Save money — no effort required — with Scoutmob iPhone app’s mobile perks

Can you handle another group buying site? I wasn’t sure either, but Scoutmob is just different enough from its competitors — focusing on the mobile side of deals — that it really is worth checking out. Scoutmob, debuted in 2010 in its home base Atlanta, New York City and San Francisco, and has just launched its brand of savings in nine new cities. If you’re in one of them you should definitely consider the Scoutmob app for iPhone and iPod Touch.

While the app is only useful in supported cities — the original three, plus Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Los Angeles; Nashville, Tenn.; Portland; Seattle; and Washington D.C. —  what makes it stand out from other Groupon clones is that users don’t have to front any cash. Here in Chicago there’s only one deal available currently since the service just launched, but I’m headed to San Fran in a month, so I checked out the deals there, and the list of offers is lengthy. Scoutmob aims to provide deals, typically 50 percent off, at businesses that locals patronize.

On Scoutmob.com, customers only have a certain timeframe to claim the deal (and since it’s free, why wouldn’t you?), which is then sent to your phone, but the service works a bit differently for iDevice. A bonus of the iPhone app (Android users can score this, too) is that users are given access to any Scoutmob deal that hasn’t expired, even if it was posted a month ago. With the Scoutmob app, you don’t have to do anything to claim a Scoutmob deal. If it’s not expired, it’s available to you.

To redeem your Scoutmob, you simply show the app and revel in your street-smart savings. App users also get exclusive bonus incentives for repeat visits to Scoutmob’s deal spots. And, a hipster bonus, there’s a camera with built-in mustaches for your wacky photo needs.

The service is coming soon to San Diego, Calif.; Phoenix; Minneapolis; Philadelphia; Charlotte, N.C.; and Miami.

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