Ever since Gowalla 3 for iPhone came out, people have been asking us when will a new version for Android be released. Well, the wait is over. We are happy to announce a brand new Gowalla for Android is launching today.

Gowalla 3 for Android is a completely new vision of using Gowalla. While it features many of the things that people love about its iPhone counterpart, we wanted to make the Android version something both uniquely Gowalla and uniquely Android. Every screen has been rethought and reworked. No stone was left unturned.

The first big change is the new passport view and action bar. All the main features of Gowalla can be accessed from the passport, plus you get a preview of your profile. It lets you know where you last checked in and even reminds you to check-in if it has been a while. The action bar is an ever-present way to check-in quickly or to refresh the screen. We moved most of the items from the Android menu screen to the action bar so that you always know what you can do on any screen.

Up next is the check-in screen. Checking-in with photos and comments is now a one-stop shop. You can also quickly turn on and off sharing with Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and Tumblr. We’ve integrated quick check-in, similar to Gowalla for iPhone, to help you check-in as quickly as possible. If you still can’t find your spot from the quick check-in list, the search button is a tap away.

We want Gowalla to be your go to place to see what your friend’s are up to and because of that, we have totally redesigned the activity feed. And in that light we went big. Big photos are shown right in the line with your friend’s check-ins. With just a tap you can jump into the comment banter on a check-in. Tap a photo to go fullscreen and see what your friend had to say about it. You can see a summary of new activity, both friend’s and a spot’s, all in this new exciting view. And if you want, you can see your friend’s Foursquare and Facebook check-ins as well.

Highlights are moving into the limelight. Wherever you are, you can add highlights to your favorite spots. It’s an awesome way to give credit to your favorite coffee shop or watering hole. You can also see what others have said about a venue. You might just find the best place in town to take a date.

Gowalla 3 for Android also adds push notifications for those of you using Android 2.2 and above. Now you will receive notifications on demand when a friend checks-in or makes a comment about your own comment or check-in. And you can quickly get from the notification to the check-in so you can add your own comment.

This is just the tip of the iceberg in what you will find in Gowalla 3 for Android. Bookmarks, stamps, trips, items … they are all there and have been beautifully redesigned. We can’t wait for you to see them!

Go download Gowalla 3 for Android in the Android Market today!