Going through my email archive today I came across an email from an old pal Neil Pepper. Now those of you who work in mobile may know Neil as one of the amazingly talented developers behind ShoZu - the social media mobile hub which has recently been in the news amid rumours of acquisition.

I’ve known Neil ever since I had the pleasure of launching ShoZu to a consumer market back in 2006. We even made it out to Barcelona shortly after ShoZu’s launch and bagged the company the Best Mobile Messaging Award at the 3GSM World Congress. Good times.

Anyway, back to the email. Neil contacted me a few months back to tell me about a side project that he’s been working on. UrbanKite is a loose affiliation of technologists, engineers and designers who love eating and drinking in London but who were fed up with existing reviews and recommendations sites.

Similar to other location-based mobile applications like AroundMe and LastMinute’s recently launched Topsee application, UrbanKite gives everyone a chance to share their favourite tips, hidden gems, moods or questions about their favourite places straight from their phone. Where it differs though is in its simplicity and ease of use together with its impressive data index which it borrows from Google. The app (currently available both from the Apple App store and on Android) is probably the best one of its kind that I’ve come across and there are some really neat features which bring UrbanKite into its own:

• Up to the minute GPS and web based information on your location
• Lists of the most relevant businesses near your location
• Highlights of popular places to go
• Search facilities for any business
• Sort searches and listings
• Save your favourite places
• Get contact details and business information
• Read tips from local experts
• Write instant tips while still at the location
• Post tips to Twitter
• Find like-minded users and discover other places they care about

I downloaded the app today (hence the random Tweets from me earlier on today) and have been playing around with it for about an hour.

1. 
   nbidon Auberge du Lac-des-Joncs – nice hot chocolates after fun afternoon in the snow with the kids http://bit.ly/5V4akd #ukite 13 Dec 2009 from API
2. 
   AP1618 Starbucks – #ukite http://bit.ly/7HqFWY 14 Dec 2009 from API
3. 
   chesswithdeath The New Drovers – #ukite http://bit.ly/7tuOim 14 Dec 2009 from API
4. 
   manny5353 Stoepa – great asain style food, expect to wait for table packed even on a Tuesday http://bit.ly/7OI38G #ukite 15 Dec 2009 from API
5. 
   raxlakhani Magic Wok – #ukite http://bit.ly/6qls8R 15 Dec 2009 from API
6. 
   raxlakhani The Floatworks – #ukite http://bit.ly/8tntwJ 15 Dec 2009 from API
7. 
   raxlakhani Charcoal Kebab Tandoori Centre – #ukite http://bit.ly/8Lc5up 15 Dec 2009 from API
8. 
   raxlakhani Maya Indian Restaurant – rubbish service. Very rude. #ukite http://bit.ly/6kCqmt 15 Dec 2009 from API

One of the first places I looked up was my favourite kebab joints in North West London:

You can see that the option to add a smiley is available so that I can quickly rate the establishment if I just wanted to leave some immediate feedback. I can also add some description if I choose and Tweet it out at the press of a button.

What I really like though is that because the app works on Google’s API, all of Google Local’s reviews are also available to read within the application:

So, how does it all work?

Once UrbanKite has used your phone’s GPS function to find your location, simply choose the type of place you want to find, be it bar, Italian restaurant or even the nearest bank. Then, using technical web wizardry, UrbanKite links to Google’s local business listings to find the closest matches for your criteria.

At a glance you can see the most popular venues with the most fans and read the latest tips written for each listing. Simply select one of the available listings to get contact details for the venue, read all posted tips or post tips yourself. All your tips are posted directly to your Twitter account along with a link to a business information page for your followers to check out.

Selecting a tip will show all other related tips written by the user. Businesses can be added to your favourites at any time where they will be stored in-phone as a permanent link on your UrbanKite profile. After logging on with your Twitter details, all your favourites are then saved to the online server.

Last but not least, UrbanKite’s search function allows you to run searches for businesses and place names anywhere in the world.

What are the benefits of using UrbanKite?

• Remember in the old days, the only way to immediately discover great places nearby was if they were recommended to you by a know-it-all friend? With UrbanKite those days are gone. Just pull up a great tip and get your day, evening or week started!
• It can be difficult to remember that great restaurant you visited in Soho 2 months ago with your mates, especially due to that great wine offer! With UrbanKite’s favourites feature, store your top places whatever end of town you find yourself in. These can be easily retrieved should you visit there again.
• UrbanKite gives twitterholics a great reason to tweet tips about places they have been to recently and enjoyed (or not) and to contribute to the urban community in which they live. Call it having a social conscience if you will.
• UrbanKite will appeal to tweeters who are not interested to read that CouchPotato is “taking a bath” or BookWorm is “having a Potter marathon”. Instead, they will get to read tips about the latest rock club or tastiest bagel shop.
• Fly your Kite! Each tip posted to Twitter contains a link to details of the business listed, so those who don’t have UrbanKite can still use tips to discover local hotspots online.

I love the fact that because UrbanKite’s business data comes straight from Google via their public API it should work anywhere Google Local or Google Maps works. So if I find myself in NY, I could in theory turn to UrbanKite to tell me where to hang out or to grab a bite to eat. Simples.

If you want to find out more about UrbanKite, visit the website here.