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"As part of the ongoing Mashable Awards, we're taking a closer look at each of the nomination categories. This is \"Best Location-Based Service.\" Be sure to nominate your favorites and join us for the Gala in Las Vegas! Sponsorships are available. Please contact sponsorships@mashable.com for more information.\nWhile location-based mobile applications and services have been around for years, 2010 is proving to be a big breakout year. Trend benefactors include Facebook, Foursquare and big brands willing to take risks with location-based campaigns and checkin rewards programs. \nWe've rounded up what we believe to be the top five location-based services in a list that includes predictable names and lesser known upstarts. You'll also notice that Facebook Places and Gowalla are both absent from our list. We found the former's entry into the location space to have been more fanfare than substance and the latter struggling to emulate the rapid growth rates of its competitors.\nTreat this list as a countdown beginning at the fifth most significant service and arriving at our top pick for location-based innovation. We encourage you to support your favorite location-based services by voting for them in the Mashable Awards.\n5. Yelp for Mobile\n\n\n\n\nYelp is the original location-based service that redefined \"local\" for small businesses and their online customers. In 2010, Yelp continues to remain relevant with mobile applications that reach BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, PalmPre, Windows Phone 7 and most other smartphone users.\nYelp Mobile may not be the trendiest location-based service, but it's arguably the most practical. Stats from September of this year show that Yelp Mobile generated 3 million unique visitors for the month and more than 1 million people created point-to-point directions to a local business.\nWe're not partial, however, to Yelp's also-ran checkin features. The startup should stick to what it does best \u2014 convenient and replete location-based business listings and reviews. \n4. Neer\n\n\n\n\nNewcomer Neer brings ingenious innovation around personal and private automatic location-sharing to Android device owners. \nThe startup launched earlier this year after incubating inside Qualcomm Services Labs. Creator Ian Heidt describes Neer as occupying \u201Cthe middle ground between Foursquare and Google Latitude.\u201D That's a technologically sound description, but we see Neer as the most practical application of location for actual real-world scenarios \u2014 like knowing if your kids made it to school.\nNeer doesn't bother with checkins, badges or other kitschy game mechanics. The service is designed so that you know where your loved ones and friends are, and vice versa. Since users have complete control over who can see their whereabouts \u2014 in place names, not physical addresses \u2014 there's little to worry about on the privacy front. \nThe application is also designed with the average user in mind, meaning the user interface is both slick and uncomplicated. \nAs the space matures, location-based services will take inspiration from Neer and evolve past the pure novelty of checkins and location-sharing. \n3. Loopt\n\n\n\n\nOnce the location app on everyone's lips, Loopt has lost some of its luster to more buzz-worthy incumbents. But, Loopt continues to innovate around location and just last week updated its iPhone app to include deep integration with Facebook Places. \nLoopt's application is also the most aggressive of the big name players when it comes to automatic location-sharing, meaning it supports background location and proximity alerts for nearby friends. \nThere's also the branded-rewards Loopt Star application, which has already demonstrated that it can push users to take action and drive them to their partners' physical locations. With this formula, there's certainly real revenue potential beyond just advertising.\n2. SCVNGR\n\n\n\n\nIn just a few months time, SCVNGR has gone from an obscure mobile app for iPhone and Android to a formidable player in the location space with upward of 500,000 users. Now the Google-backed startup is said to be making millions thanks to more than 1,000 paying enterprise clients, which include the likes of Sony and Warner Bros.\nAs a service, SCVNGR differentiates itself with point-based challenges on top of checkins and interesting partners such as The Boston Globe, Minnesota Vikings, AT&amp;T and the Smithsonian museums.\nJust recently, the team redesigned the mobile apps to better surface user activity. Sophisticated Facebook Places integration also plays a significant role in the application experience and on the Facebook Place Pages for business owners.\nPerhaps more interesting than the service itself is the 21-year-old whiz kid at the helm (pictured left in the photo above). Princeton dropout and serial entrepreneur Seth Priebatsch is barely old enough to drink, but this youngster is one huge overachiever with a grandiose vision for SCVNGR and the passion to make it happen. \n1. Foursquare\n\n\n\n\nDespite the emergence of Facebook Places months ago, Foursquare is still very much alive with its 4 million registered users. We think it's safe to say that this startup continues to thrive because it's more about people and places than it is about location.\nWe could rattle off Foursquare's numerous partnerships, highlight its quirky badges or talk about its battles for mayorship, but what puts Foursquare atop our list is the fact that the service has created a phenomena around checkins, badges and rewards that's been copied and adapted by countless other web and mobile services all trying to emulate Foursquare's magic.\nFoursquare's recent restructuring of its iPhone and Android apps to highlight tips and to-dos point to a not-so-distant future when, co-founder Dennis Crowley explained, Foursquare will \"reinvent what happens after the checkin.\"\nIn many ways, Foursquare already reinvents what happens both before and after the checkin. Just look at how Jimmy Choo employed a pair of trainers to inspire a three-week frantic offline shoe hunt in London \u2014 with shoe sales jumping 30% around the time of the campaign \u2014 as proof of the concept. It's the one campaign that Tristan Walker, Foursquare's director of business development, speaks most highly of, even though the startup didn't directly participate in the sale.\nWhat's Your Take?\nWhich location-based services do you use and recommend? Let us know in the comments or nominate them for the Mashable Awards.