BrightKite Checks Out of Check-ins

Brightkite has announced that it is rolling out a new business model focusing on group text and abandoning its check-in model. According to the Brightkite blog posting, its new  Android application can be your “default text messaging app, handling ALL your messaging from one app, saving you money with free texting while giving you many more
capabilities than regular texting.” It goes on to state that this will include Groups, Photos, Location sharing and more.

As for the stated reason behind this pivot, Brightkite said:

These features were the defining element to our company 2 and 3 years
ago, but we no longer believe they are sufficiently unique or defining
to be our focus, so we are dropping them.

The changes are expected to start taking place December 17. It is
offering users an option to back up old posts and check-ins by Dec 31.