LBS Tidbits
The Meijer supermarket chain (in the US midwest and a few other states) has begun trials of a new mobile app that allows customers to see the exact location of items in a store. The ‘Find-it’ app, developed by Point Inside, shows where the selected item is on a map of the store. Also findable: customer service, restrooms. It’s only in four stores; the app is available for iPhone or Android.
- KamCity
ESPN’s iPhone release, ESPN Passport is about checking in when you are at the game. It’s like ESPN’s existing, web-based version of Passport. You can mark your seat, see how many times you’ve been to the venue, see other’s comments and via GameCast get info on the game itself. The reviewer from Inside Social Games makes it sound like a yawn.
The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal conducted an unscientific online survey between August 17 and August 24 regarding location-based mobile ads.
- About 39 percent of readers said they “hate it” in
- Another 24 percent said “it’s not a good idea”
- 26 percent more said they prefer to be “off the radar.”
- 6 percent said they are “mostly OK” with the idea
- 3 percent said they see no problem with it.
Issues: no report on how many responded and more importantly what percentage had actually seen such an ad. Just sayin…
OMG! Time picked Gowalla over Foursquare as the best location-based social networking service in its 50 best apps.
- RWW