\n\r\nThe Mashable Awards Gala at Cirque du Soleil Zumanity (Vegas)\r\n\n\n\n\n\nIn partnership with Cirque du Soleil, The Mashable Awards Gala event will bring together the winners and nominees, the Mashable community, partners, media, the marketing community, consumer electronics and technology brands and attendees from the 2011 International CES Convention to Las Vegas on Thursday, January 6, 2011. Together, we will celebrate the winners and the community of the Mashable Awards at the Cirque du Soleil Zumanity stage in the beautiful New York New York Hotel. The event will include acts and performances from our partner Cirque du Soleil Zumanity. In addition, there will be special guest presenters and appearances.\nDate: Thursday, January 6th, 2011 (during International CES Convention week)Time: 7:00 \u2013 10:00 pm PTLocation: Cirque du Soleil Zumanity, New York New York Hotel, Las VegasAgenda: Networking, Open Bars, Acts, Surprises and the Mashable Awards Gala presentationsSocialize: Facebook, Foursquare, Meetup, Plancast, Twitter (Hashtag: #MashableAwards)\nSponsorships are available. Please contact sponsorships@mashable.com for more information.\n\n\n\n\nThanks to our sponsors:\nMashable Awards Gala Partner:\n From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a global entertainment organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has over 5,000 employees, including more than 1,200 artists from close to 50 different countries.\nCirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to nearly 100 million spectators in 300 cities on five continents. In 2010 Cirque du Soleil, will present 21 shows simultaneously throughout the world, including seven in Las Vegas. \nFor more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com\nMashable Awards Online Partner:\nHave you ever wished for your own personal gourmet Chef?\nThe Fresh Diet is like having a Cordon Bleu chef prepare your meals in your own kitchen. There's no cooking, cleaning, shopping - just fresh prepared delicious meals, hand delivered to your door daily! Whether you want to lose weight or just want to eat healthy, The Fresh Diet can help you meet your goals. The best news, we're giving away a FREE week of The Fresh Diet every day on our Facebook page. Just click here to become a fan and you could be the next winner. Join now!\nMashable Awards Partner:\nJoin us at the 2011 International CES\u00AE, the global platform for inspired ideas and innovation. With 2,500 exhibitors, CES continues to be the world\u2019s largest consumer technology tradeshow and always reflects the dynamic consumer electronics industry. The International CES is not open to the general public and all attendees must be in the CE industry to be eligible to attend the show. Register FREE for the 2011 CES with priority code MSHB, an exclusive promotion for Mashable Readers.\nMashable Awards Category Sponsor:\n\nResearch In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications including the BlackBerry\u00AE wireless platform and the new BlackBerry PlayBook. For the latest on the BlackBerry PlayBook visit the Inside BlackBerry Blog.\n\nWin an iPad!Join us on Facebook to learn how to enter Dynadot\u2019s I Can Haz iPad Giveaway!Dynadot is an ICANN accredited domain name registrar and web host where you can register the perfect domain name affordably, reliably, simply and securely. Whether you are a blogger, business owner, or planning on creating the next best Internet meme you need a domain that represents you. Let Dynadot help you establish your web identity today.\n\n\nMobile Future is a broad-based coalition of businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals interested in and dedicated to advocating for an environment in which innovations in wireless technology and services are enabled and encouraged. Our mission is to educate the public and key decision makers on innovations in the wireless industry that have transformed the way Americans work and play and to advocate continued investment in wireless technologies. Our \u201CMobile Year in Review 2010\u201D animation proves a glimpse into the most notable breakthroughs in the wireless industry this year.\n\nYahoo! is an innovative technology company that operates the largest digital media, content, and communications business in the world. Yahoo! keeps more than half a billion consumers worldwide connected to what matters to them most, and delivers powerful audience solutions to advertisers through its unique combination of Science + Art + Scale. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the company\u2019s blog, Yodel Anecdotal.\nMashable Awards Gala Silver Sponsor:\nAro Mobile is an intelligent mobile experience that includes better email, connected contacts, smarter calendar and improved browsing.\nThe Aro system automatically learns what\u2019s important in your life\u2014the people, places, dates and organizations you care about most. In your communications, Aro automatically identifies people, places, events, dates,organizations and locations. From any recognized term, Aro offers quick action menus to speed up your day.\nThe unique Aro experience is powered by advanced web services: next generation natural language processing and semantic data analytics services. Aro gives you the power to see through the clutter and focus your mobile life.\n\n\nResearch In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications including the BlackBerry\u00AE wireless platform and the new BlackBerry PlayBook. For the latest on the BlackBerry PlayBook visit the Inside BlackBerry Blog.\nMashable Awards Gala VIP Lounge sponsor:\n\nInfluxis specializes in the deployment of creative streaming solutions. Services include large scale deployment, mobile streaming, turn-key applications, and enterprise support with custom network options. With the unique combination of a worldwide network, knowledgeable developer support and nearly a decade of streaming media experience, Influxis is an essential partner to businesses, advertisers, developers, educators, and others who seek expertise in innovative streaming.\nMashable Awards After Party Sponsor:\n\nResearch In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications including the BlackBerry\u00AE wireless platform and the new BlackBerry PlayBook. For the latest on the BlackBerry PlayBook visit the Inside BlackBerry Blog.\nImages courtesy of Ed Yourdon, MariShiebley, Flickr"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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