Facebook taking on Foursquare with location check-ins

Social networking giant Facebook is poised to introduce a location-aware check-in solution to rival upstarts like Foursquare, Gowalla and Loopt. Citing multiple sources familiar with the project, CNet reports Facebook will officially launch the check-in initiative within the next few weeks, issuing an application programming interface enabling third-party developers to more deeply integrate existing check-in solutions into the Facebook platform, effectively incorporating location-aware data into its existing social networking applications. Sources indicate Facebook is collaborating with local search marketing solutions provider Localeze, which powers Twitter's Places directory, enabling users to attach their whereabouts to their tweets if posting from a location-enabled device. CNet adds Facebook's plans also hinge on Hot Potato, an event-centric check-in startup the company acquired earlier this summer for a reported $10 million--sources say Hot Potato founder Justin Shaffer will oversee the introduction of geolocation features to Facebook's existing Events product.

A Facebook representative said "We are working on location features and product integrations, which we'll be launching in the coming months, and we'll share more details when appropriate," while a Localeze representative adds "We cannot comment on any future deals, however can say that we anticipate having a few significant social announcements in the coming weeks/month."

Facebook users worldwide now top 500 million, up from 200 million users less than 18 months ago. About 30 percent of all users access the service via mobile device each month, a percentage that grows substantially within the smartphone segment: In June 2010, research firm The Nielsen Company said 39 percent of all smartphone owners use the Facebook social networking application every month, adding it is the most popular app on iPhone (used by 58 percent of consumers) and BlackBerry (39 percent), as well as the second most popular on Android (51 percent).

For more on Facebook's geolocation plans:
- read this CNet article

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