Google Unveiling Social Network Platform
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One thing about Google, they just can’t stand to see anyone be successful on the internet without their involvement. Their attempt at social networking, Orkut, went into the dumper for the most part, but that hasn’t stopped the company’s ambitions to eventually emerge victorious in the market. In particular, Google is hoping to emulate the success that Facebook has had with widgets.
Facebook now hosts more than 8,000 widgets, helping to boost its worldwide audience to about 50 million users and elevate its market value to $15 billion after Microsoft Corp. paid $240 million for a 1.6 percent stake in the Palo Alto-based company last week.
Microsoft trumped Google in the bidding for a piece of Facebook. Google’s bigger social networking ambition is believed to be one of the reasons Facebook decided to deepen its partnership with Microsoft instead.
Google now hopes to attract many of the same applications thriving on Facebook to its own network, dubbed “OpenSocial.”
The system is set up so the participating software developers will only have to code their applications once. Google will then ensure they are compatible with all the Web sites in its network.
The approach differs from their more “vertically integrated” approach they’re using in other sectors. Sites like LinkedIn, hi5.com, Friendster and Ning have already signed on to the project.
Expect much more news on this development in the next few weeks
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