A feature that’s been long-requested (and one we’ve been looking forward to ourselves) has just now started rolling out: Country Pins! Like the stamps that you could get for visiting individual states within the USA, these Pins will be awarded upon checking in at a Spot within a country for the very first time (and yes, will be retroactive). We think this is a very fun feature, conjuring up the excitement of finally making it through customs and having the immigration official stamp your passport to signify your entry to Brasil, or Sweden or wherever exotic place you were off to!

The first batch of 50 countries is rolling out right now, and if you’ve previously checked-in at a spot in a country you visited, expect to see the Pin awarded in the next day or so. We’ll be knocking out our next round of countries (and eventually maybe some provinces, etc.) in the coming weeks.

We’re also taking this moment to do a bit of tidying up of the U.S. state stamps, which are being converted to Pins also. This will make awarding those Pins, as well as organizing that data on the front and back ends, a bit easier and streamlined.

If you didn’t feel like you had enough reason to travel before, just let this be another motivation to go see the world. And as always, wherever you go, go out with Gowalla!