Are geolocation apps a novelty or the next big trend?

Despite the headlines that companies like Gowalla and foursquare grab, Forrester Research recently reported that only 5 percent of online U.S. adults used located-based apps, excluding navigation apps such as Google Maps, at least once a month during 2011. And that number is up from only 4 percent in 2010. Even with major players in mobile investing in geolocation technology, growth in this area has been stagnant--the report also reveals that less than half of the adults who use location-based apps use them weekly. Are these companies missing a key part of the picture? Is user interest in this kind of technology rising or has it already plateaued? Most importantly, if this technology isn't a passing fad, can we expect growth in this sector? And where will it come from? Special feature