Foursquare has decided to shake things up by dividing its popular location-based app into two different programs. The company is going head-to-head with reviews site Yelp by remaking the original Foursquare app and launching a new one called Swarm.
According to a blog post, Foursquare will soon replace its check-in feature with an expanded and personalized location search based on reviews.
"We believe local search should be personalized to your tastes and informed by the people you trust. The opinions of actual experts should matter, not just strangers. An app should be able answer questions like 'give me a great date dinner spot' and not just 'tell me the nearest gas station.' We're right now putting the final touches on this new, discovery-focused version of Foursquare," the company wrote.
InformationWeek has likened Foursquare's new push to Yelp, as the app will feature recommendations from locals. This revamped version will debut later in the summer.
Swarm will reportedly enable people to find friends and see what they're doing, where they're eating, as well as share their locations. It promises to be faster and easier than the current Foursquare app, and will be available soon on iOS and Android. Eventually, a Windows Phone version will also be released.
The company explained that they split the apps to unbundle the two experiences the respective programs offered - keeping up and meeting up with friends, and discovering great places.
Swarm will be all about connecting with friends, while Foursquare will concern finding new places and sharing preferences with others. To assure their users, the company said that the two apps will be designed to work together.
Foursquare also implied that the updated app is not yet finished, and more "metamorphosis" will be done after they polish the latest version.
