Facebook Places goes live in the UK

U.K users will now be able to show off where they go, as the Facebook Places location-sharing service has now gone live.

As you may be aware, the world’s largest social network is implementing check-in services. The goal of Facebook Places is to let you share your location with your friends in the hopes that your pals may be around. There’s also a gold mine of data which can be associated with these check-ins and you know that Facebook is frothing at the chance to eventually sell advertising against this, or teaming with local merchants for Groupon-like discounts.

Facebook Places is very similar to Foursquare, GoWalla and Loopt although it is not as fully-featured as those smaller companies. Although this location service allows these third-parties to run on top of it, you do have to wonder how long it takes for the world’s largest social network to destroy these smaller companies.

I have a decent mix of friends on the social network who are tech savvy but only two of them would ever use Foursquare (integrated with the social network). Since Facebook Places went live, I have seen multiple people check in – it’s not just at spots where they want to show off either, as CostCo seems to be a popular location among my friends.

I guess it’s just easier to use a single app for this. The Apple iPhone app allows you to check in with the world’s largest social network on the go and any touch-enabled mobile browser with location abilities can also use Places.

In order for companies like Foursquare to survive, these companies are going to have to offer services that the world’s largest social network doesn’t. I like Foursquare teaming with Vlingo for voice check-ins and look for more features to come out shortly.

Any of you use Facebook Places?

[Via BBC]