So a friend asks me “What are mash-ups?” Seems that Mashups, like Web 2.0, has entered the lingo and people not of the very insular world of Internet development and marketing are wondering…. What the hell is this new thing?

Mashups are combinations of Web applications. For example the combination of Google maps and CraigsList created Housingmaps.com– a searchable map interface to CraigsList’s real estate listings. Good stuff.

Try MashMap for movie times….

Looking to stalk Salma Hayak?

Mashups are so popular that there was a sold-out camp for Mashups this month called – yes, Mashup Camp.

OK, what’s the potential use for a marketer? We are in production on a Podcast about San Francisco. We will most likely put a Frappr map on the Podcast’s Web site to help people see where we did our interviews. Useful? The jury will decide after launch. Here is an example of a Frappr map on the popular Blog Micro Pursuasion.

Not all Mashups are map based. If you want to explore the wide world of Mashups head over to programmableweb.

I like these things. Mashups are however in their infancy. That jury I mentioned a bit earlier will decide the future of Mashups and its application to marketing. Believe me, if there is money to be made, someone will figure this stuff out. Here is one thing I know…. the folks that put on Mashup Camp made some money in this space.