Foursquare can be incredibly useful to the long term tourist.The guests in the extended stay, furnished apartments here at O Hotel Suites in downtown Calgary are always asking us for better ways to get out and explore the city.That's where Foursquare comes in because, as Joseph Joubert once said: "One who has imagination without learning has wings without feet." What is Foursquare? What does it do? Well, what it does, in a nutshell, is allow you to learn from the experiences of others so your feet can guide you to the cafes, restaurants, shops and services that appeal most to your imagination. What it IS, is a location-based social networking website, software for mobile devices, and game. Users "check-in" at venues with a text, or a smart phone specific application. The more you check-in, the more points you get, and the more points you get, the more prizes you win and deals you qualify for. To get started, all you have to do is head on over to www.foursquare.com, create a profile and then start querying your favorite hobbies or foods. You can also link Foursquare to your Facebook and Twitter accounts to find your friends who are already using it, and to broadcast your entries on Foursquare over those two networks (you know, if you're into that sort of thing). I have to admit, I found it kind of silly when I first heard about it, but the thing really seems to be taking off. The site currently has over 800 businesses that are offering deals for regular customers using Foursquare, which in itself receives more than 1 million check-ins per week. They've also just signed deals with the Bravo TV network, and Zagat (the restaurant guide) in a bid to expand their functionality and usage. It was also just mentioned as one of the emerging social media sites to keep an eye on in 2010 by Peter Wylie, of Social Media Examiner fame. So, take the five minutes to see what the buzz is all about before you go running around all of Calgary trying to figure what coffee is best where. In fact, Foursquare's website suggests you think about their service like an "urban mix tape" that lets you track all the cool things to do in your city - both the things you've done (your "Top 12″) and the things you want to do (your "To-Do" list). It's a great way to let people know about your great, and maybe not so great, experiences and to learn the same from others. Now, get out there and explore! Related articles by Zemanta - Foursquare + Google Maps = FourWhere (techcrunch.com) - Foursquare's New Site Design Starts To Roll Live As Gossip Girl Pays Homage (techcrunch.com) - Foursquare Introduces New Tools for Businesses (bits.blogs.nytimes.com)
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