 On Tuesday, Associated Press reported that leading search company Google.com is beginning to concentrate efforts on one of fastest growing areas of the Internet: social networking websites. The goal: to “make it easier for Web surfers to connect with their friends” by allowing them to utilize widgets, or applications, installed from popular social networks such as MySpace and Facebook. The service, “Friend Connect,” will provide users with social tools they can use to embed these applications on external websites; that way, they won’t have to be logged into Facebook, for example, to enjoy a brain teaser such as Scrabulous or the music streamed through iLike. Last week, MySpace and Facebook agreed to eventually let their users transfer data from their profile pages, such as contact info, interests, and of course, applications, to these external websites; the social networks mentioned that it will be “several more weeks” before that is fully possible. But AP indicated that the “social networks announced their plans for wider accessibility late last week.” “Friend Connect” allegedly launched last night in limited beta testing. For now, the number of websites with access to the coding for “Friend Connect” is limited to about two dozen; again, AP stated that “coding is expected to become widely available during the next few months.” Neither Google, MySpace nor Facebook have released specific details on the launch or feedback from users; but surely, all three top players on the web will stand to benefit from this new service. As if they need it – MySpace and Facebook are sure to gain more popularity by opening their doors up to external websites. Google is looking to increase online traffic, which, as AP smartly points out, will allow it to explore another area of they web in which it clearly dominates: online advertising. More traffic means delivering more relevant ads and generating more revenue for the already behemoth search company. |
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