Facebook has come under a lot scrutiny after a botched IPO that raised concerns about the company's ability to successfully translate their revenue stream onto mobile devices. The social network still remains the world's largest, with around 950 million users, and soon every one of those users can send gifts to each other.
Facebook's new Gifts feature allows users to pick out a gift to send a friend from companies such as Starbucks and Magnolia Bakery. The friend is notified that a gift is on the way, and it should arrive at their doorsteps.
Facebook's Gifts page says it's as easy as 1, 2, 3.
"1. Buy your friend a gift: Pick out the perfect gift, add your message and it's ready to ship - no address needed.
2. Your friend is notified instantly: Friends enter their own shipping info and can swap for a different size, flavor or style before the gift ships.
and
3. The Gift arrives: Your beautifully packaged gift gets delivered right to your friend's door."
This service will be Facebook's first legitimate foray into offering physical good and should be rolling out soon.
"We'll let you know as soon as you can give your friends gifts on Facebook," says the official Facebook Gifts webpage which also has a promotional video about the service.
The move should help Facebook open up new avenues for revenue. It has been struggling to figure out an intuitive way to place ads on its mobile version, so the new Gifts service should make investors happy - if the public buys into it.
What do you think about Facebook's new Gifts feature? Would you use it, and more importantly, are you okay with giving Facebook personal information such as credit card information?
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