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September 8, 2011
Star Features


 

Tump It Up - Geo-location services go hyper local

I've been an advocate of FourSquare for over a year. It's a sexy little app that you download to your smartphone, you use it to 'check in' to your favourite locations, get tips, leave tips, find friends and score virtual points based on a number of criteria. It is just so easy.

But a local company has developed their own geo-location app for BlackBerry handsets that is specifically designed for Jamaica, Tump. Like FourSquare, Tump is free and easy to use. But it varies in some key ways, most notably, it local!

All the locations in the Tump database are verified, which means that the information is highly accurate and relevant to Jamaica. Unlike FourSquare, which has a great deal of duplicate and miscategorised venues, Tump administrators ensure that each location listed is not just geographically correct, but has additional relevant details like logos, phone numbers and email addresses for businesses.

best exploited

The app features five tabs, Around me - for locations in close proximity, Nightlife - because Jamaicans love to party, iWant - a fancy way to say 'search', Freenis - for deals and specials, and Map It - so that you too can add a location (that is, once it has been verified by the Tump team). Just so you know, I mapped the new joint Wendy's/Domino's store in Central Plaza; yup, I was the first!

The hyper-local nature of the app is best exploited with the search/iWant feature. Picture it, you are in the middle of somewhere and just need to know where to find the nearest ATM, hospital, gas station, barber; all of that information is just a simple click away. Google Maps can't beat that.

For now, Freenis is populated with download options for other free apps, but, in time, I know they will add coupons and such so that we can get discounts at stores and restaurants and the like.

Nightlife is great to help you find a restaurant too. The inclusion of contact numbers and web links provides research materials needed to vet the eatery before committing the belly.

Another really cool feature - the random facts that appear when searching just to keep you occupied. Here's an example, "the average male will eat about 50 tonnes of food during his life", just crazy interesting facts.

FourSquare is cool, but why not 'tump' Jamaican and get a hold of this free app. It's available for download from the website, www.tumpit.com, it takes seconds to install and no time at all to enjoy.

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Tech Glitch: "I keep seeing those QR codes, but when I scan them in my BBM nothing happens. Am I missing something?" asks Tamara.

Tech Fix: QR Codes are very popular, but they are not just for BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). You need a QR Reader to scan and 'unlock' the codes. Fortunately, BlackBerry AppWorld is a free reader. Just click Menu, then Scan A Code, then direct your camera over the code for access.

Got a tech glitch? Get your tech fix at: facebook.com/carlettedeleon. Listen to Tech Time on FAME 95 FM each Tuesday morning at 8.

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