Monday, March 12, 2012

Gowalla Checks Out, Forever

Austin-based Gowalla has officially gone off-line, telling its users Sunday that it was a "pleasure to journey with you around the world" and that it would soon be offering downloads of check-ins, photos, and lists soon on the site. Gowalla, once one of the more promising location-based check-in services, had been acquired in December by Facebook, and had already said it would be shutting down the service. Gowalla's service allowed users to check into different locations, socialize with friends, and earn "badges" and points. The firm later transitioned to becoming a guide to cities, locations, and travel, and was eventually acquired by Facebook, which said it would shut down the service and move Gowalla's founders to the Bay Area.