Last week Facebook released the new service “Places“. This new thing you can show everyone where you are and even tell your friend’s girlfriend where he is.
This new service will be a big thing, i’m sure. That’s why I updated my iphone App to give it a try … i was really disappointed, the service works only in us for the moment.

Of cause this is not the first cool service you can only use in us. Facebook uses the same mechanism to block all users outside the us like most of the other services. Facebook get’s your geolocation by looking into a IP address – geolocation database. If your IP does not come from us, the service is blocked for you.

To by-pass this problem you have to use facebook with a us IP. You can achieve this by either use an proxy or an VPN located in the usa.

1. Proxy Solution

The proxy solution works only with a WiFi connection, cause you can only configure an proxy for a wifi but not for a 3G or Edge connection (shame on you apple!).
Ask google for a free us proxy and enter the settings under your wifi preferences.

Then point your mobile safari to http://touch.facebook.com/. You should see a new tab called “Places”.

The Facebook App did not work for me with a us proxy but it should. I things it just was a problem with the proxy i used.

2. VPN Solution

The VPN solution works with any connection of your iphone. On google you will find a lot free and payed VPN services. You just have to be sure to use one with an IP from usa and iphone support. Get an VPN accound and add the VPN settings to your iphone’s network configuration.

If you are connected to the VPN Places will work on http://touch.facebook.com/ and with the Facebook app.