Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Menu
Search
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Development
    • PC Hardware

    Google Moves to Friend More Web Site Operators

    By
    Clint Boulton
    -
    May 12, 2008
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Noting that social activity on the Web is controlled by a handful of social networks, Google Director of Engineering David Glazer said Google’s new Friend Connect service aims to let users use any application on any site with their friends.

      Unveiled as a preview on select Web sites May 12, Friend Connect represents an effort by Google, a company that is not associated with a particular social network, to socialize the Internet for users. Ideally, the service will let users add profile information, photographs and other personal nuggets to participating Web sites.

      “Just because we as users are sick and tired of having to invite our friends to 50 different sites, doesn’t mean that we don’t want them there with us,” Glazer said on a call with media and analysts May 12.

      The plan comes after MySpace unveiled its Data Availability effort May 8 and Facebook May 9 introduced its Connect platform allowing users to shuttle their profile data and content to other Web sites. Both initiatives are intended to spare their nearly 200 million combined users the hassle of separately logging into every Web site.

      Where MySpace’s Data Availability and Facebook’s Connect offerings let consumers move their profile data and content around the Web, Friend Connect puts the power in the hands of Web site operators, which, if Google’s hopes are realized, will use the service to keep users on their sites longer.

      This boost in stickiness could lead to greater ad revenues down the road, although Google has not announced plans to monetize its data portability move.

      Turnkey social network

      The key to Friend Connect is ease of use. Google has built a wizard-like page where a Webmaster can enter the name of his or her site, choose applications from a Google application gallery, and cut and paste pieces of code right into the site.

      Google has built some basic apps using the OpenSocial API, although third-party programmers will eventually contribute to this effort, creating their own OpenSocial apps. Glazer said this could make the entire Web a container for social apps.

      The service includes a sign-in component, which users will access via an OpenID account that gives users one set of credentials to access any OpenID-supported site, including Google, Yahoo and AOL; a friends list that securely connects friends through the OAuth standard, including Google Talk, Orkut and Facebook friends (and eventually Hi5 and Plaxo); and social widgets, which means any app created via OpenSocial, Google Friend Connect Product Manager Mussie Shore said on the call.

      Friend Connect users will be able to opt in to having their activity reflected in the news feeds and activity streams of their social networks.

      “It’s going to be really fun to see what developers are going to come up with and what the owners and users of this long tail of Web sites are going to want now they can be social instead of just talk about being social,” Shore said.

      Greg Sterling of Sterling Market Intelligence told eWEEK May 12 that he envisions that Google will eventually build an application gallery similar to Google Gadgets, where Web site owners will be able to visit and pick out apps they think their users will enjoy. Any OpenSocial apps will be added to Friend Connect.

      Glazer explained that while the full Friend Connect system is running, it will only be open to a select number of Web sites in the early stages. Webmasters may sign up here the evening of May 12 (not live yet) to be put on a wait list.

      Google said it wants to start small, gather feedback from Web site owners, developers and users, and then grow from there. The timetable Google offered for seeing reasonable adoption for Friend Connect is in the next several months.

      Clint Boulton

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      eWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

      Zeus Kerravala - November 18, 2020 0
      There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
      Read more
      Apple

      Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

      Wayne Rash - November 26, 2020 0
      If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
      Read more

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×