I have recently been using Foursquare on my Blackberry Storm smartphone.  I believe it is only in the beta version at this point for Blackberry users but anyone and nearly everyone with an iPhone are using it in our world, The application is still working a little clunky and not the best of user experience but I like the idea behind it. What is foursquare?  This gives you a brief look:

People use foursquare to “check-in”, which is a way of telling us your whereabouts. When you check-in someplace, we’ll tell your friends where they can find you and recommend places to go & things to do nearby. People check-in at all kind of places – cafes, bars, restaurants, parks, homes, offices. You’ll find that as your friends use foursquare to check-in, you’ll start learning more about the places they frequent. Not only is it a great way to meet up with nearby friends, but you’ll also start to learn about their favorite spots and the new places they discover.

I unlocked my badge for my first check in spot yesterday. I was not a monumental moment but it did go out on my Twitter stream to all my followers and friends.  Speaking of Twitter, I was just thinking of what it was like the first time I tried it.  I remember hearing of the Twitter application in early 2007 from Robert Scoble  just before I went down to SXSW in Austin, Texas. It was there that Twitter went ballistic and is where it is today.  My first experience with Twitter came with it the thought of “meh”, and frankly my experience of Foursquare was the same.  It is in the overall experience that we will someday perhaps call Foursquare the new Twitter.

When I signed up for Foursquare I was able to click a few of my friends and invite them as friends as well.  Most of those were from Twitter and Facebook.  Since that time I have been getting email after email asking for me to join communities of others and it is becoming much like Twitter.  I wonder if we will get the Foursquare suggested user list and the best mayors across the country, and the top 100 Foursquare players and so on until it becomes the popular rising star Twitter became.  I think Foursquare and its sister service Gowalla may need to be watched in 2010.  These services may become the next thing Oprah has to use.  I’ll be your friend on Foursquare but the only thing I think I am the Mayor of at this point is my couch.