Available via a web-based app since November 2009, location-based service Gowalla has finally expanded its handset support beyond iPhone, with a native app for Android.

Reports suggest Gowalla on Android has a much more user friendly interface than its App Store equivalent, with the movements of your friends now displayed in an opening feed like Twitter rather than hidden away within a separate tab.

Quick robot gets early worm

However, the app is still in its beta stage, meaning it's not yet available on Android Market.

Those wishing to make use of the service have to download it from the company's website [click for download link], setting their phones to install "non-Market applications".

Nonetheless, Gowalla founder Josh Williams says the move is a step forward for the service and a direct response to customer demand.

"While this is not a final release of Gowalla for Android, I'd like to share the first public beta with you personally," Williams said in a response to a question posed on the app's community portal.

"Technically, we are calling this beta release 0.1. We will release a more fully featured beta to the Marketplace before the end of the month. We're excited to have you go out with Gowalla on Android."

With a BlackBerry release also planned, Gowalla's expansion puts it in line with its rivals. Apps for competitor Foursquare are already available on major smartphone OSs bar Symbian.

[source: TechCrunch]