I mentioned earlier in the week that Google was about to launch OpenSocial, a Social Network API platform. Since then Mike Arrington in TechCrunch is reporting that not only is it happenning but MySpace, Bebo and SixApart are on board too!
The OpenSocial site is now live and confirmed participants so far are:
Engage.com, Friendster, hi5, Hyves, imeem, LinkedIn, Ning, Oracle, orkut, Plaxo, Salesforce.com, Six Apart, Tianji, Viadeo, and XING
Why OpenSocial?
The web is more interesting when you can build apps that easily interact with your friends and colleagues. But with the trend towards more social applications also comes a growing list of site-specific APIs that developers must learn.
OpenSocial provides a common set of APIs for social applications across multiple websites. With standard JavaScript and HTML, developers can create apps that access a social network’s friends and update feeds.
Many sites, one API
Whither FaceBook, the current social network colossus in this? They and Microsoft (their recent investor) have got to be wondering how to meet this challenge to their dominant position. Probably the best approach would be to jump in too – that way they have all the advantages of the open platform without the development costs. Google are saying it is an open platform and they wouldn’t see that one coming!
The chances are though that they won’t jump on board and there will be two social network standards, Google’s OpenSocial standard and FaceBook’s.
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this just proves that google is getting stronger by the day..
i wonder how long facebook can fight with the new google opensocial..
Hmmmm.
As a programmer this really excites me. In fact I have moved all my marketing efforts to social marketing networks.
In fact this is open social right here, me commenting on your post. Will Wordpress embrace open social in their API? They just got millions in investment capitol in early 2008.
You mentioned Facebook, but the problem I see with Facebook is that it is a closed social marketing network, where as others are open, allowing visitors and Google spiders.
If only I had gotten this earlier on I would be making millions, but you know it is never too late.