Facebook set to launch location based services “this month”

A REPORT being carried in Advertising Age, the industry publication, is suggesting that Facebook will be launching location-based features for users and brands during the course of this month.

If true, the report could usher in the end of services like Foursquare, Gowalla, Brightkite and Loopt,as with over 400 million users, Facebook is the dominant social media player.

According Advertising Age, the geo-based features include allowing users to “check in” at various locations, with the user-base expected to quickly adopt the new functionality.

The first brand set to exploit the new features is reported to be McDonalds - users will checking in at “restaurants” and show featured food items in their posts.

Whilst such an adoption of the technology doesn’t exactly thrill – it presents spectacular advertising and marketing opportunities that can be contextual, relevant and immediate.

Consequently, the phoney war between Facebook and Google for local ad money may now see the gloves come off.

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