Google launches OpenSocial for a Face-Off with Facebook

Google has finally made its move to take on Facebook head-on. After Microsoft took a 240 Mil stake in Facebook Google had no option but to fight Facebook. Facebook was growing much to the discomfort of Google, and unlike the past where Google just flexes its monetary muscle and buys out competition this time it was left out in the cold when Facebook turned down the offer of Google and when Microsoft and Facebook Teamed up it was obvious where facebook aligned.

In this I.T. war just like cold war there are NO neutrals and any company with considerable user base has to pick one of the big three !

Google has a problem its social networking site sucks, Orkut is trying hard to ward off Facebook with its makeover, overhauling its search but Facebook was creating a world of its own with its own rules, a world inaccessible by Google and we all know how much Google hates when it can access a market !

So Google launches OpenSocial a fancy name for a concept copied from Facebook of have a platform for developer to make widgets / add-ons / apps.

The OpenSocial community include MySpace, Engage.com, Friendster, hi5, Hyves, imeem, LinkedIn, Ning, Oracle, orkut, Plaxo, Salesforce.com, Six Apart, Tianji, Viadeo, and XING.

In some ways this is a masterstroke by google by providing a seamless platform and service it ensures its integration into every major social website by making its API industry standard. This seamlessness is what Google does best which ensures its success and survivability over a longer run.

The developers are happy they don't have to bother different Apps for different website, The Websites are happy they don't have to run after developer to excite them to make Apps for their site and so is the user who can use the same App at many websites with ease and the happiest them all is Google.

[Source: Googlesystem, Techcrunch]