Just a fraction of U.S wireless subscribers use check-in services like Foursquare and Gowalla, according to comScore’s latest MobiLens survey.

The company reports that just 7 percent of U.S. wireless subscribers used check-in services in March. However, the technology showed more promise with smartphone users, with just over 17 percent accessing check-in services.

“Although still in their relative infancy, location-based mobile check-in services are seeing rather impressive adoption among smartphone users,” said Mark Donovan, comScore senior vice president of mobile.

Not surprisingly, users of check-in services were characteristic early adopters, showing a high propensity for mobile media usage and owning new gadgets like tablets. Nearly one-third of survey respondents who said they used check-in services owned a tablet.

Mobile check-in services are still somewhat nascent, but apps like Foursquare have seen healthy growth as users first attracted by the app’s novelty stick around for deals discounts offered through the check-in service.

Users can earn deals and discounts by checking into businesses. For instance, Chili’s offered Foursquare users who checked in at its restaurants free chips and salsa last summer.

Foursquare, which has about 7 million users, has signed up several corporate customers to its service as part of an effort to keep users interested in the app. The company is also working to bring small and local businesses on board, offering them the mobile equivalent of Groupon.