Networks based on areas are becoming very popular in 2010, and stories are out detailing new areas features and services introduced by both Apple as well as Facebook. Area services, such as Foursquare and Gowalla, are very popular in some mobile users, and are generally based on a check-in model. Wjile in on the street restaurant, party, or anywhere can select to publish place, using your smartphone's GPS abilities, to other network users and to your Twitter or Facebook feeds.

Some area networks have gaming aspects, when users can earn virtual goods and promotional discounts for checking in regularly. Area based services are believed to be the next big feature for social networks as many people now own smartphones with Internet and GPS ability.

Facebook modified its privacy policy lately to launch its area based services, and the social network is expected to launch its location-based plans in April. Apple's rumored move into area was a little unanticipated; however, as the blog Patently Applepoints out, Cupertino has lately been showing signs of interest in social networking.

Here's what's going on:
Apple's iGroups
Deliberately Apple, a blog dedicated to scouring the USA Patent Office's records for just filed Apple patents, unveiled proof of a new area based network by Apple named iGroups. With iGroups, users in same function like concert or wedding or conference would be capable of sharing information with others, like images and messages. The data can even be uploaded to cloud and punished on the internet.
If the rumors are real, Apple's will sound same as Hot Potato, a new area -based network where users could see in at function and see real-time Twitter streams, and transfer images and other data.

Facebook Check-in
Details about Facebook's area feature are yet little unclear, but TechCrunch is reporting that the social network will use Quick Response codes (QR) to make it user friendly.

QR codes are essentially square-shaped barcodes that are used to save data such as Website URL, address etc. Using Facebook mobile app, you will take an image of QR code at participating areas, and application will then use data fixed in code to find you at that location. It's unclear if Facebook and its partners will follow lead of area -based network Foursquare, and offer promotional discounts after achieving a specific number or check-ins.

QR codes are widely use in Japan for past various years, and it is just getting popular in United States too. Now Google uses QR codes for various things, involving URL substitutes for Android application downloads and its new Place Pages service. PCWorld's Mark Sullivan reports that QR Codes were widely used in Austin this year while SXSW 2010. Even Disney is likely to its own spin on concept of QR codes with its Click2Life mobile phoner feature.

While area -based networks are widely with early adopters, these services are still not that popular. But it might change if trend proves to be popular with Facebook's 400 million users.