Location at SXSW
UPDATE: Need another reason to choose Gowalla as your LBS at SXSW? Facebook has partnered with them too.
(Full Disclosure: I'll be at SXSW as part of the Chevrolet SXSW team and we've chosen Gowalla to work with to provide a cool experience for those at the festival. Chevrolet is an official sponsor this year of SXSW)
This year will be my first South by Southwest Festival experience.
As the legend goes, Twitter had its debutante party at SXSW and this year it's all about location based services.
So what's a girl with an iPhone to do with quite a few options?
I'll admit, Foursquare is pretty cool and has lots of users. In fact, I have switched back and forth between Gowalla and Foursquare a few times. For Gowalla, wins for me were the interface and the fact that I could "play" while still being a homebody (being Mayor of anything besides my office was looking unlikely). However, A LOT of my friends - both online and off - use FourSquare...so it's been hard to choose.
However, I'm going to be using Gowalla exclusively. If SXSW is all about location and location is all about being local, then Austin-based Gowalla is the way to go.
The social gaming aspect of location based services is very cool, but I'm thinking it will also be extremely helpful if I lose my friends in a crowd or want to find out where the hottest parties are via the volume of check-ins. Also, since my husband will be following jealously along at home, I can share the experience with him, too.
Plus, Chevrolet and Gowalla have quite a few fun surprises in store.
I look forward to catching up with friends and making new ones at SXSW this year.
Let's connect on Gowalla so we can make those connections happen.
And in the meantime, follow the Chevrolet Road Trip teams as they make their way to Austin, plus all the action at the festival by following the #ChevySXSW hashtag because while location based services may be the "it" factor this year, Twitter is still sharing the spotlight with them.
What Location Based App will you be using?
austin, foursquare, gowalla, lbs, location, sxsw, texas in social media Email Article Print Article 
Reader Comments (7)
As you know I use both, but I keep going back to FourSquare because to me it's just a prettier app. Plus, I'm excited about using SquarePik when I travel next week.
Great post! I'm normally not a big user of the LBS apps but I'll be using Gowalla during SXSW for sure! I dare you to complete this trip I created: http://gowalla.com/trips/616 (10 stops!). Looking forward to checking in and checking out places with you!
@Jennifer James
You should check out Whrrl! (Disclosure: I'm their Community Manager, so of course I'll say that). :D But really, we have pics included already, with the ability to check in and collaborate with everyone at SXSW! And if you think Foursquare is pretty, then Whrrl will blow your mind. Our new app is out in the app store this week in time for SXSW!
Thanks for including Whrrl in your poll, Jessica! It will be great to see how everyone ways in!
Thanks, Jeanna. I'll definitely check Whrrl out.
I will be a SXSW newbie as well. I have been a FourSquare loyalist for some time -- mostly because it was my first locserv. But, I also like FourSquare as I can use it via my Blackberry, while Gowalla is not really working there yet--even via browser. So, for Gowalla, I'm relegated to checking in only where I can hop WiFi.
I've been feverishly reading up on all-things SXSW trying to get the most out of my first venture. I saw that Gowalla was an integral part of goings on at SxSw. So, I had to give it a second spin. Actually, that's where I saw your post about your blog. I'm very curious to watch all the various virtual interactions that take place in gadget mecca, including yours.
Thanks for sharing!
@jwoodspr
Pittsburgh, PA
Glad to hear Gowalla is so entrenched in this year's SXSW. It's my preferred app. Just don't get the mayor thing and unless you're in a big city, Foursquare is worthless.
I love location based apps... I am stuck right now on Foursquare not only because I enjoy it but simply because I have made an investment in it... I am the Mayor of a small coffee shop, I have friends already on it and I am pretty busy so loading/learning another tool just hasn't made sense yet... However Jessica, if you are opting more towards Gowalla I will be loading it today...
J