Where: Like Foursquare, except with profits and lots more users

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/04/14/youve-heard-of-foursquare-how-about-this-start-up/

by cwan • 16 years ago

41 15 16 years ago

blogs.wsj.com

biafra• 16 years ago

Except it does not work outside the US of A.

mmacaulay• 16 years ago

Yep. Not even available in Canadian iTunes store.

endlessvoid942• 16 years ago

It seems that people always underestimate good marketing. Why don't startups spend more time/money on marketing? No time, I guess.

timdorr• 16 years ago

Actually, it really shows that hype is overhyped. Cashflow and profits are where it's at.

maukdaddy2• 16 years ago

True, unless you really want the big $$$ payday/buyout. Then the hype might be worth it over cash flow and profits.

endlessvoid942• 16 years ago

True. But marketing != hype.

barmstrong• 16 years ago

Wow...amazing no one has heard of these guys. I love the fact they have a business model and are cash flow positive. Sleeper hit...

smokinn• 16 years ago

The article said they had several million more users so it's not really a sleeper; it just isn't bouncing around the Silicon Valley echo chamber.

gojomo2• 16 years ago

The name change from 'uLocate Communications' to 'Where' was sideways at best. 'Where' is hard to google, prone to confusion in spoken communication, and very generic. For example, a conference for their market is already called "Where 2.0".

I'm wary of 'Where' as a name. Will 'Where' wear well, if whereever it's discussed we're also hearing competitors' wares emphasizing 'where' features? Where, with all these word collisions, will Where find the werewithal to forge a brand image where we're likely to see 'Where' as meaning what Where wants 'Where' to mean?

swombat• 16 years ago

Maybe There: http://www.there.com

Wait, no, there's no There anymore. Maybe there wasn't a market for There with Second Life in the picture.

imp• 16 years ago

It may be a confusing name, but it's not hard to google. They're already #1 for the term "where": http://www.google.com/search?q=where

gojomo2• 16 years ago

Kudos to Google for that... but it's still hard to find discussion about 'Where'. Try for example [where reviews] or [where company management].

bryanh• 16 years ago

I couldn't agree more. This is a major oversight. When your customers are kind enough tell their friends about your service, you don't want an Abbott and Costello routine to play out...

maukdaddy2• 16 years ago

First, bonus points for using wherewithal.

Secondly, thanks for the reminder of how complex English can really be. Your example makes me glad I'm a native speaker :)

foulmouthboy• 16 years ago

The article mentions it, but the achievement aspect of Foursquare is a Very Significant Differentiator as opposed to a footnote.

You have two competing services with similar functionality and one is fun to use. Investors are betting that the fun to use one is the one that will catch on and stick now and in the future. The fact that the not-so-fun competitor is making money should make Foursquare investors jump for joy. It's a proof of business concept that's been done for them.

Where: Like Foursquare, except with profits and lots more users

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