Untappd, an excellent web app that helps you share what beer you’re drinking with friends, has expanded its location-awareness with a new option to check in to the Gowalla social network when you’re out on the town. This builds on the Foursquare integration they added a few months ago, and the Facebook and Twitter sharing that have been around for awhile. Untappd added Gowalla check-ins using an API from a service called Footfeed, which will also enable them to later add check-ins for Facebook Places and Google Latitude.
Untappd is kind of unique among check-in apps in that it takes place entirely within the browser. Normally, I’m of the opinion that a web page is no substitute for an application custom-built for a smartphone, but Untappd is so far proving to be the exception. On top of having a mobile-optimized layout and home screen icon that works great on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, and webOS, Untappd can use your phone’s GPS, allow you to add ratings to beers, leave comments to friends, earn badges, and help you discover new beers. The only thing a native app could add would be notifications when friends reply to you, and even that is handled easily enough via e-mail.
If you want to give Untappd a try, go to untappd.com in your mobile browser.