Foursquare Growth

Foursquare, the leading location-based mobile social networking site, has shown impressive growth over the last year. Usage now tops 1.6 million in the US. Foursquare apps are available for the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and Windows Mobile. Users can check in from various sites to let their friends know where they are and what they're doing. In the process users earn badges and mayorships.

To this point, the service has been little more than a location-based game. Badges and mayorships have little use beyond status within the network of users. But now, with the service's growth, it's becoming more of a player in brand promotional plans. Brands can use the service to encourage in-store traffic, giving incentives to loyal customers, as well as new ones.