Foursquare has come out strong in recent weeks with partnership deals that look to put it at the top of the location-based app game. Last week, it announced a partnership with Bravo, the style and fashion-centric television network, and today it has come out with a partnership with Zagat, the restaurant guide, and the New York Times.
As we wrote last week, Foursquare is competing in an increasingly crowded space. These partnerships may help it attract a whole new audience and remain competitive against other services like Yelp that are just joining in the location-based arena.
According to the New York Times’ Bits Blog, the partnership will provide Foursquare users with new “Foodie” badges when they check in to Zagat rated restaurants. The service will also provide restaurant ratings and reviews from Zagat. Just as with last week’s deal with Bravo, the high profile connection is likely to draw attention to Foursquare in more than the bar-hopping techie crowd where it found its initial popularity.
In addition to its partnership with Zagat, Foursquare just announced this afternoon a partnership with the New York Times, which will start this Friday. Working together, Foursquare and the Times will put out special badges and features for the Winter Olympics. One such new feature will be “recommendations for visitors and local residents on restaurants, popular attractions, shopping and nightlife in Vancouver, Whistler and the town of Squamish … The tips will be pulled from the Times’ travel and entertainment coverage on the cities.”
We have to say, with partners like these, Foursquare seems like its not only here to stay, but it won’t be long before you hear even your less techie friends and family talking about this app.
