You can check-in at any location in the world called spots, for each spot you visit you receive a stamp in your virtual passport. If you create your a new spot on Gowalla you become the commissioner for that location, and the first 10 people to leave virtual goods at the new spot become its founders. Spot commissioners can edit details about a spot, and Gowalla says it will be giving special privileges to founders in the future.
You can also use Gowalla to go on trips, which are basically guided tours using Google Maps. There are many trips available including a , a and a . For every trip you complete you earn a Pin of Glory, which Gowalla says are the "ultimate measure of Gowalla Greatness."
Gowalla requires a GPS-enabled iPhone for optimal results.
If you just want to share your location with your friends without the gaming aspect, then is for you. Latitude is available on your smartphone or your laptop, and displays your location on Google Maps using your Google profile picture as an icon. Any of your Google contacts that have also opted into Latitude will be displayed on your map, and clicking on their icon allows you to send them an e-mail or instant message. Check out for a complete list of supported smartphones.