Can OpenSocial create brilliant?

Google released a group of OpenSocial data. Because MySpace, Hi5, Friendster and Orkut Google its own accession, in the 10 months after the launch support OpenSocial the total number of subscribers has exceeded 350 million.

OpenSocial launched from the beginning, I would not particularly optimistic about it. As early as the end of 2003 when the acquisition of Orkut, Google has already begun trying to SNS in the development, and this time than Facebook set up earlier. But then Google is obviously not aware of social networking so popular today.

With Facebook and the entire area of the outbreak of social network development and would like to Orkut approached SNS through the first camp too late. So Google can only change their tactics, and has launched a OpenSocial Friend Connect, to a unified way to the SNS technical standards in the field of SNS greater space. But before they said, Google is relying on an almost elevated the standard in the SNS may be difficult to focus on this very field of operation of gains.

A key factor is, OpenSocial biggest competitor Facebook Open Platform has a more advantageous conditions. Facebook in the operation of a solid over 90 million active users of social networking services, but also the pace of its opening up has never ceased. Facebook not only opened up the whole point of the code, so that everyone has the opportunity to build a site similar to Facebook, but a month ago at the f8, Facebook announced that it will further open the data, international development and provide developers with Better conditions.

There is also a doubt OpenSocial from a social network of support services. MySpace, Hi5, Friendster and Orkut, the regional distribution of their users have a great difference, but there is between their respective competition. So they will support OpenSocial when there will be more concerns. Google's OpenSocial on whether they will have a lasting appeal, is still unknown.

Another problem is that even if the future OpenSocial received sufficient support to become a mainstream SNS standards. Google how to really gain commercial interests » Google may have to consider this issue, but it is certainly not a simple task.

Here are a group of data comparison: OpenSocial the current number of 350 million users, the application 4500, the number of installed 150 million times; Facebook more than 90 million active users, more than 3,000 applications, 700 million to install the number of times (via Adonomics). OpenSocial to do something, indeed there are many needs to be done.

In any case, to let so many social sites to support its OpenSocial, Google's market and technical capacity that is the best solution. But with Google can create another SNS OpenSocial in glory, it was too early to conclude.