It would be easy to dismiss Places as Facebook’s attempt to simply keep up with the Foursquares and Gowallas of the world. But the recent announcement that Places will incorporate a directory of 14 million businesses proves Facebook has other ideas, and they’re all about business.

Localeze, the largest business listings identity management company for local search, announced that its 14 million record “Enhanced Business Registry” will be featured on Facebook Places. Facebook will use Localeze’s premium business content, including nearly 600,000 business-verified and managed listings, which have been enhanced directly by local businesses, to offer accurate data for people to easily share where they are with friends on Facebook, find friends who are nearby, and discover new places from a mobile device.

Earlier this month, Localeze signed an agreement with TomTom to provide the same local information to TomTom GPS users starting in 2011. According to PC Magazine, “the combination will undoubtedly help TomTom compete against companies like Google, which already has a database of local POIs [Points Of Interest] and a free Google Maps Navigation app for smartphones, to boot.”

Indeed, if you read into it, the same competitive positioning could be true of Facebook, who more and more seems to be gearing up for head-to-head combat with Google.

Jeff Beard, president of Localeze, said that by using its listings,

“Facebook will provide an unsurpassed user experience, limiting the possibility of people entering an incorrect or incomplete business name, address of phone number when checking in.”

Beard adds that he views Facebook as “an important piece of a local business’ footprint giving them more visibility for current and potential customers.”

Already, social networking experts are recognizing the business applications of Facebook Places. For example, David All, writing in The Huffington Post, says a business can “claim its Place” on Facebook Places now “so that you can manage how it’s being read by those who are checking-in or are curious because they’re seeing their friends check-in at your Place.” He advises businesses to “keep tabs on the way your competition is using Places and be ready to make counter-offers via advertising.”  All recommends being proactive by asking visitors and staff to participate by checking in, and asking clients or top customers to “give a review of your place.”

The Facebook Places and Localeze connection is yet another piece of solid evidence that Facebook is aligning itself with the interests and needs of local businesses. Facebook is creating a valuable business-oriented utility that goes far beyond the original casual friend-to-friend connections. The bottom line is Facebook Places isn’t just for fun; it’s very much about driving people to local businesses, and for Facebook that’s big business.