Popular social network Facebook announced a torrent of updates to its mobile products, namely four things: single sign-on, opening up its Places API, allowing businesses to attach deals to their Facebook Place page, and updates to its iPhone and Android apps.

Single Sign-on

Facebook are seeking to limit the amount of typing of long passwords and usernames that a user has to go through inside mobile apps by allowing integration with Facebook in a similar way to what you may see on many websites that you visit. People with the Facebook app installed on their smartphone will be able to log in to other mobile apps using their Facebook account, no giving up of private credentials necessary.

The Places API

Developers can now access the popular Places product to utilise in their own apps and websites. Places is a location based tools that allows Facebook users to ‘check in’ at locations and tag their friends, in a similar vein to location based social networks like Foursquare and Gowalla. The API allows developers to link their own products to this tool so that, for example, Foursquare check ins could be duplicated to Facebook Places. Developers will be able to read data from the tool, write data to it, and also perform searches for data.

Deals

Local businesses will be able to attach deals to their Places profile on Facebook, allowing them to offer exclusive deals for Facebook users, who, for example, bring four friends (tagging) with them, or return multiple times (loyalty). The deal will appear on the Place when viewed on the mobile website or app.

Updates to Android App

For those of you with Android-based smartphones, good news is here! Facebook have announced a push to get the Android app up to par with the iPhone app, starting today with the release of Groups and Places for Android. A small iPhone update was also pushed out today to enable some of the new features previously mentioned.

What all this means for you

Facebook is striving to make its social network more appealing at a local, location-based level. When Deals are available in your area, it would be a great idea to set yourself up! Your promotion will be flagged up to nearby Facebook users and attract them to your business!

What are your thoughts on Facebook’s announcements? Do you see the use for Deals? Tell us in the comments section.

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