It's going to get a lot easier to find a cocktail -- and a cheap one at that. Village Voice Media, publisher of The Seattle Weekly, tomorrow plans to roll out a new slate of mobile applications that allows its cell phone-touting readers in more than 30 cities to find happy hours at local bars, clubs and taverns. To do that, Village Voice has partnered with Seattle startup GoTime.

What's interesting about that move -- at least for Seattle area readers and barflys -- is that Seattle Weekly's long-time nemesis, The Stranger, already offers its own mobile happy hour locator. The iPhone app, which is dubbed Cocktail Compass, shows how many minutes remain at happy hours at nearby bars and allows those individuals to call a cab if they've consumed too much.

GoTime co-founder Jeff Khadavi said that there are two big differentiators between the new Village Voice happy hour app and The Stranger's Cocktail Compass. Not only is it available in cities beyond Seattle, but users of Google Android devices also can download it, he said.

"Competition is always a good thing – it forces everyone to constantly put their best foot forward," notes Khadavi. "For GoTime, that's meant going to extreme lengths to procure the most in-depth and comprehensive happy hour content and that's something our users know and really appreciate. Our partnership with Seattle Weekly will take this content to the next level and we are thrilled to be working with a company with such a strong local presence, in Seattle and also nationwide."

I noted the competition between Cocktail Compass and GoTime last April. Now, by partnering with Village Voice, that rivalry should get even more intense.

As Khadavi said, competition is a good thing. So, maybe the drinking public will benefit with some additional discounts at the local pub. Or, maybe not.

Anyway, here's a video of GoTime's new offering.