if they end up a Twist at 5 a.m.?

Foursquare also provides users with nearby specials from business that understand the importance of being connected to their social ‘mediaites’ as well as useful tips and comments from other users about the venues.

Swarms of people, including newbies, locals, super-mayors, benders, jetsetters and over-sharers are in a tizzy to unlock as many Foursquare badges as they can.  These nifty little icons are earned after completing a set of check-ins and make your friends ask, “How do I get that badge?”

Setting up your account is easy.  All you need is a smart phone, like an iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, Palm, etc.  Go to http://foursquare.com or your app store and download the application.  Register either through the app or choose to use your computer to complete your profile. Next, check to see which of your Facebook, Twitter, or even address book friends are already on Foursquare.  Last, where are you?  Search for the venue, chances are it’s already listed, but if not, even better!  Add the new venue yourself and check-in and you may just earn your first ‘mayorship’ before you know it. Happy ‘Foursquaring.’