Centrl is the first location-based social network to partner with Navteq’s (part of Nokia) LocationPoint location-based advertising platform

Finally, a location-based social network that has the potential to go mainstream. We have been waiting for years now for an LBSN like this. Centrl finally merges together all the right components for a truly useful LBSN with benefits for everyone, such as:

• Easy login from all major social networks (no need to create a new account).
• Free messaging between its users (no SMS/text messaging charges).
• Layers of data that can show you anything from restaurant reviews to concerts to rental apartments around you (Yelp, Wikipedia, CitySearch, etc).
• Money-saving offers around you.

Centrl just announced that now they are serving geo-targeted ads to their 425,000 users from Navteq’s LocationPoint location-based advertising platform. I checked it out on my iPhone, and very quickly I found some great offers (like 10% a hotel stay, etc). This seems like finally the promise of LBA is starting to be fullfilled.

Centrl looks like a small company in NYC, they are angel-funded at the
moment. But it seems like they have big potential to dominate this space since the other LBSN’s are still not focusing on major user benefits like Centrl is doing. Most other LBSN’s I have used are like bulletin-boards. You post something, you see other posts, you SMS your friends, that’s it.

With Centrl, it’s more like a real-time virtual world. You see your friends’ real locations and you also see other people around you, but only where they are looking at on the map, not where they really are. Then you can really engage with anyone through the free text messages. You see people moving around, and you can move around to other cities and interact with people there. It’s really cool to talk to people from all over the world. You can even send them virtual gifts.

On top of this, you can click on the deals, other users’ favorites and the layers to access all kinds of useful information around you. You can even share these things (especially deals) with your friends.

And the best part is you don’t have to create a new account, you can use your Facebook, MySpace, Hi5, Ning, Orkut, Bebo or Friendster account. And it is connected to Twitter as well.

Given that they are the first LBSN to partner with Navteq’s LocationPoint LBA platform shows that Centrl is on its way to go mainstream. We will be watching them closely. Check out their iPhone, BlackBerry or Android apps at Centrl.com