SXSW is getting underway in Austin, and location-aware apps Foursquare, Gowalla, Loopt and Whrrl are engaged in a Texas-sized check-in showdown, launching new app versions, features and partnerships. Not to be forgotten, the original SXSW superstar Twitter has rolled out its geolocation feature on Twitter.com. But that’s just the beginning.

“We’re under embargo on almost all of them, but we can tell you there are at least 25 companies making location-related announcements at SXSW this week. Probably more,” explains ReadWriteWeb. “You’ve got to wonder if and when Location will Jump the Shark.”

Here’s a quick summary of the larger announcements so far:

• Foursquare inks marketing deal with Starbucks, debuts barista badge
• SXSW attendees can earn up to 16 new Foursquare badges, win swag
• Gowalla hides virtual swag at SXSW, will award users with real swag
• Whrll’s new app lets users join “societies” to earn exclusive deals
• Check in at events on Loopt’s new version of its app
• New app Causeworld ties check-ins to karma and charitable donations

Lost Remote blogger Mark Briggs is at SXSW and will be posting reports here on the blog as well as on our Twitter account, @lostremote.

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