Google Inc. will offer internet developers an open system to create applications across websites, a move that could challenge the features behind the explosive popularity of social network Facebook.
Google’s OpenSocial system gives developers standardised tools to build applications and embed them in many sites, eliminating the need for small star-tups or even one-person shops to customise their programmes for each site.
It also has the potential to lure developers mostly allied with Facebook by allowing their applications to find a home on many other websites.
“ This is about making the web more social, how do you have your friends go along with you to any site on the web?†said Joe Kraus, Google director of product management, in an interview.
Google said it had initially signed on about a dozen partners, including social network LinkedIn for business professionals, its own Orkut network and Friendster.
Developers who are testing the programme include key companies behind Facebook applications, such as music recommendation service iLike and Slide, which created the “Top Friends†ranking application.
Industry blogs have speculated for nearly a month that Google aimed to unleash a major challenge to Facebook, whose decision to open its site to developers in May helped it grow to more than 48 million users.
Google had also been interested in a partnership with Facebook as it competes more closely with Microsoft for drawing web audiences and advertisers.
Developers briefed on OpenSocial said it will help them seek the widest distribution possible for their applications, some of which are already used by millions of people on social networks.
Google’s OpenSocial system gives developers standardised tools to build applications and embed them in many sites, eliminating the need for small star-tups or even one-person shops to customise their programmes for each site.
It also has the potential to lure developers mostly allied with Facebook by allowing their applications to find a home on many other websites.
“ This is about making the web more social, how do you have your friends go along with you to any site on the web?†said Joe Kraus, Google director of product management, in an interview.
Google said it had initially signed on about a dozen partners, including social network LinkedIn for business professionals, its own Orkut network and Friendster.
Developers who are testing the programme include key companies behind Facebook applications, such as music recommendation service iLike and Slide, which created the “Top Friends†ranking application.
Industry blogs have speculated for nearly a month that Google aimed to unleash a major challenge to Facebook, whose decision to open its site to developers in May helped it grow to more than 48 million users.
Google had also been interested in a partnership with Facebook as it competes more closely with Microsoft for drawing web audiences and advertisers.
Developers briefed on OpenSocial said it will help them seek the widest distribution possible for their applications, some of which are already used by millions of people on social networks.