Some people just don't like leaving their social life up to chance; 60,000 to be precise, and that number is only getting bigger.
That's the current number of people using Foursquare, the new social network site that is beginning to make waves across the country.
Available in 31 countries, the network allows people to track the social movements of their friends, enabling them to surprise them with an unannounced visit.
Foursquare was recently featured in a New York Times article entitled 'Face-to-Face Socializing Starts With a Mobile Post', which will no doubt have led to an increase in interest in the service as a result of the online PR generated.
Emily Woolf, 24, a strategic planner, says that she uses the service whenever she wants to meet up with her friends in the local area.
She said: "It's planned serendipity. At this point, I don't even bother texting or calling my friends. I just check Foursquare to see if they're nearby and go meet them."
However, while Foursquare is very much a social tool, it is also a game.
Members are able to collect points depending on how many times they frequent a particular bar or cafe.
Visit somewhere enough and a person can be crowned "mayor" of the venue - until they are usurped by a keener visitor of course.
Furthermore, virtual badges can also be collected on visits.
At this point in time, the company is not making any money, rather focussing on the setup.
Dennis Crowley, one of the owner, said he sees the service becoming more than a nightlife game and turning into a "service that encourages people to do new things and get rewarded."
Should the popularity of the service increase (and with exposure such as that experienced on the New York Times website, it will), Foursquare could soon find itself opening up a variety of revenue streams.
With the social network sector dominated by companies such as Facebook and Twitter, Foursquare could do very well as a result of the fact that it offers something a little different.
Plus, it's a legitimate excuse to go out for a coffee or a beer - everybody wants to be mayor after all.
© Adfero Ltd
