Recently, SCVNGR, a game played exclusively from via a free iPhone (News - Alert) and Android application has launched social check-in for users.

Ninja Seth Priebatsch of SCVNGR said that with the availability of social check-in the users can log in with their friends. The "social check-in" (available exclusively on SCVNGR for iPhone and Android (News - Alert)) enables you to check-in with your friends simply by bumping phones together. You'll get two points multiplied by the number of friends you check-in with.

The most promising feature of this service is that unlimited number of people can check in together. As opposed to other "physical gesture" technologies, SCVNGR's near-field device-to-device recognition technology can connect an unlimited number of iPhones and Androids at a place -- not just two. Just imagine for a second... an entire stadium of people could check in together, at the same time. And automatically be the most socially happening place ever! Woot!

When you social check-in with a group of friends, it'll not only tell you how many people you just checked-in with but also their first name and last initial (great way to remember the name of that person you kind-of-sort-of know from the last seven times you kind-of-sort-of met). Whereas in when you post that social check-in on SCVNGR out to Facebook (News - Alert) or Twitter, it will mention everyone involved in the social check-in (and coming soon, tag your friends in the Facebook update). Of course, you can also participate in a social check-in privately if you want and just be listed as "+1 other" (maybe you never really liked that person you kind-of-sort-of knew).

The social check-in awards each participant two points times the number of people who do it. 2 people = 4 points. 5 people = 10 points. 1,000 people? Well, let's make it happen!

So start checking-in with others! Next time you're at a place, launch the SCVNGR application and check out all the quick, fun things you can do there. If you happen to be there with friends, try the social check-in.

Read a related article on TMCnet “Businesses Are Sweet on Social Networking.”