Facebook Deals: Coming to a City Near You!

Facebook has jumped headfirst into the "local deals" game by launching Facebook Deals, a new competitor to Groupon and LivingSocial. Users in Austin, San Diego, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Dallas will be able to find discounts and coupons for local services and stores and the company plans to expand the service to many more cities within the next few months.

Facebook will tap into its more than 600 million users to establish itself in a business that has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry. Experts believe that more competition in the local deals business should lead to better and better offers to end-users.

Facebook can leverage its social networking strengths in a way that makes them the leader in "social deals" online. They say they will focus on local offers that involve social activities, such as those related to dining, fitness, and outdoor activities. So you'll be able to suggest cool deals and also invite friends and family to take part in a local offer.

According Emily White, Facebook Local Director:

"We're building a product that is social from the ground up... All of these deals are things you want to do with friends, so no teeth whitening, but yes to river rafting."

We say: this is great! The more local deals we can get our hands on here in Las Vegas the better (this is an expensive city!)...

Learn some mo': Facebook Launches Deals to Compete With Groupon