More and more I find myself, uploading pictures, sending messages and staying connected right from my phone.  Of course, I’m not alone in this trend.  One of the many places around the web talking about this is:  Mobile Market Watch.  For me, more so than many, mobile apps are both a wonderful thing and a bit of a pain due to the size of the screen but that won’t stop me.  Over the course of the next few weeks, I’ll be writing about some of my favorite Android based mobile apps.

FourSquare – it’s a geo based app which makes it possible to keep up with the comings and goings of friends and they with me.  It’s based on “checking in” at the places you go normally.

So, I go to my local Costco.  When I arrive I click on the Foursquare app.  It triangulates your location using cell phone towers and comes up with a list of places near me.  I choose Costco from the list and then click “check in”.  If Costco isn’t in the list then I can add it myself.  There, I’ve checked in. Whoo hoo!

Why would you want to do this?  It’s easy and kind of fun.  The more places you check in, the more points you accumulate.  Checking in multiple times during the day and checking in at a variety of places not only earns points and bonus points, you also unlock badges.  What do these points & badges do for you?  Bragging rights   You should know that I’m proud of my 5 badges.

Where might this and other apps like this be going?  I expect as retailers are able to identify their most loyal customers, they’ll be reaching out to them to offer unique deals to keep those warm feelings flowing.  Perhaps other retailers will try to entice me with messages such as: The next time you visit Costco, come across the street and have a cup of coffee on us, knowing that I’m in the area.

Good, bad or indifferent?  I can imagine some thinking that this is an incredible invasion of privacy.  Maybe… Others may think what an opportunity this might be for thieves who would love to know when you’re not home.  Doubtful.  Unless you choose to share your updates with them.

So, tell me… what are your favorites?