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Foursquare on Lumia 1020

Nokia fans, consumers and the technology press were not the only people excited about the launch of the Nokia Lumia 1020.

[do action=”boxout”]Download the Foursquare app

foursquareQR
  1. Press Search on your Nokia Lumia and tap Vision
  2. Scan the QR code
  3. Tap on the link that appears
  4. Install the app from the Windows Phone Store

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Many developers and partners were also present at the event in New York. In particular, they wanted to know how they could exploit the imaging prowess of the Lumia 1020 and Nokia’s new Imaging SDK to make their own services better.

One of the key partners present was Foursquare, the app that helps people make the most of where they are and where they are going.

Nokia and Foursquare have worked closely on creating an integrated experience for Windows Phone users, where you don’t need to leave the app to use the camera – imaging is an embedded element within the Foursquare app.

We caught up with David Ban, Foursquare’s business development lead responsible for the Nokia partnership, in New York to discuss the Lumia 1020, the feedback they’ve had and how Nokia helps them to offer a better service for their global community of over 35 million people.

David Ban

First, what’s your initial reaction to the Nokia Lumia 1020?

We worked closely with Nokia over the past few months to prepare for the Lumia 1020 launch, and we’ve been really impressed by the quality of the device and the photos it produces. 

The feedback so far has been fantastic and we’re excited for people to start using the new Foursquare app on this device.

Foursquare was released on Windows Phone earlier this year. What’s the feedback been like?

It’s been great. Windows Phone owners are a really passionate group and the number one positive thing that we hear is that it’s really great to have an app that was designed to play to Windows Phone’s strengths, as opposed to simply replicating the design of an app from another operating system.

Windows Phone has a unique look and feel – which people love – and we’re really excited to be able to develop an app that takes advantage of that aesthetic.

How important is imaging to Foursquare? 

Foursquare on Lumia 1020

Our goal is to inspire people to get out and find interesting new places, so viewing beautiful photos that others have taken on Foursquare is really helpful in making those discoveries.  Lots of people also use Foursquare to record and share their experiences, and photos are a great way to enrich those stories. 

Nokia’s imaging technology is a natural fit here, since it enables people to take these rich photos and also use the editing capability to really help them to remember those experiences and relive them with their friends. 

How can you take advantage of the new Nokia Imaging SDK?

The imaging SDK has allowed us to build some powerful features that work seamlessly within the native Foursquare experience.

Nokia has made it really easy to take and edit photos within applications. With the new Nokia Imaging SDK, people can take high resolution photos, easily edit them with filters, and share their experiences with friends — all without leaving the Foursquare app.

The ease of adding these high-quality photos is ultimately an asset for the Foursquare community, since improved photo quality benefits everyone, even those not on the latest Nokia Lumia devices. 

Foursquare

Has the HERE platform lived up to your expectations?

We’re very pleased with how it’s turned out. I think that the users are very impressed with the mapping capabilities on the Windows Phone app as well.

Obviously, given that we’re encouraging people to find places and use directions in a seamless experience, I think the HERE Maps app to app integration is complementary with Foursquare.

Foursquare used to be all about checking in at places, like a social game. What is Foursquare now?

Foursquare has always been about exploration, but the service has definitely evolved over the past four years. With over 4 billion check-ins, we’ve been able to build an incredible, personalised recommendation engine. The result is that Foursquare has become the best app to help you to make the most of where you are and where you’re going.

Foursquare will always be a place to share experiences with friends, but we see more and more people using the app to discover things to do both in their hometowns and on the road.