Facebook has launched  another first in social networking industry—Places and Deals. The fusion of Facebook’s two outstanding segments will allow users to see deals from their favorite store located near their place.

This will pioneer in the United States and deals are expected to roll out in a few days. With Places and Deals, local shops and businesses will be able to extend perks and discounts to their customers via Facebook.

But, how are you going to hunt for these deals? Easy. The updated version of Facebook for iPhone or touch.facebook.com, will allow you to touch “Places and then click on “Check In”. Yellow icon will appear to mark deals within close proximity to where you are currently located.

Various establishments are participating in giving discounts and proceeds to charitable institutions via Facebook deals. Some of the deals involve American Eagle Outfitters: offering 20 percent off,  Chipotle: giving its Facebook guests two entrees for the price of one, Gap: Giving blue jeans to the first 10,000 customers to claim their deal, and the  Golden State Warriors: Inviting those who check in on Facebook to an exclusive event with a basketball player on the NBA team from Oakland, California.

This breakthrough feature of Facebook is once again a testament of the social network’s quest to not only gain profits from its users and advertisers, but to also give back to the community and give convenience a new definition. These deals will hopefully direct you to good deals in your favorite stores near your area. Soon, Facebook’s Places and Deals will reach other countries.

It also raises questions on how other industry players will have to react to Facebook’s moves.  Integrating Places and Deals pits Facebook against Foursquare, Groupon, Gowalla and many others that have carved their niche in these arenas.  As with the Places launch, Facebook also managed to make partners of its competitors, bringing Groupon into the fold for today’s mobile press event.  Ultimately, Google’s developing a platform that makes other apps social, so for now, it appears as though Facebook would rather support developers than overtake their function and reach.  The Groupon-Facebook integration comes shortly after a series of Groupon updates, including more merchant tools launched this week.

For some added perspective, check out the comparison of Facebook Places to Foursquare, here.