MySpace And Google Partner On Developer API

Online giants MySpace and Google have today announced they are to be embarking on a proprietary joint venture to enable independent developers to code individual add-on applications, in a move that could be set to challenge Facebook’s current dominance of the Social Networking market.

MySpace’s involvement in the innovative OpenSocial programmes designed by Google which is set to revolutionise the way in which developers, and subsequently advertisers interact with the user base on the particular community, having the potential to significantly increase the value obtainable through the site.

The Facebook model, currently leading the market, has seen independent developers designing applications with a viral distribution channel, leading to a huge number of advertising impressions and exposure. At present tens of thousands of viral applications are being launched a month, in order to provide advertising revenue for their creators.

With Google’s cross-site uniform platform, it is hoped that many of the other leading social networking sites will increase their profitability and leverage their individual communities similar to Facebook in recent months.

MySpace will join several other high profile networking sites including Orkut, Bebo and professional site LinkedIn in its use of the Google platform looks likely to increase profitability on the site and provide free valuable content for its social user base.

The joining of MySpace sees an additional 200 million social network users potentially exposed to future advertising profitability. Many of the world’s most skilled programmers are already creating applications in order to launch as the new market opens through the Google API.

The move sees Google bid to compete against rival Microsoft, which recently valued Facebook at $15 billion in its minor acquisition of equity in the site to enable it to provide its own advertising impressions.

Story link: MySpace And Google Partner On Developer API