Just a few hours after touting Swarm’s success in becoming users’ go-to place for check-ins, Foursquare has announced that starting tomorrow, all check-ins will be moving to that app. For the first time since its launch in 2009, you won’t be able to check in using Foursquare.
Back in May, Foursquare decided that to survive and flourish, they were going to have to split apart. The company announced the launch of a new app called Swarm, one that would be tailored to handle the checking in aspect of the service – while transitioning the main Foursquare app into one entirely focused on local search.
But up until now (tomorrow), check-ins have still worked on Foursquare, and any check-in made on Swarm automatically shows up on the main Foursquare app. Foursquare has always made it clear that Swarm would be the place for check-ins, and now they’re making good on that promise – like it or not.
“Starting tomorrow, we’re moving all check-ins to our new app, Swarm. Don’t worry; all your past check-ins, all your friends, all your photos, they’re all automatically in Swarm. For everyone still using Foursquare to check in, you’ll need to download Swarm to keep checking in,” says the company.
If you look above, the left-hand view is a Foursquare venue page for someone who doesn’t use Swarm. As you can see, there’s no check-in button. On the right, however, there’s a Swarm-powered check-in button. If you have downloaded and signed up for Swarm, that’s the venue page you’ll see on the Foursquare app. So yes, you can technically check-in from the main Foursquare app, but not on it.
As for the new Foursquare we’ve been promised – well, it’s coming soon. Foursquare says a couple of weeks, to be not-that-precise. What we do get today is a brand new logo. At least is doesn’t look like balls.
Foursquare echoes the same kind of constantly-touted benefits of personalized recommendations (It doesn’t get you, and, as a result, everyone gets the same one-size-fits-all results. Why should two very different people get the same recommendations when they visit Paris?). Few people would argue that notion. The question is – can Foursquare deliver on bettering local search?
“This is the beginning of the ‘personalized local search’ future we’ve been talking about since we started Foursquare. It’s been built with the help of our amazing 50,000,000-strong community, with all your tips, check-ins, photos, and the smarts we layered on top of that. Those of you have been with us since the beginning, your check-ins and history will continue to help shape your recommendations. For those of you giving us a try for the first time – you still get all the benefits of a better way to explore any neighborhood, no check-ins required,” says Foursquare.
More like no check-ins allowed. If you’re on the fence about Swarm, I will tell you that there is a pretty killer unicorn rainbow sticker over there.
Images via Foursquare Blog