Facebook test Group Purchase service deals

Beijing time April 26 Morning news, Facebook announced late Monday, will start in the United States five cities to test group buying service deals, with Groupon and LivingSocial competition.

Starting in Tuesday, Facebook will test deals in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, San Diego and San Francisco. The company says it hopes to use social networking advantages to provide users with more attractive services than their rivals.

"Facebook users can easily share group deals with friends," says Emily White, director of Facebook's localization business, Amily White. "You can get emails from Facebook to buy deals," she said. But if a deal is right for you, it may be in your news feed at some point in the day. ”

While other group buying sites allow users to log in with their Facebook username and password and share deals with friends, Mr White says deals will be more closely integrated with Facebook. "Many other deals have social elements, but I don't think they have a real integration with Facebook," she said. ”

Facebook has long planned to launch a product that competes with Groupon and LivingSocial. The company began last month to allow users who want to receive group buying information via email to vote on Facebook deals.

Deals is also expected to dramatically boost Facebook's credits virtual currency business. Users can use credit cards to participate in group purchase, or directly with the virtual currency to buy. Before that, credits could only be used to buy game props and some digital products.

"This is the first time credits has been used to buy physical goods. "said White. Industry insiders believe that Facebook will no doubt want to credits as an important online payment product.

Facebook will rely on its own sales team to find businesses interested in offering deals.