Facebook has launched a new location-based service called Places that allows users to check-in to locations and see where their friends have checked in. Users can check-in to share their location, see who is nearby for potential meetups, and discover new places. When checking in, the user's activity will appear on the specific place page and in their profile feed. Users can also tag friends who are with them at a location. Places has privacy controls and only approved partners like Foursquare and Yelp can publish information to place pages. Questions remain about how Places may impact loyalty programs and whether it could compete with other location-based services.

1. Facebook Places August 2010 Yes, that’s a four in a square

2. Overview _Up-Front What is it? _Checking In What’s it for? How does it work? _The Place Page _Tagging Friends _Privacy _Partners & the API _Thoughts & Questions 1

4. Only in the US for now, but will be global

5. Only on iPhoneapp, or touch website (for Android

6. BB &Android apps to come, but no timeline2

7. Checking In What’s it for? There are three main use cases: Share where you are: leave a trail and create a timeline of your life See who is around you for serendipitous encounters Discover new places 3

8. Checking In How does it work? 4 Start of with a list of Friend check-ins – sorted by nearby and elsewhere See a list of nearby places – places appear by proximity but also by what Facebook thinks you like Tap on a place and tap to check in See a preview of the story and select “Allow” Creates a new story on the Place Page and a story in your feed

10. Each place will have its own page with a news feed, “Recent Activity” - you can comment & like everything

11. There is a “facepile” that lets you see friends who have been at this place

12. The “Here Now” section let’s you see friends (only friends!) who are checked in at the same place5 Anyone can report on any place: incorrect info, abusive, permanently closed, duplicate

13. Tagging Friends How does that work? (Here’s where it gets a bit tricky) Tap “Tag Friends With You” Get a preview of story and… A notice to “Allow” or “Not Now” 6 If you clicked “Not Now" It acts like a status tag (@friend) The post shows up.. On your friends wall In the recent activity on the Place Page It does not show up… On your profile You do not appear in the “Here Now” or "Friends Who Have Visited" If you clicked “Allow” The post shows up on your wall The post shows up in recent activity on the Place Page You appear in the “Here Now” section and “Friends Who Have Visited" section It's like you checked yourself in – just another way of doing that. So you can't check someone in without publishing that you are there too.

14. Privacy What are the default settings? For Check-ins: Visible to friends only You can always remove any check-in For “Here Now:” Only shows up if you tap “Allow” Automatically defaulted to off if any of your other settings are lower than friends of friends For Tagging You can only tag friends You can only tag friends while you are checking in You're notified whenever you're tagged You can always remove any tag 7 Or…you can completely opt out of letting friends tag you.

16. The Write API lets you: publish to Places, and search Places

17. Only select partners can publish to Places: Gowalla, Foursquare, Yelp and Booya8

19. There could be a page of our collective memory of an experience (a concert etc..) or a place

20. WHAT ABOUT THEDEALS? How will this effect loyalty programs?

21. Can you check into entertainment or a viewing event? (the answer is no, but it’s an interesting question)

22. Will this kill foursquare?9