Foursquare 3.0 Adds New Features, Rewards

Foursquare has issued the new 3.0 version of its location-based mobile social network for Android and iPhone. The updated Foursquare  includes new features like an Explore tab that suggests nearby points of interest based on a user’s check-in history, six new types of Specials that merchant partners can offer based on a user’s check-in activity, and a new leaderboard system that lets users earn points from dozens of different kinds of actions. In addition to the update, Foursquare has also officially announced that the service is approaching 7.5 million registered users.

Some of the new features, like the Explore tab, mimic functionality that competitors have already added. Foursquare plans to offer its suggestions based on extremely detailed metrics like the time of day, day of the week, activity of a user’s friends, and the categories, types, and frequency of that user’s check-ins. Likewise, the revamped leaderboards track more data so users can get points for unique activities like trying a new restaurant, visiting new places, traveling to new cities, and checking in with friends.

The new reward system expands specials previously reserved for mayors to more categories of Foursquare user. Now users can offer swarm deals to groups that check-in together, groups of friends, visitors who check-in regularly, new customers, or any customer who checks-in. Partners using the revamped Foursquare reward system include Sports Authority, Applebee’s, Radio Shack, Barnes & Noble, Chili’s, Whole Foods, and Toys R Us. The improvements come as Foursquare has grown substantially, increasing its headcount to 40 employees.

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