Foursquare has long claimed there's more to its app than a simple social check-in service and to highlight that fact, they've decided to separate that feature from everything else and give it an entirely new name.

As outlined in a blog post on the matter by, the check-in service is now called Swarm. Like before, its primary focus is to allow users to easily see which friends are out nearby and to share what they're up to. By unbundling this experience from the main app, the company says users will be able to access the functionality faster and more easily than is possible in Foursquare today.

Swarm will be available on iOS and Android in the coming weeks and soon after on Windows Phone. Interested parties are encouraged to sign up on the app's website to get notified when it becomes available.

The main Foursquare app, meanwhile, is also going through a metamorphosis and will focus on location discovery and recommendation services. The blog post describes it as an app for explorers who want to know about the best spots and share what they've found with others. It'll rely on reviews from friends as well as professionals as we understand it.

This reimagining of the app sounds like it'll put it in line to compete with similar services like Yelp. The new Foursquare is expected in the coming months alongside Swarm.