Watch CBS News

Facebook Hires Gowalla Team; Will Shut It Down

PALO ALTO (CBS/AP) -- Facebook has hired the team behind Gowalla, the location service that lets people share where they are using their mobile phones.

Gowalla started out in 2009 as a way for people to share their location with friends and strangers by "checking in." Now, Facebook will wind down the service, as it often does when buying a startup to hire its talent.

Financial terms were not given. Gowalla co-founder Josh Williams says in a blog post that Gowalla will join Facebook in California.

Facebook says Williams, co-founder Scott Raymond and others at Gowalla will move to Facebook in January. Gowalla is currently headquartered in Austin, Texas. Facebook did not acquire the Gowalla service or technology.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.