Location based status updates are all set to roll out any time this month. With this the users will be able to post location right in their status update. While its still to be rolled out, one of the franchises, McDonalds is already up for it with the creation of its location based application. The application is being built in collaboration with Tribal DDB, Chicago and would enable locals to readily check in with the app and get a featured product highlighted in the post.
McDonalds is just the first in the line of the many firms who would join the bandwagon much before the location based features are released. One of the others is Context Optional which will be utilizing this feature for its clients. I am not surprised at this move given how the social network has grown, more importantly how it plans to expand beyond just the Web. We have been following this especially since the f8 a couple of weeks back and it has already expanded by quite a lot. This rapid growth in influence is just not on the Web, the mobile use of Facebook has seen an equally massive boost.
The only only worry is that the social network now appears to be in direct conflict with other location based services like Gowalla, FourSquare and the likes. Again the threat isn’t new and these services aren’t the first to be challenged by Facebook. Give me a break, I mean the social network is already giving Google a tough time, these services aren’t that huge in when it comes to usage by vast majority.
I am a bit more interested in how this would benefit Facebook financially? I mean if businesses are utilizing its features for their business, i wont be wrong if the social network charged a small sum; which will eventually translate to a fortune given how addicted people are to it.
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