Google Taking Blows - Google Takes on Facebook
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When Google released OpenSocial in early November 2007, they said their aim was to integrate all social networks "so the web as a whole can become more social." OpenSocial, in itself, is a set of common application programming interfaces (APIs) for building social network applications. It involves both JavaScript and Google Data APIs and an application using either will be operable on any social network that supports them. Open Social is part of a larger social network initiative called "Maka-Maka," which is designed to combine data from Google users across the web into a larger social graph.
Just about every social network has gotten in on the deal, including Friendster, Plaxo, and MySpace, in an attempt to outdo Facebook. Facebook did something very similar last May when they unveiled a platform for developing social applications. So far, over 5,000 applications have been built and Facebook has been the go-to social network for application developers.
One reason for Facebook's unprecedented success with these applications is their ability to connect and spread to various users' friends via the collection of social data or a "news feed" that alerts users that their friends have just installed the application. Already some of the most popular applications from Facebook, such as iLike, Flixster, Slide, and RockYou, have been scheduled to adapt their programs to run through OpenSocial.
Even though Facebook is the fastest growing social network and their traffic ranking has been as high as seventh overall, the OpenSocial alliance could bring in a combined 100 million users, which is almost half of Facebook's total users. And Google can definitely benefit from selling advertising on those sites, assuming they all benefit in the way Google expects them to. As the net's largest search engine, Google would love to see any increase in Internet use.
Google already has an advertising relationship with Facebook's closest competitor, MySpace. They also run ads through the applications used on Facebook; and this method has proven to be more effective for advertisers than a user's personal page.
Keep reading to see how Facebook is trying to combat Google's efforts and whether OpenSocial will even meet the expectations created by such a grandiose undertaking.
Next: Facebook Retaliates >>
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