Gowalla has launched a new version of its iPhone app, adding integration with Foursquare and Facebook Places, its bigger rivals.
Version 3 simplifies the check-in process, adds new tools and is integrated with Facebook Places, Twitter and Tumblr as well as Foursquare. Users can announce their checkins on all these networks, and can even earn Foursquare badges and Facebook Deals.
There’s a new Universal Activity Feed, which aggregates friends’ check-ins from Foursquare, Facebook Places and Gowalla itself and displays them on one place.
According to the Pew Internet and Life Project, four percent of online Americans use location-based services, giving Gowalla greater access to a vast user base. The Facebook Places mobile app has clocked up over 200 million installs, and Foursquare recently announced that it had three million users.
“By providing deeper connections with other location-based services such as Facebook Places and Foursquare, we’re not only connecting friends across these different services, we’re continuing to provide a rich and unparalleled user experience,” says Josh Williams, co-founder and CEO.
The Check In button is now front center and easier to spot, and lists of nearby places appear almost instantly. Photos have been added to the Activity Feed, and there’s bookmarking for favorite locations.
A new Notes feature allows people to leave a digital note for a friend, which they receive when they check in at a specific location, and the Highlights feature has been incorporated into the mobile app. The Gowalla Passport has also been improved, with Photos, Trips, Items and Activity made more accessible.
Gowalla 3 is available from the App Store or via iTunes.
