Transferring its check-in features and location based reviews to a brand new app called Swarm, Foursquare is has now split into two. 

In an announcement this week, Foursquare, a popular mobile application that helps you discover places to eat and enjoy nearby you, announced that it will be splitting into two apps, and the new, re-branded version of the app will lose its check-in features, sticking to only a review-based site; a clear competition to another review based site called Yelp.

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The second app, which will be called Swarm, will gain the check-in capability lost by Foursquare, and will also show users which of their friends are nearby.

"We spend a lot of time talking to people about Foursquare, and we constantly hear they use Foursquare for two things - to keep up and meet up with their friends, and to discover great places," Foursquare stated in a blog. "Every month, tens of millions of people open up the app to do each."

With more than 5 billion check-ins and still counting, it was evident that exploration and check-in services were growing in demand.

"We realized that there was a ton we wanted to do on both sides that we can't do if they are married together," Jon Steinback, Foursquare's vice president of product experience, explained. "It's like we were in a three legged race and each side was slowing the other side down."

Swarm is expected to be introduced to iOS and Android marketplaces in the coming weeks, and the updated version of Foursquare will follow soon. All those interested in checking out the new app can sign up at Swarmapp.com and give it a look.

"An app should be able to answer questions like 'give me a great date dinner spot' and not just 'tell me the nearest gas station," Foursquare added. "Swarm is for people who want the fastest and easiest way to connect with their friends. Foursquare is for explorers who want to know about the best spots, and to share what they've found with others."

TagsFoursquare, Swarm, App