Can Anyone Answer This Facebook Question?

Hey Fellow Warriors, I just started doing custom FB pages for businesses.
It seems like a good door opener, and relationship builder.

But here's my dilemma: What is FB Places all about? This has me a bit confused.

A lot of businesses I contact have no idea that they even have one.
They're even surprised when I mention to them they haven't 'claimed' their
'places page'. Some care, most do not.

Who put their listing there? Why is it there? What's it purpose?
Who's 'checking in' and why? Most Places Pages I've seen have check-in
amounts and some likes too. Who would like that page and why?
How does one check-in? Is that an important stat?

I notice that even if they created a page for their business,
it has nothing to do with that places page. They seem separate from
each other, and as I said, most businesses have no idea what they are,
let alone knowing that they even exist.

Is it an important thing to 'claim'?

For businesses that don't have a fan page, but DO have a places page,
(it seems every business does!?) is it a good idea to approach the business
and start a conversation about it, asking why they haven't claimed theirs,
because the info on there can be incomplete, outdated, and I could help them fix it.
Hoping it will lead to a custom fan page. But what is the benefit to them for
claiming it?

I myself, have no real knowledge about them. I can't really talk about what
I really don't know. I tried googling it, but can't find any good info about them.
Even from FB themselves.

So I'm reaching out to the most knowledgeable people on this earth: my fellow
warriors to help me understand what I should know about this. I think this info
could help me get more clients, and others too who are using FB to make some $$$.

Thanking you in advance for you help!

Mike