We recently added my company to Google local in the hopes that it would then be available to check in with the "Name (Address)" format in Brightkite.
Am I wrong in assuming this is where that data comes from? How can I make this happen? I'd like to have the place name in there, rather than just the address.
Since I assume you are looking into establishing groups. I would suggest allowing multiple groups in a single location, groups that comprise more than one location. Additionally, the founders of the group could choose to allow anonymous posting of alerts and messages....why is this relevant.....Let us say a church would like to establish a group where members could post prayer requests for family members, world peace, etc....the anonymous postings might make people more comfortable sharing items that are somewhat personal.
Also I would suggest that you have a link on Google maps somewhere....I assume many users are like myself and search for directions to a location, discover locations, and search for places they can't correctly spell on Google first. You could make it like Brightkite this location sort of deal.
the iPhone app is great (works faster than any iPhone web app yet!), but I want more. Specifically, I want to be able to send an address (the location of a friend etc) to the Google map application so that I can get driving directions from where I am to where they are.
When the 2nd gen iPhone comes out you guys had better work GPS into the mix ;)