Crowdbeacon. Quora meets Yelp on an iPhone

TNW Quick Hit

Crowdbeacon (free) for iPhone is a location-based service aimed at simplifying life by connecting users of the app when you need something or have a question with nearby experts and local businesses that can satisfy your need or answer your inquiry.

Hits: Simple setup, well-designed user interface, with Foursqure, Yelp and Wishpond integration to further assist users of the app.

Misses: If few are using the app, there’s very little the app can do to help.  Twitter and Facebook integration to further crowdsource your question or need would be a welcome addition.

Overall: 4/5

The Details:

We all have questions or needs we pose to friends, family, social networks or search for using a variety of methods.

Crowdbeacon, from Squeaky Wheel Media, attempts to take everyone’s inquires and using a local, GPS-armed question-and-answer app, allows users to ask and answer questions of/from local businesses and other Crowdbeacon users to arrive at an answer.

After an easy sign-up process, Crowdbeacon lets one select categories of interest to receive personalized aid:

Upon completing that step, users can begin seeking answers to their questions:

Results received are offered in real-time from the local businesses and experts around them that have what they are looking for, in addition to results from Yelp, Foursquare and Wishpond.

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The only issues with Crowbeacon are minor.  The first concerns getting users to answer questions.  If no one’s using the app, one’s limited to answers from Yelp, Foursquare and Wishpond.  Still helpful, but it would be nice to get the inside scoop from locals, so download the app and help your fell0w man/woman.  Crowdbeacon does support local experts with an internal response team to help users find information in low-density population/adoption areas.  Super helpful, to say the least.

Another feature Crowdbeacon could use is Twitter and Facebook integration to receive help from those that don’t have access to the app.  Answers could be posted using a web-interface that would sync with the app.

Aside from those two aspects, Crowdbeacon is a wonderful app.  With help from local businesses, users, and the aforementioned services, Crowdbeacon is tremendously useful for those seeking responses to questions in a swift manner.

Pick up Crowdbeacon here and begin sharing your knowledge with others!