Yelp (YELP) Gains Strategic Spot in Apple (AAPL) Maps

Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) effort to kick out Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and insert its own maps application may be the best thing to happen to Yelp (NYSE: YELP) since its IPO.

According to reports out late Monday, Apple's "MapApp" (not the official name) will allow users to broadcast their location via Yelp's "check-in" feature without having to exit the app and open up a new one.

Currently, FourSquare is the de facto check-in app for most users. It's not clear whether Foursquare will also be included in Apple's MapApp.

The move is huge; one analyst from Raymond James said about 40 percent of traffic to Yelp is through its mobile app, though that number doesn't include web-o-sphere-based mobile.

Recent Pew Research data showed 18 percent of adult smartphone users utilize "check-in" apps regularly.

Yelp shares are indicated for a lower open Tuesday.

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