Facebook to tell you where you are

Facebook on Wednesday threw the switch on a new feature that lets US members of the social networking service share their whereabouts with friends while on the move.

Facebook on Wednesday threw the switch on a new feature that lets US members of the social networking service share their whereabouts with friends while on the move.

HT Image

Facebook Places marks the firm’s hotly anticipated first step into “location-based” services that have been catching on with people who own smartphones equipped with satellite position tracking capabilities.

“Starting today, you can immediately tell people about that favorite spot with Facebook Places,” said Places product manager Michael Eyal Sharon. “You can share where you are and the friends you’re with in real time from your mobile device.”

Facebook members can “check-in” at restaurants, bars, or other social venues and let their friends at the social network instantly know where they are and with whom.

Facebook said it plans to eventually extend the feature to all smartphones and to the social networks more than 500 million members worldwide.