Location remains a red-hot area for developers of mobile technology. Whether that word appears at the top of an entrepreneur’s business plan, or whether it’s just a footnote, it’s clearly crucial as phones, applications and networks continue to evolve.

A large share of the 15 up-and-coming mobile tech companies that presented at the recent Dow Jones VentureWire Technology Showcase prominently feature a location component as part of their value proposition. And they’ve raised millions of dollars on the strength of their ideas.

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Santa Monica, Calif.-based Geodelic Systems Inc., for example, has developed a location-aware search engine for smartphones. The application uses proprietary technology to pinpoint a user, then offers a search engine with preset buttons for finding events, people and businesses in the area.

Geodelic, makers of a leading location-triggered discovery application, today announced it was chosen by top LBS industry leaders for a People’s Choice award at the recent SiRFecosystem’s Location 2.0 Summit in the Consumer Applications & Services Category for its Geodelic mobile application.  Geodelic was chosen by popular vote because of its superior use of the power of location to connect people, content and services, as well as its level of innovation, impact on the market, features and benefits to end users.

The People’s Choice awards recognize companies for their cutting-edge technology and innovative use cases that promote location as a part of daily life.  Attendees at the Summit’s afternoon panel discussions used their mobile phones to vote for their favorite Fast-Pitch presentations, and the winners were honored with a People’s Choice Award at the evening Awards ceremony.

The SiRFecosystem’s Location 2.0 Summit is one of the foremost strategic forums for the key decision makers of the LBS industry.  The Summit offers leaders in the field of LBS and members of the LBS development community the ability to connect with location ecosystem partners to drive new applications and services for this exciting, rapidly evolving market.  The Fast-Pitch presentations offer developers a unique opportunity to showcase their applications and services and to spark compelling discussions among an exclusive audience of leading global location industry executives.

Universal Studios Hollywood^SM is partnering with Geodelic to introduce a free mobile onsite application for the theme park’s “Halloween Horror Nights” event, enabling iPhone and Android mobile device users to obtain park attraction directions and minute-by-minute updates and tips, including wait times and show schedules.

Designed to enhance the “Halloween Horror Nights” experience by creating an interactive snapshot of the overall event, the iPhone and Android application will provide guests with continuously updated and relevant information during their onsite visit.  Access to wait times and locations of mazes, scare zone, shows, attractions and restaurants will be easily accessible from anywhere within the theme park throughout the 16-night run of “Halloween Horror Nights.”

“While a traditional website gives a brand marketing reach to users at home, our onsite publishing platform allows businesses and destinations such as Universal Studios to push information that is immediately relevant to customers at their own location,” said Rahul Sonnad, CEO of Geodelic Systems. “Universal is clearly leading the way on mobile technology with this ground-breaking experience, and will provide a showcase for others in the travel, hospitality, and entertainment industries.”