Quantcast
Subscribe to magazine

MySpace Joins Google's OpenSocial Project

Juan Carlos Perez, IDG News Service

  • 0 Yes
  • 0 No

Google's OpenSocial got a major boost on Thursday when MySpace, the world's most popular social networking site, announced it will participate in the project to streamline the creation and adoption of social Web applications.

This means that MySpace, like other OpenSocial participants, will be able to offer all applications created by third-party developers that are compatible with the OpenSocial application programming interface (API).

For developers, the addition of MySpace to OpenSocial is a major step, opening their applications to that social networking site's massive base of users.

On Tuesday, Google confirmed the existence of the OpenSocial program, which is widely seen as not only Google's strongest move in social networking to date, but also as a response to the rising popularity -- and threat -- of Facebook.

Facebook Participation?

Although Facebook is the second-most popular social networking site in the world, it is growing faster than MySpace, thanks in large part to the fact that Facebook opened its platform to external developers in May, something MySpace is now only about to do.

To date, Facebook has about 7,000 applications available for its members. It hasn't said whether it will participate in OpenSocial, although Google says the door is open.

"Despite reports, Facebook has still not been briefed on OpenSocial. When we have had a chance to understand the technology, then Facebook will evaluate participation," Brandee Barker, Facebook spokeswoman, said in an e-mail.

OpenSocial can, in theory, dilute this distinguishing feature of Facebook, by offering a core set of APIs that will let developers write an application once that is compatible with multiple sites.

In other words, OpenSocial seeks to address the inconvenience for developers of having to port applications to different social networking Web sites.

In addition to MySpace, other partners participating in OpenSocial include Oracle, Salesforce.com, Hi5, iLike, LinkedIn, Slide, Ning, Friendster, Six Apart and Plaxo.

  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No

"MySpace Joins Google's OpenSocial Project" Comments

Print 65% more pages than with refilled inks. Trust Original HP Inks. Hit Print Reliably.

Featured APC Accessories For Your System
10% Off Entire Cart at Online Store

  • APC Back-UPS ES Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
  • APC SurgeArrest Performance Highest level of protection for your professional computers, electronics and connected devices, as well as provides surge protection.

People who read this also read:

  • 2007 Microsoft Office Suites Comparison This paper compares and contrasts four suites of the 2007 Microsoft Office system: Microsoft Office Standard 2007, Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 and Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007. This paper is intended to help organizations understand the applications and capabilities offered, and to identify the suite that best fits their needs.
  • Windows Vista Migration: The Business Proposition It's not so much a matter of "if" but "when" for most organizations regarding migration to Windows Vista. Laying the groundwork now for this migration can yield higher ROI than waiting until later. This Computerworld Technology Briefing explains it all.

PC World's Marketplace