04 November 2010 | Author: J. Morton News Editor
Social butterfly Facebook has launched a number of new initiatives in the past few days, and one - an expansion of its Places feature - launches a clear swipe at location-based social rival Foursquare.
Upon its integration to the greater offering of the Facebook social network, Places allowed users to 'check in' to certain destinations, whether it be a local business, eatery, or even a home residence. However, the Big Blue F has upped the ante this week by integrating check-in deals for certain businesses, including buy-one, get-one deals and percentage discounts when showing on-screen vouchers.
If this sounds familiar, it's because it's a page torn right from geo-based Foursquare's playbook, threatening the relatively newer start-up's viability against the titanic pull of the senior social network.
According to an official blog posting, the feature will first be rolled out in Facebook's domestic market, the United States.
"Starting today, local businesses will be able to offer you deals when you check in to their place on Facebook," Jon Fougner, of Facebook's product marketing team, wrote on Wednesday. "Deals will be rolling out over the next few days and will only be available in the United States at this time."
In what's certain to make a few executives over at Foursquare lose some sleep, the social giant already has deals worked out with a number of high-street retailers and cafes, it said, including major chains such as McDonald's, Starbucks, H&M and The Gap.
In related news, Zuckerberg and Co pulled a quick change on news feed font size for the 500 million-plus users of the network, prompting an outcry from newly squinting internet users.
Responding to the negative reception of the previously unannounced change, Andrew Noyes, a spokesman for Facebook, told Computer World: "We are constantly testing new ways to make the site more efficient for people.
"We listen to feedback and always try to incorporate it in future product updates, releases and features."
However, there was no indication of when, if ever, the changes would be reversed.
Facebook expands Places feature, contracts font sizes
Social butterfly Facebook has launched a number of new initiatives in the past few days, and one - an expansion of its Places feature - launches a clear swipe at location-based social rival Foursquare.Upon its integration to the greater offering of the Facebook social network, Places allowed users to 'check in' to certain destinations, whether it be a local business, eatery, or even a home residence. However, the Big Blue F has upped the ante this week by integrating check-in deals for certain businesses, including buy-one, get-one deals and percentage discounts when showing on-screen vouchers.
If this sounds familiar, it's because it's a page torn right from geo-based Foursquare's playbook, threatening the relatively newer start-up's viability against the titanic pull of the senior social network.
According to an official blog posting, the feature will first be rolled out in Facebook's domestic market, the United States.
"Starting today, local businesses will be able to offer you deals when you check in to their place on Facebook," Jon Fougner, of Facebook's product marketing team, wrote on Wednesday. "Deals will be rolling out over the next few days and will only be available in the United States at this time."
In what's certain to make a few executives over at Foursquare lose some sleep, the social giant already has deals worked out with a number of high-street retailers and cafes, it said, including major chains such as McDonald's, Starbucks, H&M and The Gap.
In related news, Zuckerberg and Co pulled a quick change on news feed font size for the 500 million-plus users of the network, prompting an outcry from newly squinting internet users.
Responding to the negative reception of the previously unannounced change, Andrew Noyes, a spokesman for Facebook, told Computer World: "We are constantly testing new ways to make the site more efficient for people.
"We listen to feedback and always try to incorporate it in future product updates, releases and features."
However, there was no indication of when, if ever, the changes would be reversed.
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