Facebook has announced the release of a dedicated standalone Events app. Facebook’s goal is to put more emphasis on events shared on the social media application.
The app gives users the ability to view various Facebook events coming soon. In addition, the app will also suggest events that a user may like based on their interests. The most interesting feature in the Events app is the ability to connect users to their iCloud calendar, meaning users can use Facebook as a calendar app.
Facebook issued a statement saying, “Today we’re announcing Events from Facebook, a new app we designed for event seekers who are passionate about keeping up with nearby events and finding things to do with their friends.” The statement added that, “Whether you’re looking for something to attend this weekend or just wondering what’s happening in your area, Events will help get you there.”
This news comes months after a Facebook patent application that outlined a system for system for setting up ride-sharing for people attending the same event. For future events, users will be able to select what kind of transport they plan on taking to get there and team up with others who want to get there the same way. Essentially, this could allow for Facebook to match up two people who want to take the bus together somewhere. Events on Facebook could also allow for someone driving to an event to pick up passengers who are also attending the same event.
The patent application shows a system that outlines how a driver could pick up a group of passengers along a route to an event. In addition, the application also suggests that Facebook could match their interests such as what kind of music they like or political affiliations to the other people attending the same event. Once signed up to ride together, Facebook would show the driver how to get to the passenger’s location. The application will also outline a system showing the best route for each route, which is similar to how Uber figures out how its drivers should pick up passengers.
The world’s largest social network is moving forward on making Events a more popular feature to their 1.5 billion users, and if the Events app is a success, expect ride-sharing via Facebook to come soon. However it is important to point out that the Events app is only available on iOS and an Android version on the way.