The news comes as Brightkite readies to release a checkin-free version of its Android application that swaps out the old place streams for group texting altogether. Later this month, these features will evaporate from the other applications as well. Location will still remain a part of the apps as users can share their location with each text.
Brightkite users have until December 31 to pack up their data. The service is letting users retrieve 1,000 of their most recent stream items in RSS form.
While notable because it's the company that birthed the "checkin," this news is no surprise as Brightkite has made its group texting intentions known for some time now. Interestingly enough, it is leaving behind the no longer blue ocean of checkin services for a market that's even more competitive, especially with GroupMe and Fast Society stealing press headlines in recent months.
Original founders Martin May and Brady Becker have long since abandoned their location-sharing machinations to pursue a new project: stealth startup Forkly. Forkly is another location play, but this one is based around food and restaurant discovery. "We’re building Forkly to make it ridiculously easy to match your taste buds with the food and restaurants around you," May revealed in November.