Are you using location-based services?

I have Foursquare downloaded to my BlackBerry. I also have a mobile version of Facebook, which offers a “Places” feature, allowing users to check-in wherever they are. It’s really rare that I ever use either of them.

I’m tech-savvy. I love apps that are useful and can admit to being slightly obsessed with my mobile device. But I just can’t seem to get into the whole idea of yelling my location from the virtual rooftop.

I can’t be alone in this. I know - we’re all bloggers and are prone to talking about everything from what we ate for dinner to how many times a week we’re doing it. (OK, maybe not all of us but you get the drift). But where I’m at every moment of the day? Notsomuch.

Clearly someone is lovin’ up LBSes, because according to this piece on Mobile Marketer, many brands “are using different types of location-based services such as foursquare, Where, Facebook Places, Placecast and Gowalla to get the word out about new products or to reward loyal consumers.” And they’re doing this because they feel they’re reaching somebody.

In March, coffee behemoth, Starbucks, celebrated its 40th anniversary by randomly awarding $40 gift cards to customers who checked in using Foursquare. I actually only heard about this promotion when I went looking for it. And I’m online CONSTANTLY.

I’m curious to hear if others are on the LBS bandwagon. Do you have an app downloaded? If so, what is your motivation for checking in? Or are you waiting for some real benefit to checking in before bothering?

Jill Notkin blogs at The Daily Grind of a Work at Home Mom when she’s not tweeting@AlexCaseyBaby. She is also the Managing Director of MotherTalk division at Mom Central Consulting.