Facebook recently launch Places, a location based "check-in" platform which is their equivalent to Foursquare and Gowalla. Some parties predicts that this will "kill" the other 2 popular platforms in years to come. But what people probably fail to see is that Facebook Places isn’t just another location based check in service, it's probably not even meant to compete directly with them to begin with. What it does is that it leverages on Facebook's massive database and uses the API that will connect them together with the use of mobile applications, websites and beyond.

Think of it more like a friend finder and venue recommender service, and not so much of a gaming element like Foursquare and Gowalla. A simple scenario: your friend could have visited a particular venue and have either good or bad experience in that venue. Your friend then leaves a comment about that place or "Like" that place. The next time you "check-in" to that venue, you can see which of your friends have visited the venue and their comments. It can also be used to find your friends who are within the same vicinity as you are at. All these activities of course, would be linked back to your Wall on Facebook notifying your friends of your whereabouts.

For now, Places is only available in the US. But it's only about time when they open it up to the rest of the world. And when they do, I bet it will be huge! One thing I'm really keen to see is advertising on these "Places". It would definitely be another gold mine for advertisers. Let's face it, you know it's going to happen sooner or later.